Tag: new york giants

Giants’ Deonte Banks, Tre Hawkins off to very different starts at camp

The New York Giants selected Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. Big Blue is hopeful that he can win the starting job across from Adoree’ Jackson this summer and give the team a formidable pair of corners.

That is the hope, but through the first few days of training camp, Banks has yet to distinguish himself. He appears to have a lot of seasoning to do and the Giants will need him to shorten his learning curve.

“First, I take notes,’’ Banks told reporters on Friday. “I take notes on my stuff and learn what I can learn from my position, and then I try to see the bigger picture, and see what everybody else is doing. Also, ask vets what they’d do or how they’d look at this or things like that.’’

That’s fine, but on the field, Banks has been inconsistent, like on this one-on-one against tight end Darren Waller.

Granted, these are not full-go, full-contact drills, but Banks has allowed a number of plays to elude him.

That could change as the summer unfolds, though, and especially when the pads come on, as the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Banks is a physical player.

But for every big-ticket draft pick that gets off to a slow start, there’s always another that gets off to a fast one.

Such is the case for sixth-round draft pick, Tre Hawkins III, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound corner out of Old Dominion, who has been impressive thus far at camp.

Hawkins was an under-the-radar pick by general manager Joe Schoen, as he did not participate at the NFL Combine. But if he had, he would not have lasted until the sixth round.

At his pro day, Hawkins ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, which would have placed him in the top 10 at the combine. His 6.74 time in the 3-cone drill would have been good enough for second at the Combine.

He also logged in 17 reps on the bench press, a 37.5-inch vertical and a 4.22 time in the 20-yard shuttle.

Hawkins prides himself on his physical play and loves to tackle, which is why he has increased value as a special teamer.

Should Banks not be ready by opening day, perhaps Hawkins will be. Unlike in recent years, it appears the Giants might be back to finding gems in the late rounds of the draft.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

New York Giants’ Daniel Jones a ‘bottom-tier’ QB, says Le’Veon Bell

Last season, Daniel Jones had his best year and led the New York Giants to their first playoff berth since 2016. Jones’ performance silenced many of his biggest critics and earned him a long-term extension from Big Blue this offseason.

However, there are plenty who still don’t believe in the Giants’ quarterback.

Over the weekend, former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell, who last played in 2021, took aim at Jones, calling him a ‘bottom-tier’ quarterback while discussing the running backs market and Saquon Barkley:

“Daniel Jones, he’s in the bottom tier. He’s in the bottom tier of NFL quarterbacks,” Bell said on the AP Pro Football podcast with Rob Maaddi.

“He’s not mediocre. There are average quarterbacks, he’s in the bottom tier. I’m not here trying to talk bad about Daniel Jones. I’m just trying to be real for everybody who’s hearing it. He’s in the bottom tiers. Saquon [Barkley] is in the top tier of his position, running back. So how does that make sense?”

With the running back market being a hot topic this offseason, many have talked about Bell, who sat out an entire season during the prime of his career. His performance on the field was never the same after that.

Bell’s name was connected to Barkley when the star running back didn’t rule out sitting out. Barkley’s contract was, of course, resolved earlier last week just in time for training camp, and he went on to say that sitting out would not have been a wise decision.

Jones has been unfazed by his doubters over the course of his career. There is an obvious belief in him from the Giants’ front office following the extension earlier this offseason.

Naturally, more will be expected of DJ this coming season after he took a massive leap in his 2022 campaign.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Giants activate Sterling Shepard off PUP, Jamison Crowder off NFI

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll was back in front of the media on Sunday morning after a day off on Saturday and revealed the team would be activating both Sterling Shepard and Jamison Crowder.

Daboll opened the presser by announcing that Shepard (knee) will be coming off the PUP list on Sunday and will be participating in drills. It will be his first time back on the filed since tearing his ACL last September.

Daboll also said they are activating 2023 free-agent signing, Crowder (calf), off the non-football injury list. He will also take part in practice.

Among other injury updates, defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who was involved in a car accident last week that landed him in the concussion protocol, will also be back to practice on Sunday.

The same will be the case for veteran wide receiver Cole Beasley (quad) and rookie defensive back Gervarrius Owens.

Linebacker Jihad Ward (undisclosed ailment) and backup tight end Ryan Jones (undisclosed) will sit out Sunday’s drills.

The first week of practice has many wondering if the team’s first-round pick, cornerback Deonte Banks out of Maryland, is ready to step right in and start this season. Daboll didn’t say either way but had some positive feed back on Banks.

The Giants traded up one spot in the first round in this year’s draft to select Banks, who they see as a physical player who can man-up with the bigger outside receivers in the league.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

New York Giants’ Evan Neal may be ahead of the curve after diet change

This week, the New York Giants signed left tackle Andrew Thomas, who has gone from perplexed rookie in 2020 to one of the top players at his position, to a long-term deal that will lock him up in blue until the end of the decade.

The Giants’ right tackle, 2022 first-round pick, Evan Neal, is seeking to do the same. Neal went through some struggles as a rookie last year and wants to take the same type of jump as Thomas and fulfill his promise.

“I feel very comfortable. I felt great out there the past two days,” Neal told reporters via Zoom on Friday. “Just going to use the rest of camp to continue to hone in on those skills, just make small improvements every single day. I feel like I am never going to be a finished product, I am just going to take each day to get better and better.”

He knows he has a ways to go to get to Thomas’ level and is not shy in saying it.

“Andrew Thomas is himself and I am Evan Neal,” he said. “I’m just going to focus on being the best Evan Neal that I can be. Andrew is a great player and he’s a great role model for me as well. I’m just going to continue to get better every single day and control what I can control.”

Like every second-year player in this business, Neal is no longer a bright-eyed rookie. He knows the drill now and is ready to take the next step as a professional. A lot of that comes in the form of conditioning and, yes, nutrition.

Neal revealed he lost some weight over the offseason and even hired a personal chef to help him do that and replace fat with muscle.

“Probably (down) about 10 or 15 pounds. I definitely put on more muscle and got more lean,” Neal revealed. “I weighed in whenever we got here for training camp, I was 345. My final weight was 353, so I shed a few pounds, but I put on a lot more muscle for sure.

“I’ve always trained extremely hard but one thing I can say is I was a lot more conscious about my diet,” he added. “I hired a chef, and it was really helpful in terms of just what I was putting in my body. Just having meals there for me so that way I didn’t have to think about eating, it was already there ready to go for me so that was a big help.

Neal appears to be ahead of the curve when it comes to learning the ropes about NFL success.

The Alabama product is not looking backwards this summer. It’s all about the present and the future.

“Last year was last year, man. I’m really focused on the 2023 season,” he said. “I did feel like it made it more challenging for me because I had never got hurt during the season and had to play through it. So, I definitely feel like that was a factor but I’m not going to make any excuses. That’s the past, we are in the present now.”



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

New York Giants training camp: 7 early takeaways

Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Darren Waller, the former Pro Bowl tight end the Giants obtained from the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade this offseason, is literally and physically standing out in camp.

The 6-foot-6 Waller is a “freak” who has been practically uncoverable in drills, both in the red zone and in the open field. He possesses a rare combination of size and speed that has his teammates and onlookers steeped in awe.

Wide receiver Darius Slayton described Waller as “a locomotive rolling real fast… ain’t nobody tackling that.’”

Safety Xavier McKinney said Waller has “great hands, can run routes like a regular wideout, can run all the routes. Pretty much can do everything.”

“Being as big as he is, you don’t see guys that big that can move like that,” McKinney said. “So, it makes him real special. It makes him a tough cover every time. When I am on him, it puts me on high alert. I have to be because I know that every play, he can get the ball.’’

“I guess it’s for my size and my weight and I guess the way that I run and the multitude of routes I try to be able to be able to be comfortable running,’’ Waller said. “And a lot of guys don’t necessarily do that.’’



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

New York Giants Daboll talks staying cool, Hyatt’s ‘adjustment period’

The New York Giants are cruising along in training camp thus far, but the oppressive heat and humidity in the past week has them re-thinking their process. They held Friday’s workout in the early evening, which was a welcome respite from the weather.

Head coach Brian Daboll is always thinking about how he can work smarter rather than harder.

“We met on it last week, just getting ready for this week,” Daboll said. “So, I think the training staff, nutritionist, sports science, we have tried to get them to a spot these last few days where they are doing what we need them to do to try to stay as healthy as they can with all this heat. That’s training camp.

“We will keep an eye on everybody and make sure we have the cooling tents and all these different drinks to help them stay hydrated. I’m sure they will be sweating a lot out there today.”

Daboll likes to switch things up to keep the players and staff from getting complacent. Some night practices were always in the plans.

“We’re going to do that a few times,” he revealed. “Plus, it gives them a little bit more recovery time, kind of on the third day. And it’s a different feel for the day. So, you know, there will be times during the season we have different schedules. I thought that that was a good thing to do.”

On Friday, reporters were curious about the progress of rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. Daboll was quick not to judge the third-round pick after just two days, one of which saw Hyatt leave practice early due to a heat-related issue.

“Regardless of the position, when you’re a rookie, there’s always an adjustment period,” Daboll explained. “I coached receivers early in my career for six years or somewhat. Drafted quite a bit of receivers. They’re all different, just like every player. Every position is different. So, the job of the coaching staff is, again, to get these guys as prepared as we can. To get them to buy into the program and do the right thing. Certainly, a lot of stuff to learn. That’s why we are here to try and help them the best we can. He’s got to put the work in, too.”

Hyatt is expected to help the Giants stretch the field in the passing game with his speed and explosiveness. But the rookie has a long way to go before the team thrusts him into a position of trust.

“It’s going to be up to him to go out there and show what he can do,” said Daboll. “We have had two days. We had an OTA, but we’ve had two days. He has a lot of work ahead of him, just like everybody on the team does. Everybody will earn their role, whatever that may be.”

At Tennessee, Hyatt was in a pro-style offense under head coach Josh Heupel. Daboll was asked the difference between that offense and the one he’s building with the Giants.

“I wouldn’t say it’s really that different. I think Josh (Heupel) does a fantastic job there. He runs a lot of good football plays. He executed well, Jalin did. Everybody runs a different offense, it’s not exactly the same. Josh has had a pretty dynamic offense ever since he has coached.”

Daboll also gave updates on some injuries, such as defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches, saying “hopefully he’s getting close.”

Daboll also mentioned that rookie Geverrius Owens (bruise) and veteran wideout Cole Beasley (quad) would not practice. As for the six players on PUP, Daboll offered nothing new except that everyone was “getting closer” to returning.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

New York Giants Darren Waller, Daniel Jones ‘gelling’ in training camp

Among the new pass-catchers the New York Giants added this offseason, there’s no question tight end Darren Waller is the most notable.

Waller, who is basically a wide receiver playing tight end thanks to his rare athleticism, developed into an elite player at his position during his five seasons with the Raiders, with only injury being able to slow him down.

While there is that concern with Waller, the Giants are hoping he can not only avoid said issues, but also elevate quarterback Daniel Jones and help him take that next step in his career.

But before that can happen, Waller and Jones must be on the same page, and that’s something they’ve been working on all offseason — and that work continues in training camp, where Waller has been Jones’ favorite target.

“It’s a relationship that’s gelling,” Waller said. “We’ve got a few months under our belt of staying in touch and just open dialogue, ego removed. We can tell each other what we’re thinking, what he may want, things I’ve been comfortable doing and things I like doing and find a midpoint or be able to just learn about each other. I feel like it’s paying off and just trying to keep going day by day and let the results take care of themselves.”

With Jones and Waller connecting early and often in camp, it has also given us a closer look at just how good the Georgia Tech product is, as he’s routinely dominated anyone who has tried to cover him.

Waller’s performance has caught the attention of his teammates, who have heaped praise on the 30-year-old tight end, which he considers an honor.

“I mean, it’s an honor for my teammates to speak of me in that way because these are guys that do it at a high level and have done it for a really long time,” he said. “I guess it’s just for my size and my weight and I guess the way that I run and the multitude of routes that I try to be comfortable running, and a lot of guys don’t necessarily do that.

“But it’s just coming in with a mindset of I don’t want to be limited in any part of my game. Whatever they want to line me up and run at, I want to be able to do that and be effective at it and not just be like, ‘Oh man, I’m not really that good at that,’ or, ‘I can’t do that.’ I want to be able to do everything and just present myself as a viable option to the quarterback every time I run a route. That’s really the goal. Keep it as simple as that. Every single rep I go out there, make myself presentable. If he wants to throw it there, he can throw it there and throw it to me. So that’s just how I approach it.”

Waller finds himself in the right situation with the Giants as he looks to have a bounce-back year.

His offensive coordinator, Mike Kafka, was previously the passing-game coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he worked with the best tight end in the business, Travis Kelce.

If there’s anyone who will know how to properly utilize Waller and get the most out of him, it’s Kafka.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

New York Giants Darius Slayton talks Daniel Jones, wide receivers room

The New York Giants added numerous weapons to their passing game this offseason, including tight end Darren Waller and wide receivers Parris Campbell and rookie Jalin Hyatt.

One of the more underrated moves they did to help quarterback Daniel Jones was bringing back his draft mate and good friend, wide receiver Darius Slayton.

Slayton, 26, has been Jones’ top target since the two entered the league in 2019 with Big Blue, catching 155 passes (including playoffs) for more yards (2,290) than any other Giants receiver over that stretch.

Slayton was inked to a two-year, $12 million deal in March to stay with the Giants and Jones. He has taken on the role (Sterling Shepard aside) as the leader in the receivers room, and despite his past woes, is obviously very much in the team’s plans.

Last year, Slayton entered training camp as almost an afterthought. He was entering the last year of his contract and was faced with having to audition for yet another new coaching staff. He was not all-in, as they say.

This summer, he’s one of the Giants’ main guys.

“I think it just stems from my performance,” Slayton said. “This year I performed at a higher level, performed more consistently and the results are showing that whereas last year I probably didn’t put my best foot forward all the time like I’m capable of doing. So ultimately you get the results that you deserve in life, and I feel like right now that’s what’s showing for me.”

Last season, Slayton didn’t start a game until Week 6 after the Giants began losing receivers regularly to injuries. He took the mantle from there, reeling in 46 passes for 724 yards.

In the postseason, he displayed his value to the club with several big plays but also dropped a pass in a key situation, showing his vulnerable side.

Rather than bench the veteran, head coach Brian Daboll consoled Slayton on the sidelines. It was a moment that defined both men, with Daboll as the “players’ coach” and Slayton as a player who needed encouragement rather than criticism.

With Shepard on PUP and possibly headed for a much-reduced role, Slayton is stepping into the leadership role — and he’s enjoying it.

“Yeah, I try my best with our rookies or even maybe guys who are only in their second or third year that maybe haven’t played as much live football, you know. Just kind of making them aware of little things that can trip you up. Sometimes playing receiver, there are little ways to keep yourself off of the bad tape so to speak in the film room, and I try my best to share those tips and tricks and hopefully they absorb it and use it.”

That receivers room might just start getting some respect going forward, but Slayton says the group first has to earn it, mostly because of the backgrounds of most of the players in it.

“I think it just comes from the way that the first year of all of our careers have went,” he said. “We weren’t draft darlings that went in the first round and were the prettiest girl in class. You kind of have to prove it a little more than other guys but that’s fine. You’ve got to take the stairs sometimes in life (but) that’s alright, you get to the top anyways. I think everybody in our group is talented, I think everybody in our group is capable and all we’ve got to do is go out there and show it.”

As for his friend Jones, who cashed in on a $160 million deal this past winter, Slayton says the sky is the limit.

“I don’t think he has one,” Slayton said when asked about Jones’ ceiling. “I think he’s a talented quarterback (and) we’ve got a talented group. As long as we play well (and) we block well, he’ll make all the plays he needs to make.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Dexter Lawrence wants New York Giants to take that next step in 2023

New York Giants Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, who was recently signed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension, says it’s time for his team to take the ultimate step forward.

The five-year veteran was asked on Thursday at the team’s training camp about his feelings on what the Giants are building here.

“I don’t want to talk about building. It’s more about doing at this point,” he said. “Going into my fifth season, and I hate losing. I don’t really want to talk about building. I want to talk about what we are doing today to get better for tomorrow, and then that day leads into the season. You all can talk about building but our mindset is winning.”

Losing is not something Lawrence did much of until he came to the Giants as the No. 17 overall selection in the 2019 NFL draft. He was a legendary high school star in North Carolina and a two-time national champion at Clemson.

In Lawrence’s first three seasons in East Rutherford, the Giants finished 4-12, 6-10 and 4-13, respectively, until finally turning the tide last year with a 9-7-1 record.

The Giants qualified for the postseason and even won a wild-card contest on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. Those positive vibes were quickly dashed as they were reminded haw far away they actually are from the top after getting crushed by the rival Philadelphia Eagles in the next round.

If the Giants are going to make some noise in the postseason, they will have to fare better against the Eagles and another division rival, the Dallas Cowboys.

Since the beginning of the 2014 season, the Giants have beaten the Eagles just three times in the 19 games they faced them. They are just as inept against Dallas, having just won once in 12 tries since 2017.

Lawrence knows these trends have to change.

“Last year we lost to them both,” he said. “This season is to train, day-by-day to improve. If I’m not making somebody across the ball better than me, then I messed up and I let my team down. It’s all about just progressing each day, each day.

“Those days stack until you build something beautiful, and it shines on Sundays or Mondays or Thursdays, or Saturdays or whenever they want to give us a game.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Giants’ Jalin Hyatt named top-10 candidate for Rookie of the Year

One of the reasons the New York Giants received high praise for their 2023 draft class was because of the players they selected in the second and third rounds who were mocked as first rounders.

While many thought they would draft a receiver in the first round, Big Blue ended up waiting on the position and selecting Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt in the third round, which was a surprise to even general manager Joe Schoen, who didn’t think Hyatt would be around in that spot.

“Not really,” Schoen said with a chuckle when asked if he thought Hyatt would still be on the board that late.

Now, with a little more than a month away from the season, and with training camp in full swing, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com named Hyatt as a top-10 candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

According to Pro Football Focus, Daniel Jones was next to last in average depth of passing targets last season, but that should change with Jaylin Hyatt on the field. The third-round pick brings premium deep speed and home-run ability to the Giants’ offense, and he’ll almost certainly have some eye-catching games as a rookie. However, he’s unlikely to be a high- or even mid-volume option, so that’s why he’s considered a bit of a long shot for the OROY award.

As stated, Hyatt winning the award would be quite the long shot, especially considering how crowded the Giants’ wide receivers room is. However, the speed in Hyatt’s skill set may suit him well for offensive coordinator Mike Kafka’s offense.

Hyatt is the fourth-highest ranked receiver on the list, but he did come in ahead of Zay Flowers, who was taken in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens.

Also ahead of Hyatt are two running backs and three quarterbacks that went in the first round, a group that includes Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.

It would certainly be a surprise for Hyatt to win the award. However, the fact that he is being recognized as a potential candidate shows the talent he is bringing to the Giants’ offense. Hopefully, the Giants can benefit from landing the Tennessee product.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version