To add, we are not going to Camp today. We have reached the point of diminishing returns. It's time to see these young men in game action.
I saw Evan Engram much more involved in run and pass blocking yesterday. Ellison has appeared to catch everything thrown his way. We have been seeing players moved around on the second and third teams to getting snaps with first team Offense for the RB's, Receivers and DB's. Shane Smith has gotten a very large body of work on all three teams. He's now listed as a FB on the roster sheet and he's the only FB. Looks like he's a lock to make the team at this point. He's lined up in so many different formations.
Eli has clearly been head and shoulders above the other three QB's at this point. I wonder if the grueling regiment has had some effect on Webb and Lauletta. Kyle appeared to have his worst day but I'm not so sure it was him or some miscommunication with his Receiver as to where the Receiver was supposed to be.
Vernon has lined up on both sides of the DL all throughout camp. We saw less Blitz packages and I think it's a good thing because the LB's and Safeties need the work in coverage packages.
It might be a good topic for discussion concerning the three Rookies who will be Full Time Starters this season in Barkley, Hernandez and Hill and how endurance will play a roll in how effective they will be come December. More so with Hill and Hernandez because they will get a lot of snaps with Hernandez getting the most. Hill will get spelled. I expect Barkley to be spelled by Stewart and Gallman. I think the reason Barkley has had limited snaps this summer is because they don't want him hitting a wall in the last quarter of the season.
As we approach the first Pre-Season game I have thoughts of how an entirely new Coaching Staff has done such a nice job of preparation. I think about how long it might take each Squad of Offense, Defense and Special Teams to reach the their peak performance. They have a new language, new schemes and packages, new players to play along side of too. One key factor is continuity and learning how the other guy thinks and reacts to certain situations. I also think of this Defense as being the most aggressive Defense we may be seeing in decades. How will Offenses adjust to what the Giants do. It appears they will be much less Read and React but still the Mike Backer and Landon Collins will need to be on their game to make adjustments. One thing I see for sure is that any Receiver whether it be a Slot Guy or a Wideout on a short Slant will be met with a hard hit. Hopefully, Goodson doesn't lead with the head.
Rich and I have see an improvement in the Receivers holding on to the ball but they know they won't get hit. Especially Engram, OBJ and Lewis. Eli's Receivers led the league in drops last season. Drops that should have been receptions are drive killers. Which leads me to the P word. I saw a lot of false starts and Off Sides this year and much more than I can recall in previous seasons. I felt the Line Officials should have called a lot more than they did. One of the reasons for False Starts is the rotation of new Centers although Halapio has done a nice job snapping, another is the aggressive nature of the Defense and finally it's continuity and what the Offensive Line Players understand as their assignments on every look.
Holding is another thing I see by the Offensive Line and that absolutely is a Drive Killer. The Poster Boy for Holding is Eric Flowers. When you watch the game Thursday, take a close look as to how Solder lines up with his stance compared to Flowers. Look at the feet and how vertical Solder is to the Line of Scrimmage. Even when the Pass Rusher is wide 9 he doesn't turn and spread. He has full confidence in this agility and quickness of feet to protect and push the PR to the outside of the pocket and it allows him to defend a spin move or a swim. He has soft feet and by that I mean he's a dancer, while Flowers is a stomper.
Finally Rich and I have been closely watching a player who has flied under the radar this Camp and that is John Jerry. Maybe it's us just talking each other into a bias but I think we both agree that he appears to be the best RT on the team at this point. Coach Shumur has to have a backup plan and that plan can't be the waiver wire unless it's a seasoned Veteran who can be a Plug and Play. It also ain't Chad Wheeler at this point in his career. Hopefully Chad is a just a Wanna Be and not a Never Will Be. The likelihood of both Tackles coming through the season unscathed and injury free is not something that can be wagered on. Solder is already wearing a brace and Flowers is going to have ankle issues because he's awkward and clumsy and has a little history of having to push through nagging injury. They need to have a viable solution to the Swing Backup and it's clearly John Jerry to me at this point.
I saw Evan Engram much more involved in run and pass blocking yesterday. Ellison has appeared to catch everything thrown his way. We have been seeing players moved around on the second and third teams to getting snaps with first team Offense for the RB's, Receivers and DB's. Shane Smith has gotten a very large body of work on all three teams. He's now listed as a FB on the roster sheet and he's the only FB. Looks like he's a lock to make the team at this point. He's lined up in so many different formations.
Eli has clearly been head and shoulders above the other three QB's at this point. I wonder if the grueling regiment has had some effect on Webb and Lauletta. Kyle appeared to have his worst day but I'm not so sure it was him or some miscommunication with his Receiver as to where the Receiver was supposed to be.
Vernon has lined up on both sides of the DL all throughout camp. We saw less Blitz packages and I think it's a good thing because the LB's and Safeties need the work in coverage packages.
It might be a good topic for discussion concerning the three Rookies who will be Full Time Starters this season in Barkley, Hernandez and Hill and how endurance will play a roll in how effective they will be come December. More so with Hill and Hernandez because they will get a lot of snaps with Hernandez getting the most. Hill will get spelled. I expect Barkley to be spelled by Stewart and Gallman. I think the reason Barkley has had limited snaps this summer is because they don't want him hitting a wall in the last quarter of the season.
As we approach the first Pre-Season game I have thoughts of how an entirely new Coaching Staff has done such a nice job of preparation. I think about how long it might take each Squad of Offense, Defense and Special Teams to reach the their peak performance. They have a new language, new schemes and packages, new players to play along side of too. One key factor is continuity and learning how the other guy thinks and reacts to certain situations. I also think of this Defense as being the most aggressive Defense we may be seeing in decades. How will Offenses adjust to what the Giants do. It appears they will be much less Read and React but still the Mike Backer and Landon Collins will need to be on their game to make adjustments. One thing I see for sure is that any Receiver whether it be a Slot Guy or a Wideout on a short Slant will be met with a hard hit. Hopefully, Goodson doesn't lead with the head.
Rich and I have see an improvement in the Receivers holding on to the ball but they know they won't get hit. Especially Engram, OBJ and Lewis. Eli's Receivers led the league in drops last season. Drops that should have been receptions are drive killers. Which leads me to the P word. I saw a lot of false starts and Off Sides this year and much more than I can recall in previous seasons. I felt the Line Officials should have called a lot more than they did. One of the reasons for False Starts is the rotation of new Centers although Halapio has done a nice job snapping, another is the aggressive nature of the Defense and finally it's continuity and what the Offensive Line Players understand as their assignments on every look.
Holding is another thing I see by the Offensive Line and that absolutely is a Drive Killer. The Poster Boy for Holding is Eric Flowers. When you watch the game Thursday, take a close look as to how Solder lines up with his stance compared to Flowers. Look at the feet and how vertical Solder is to the Line of Scrimmage. Even when the Pass Rusher is wide 9 he doesn't turn and spread. He has full confidence in this agility and quickness of feet to protect and push the PR to the outside of the pocket and it allows him to defend a spin move or a swim. He has soft feet and by that I mean he's a dancer, while Flowers is a stomper.
Finally Rich and I have been closely watching a player who has flied under the radar this Camp and that is John Jerry. Maybe it's us just talking each other into a bias but I think we both agree that he appears to be the best RT on the team at this point. Coach Shumur has to have a backup plan and that plan can't be the waiver wire unless it's a seasoned Veteran who can be a Plug and Play. It also ain't Chad Wheeler at this point in his career. Hopefully Chad is a just a Wanna Be and not a Never Will Be. The likelihood of both Tackles coming through the season unscathed and injury free is not something that can be wagered on. Solder is already wearing a brace and Flowers is going to have ankle issues because he's awkward and clumsy and has a little history of having to push through nagging injury. They need to have a viable solution to the Swing Backup and it's clearly John Jerry to me at this point.