Category Archives: Minicamp
Full Team In Attendance; Alford Sits Out
Mini camp has begun on this beautiful day in the NY Metro area. The Giants hit the filed around 10am and had several surprises including a Jeff Feagles sighting (?) DT Jay Alford was not working. He has an MCL sprain from last Tuesday’s OTA, but will be ready for camp in August.
SNYs’ Mike Garafolo is on site today at Giants’ mini camp……here are some of his observations from the morning session……they are from his Twitter feed, so scroll to the bottom and read up…
Coughlin says Alford tweaked his MCL the other day when he tripped. Feels good about Phillips though – no swelling.
Practice over. Last 10 mins or so the view was blocked. Sorry.
DT Linval Joseph has been around the ball + QB often this morning.
Hixon with the end around option to throw. Held onto it. Nobody open. Better keep that one stashed deep in the bag of tricks.
Sorgi’s best ball of the morning: a deep flag for Bear Pascoe over Chad Jones.
We have a Gerris Wilkinson sighting. Good job by him to chase down + blow up a screen for Bradshaw.
Corey Webster with a pick six (@grazdanny loves that term). My view of the play was blocked though.
My (at least temporary) replacement for @JennyVrentas (the non-tweeting Mike Fensom) likes what he sees from Gartrell Johnson today.
Ross then let Barden deep on long post. Looked like he should’ve had deep middle help frpom S Chad Jones though. Good ball by Eli.
Ross having a rough day. Just juked out of his shoes on a mini post-corner by Nicks.
Terrific covg by Terrell Thomas on a back-shoulder fade from Eli to Manningham. Snapped head around + located ball quickly.
Barden juked badly by WR Victor Cruz in punt covg drills. Hagan meanwhile looks polished after performing well as a gunner last yr.
Special guest instructor working with punters: Jeff Feagles.
Bomar forced to reset his feet bc of rush. Tried to plant + throw the in cut but that threw off timing. LB Micah Johnson w PD.
Nicks wouldve had a deep ball from Bomar if Michael Greco hadn’t grabbed him as he ran by.
Nice PD by Bruce Johnson on a fade for Nicks. Good recovery too because he was beat off the line.
Great route on pump + go by Moss. Sha’reff Rashad baited to come up. Bad read by him…and bad throw by Sorgi over Moss.
Barden blocking Ross out in front of a Nicks reverse. That doesn’t seem a fair matchup for Ross. Nicks working fully btw.
Hixon broke off Aaron Ross on a comeback. Ross spun the wrong way.
Michael Boley working with first team in walkthru. He had a hammy issue last week.
Phillips running + turning on the side. So far no cuts.
Pierre-Paul getting retaped or something. DeOssie walking off to locker room. (Almost time for actual football description.)
Kevin Boss still on crutches. Kevin Boothe arm in a sling. Both in bike area. Phillips, btw, is just standing on sideline.
Oh and Danny Ware. Apparently he went first and then again just now.
Sinorice Moss, Andre Brown + Domenik Hixon fielding kickoffs – in that order. Brown would be interesting to see in live game.
Phillips stretching with the team. Don’t think that means he’ll be practicing though. Again he was expected to be out til camp.
Taking attendance at minicamp. All the big guns seem to be here. So far only Jay Alford on the bike. No Kenny Phillips visual yet.
I will be there tomorrow personally to give my take on the things.
Tagged Giants Mini-Camp, New York Giants, New York Giants News |
ESPN New York’s Ohm Youngmisuk has a must-read for Giants’ fans identifying five things to look for in mini-camp as the team reports to the Meadowlands today for the first of three mandatory camp days.
Here’s a summary and some thoughts:
Middle Linebacker: Considered to be the most watched competition in camp as Jonathan Goff, Phillip Dillard, Gerris Wilkinson, and Chase Blackburn try to convince coaches that they have what it takes to replace Antonio Pierce. Goff is said to be the early leader.
Defensive Ends: Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka. This should be fun. Umenyiora said a while back that he would rather retire than not start, then thought he’d be traded, and now wants his old job back. He impressed during OTAs. Kiwanuka is entering the final year of his contract so you know he wants to start. And then there’s first-round pick Jason Pierre-Paul. Whoever winds up starting will line up opposite Justin Tuck.
Perry Fewell: The Giants’ new defensive coordinator is in the spotlight, and it will stay that way for a long time. Big Blue’s defensive struggles last season have been well-chronicled. Over the next three days, Fewell has to teach his system, get his players to learn his many schemes, and evaluate talent. He’s got pieces on defense. Now he has to put it all together and make it work.
Running Backs: Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were hurt last year and both underwent offseason surgeries. The Giants are counting on Jacobs to return to form. If he does, this offense will be very good.
Safeties: I wrote about this yesterday. Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant are major upgrades. Kenny Phillips is still recovering from knee surgery. Rookie Chad Jones will also get a shot.
It all gets started today. Should be a fun three days.
Giant Fans! Send Us Your Impressions of the New Stadium
We’d like to hear your impressions of the new stadium. Drop us a line, send in your stories and pictures to us!
Just like the Giants, GFB is giving the fans the floor today. Enjoy!
Thx JF
Tagged Giants Mini-Camp, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York Giants, New York Giants News |
Giants Begin Mini-Camp Today
For those attending this afternoon’s open practice at the new stadium…. 
Parking lots open at noon – stadium will open at 1pm. Practice begins at 2:50pm.
Parking and seating are on a first come, first serve basis, but you will need a ticket to get in. Go to Giants.com for more info.
Tagged Giants Mini-Camp, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York Giants, New York Giants News |
Fewell, New Giants’ Defense Make Debut In New Stadium Tuesday
The Giants’ three-day mandatory mini camp begins tomorrow. If you’re heading out to the New Meadowlands Stadium Tuesday for what will be an open practice, or if you simply plan to stay home and let GFB deliver you your Giants’ fix, here are three important storylines heading into the week:
Where there’s “Fewell” there’s fire: We start here because of how abysmal the defense was a year ago. As a result, Bill Sheridan is out and Fewell is in. The early reviews are great, from players and coaches. Safeties coach David Merritt 
summed it up best:
“He’s getting after guys in a positive, constructive way,” Merritt said about Fewell. ”I mean, it’s a beautiful thing, it’s infectious. That’s what you need and that’s what we need as an organization, especially on defense.”
With a defense that looked so lethargic, and performed so poorly, a year ago, this is exactly what you want to hear.
“Merritt” pay: Speaking of Merritt, a lot of the focus will be on his unit with the additions of Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant joining Kenny Phillips and third-round pick Chad Brown in the revamped secondary. The struggles in the Giants’ backfield reached epic proportions last year. They allowed 31 touchdown passes and opposing quarterbacks had a 95.1 rating against them. Here’s New York Post beat writer Paul Schwartz:
It all went very wrong once Phillips needed left knee surgery after the second game of the season. His replacement, free-agent pickup C.C. Brown, was a disaster. Returning starter Michael Johnson regressed badly, and Packers castoff Aaron Rouse was not the answer, as the patchwork approach became a tattered mess. Brown and Rouse are gone, and the Giants are anxious to get Phillips back on the field during summer training camp. Johnson will have to battle to make the final roster, because he likely is no better than the fourth safety if Phillips makes his comeback. Chad Brown, a third-round pick from LSU, is a lock unless he gets hurt. The plan is for Rolle and Phillips to start, Grant to serve as the No. 3 safety, with Jones waiting in the wings. Phillips hasn’t been cleared for practice yet, but Merritt already can see and sense a huge difference with Rolle and Grant lining up with the first-team.
The Giants picked up Grant, who has started 144 consecutive games, after he was cut by the Seahawks because he was due $4 million this season. Rolle signed a five year, $37 million dollar contract with Big Blue because the Cardinals didn’t want to pay him a $4 million dollar roster bonus in addition to his $8 million dollar salary. The Giants were willing to pay because of the need they had at the position. Money well spent, as this unit should be greatly improved.
Manning to Manning: Jim Sorgi, who spent six years as Peyton Manning’s backup in Indianapolis, is now vying to be Eli’s backup in New York. His competition is Rhett Bomar, but all signs seem to point to Sorgi as the favorite. Sorgi has played in 16 games, thrown six touchdowns and one interception. As Peyton’s backup, he didn’t get to play much, and that’s what the Giants are hoping for here. Eli has started 87 consecutive games.
Tagged Giants Mini-Camp, New York Giants, New York Giants News, Perry Fewell |
Giants Will Begin Mini Camp Tomorrow
In case you’ve been away…..the Giants…….
…..signed third-round selection S Chad Jones last week. He is the first of the new crop of draftees to be signed. To make space on the roster, the Giants released K Sam Swank.
…..announced that they will return to the University at Albany for their 2010 training camp. The new agreement, which h is for one year, also includes an option to train at the UAlbany campus through 2012. 
……will be holding an “open house” session of mini camp tomorrow afternoon. Doors open at 1pm. It is free, but you still need a ticket to be admitted. Go to Giants.com for more info.
……have not commented on the story that a website that promotes adultery has offered them and the Jets $25 million to put their name on the new stadium…..READ
Notes, Quotes…….
Both WR Steve Smith and CB Terrell Thomas were members of the USC Trojan team that won the 2005 BCS Championship. Sanctions against the school threaten to rescind the Trojans’ National Championship. The two had similar reactions to the news….
Thomas: “As a player from USC, I guarantee none of us will say we lost that national championship or it doesn’t count. We won it fair and square. We didn’t lose it. We won every game out there.”
Smith: “That was one of my best games as a Trojan. If they take [it] away in the record books I don’t want some kid who is looking 10 years from now not to see my name in it. But they can’t take my memories away.”
LB Gerris Wilkinson sold his number 59 to teammate Michael Boley and grabbed #59, Antonio Pierce‘s old number……
“Fifty-nine hadn’t been super lucky for me over the past few years, I was kind of looking forward to changing the number. I know 58 comes with a lot of stuff behind it in terms of A.P. (Pierce) and (former Giants linebacker) Carl Banks. And I think people see it as more of a middle-linebacker type number, so I was happy about making the change.”
The defensive line and their new coach, Robert Nunn are going through a honeymoon stage…
Nunn: “Just taking one step at a time and starting with fundamentals. That is the only way I know how to do it. So that is what we are going to try to do to hopefully get off to a good start, which we have so far, and keep building each day and try to improve each one individually. And if we do that, then we are going to improve as a group.”
Mathias Kiwanuka: “It’s a different philosophy. It’s what we’ve been doing, but there are definitely changes in philosophy and how we go about our execution. Our stances have changed, our steps have changed, our reads have changed. But when you change the defense, those things are going to change, too. It’s a combination of a change in the defense and a change of the coach.”
Former Giants WR Plaxico Burress has new advocate in New England RB Fred Taylor….READ
Tagged New Meadowlands Stadium, New York Giants, New York Giants News |
The NFL Draft is over and now the rookies – drafted and undrafted – will converge on the Jets and Giants training facilities in New Jersey from Friday through Sunday.
The Jets will feature four draft choices and 10 free agents among the attendees. First round selection Kyle Wilson will join Vladimir Ducasse, Joe McKnight and John Conner and scores of others at the Atlantic Health Training Center in Florham Park beginning tomorrow.
At the same time, the Giants will host their rookie mini-camp at the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, adjacent to the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Among the 54 participants will be top pick Jason Pierre-Paul(pictured), Linval Joseph, Mitch Petrus, Phillip Dillard, Chad Jones and several free-agents including Lee Campbell, Nate Collins and Micah Johnson.
No veterans will be participating, but a few had some advice for the newbies.
Former Giants’ first pick Mathias Kiwanuka had this to say to Mike Eisen of Giants.com….”"I think for any player the biggest adjustment is usually going to be physical,” Kiwanuka said. “The speed of the game is something you have to get used to. You have to be able to get the snaps and get the reps and get out there and get more experience.
“There’s a little bit of a whirlwind every step of the way. There are new experiences, things you have never been through. And there are not a lot of people who have been through them to guide you through it. So once you get through the draft, once you get through all the press stuff you have to do and come to rookie minicamp and training camp and the preseason games are another step and then you actually get out there and walk into the stadium for the first time, there are a lot of wow moments. But it’s all fun.”
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, Giants Rookie Mini Camp |
Greetings from your newest Giants football blogger! I’m Patricia Traina, Editor of Inside Football, an accredited, independent publication that covers the New York Giants. From time to time, I’ll pop in to share tidbits, observations, quotes, and other goodies that I collect from my visits to Giants central. I hope you enjoy what I have to offer in the way of information!
For my first blog, here is a quick snapshot of how I thought the Giants’ 2009 draft class looked during this past weekend’s rookie mini camp.
WR Hakeem Nicks: The first rounder came as advertised – very polished. He’s not very tall, but he plays “big.” He’s not afraid to go into traffic and he has good concentration, especially in traffic where he successfully used his body to shield the ball from the defender.
LB Clint Sintim: He worked on the strong side, and from what I could tell, this kid definitely has a nose for the ball. He diagnosed quite a few plays correctly, though he always wasn’t in a position to make the play. Still he showed great hustle and I think once he puts it all together, he is going to be just fine.
OT Will Beatty: I was surprised to see him exclusively at right tackle as he’s supposedly the future at left tackle. Beatty is a big guy, but he said that they want him to get a little bit bigger. I thought he played a little high at times, but there is definitely some talent there to work with and he does have a very good attitude.
WR Ramses Barden: Definitely a man amongst boys, especially during the 11-on-11s. He still rounds off some routes, but he does a nice job of using his height to his advantage. In fact, they had him running a few corner fades in the end zone.
TE Travis Beckum: I thought he had a quiet camp. He lined up at tight end and at times was split out wide. He also had some problems disengaging from coverage, but the tools are definitely there. He has nice size and did a nice job using his body to shield the ball from the defender on his pass receptions.
RB André Brown: I was very impressed with this young running back. He showed good quickness and vision with finding the hole. I think this kid could be the steal of the draft for the Giants, who got incredible value with this pick.
QB Rhett Bomar: I immediately noticed his unusual throwing style – he has a bit of a side-armed motion. He really zips the ball to his receivers and I think the speed of his passes caught a few guys off guard. Head coach Tom Coughlin indicated that QB Coach Chris Palmer will work with Bomar to correct his throwing motion.
DeAndre Wright / Stoney Woodson: Of the two drafted corners, I thought Wright was more impressive. In one drill, the defensive backs had to come out of their backpedal, turn around, and make a catch, Wright caught the ball with no problem. Woodson, meanwhile, seemed to fight the ball at times, and tended to leave his feet.
Be sure to stop by at my other “home,” Train-a Thought. You can also follow my Giants updates at Twitter, where my ID is Inside_Football.
Till next time!
Tagged Andre Brown, Clint Sintim, Giants 2009 Draft Class, Giants Rookie Mini Camp, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, Rhett Bomar, Travis Beckum, Will Beatty | Newer posts →
