SB Nation New York - New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Position-By-Position Breakdownshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2012-07-25T08:00:08-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29250882012-07-25T08:00:08-04:002012-07-25T08:00:08-04:00New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Special Teams
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<img alt="Punter Steve Weatherford, left, and placekicker Lawrence Tynes, right, were part of an improved special teams group for the Giants last season. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JxGGwcdHIJX069bxkR3BnHA3yE4=/0x28:964x671/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5334471/137576855.jpg" />
<figcaption>Punter Steve Weatherford, left, and placekicker Lawrence Tynes, right, were part of an improved special teams group for the Giants last season. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Special teams remains an often overlooked part of an any NFL team. The Super Bowl championship won last season by the New York Giants should, however, be an example of the important role special teams play in winning football games.</p>
<p>The Giants don't get to the post-season at all last season without a blocked field goal by Jason Pierre-Paul that won them a game against the Dallas Cowboys. And they don't advance past the NFC Championship Game if Devin Thomas does not recover a pair of fumbles on punt returns by Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers.</p>
<p>With that in mind, let's look at the key components of the Giants' special teams.</p>
<p><b>Punter</b></p>
<p>The Giants signed Weatherford a year ago as a free agent after the New York Jets let him go simply hoping the veteran would provide some consistency after the team suffered through watching Matt Dodge suffer with horrible inconsistency the prior season. Weatherford did more -- much more -- than that. The six-year veteran averaged a career-best 45.5 yards per punt, dropped 27 of his 82 punts inside the 20-yard line and helped the Giants to a net average of 39.4 yards per punt.</p>
<p>Weatherford, already punting for his fifth organization, earned himself a five-year, $12.75 million contract that included a $3.25 million signing bonus.</p>
<p><b>Placekicker</b></p>
<p>Lawrence Tynes has been with the Giants since 2007, and fans seem to have a love-hate relationship with the placekicker. Tynes can drive fans crazy with an occasional miss on a seemingly easy field goal or with some awful kickoffs, but he has always come through for the Giants in the clutch. He is entering the final year of a five-year, $7 million contract.</p>
<p><b>Returners</b></p>
<p>The Giants seemingly always struggle to find return men, for both kickoffs and punts. Let's look quickly at the candidates for both jobs.</p>
<p><b>Kickoffs </b>-- Da'Rel Scott averaged 24.4 yards on 14 kickoff returns last season, and Jerrel Jernigan returned eight kickoffs for a 23.3-yard average. Domenik Hixon has a career average of 24.6 yards on 80 returns, with a touchdown and four returns longer than 60 yards. Hixon, though, has missed almost all of the past two seasons with knee injuries. There are questions about his explosiveness and about whether or not the Giants want to expose him to returning, yet if he is the same player he was before the injuries he might be their best option.</p>
<p><b>Punts </b>-- The Giants find themselves in the same situation here as they are with kickoffs, where Hixon might be the best option if his knee can withstand the rigors of the job. Both of last season's primary returners, Aaron Ross and Will Blackmon, are no longer with the team. Hixon has a career average of 11 yards per return on 51 opportunities. He returned three punts for 3 yards last season (10.3 yards per return) before missing the last 14 games due to his latest knee injury. Jernigan could be an option here if he proves trustworthy in securing punts, which was an issue for him a season ago. Rookie third-round pick Jayron Hosley, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound cornerback, averaged 12.9 yards on 64 returns while at Virginia Tech and will get a long look for this role.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/25/3174784/new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-special-teams-steve-weatherford-lawrence-tynes-domenik-hixonEd Valentine2012-07-24T12:00:21-04:002012-07-24T12:00:21-04:00New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Safety
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<img alt="Kenny Phillips (21) of the New York Giants intercepts a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half at MetLife Stadium on November 20, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dS_NVE4KaxiU4MGn_zU2VSLDsK4=/0x194:467x505/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4792435/133702424.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kenny Phillips (21) of the New York Giants intercepts a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half at MetLife Stadium on November 20, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>With Perry Fewell as defensive coordinator the past two seasons the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> have relied heavily on a 4-2-5 defensive alignment, often employing three safeties. The way the Giants use their safeties may change somewhat in 2012.</p>
<p><span>Deon Grant</span>, a veteran who was the team's third safety the past two seasons and gave Fewell the flexibility to play three safeties, has not been re-signed. Grant played 1,125 snaps last season, nearly as many as starters <span>Antrel Rolle</span> and <span>Kenny Phillips</span>, and there is no obvious replacement on the roster.</p>
<p>That means the Giants might use more traditional two-safety alignments with Rolle and Phillips, while employing three linebackers.</p>
<p>Let's look at the safety depth chart as the defending Super Bowl champion Giants prepare to open training camp at UAlbany on July 27.</p>
<p><b>Starters: </b>Rolle, Phillips<br><b>Reserves: </b><span>Tyler Sash</span> (2nd year); <span>Stevie Brown</span> (free-agent signee), <span>Will Hill</span> (UDFA); <span>Chris Horton</span> (free-agent signee); <span>JoJo Nicolas</span> (UDFA)</p>
<p>Rolle and Phillips are a quality pair of starters. Phillips had career-bests in interceptions (four) and tackles (86) last season. He had a Pro Football Focus rating of +9.6.</p>
<p>Rolle had 100 tackles and two interceptions. Due to injuries at cornerback Rolle was often required to play out of position against slot receivers. He should benefit this season if the Giants use a more traditional look with their safeties.</p>
<p>Who will back them up is the real question heading into training camp.</p>
<p>Sash was drafted in the sixth round a season ago and is an excellent special teams player. There are questions, however, about whether or not he can be counted on defensively. Brown, entering his third season, and Horton, entering his fourth, were signed to provide competition. Brown has been particularly impressive.</p>
<p>Hill, an undrafted free agent from Florida, has also gotten the attention of the coaching staff.</p>
<p>"Brown really showed me some things that I didn’t see in his workout. Steve really did a good job in covering the ground from the post position, from the half position. I think he had some blitz ability, we worked on the blitzes. He was a guy that I thought we could do multiple things with. I didn’t think that initially, but after the OTAs and minicamp, I think he did some nice things for us. So, that was a pleasant surprise for me," <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/6/15/3088992/perry-fewell-transcript-06-14-12">said Fewell</a>. "I still like <span class="sbn-auto-link">Will Hill</span>. I think he’s a talented young man. The volume of things that we do, you could see I taxed him a little bit, but again, we will try to put him in a position where he can have success and not have so much to think about in the preseason games. I still like both those guys."</p>
<p>How the safety position shakes out will be one of the more interesting stories of training camp.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/24/3174277/new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-safety-kenny-phillips-antrel-rolle-tyler-sash-will-hillEd Valentine2012-07-24T08:00:07-04:002012-07-24T08:00:07-04:00New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Cornerback
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<img alt="Terrell Thomas hopes to return to the kind of form that allowed him to make plays like this during the 2010 season. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XMa0r4sROoCKB_yTlt5z8UJV3pY=/0x2:600x402/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1583258/GYI0062865350.jpg" />
<figcaption>Terrell Thomas hopes to return to the kind of form that allowed him to make plays like this during the 2010 season. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>During the 2011 season the New York Giants watched one cornerback after another go down to injuries, including starter Terrell Thomas and 2011 first-round draft choice Prince Amukamara. The Giants went from a situation where they looked to have tremendous depth at the position to being forced to use safety Antrel Rolle as a slot cornerback for much of the season.</p>
<p>Aaron Ross played well in Thomas' spot last season, but left for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency during the offseason. Despite that loss, the Giants appears to be well-stocked at the cornerback position entering the 2012 season.</p>
<p>Let's take a quick look at the depth chart entering training camp.</p>
<p><b>Likely Starters: </b>Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas<br><b>New Faces:</b> Antwaun Molden (free-agent signee); Dante Hughes (free-agent signee); Jayron Hosley (third-round draft choice); Janzen Jackson (UDFA)<br><b>Remaining Reserves: </b>Prince Amukamara, Justin Tryon, Michael Coe, Bruce Johnson, Brandon Bing</p>
<p>Webster is the leader of this group. A seven-year veteran, he led the Giants with a career-best six interceptions last season, and had 11 passes defensed. Quarterbacks had a 71.6 passer rating targeting Webster last season.</p>
<p>Thomas appeared headed for stardom after a terrific 2010 season, but a torn ACL in the preseason cost him the 2011 season. Thomas is intent on re-claiming his starting job, for which he will have to fight Amukamara.</p>
<p>The 2011 first-round pick broke his foot in training camp last season and missed the first nine games. He played in only seven games and did fare particularly well. Amukamara should be healthy entering training camp, and the Giants hope to see the form that made him the 19th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.</p>
<p>Hosley is a diminutive 5-foot-10, 178-pound corner from Virginia Tech who was selected in the third round. He will compete for time as a slot corner, helping to free Rolle to play his natural safety position.</p>
<p>Molden, a four-year veteran and Hughes, a five-year veteran, were signed as free agents in the offseason and will compete for roster spots as reserves.</p>
<p>Tryon, Coe and Johnson all finished last season on injured reserve. Brandon Bing, a Rutgers grad, was on the Giants' practice squad last season. All four of them will fight Molden, Hughes and Jackson for spots on the roster.</p>
<p><b>Outook</b></p>
<p>If Thomas and Amukamara are healthy the Giants should have an outstanding trio of cornerbacks -- a necessity for a quality defense in today's NFL. Hosley could find a role covering slot receivers when the Giants go to nickel or dime defensive packages.</p>
<p>Tryon is a favorite of fans and coaches after displaying his toughness a season ago by making a tackle on special teams despite having suffered a broken arm that cost him the remainder of the season. He is also a good player and should find his way onto the roster.</p>
<p>That would leave the remaining players fighting to make the roster.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/24/3174041/new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-cornerback-corey-webster-terrell-thomas-prince-amukamaraEd Valentine2012-07-23T08:00:13-04:002012-07-23T08:00:13-04:00New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Linebacker
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<img alt="Michael Boley was the New York Giants best linebacker in 2011. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JLtV5c2yz-Eeq1VkIhuRIHqzi7Y=/0x0:1000x667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5416331/138016071.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael Boley was the New York Giants best linebacker in 2011. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Linebacker has seemingly been a weak spot for the New York <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, and a position fans have begging the team to address, for years. As the defending Super Bowl champions begin preparations for the 2012 NFL season, which begins for them when training camp at UAlbany opens July 27, that no longer appears to be the case.</p>
<p>Linebacker is the subject today as we continue our preseason series of position-by-position profiles. What we find is that the Giants do not have one dominant player in their linebacking corps, but they do appear to have a deep, talented group of versatile players who offer defensive coordinator Perry Fewell a multitude of options in configuring his group.</p>
<p>Entering training camp, here is what the linebacker unit looks like:</p>
<p><b>Starters:</b> Michael Boley (OLB), Mathias Kiwanuka (OLB), Chase Blackburn (MLB)<br><b>Returning Reserves:</b> Mark Herzlich (MLB), <span>Greg Jones</span> (OLB), Jacquian Williams (OLB), Spencer Paysinger (OLB), Clint Sintim (OLB)<br><b>Newcomers: </b>Keith Rivers, OLB (trade with Cincinnati), Jake Mausau, MLB (UDFA)</p>
<p><b>The Big Battle</b></p>
<p>That would be the knock-down, drag-out free-for-all that appears to be taking shape for the middle linebacker job. The Giants have been clear that Blackburn, who came off his couch late in the 2011 season as a free agent signee to take the starting middle linebacker job and helped stabilize the defense, is the starter. At least on Day 1 of training camp. Day 1 of of the regular season is anyone's guess.</p>
<p>Blackburn, a 29-year-old entering his eight season, could play well enough to keep the job. He had 26 tackles and one interception in five regular-season games and the identical totals in four post-season games.</p>
<p>Herzlich, the second-year undrafted free agent from Boston College who survived bone cancer to have an NFL career, could win the job. He started two games in the middle of the season before suffering a broken ankle that ended his season. The Giants appear to love his aggressiveness and run-stopping ability, but the question will be his athleticism and ability to play in pass coverage.</p>
<p>Rivers, a first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008, could earn the job after being acquired in a trade during the offseason. Rivers has had an injury-plagued career and missed all of last season with a wrist injury. He has played mostly on the weak side, where Boley in entrenched, but has reportedly played middle linebacker in passing situations. He could do something similar with the Giants, since neither Blackburn nor Herzlich excels in pass coverage.</p>
<p><b>The Outsiders</b></p>
<p>Those would be Boley and Kiwanuka, the starting outside linebackers. Boley, the weak-side linebacker, had his best season as a Giant in 2011. The seven-year veteran had 94 tackles and took a leadership role, calling the Giants' defensive signals for the first time.</p>
<p>Kiwanuka, a reluctant linebacker with the Giants during the 2009 season, moved to that position willingly last season and played extremely well while also spending some time as a pass-rushing defensive end. Kiwanuka had 85 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception as a very valuable hybrid type player for Fewell and the Giants.</p>
<p>The duo give the Giants a pair of quality starters with differing skill sets.</p>
<p><b>The Rest Of The Story</b></p>
<p>That would be the competition for the remaining roster spots. Blackburn, Boley, Kiwanuka, Rivers and Herzlich appear to be certain to make the roster. Weak-side linebacker Jacquian Williams would also appear to be likely to make the squad. As a rookie in 2011, the sixth-round pick from South Florida had 71 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and five passes defensed.</p>
<p>That leaves four players fighting for what probably will be two roster spots. Sintim missed all of last season with his second devastating knee injury. The 2009 second-round pick tries for what will probably be the last time to prove he belongs. Spencer Paysinger made the team last season as an undrafted free agent. He is a good special teams player but has Boley, Rivers and Williams ahead of him at weak-side linebacker. His path to the roster is a difficult one. Jones started five games at middle linebacker as a rookie last season, but the Giants are moving him to the strong side this season in hopes he can be a backup for Kiwanuka. Muasau is an undrafted free agent signed after rookie mini-camp out of tiny Georgia State. The Giants believe he has a chance, another reason Jones is working on the outside.</p>
<p><b>Fewell Says</b></p>
<p>The Giants' defensive coordinator knows he has a linebacking group with a number of talented players who have differing skills sets. What he doesn't know is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/6/15/3088992/perry-fewell-transcript-06-14-12">how the jigsaw puzzle will ultimately fit together</a>.</p>
<p>"Our linebacking corps a year ago was young and inexperienced. They were talented, but there was an area of concern because there was no OTAs, mandatory mini-camp, etc. With a year under their belt, with some playing experience, they look bigger, they look stronger, they look faster, they’re more knowledgeable. I think we’re a better unit, linebacker unit, than at the end of the 2011 season," Fewell said. "I think we have depth at our linebacker unit this year. And I think there’s real competition for different roles within our linebacking unit. I’m going to have to do a good job of evaluating those guys when we get to training camp and make sure that we put them in the proper positions for them to have success."</p>
<p><b>Prediction</b></p>
<p>In the middle, Herzlich eventually takes the job from Blackburn. Rivers plays the middle in many passing situations, which seems like the best way to get him on the field. Also, without Deon Grant the Giants will likely play fewer three-safety alignments, increasing the need for linebackers who can cover backs and tight ends.</p>
<p>Among the reserves, best guess is that Paysinger and Sintim ultimately lose out. For Paysinger, the mountain just seems too steep. There are too many players with similar skills ahead of him. For Sintim, knee injuries have sidelined him for more than a season and even when he was healthy he never really showed that he was comfortable transitioning from a 3-4 defensive end in college to a 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL. His time may have run out.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/23/3170881/new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-linebackerEd Valentine2012-07-22T12:00:04-04:002012-07-22T12:00:04-04:00New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Defensive Ends
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<p>New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Defensive Ends</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> is built upon one thing -- rushing the passer. And that defense depends largely upon its stable of sack-happy defensive ends to get that job done. As we continue our position-by-position series of previews leading up to training camp at UAlbany, let's examine where the Giants are at defensive end heading into 2012.</p>
<p>The Giants still have <span>Jason Pierre-Paul</span>, <span>Justin Tuck</span> and <span>Osi Umenyiora</span> -- as good a threesome of defensive ends as any in the league. They have <span>Mathias Kiwanuka</span>, who was drafted as a defensive end, is now a starting outside linebacker but often rushes from a defensive line spot in passing situations. They no longer have <span>Dave Tollefson</span>, who signed with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> as a free agent.</p>
<p>Pierre-Paul, entering his third season in the NFL, has not only supplanted Umenyiora as the starting right defensive end but has surpassed Umenyiora and Tuck as the unquestioned star of this group. Pierre-Paul was named an All-Pro in 2011 after registering 16.5 sacks (4th in the league) and 66 tackles. He blocked a field goal against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> that won the Giants a game and kept their playoff hopes alive. Pierre-Paul had a +30.3 rating from Pro Football Focus. The 23-year-old is considered to be a player who, despite last season's lofty accomplishments, is only scratching the surface of his potential.</p>
<p>Beset by a variety of injuries in 2011, Tuck's production dropped from 11.5 sacks in 2010 to just five last season. The seven-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler rebounded to play well in the postseason. His production should rebound in 2012 if he can stay healthy.</p>
<p>For a time this offseason there were questions about whether or not Umenyiora would be a Giant in 2012. There was chatter around the NFL Draft that Umenyiora could be moved due to his long-running feud with the team over his contract. He wasn't. Umenyiora and the Giants eventually agreed to a re-structured deal that will pay him more money this season and allow him to test free agency if he chooses before the 2013 season. He played only nine games last season, but had nine sacks and two forced fumbles. The 30-year-old Umenyiora is still a tremendous force rushing off the edge, even if he is no longer an every-down player for New York.</p>
<p>Tollefson provided the Giants with excellent depth the past few seasons. With the injuries to Tuck and Umenyiora a season ago, Tollefson played 512 snaps and had career-highs in sacks with five and tackle with 19. In its annual Almanac, Football Outsiders insists that Tollefson's departure causes the Giants "a huge depth problem."</p>
<p>Youngsters Justin Trattou and <span>Adrian Tracy</span>, who were each on the practice squad a season ago, are the most likely candidates to fill Tollefson's role.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/22/3169927/new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-defensive-ends-jason-pierre-paul-osi-umenyiora-justin-tuckEd Valentine2012-07-22T08:00:02-04:002012-07-22T08:00:02-04:00New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Defensive Tackles
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<img alt="Chris Canty is the leader of the Giants' defensive tackle rotation. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zYlV7X_gktuKZ35KV_ZpEteWsQs=/0x24:977x675/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5029612/135952891.jpg" />
<figcaption>Chris Canty is the leader of the Giants' defensive tackle rotation. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Defensive Tackles</p> <p>The New York Giants' defense is built around, and justifiably noted for, its plethora of pass-rushing defensive ends. The defensive tackles get much less attention, maybe no attention at all, but their play is important to the defense.</p>
<p>As we continue our position-by-position previews in advance of training camp, which opens with the first practice at UAlbany on July 27, let's look at those defensive tackles.</p>
<p><b>Starters:</b> Chris Canty, Linval Joseph<br><b>Likely Reserves: </b>Rocky Bernard, Marvin Austin<br><b>Fighting For Roster Spots: </b>Shaun Rogers, Markus Kuhn, Martin Parker, Dwayne Hendricks</p>
<p>Canty, entering his eighth season, has become a mainstay of the Giants defense after coming to the team from the Dallas Cowboys in 2009. He had 47 tackles and four sacks last season. Pro Football Focus gave Canty a +5.7 rating. Canty had offseason knee surgery but has said he expects to be fine for training camp.</p>
<p>Joseph enters his third season coming off a solid first season as a starter and full-time member of the defensive tackle rotation. The 6-foot-4, 32-pound Joseph had 49 tackles and two sacks while proving to be an effective run-stopper in the middle of the Giants' defense.</p>
<p>Bernard, entering his 11th season, played well as a reserve for the Giants last season.He had 30 tackles and a forced fumble and re-signed with the Giants as a free agent in the offseason.</p>
<p>Austin was a second-round choice out of North Carolina a season ago. He spent last season on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle and has not played football in two seasons after a suspension cost him his senior year with the Tar Heels. The Giants know he has talent, but there is a question about what he can do after two years away from the game.</p>
<p>Rogers was signed in the offseason, but the massive 6-4, 350-pound 12-year veteran has had an elbow injury that prevented him from participating in mini-camp and there are questions about whether or not he can make the team.</p>
<p>Kuhn, out of North Carolina State, was drafted in the seventh round. The Giants have yet to see Kuhn get on the field, however, as work permit issues have prevented the German-born Kuhn from practicing.</p>
<p><b>Outlook</b></p>
<p>This group should be fine. There are quality veteran players and a decent amount of depth. It could be dominant if Joseph continues to develop and if Austin can be a force despite the two-year layoff. With all of the offseason work he missed, and the quality veterans in front of him, Kuhn might have a difficult time earning a spot on the roster.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/22/3169286/new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-defensive-tackles-chris-canty-linval-joseph-marvin-austinEd Valentine2012-07-21T08:00:09-04:002012-07-21T08:00:09-04:00New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Offensive Line
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<img alt="The Giants will be hoping for improved play from their offensive line in 2012. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Vg_vwRJ0wAKTr9webibw_Fkbs74=/0x0:1000x667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5067435/136098110.jpg" />
<figcaption>The Giants will be hoping for improved play from their offensive line in 2012. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>As we continue our series of position-by-position previews of the defending Super Bowl champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> we turn our attention today to the team's offensive line. Despite the Super Bowl title, this is a unit that did not play particularly well last season, and one that will see some change this season.</p>
<p>The biggest change is that veteran right tackle <span>Kareem McKenzie</span> is gone. He will be replaced by <span>David Diehl</span>, who will move to yet another position on the line. Diehl started last season as the left guard, then moved to left tackle for the final sexi regular-season games and the playoffs when <span>Will Beatty</span> went down with a detached retina. Beatty is expected to resume his duties at left tackle this season. <span>Kevin Boothe</span> will open training camp as the starting left guard, where Diehl opened last season, and could be challenged by <span>Mitch Petrus</span>.</p>
<p>Thus, the likely line looks like this: LT -- Beatty; LG -- Boothe/Petrus; C -- <span>David Baas</span>; RG -- <span>Chris Snee</span>; RT -- Diehl.</p>
<p>The Giants drafted a pair of lineman last April, taking guard <span>Brandon Mosley</span> in the fourth round and tackle <span>Matt McCants</span> in the sixth round. Last season's fourth-round choice, <span>James Brewer</span>, will be counted on if there are injuries at the tackle spots, as will veteran <span>Sean Locklear</span>, signed as a free agent during the offseason.</p>
<p>The key question is simple: Can this group play better than the 2011 offensive line did?</p>
<p>For some perspective, let's look at how bad the line was last season. The Giants were last in the league in rushing yards per game (89.2) and that was largely due to the line's inability to create running lanes. Football Outsiders ranked the Giants' line 29th in the league. FO said:</p>
<p><i>"It’s hard to pinpoint one or two Giants linemen who were responsible for the running problems. It seemed like on every play, a different lineman was pushed backwards, or missed his block, or seemed to be blocking the wrong player, thus leaving another lineman completely confused."</i></p>
<p>Pro Football Focus, which grades team and individual performance on a +/- scale, scored the Giants at -75.1 in run blocking for 2011, with only three teams scoring worse. PFF also ranked the Giants' line last in the league in pass-blocking efficiency, with its research revealing that in 627 dropbacks the line allowed quarterback <span>Eli Manning</span> to be pressured 220 times, an efficiency rating of only 72.6 percent.</p>
<p>Truly amazing that, under all that duress, Manning passed for 4,933 yards and had the best individual season of his career.</p>
<p>The Giants will largely hope that improved health in 2012 will lead to improved performance.</p>
<p>Beatty, a 2009 second-round draft choice, was in his first season as the starting left tackle last season and was doing a competent job before being injured. David Baas, signed as a free agent last offseason, missed five games with injuries and suffered from the lack of an offseason program. Right guard Chris Snee has a troublesome elbow that affected his performance.</p>
<p>The Giants will hope that Diehl, graded by Pro Football Focus, as the <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.profootballfocus.com%2Fblog%2F2012%2F07%2F12%2Fthree-years-of-pass-blocking-efficiency-offensive-tackles%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fnewyork.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F7%2F21%2F3167595%2Fnew-york-giants-training-camp-preview-offensive-line-david-diehl-will-beatty-chris-snee-david-baas" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">worst pass-blocking tackle in the league</a> the past three seasons, is better suited to the right side.</p>
<p>New York will have a revamped backfield this season with <span>Brandon Jacobs</span> gone and first-round pick <span>David Wilson</span> in his place. The receiving corps will look different at both tight end and wide receiver. The Giants will need the line to play better to both keep Manning healthy and to give him time to sort out how to utilize the new weapons at his disposal.</p>
<p><i>-- See <a target="_blank" href="http://bigblueview.com">Big Blue View</a> for more discussion and analysis of the Giants</i></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/21/3167595/new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-offensive-line-david-diehl-will-beatty-chris-snee-david-baasEd Valentine2012-07-20T08:00:07-04:002012-07-20T08:00:07-04:00New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Tight End
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<img alt="Bear Pascoe will open training camp as the Giants' starting tight end. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IAtcL5IWl8sTv1n7v8vHXlmqE5I=/0x0:1000x667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5471522/138322044.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bear Pascoe will open training camp as the Giants' starting tight end. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Tight End</p> <p>Tight end is a position of concern for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> as they enter the 2012 NFL season, which begins for the defending Super Bowl champs on July 26 when they report to training camp at UAlbany.</p>
<p>The Giants enter the season without either of their primary tight ends in the Super Bowl victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>. <span>Jake Ballard</span> and <span>Travis Beckum</span> both suffered serious knee injuries in the Super Bowl. Ballard, not expected to play this season, was claimed by the Patriots when the Giants tried to sneak him through waivers. When Beckum will be available is unknown.</p>
<p>New York will enter training camp with <span>Bear Pascoe</span>, in his fourth season with the team, listed as the starting tight end. Pascoe, though, is not viewed as the long-term answer. He has 22 receptions in three years while often also functioning as a fullback.</p>
<p>[<a target="_blank" href="http://insidefootball.com/blog/archives/4659">Inside Football On The Giants' Tight Ends</a>]</p>
<p>The Giants will hope that <span>Martellus Bennett</span>, signed to a one-year contract as a free agent after four unsatisfying seasons with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a>, can shed his reputation as an under-achiever and become the primary tight end. Playing behind <span>Jason Witten</span> in Dallas, Bennett has 85 career receptions. His best season was 2010, when he caught 33 passes. Bennett is considered to be a premier run-blocking tight end, but has yet to fulfill his promise as a pass-catching threat.</p>
<p>Fourth-round draft choice <span>Adrien Robinson</span> is also a player the Giants are excited about. The Giants believe Robinson, who caught only 29 passes in four season at Cincinnati, was under-used by the Bearcats.</p>
<p>"Right now we have a long way to go at that spot. Fortunately, in fairness, when we lost <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Kevin Boss</span></span>, I was thinking, "Wow, where are we going to go?" And I thought Jake [Ballard] could be the guy. He looked like he could be the big strong blocker and maybe an intermediate underneath guy in catching the ball. And as I said to you guys a lot, "He exceeded because he caught the ball down the field." I didn’t really think he would be able to do it. He certainly didn’t do it with his speed. He did it with his finesse, intelligence. He set people up and got open and did some great things. He will be sorely missed. We knew we weren’t going to have him this year, but he was a guy that could have been a starter for a long time. Now somebody else has to step up," <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/6/15/3088988/kevin-gilbride-new-york-giants-press-conference-06-14-12-reben-randle-david-wilson">offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said</a> during mini-camp. "You are hoping Martellus - that is why he was brought here. You are hoping that Adrien Robinson down the road would be the guy. If not, Bear is going to be the guy. Bear will be the guy. Somebody has got to do it."</p>
<p>The Giants hope to find out who that somebody will be during their stay in Albany.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/20/3166116/new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-tight-end-martellus-bennett-bear-pascoe-adrien-robinsonEd Valentine