Positional battles at several positions all across the roster will dominate headlines at New York Giants Mandatory Minicamp.
As spring football practices come to a conclusion this week as mandatory minicamp begins, the New York Giants have had the opportunity to begin to work together and acclimate themselves to the new leadership of head coach Ben McAdoo.
This time is not used to install game plan of any sort, but rather a time for the players to get back into football shape and for the coaches to begin to evaluate how the depth chart will shape up.
As all prior activities were voluntary until this week, this is the first time the entire team will be together on the field practicing.
Keeping that in mind, we bring you the top storylines to watch for at mandatory minicamp:
1. Does Victor Cruz Practice in Some Capacity?
Before this weekend, this was not even a question. From the beginning of organized team activities head coach Ben McAdoo has repeated that the team is “looking for him to get back here, and he’s working to get back, for training camp,” according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. However, comments from Cruz himself this weekend could hint at an earlier return.
His highly anticipated return to the practice field may come this week. After spending most of his spring working on the side with a trainer rehabbing his calf injury, he may be doing some real work with his teammates:
“I’m feeling good. I ran some routes this past Friday, some full speed routes and everything went well. We’ll see what happens next week. They might throw me out there with the wolves a little bit so we’ll see how it goes,” Cruz said this weekend at his foundation’s Father’s Day Football Experience and Skills Challenge.
This could be Cruz petitioning to the coaching staff that he is 100% healthy and ready to go. However one thing is certain, Victor Cruz will not see the practice field until the coaches are absolutely convinced of a full and complete recovery.
Was Victor was being overly optimistic with these comments or is he actually ready to return this week? We will find out soon.
2. Who Gets First-Team Reps at Free Safety?
The free safety position was one of the weakest position groups on the underachieving 2015 Giants team. With an ineffective turnstile of veteran stopgap players, the Giants look to get younger and healthier at the position. With three young and unproven players returning from season-ending injuries in Nat Berhe, Bennett Jackson, and Mykkele Thompson, as well as the third-round selection of playmaking free safety Darian Thompson out of Boise State, the Giants seem to have an infusion of youth at the position.
However, with the youth comes the uncertainty. None of these four players has much, if any, starting experience at the professional level. And as of now, there is no clear frontrunner to win the starting job alongside Landon Collins.
Although it is a long way from being decided, whoever receives the most first-team reps at Mandatory Minicamp could be a strong indication of who the coaches believe is the favorite to win the job.
3. Does OL Bobby Hart Crack The First Team Offensive Line?
With Ereck Flowers (22 years old), Justin Pugh (25), and Weston Richburg (24), anchoring the left side of the offensive line, the Giants are likely set for years at these three positions. However, the right side of the offensive line is far from set.
Last season, the Giants went with the highly scrutinized duo of veteran swingmen John Jerry and Marshall Newhouse to man the right side of the offensive line. Although the line held its own in pass protection (T-4th fewest sacks allowed), the unit struggled in run blocking—especially the right side.
After failing to address this side of the line through free agency, and failing to draft an offensive lineman for the first time in several years, the right side of the line is still a major question mark for this otherwise strong offense.
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As of now, the duo of Jerry at RG and Newhouse at RT seem slated to once again anchor the right side of the line. However, second year lineman Bobby Hart would beg to differ. Last year’s seventh round pick out of Florida State has emerged as a potential candidate to replace either veteran on the depth chart. He has experience playing both right tackle and right guard, but most project him at right guard due to his struggles against speedy edge rushers.
Last season, Hart held his own in pass protection but struggled in run blocking in limited action at right guard. There were times where he looked completely comfortable, but also times where he displayed poor technique and footwork. He looks to improve upon his limited 2015 campaign this season.
After a full offseason of training, it will be worth watching whether Hart can overtake either of the incumbents and add another youthful piece to the offensive line.
4. How Have the Rookies Progressed Thus Far?
It is no secret that the production from this draft class will go a long way in determining the success of the 2016 Giants. At this point, it is way too early to make any assumptions regarding the immediate success of potential impact players such as first round pick CB Eli Apple, second round pick WR Sterling Shepard, and third round pick free safety Darian Thompson.
However, Mandatory Minicamp should be a place where the coaches can move the rookies around in different formations to get a feel for where they are most comfortable. These practices wont be a final indication of the potential impact or positions of the rookies, but they should be a good indication of the direction the coaching staff is heading.
In addition, Mandatory Minicamp will be the first time Giants’ fifth round selection Paul Perkins suits up for Big Blue, as he was forced to miss all of organized team activities while he finished school at UCLA.
5. Will Any Clarity Emerge at the Logjams at RB, TE, and ILB?
Of the most compelling storylines heading into training camp, the positional battles at running back, tight end, and inside linebacker are near the top.
At running back, the Giants have six players all competing for roster spots. Rashad Jennings is the proven commodity of the group, and is a lock to play a role in the offense. Shane Vereen had 59 receptions last season and is slated to repeat his third-down/ receiving back role. But behind these two, the Giants have Andre Williams, Orleans Darkwa, rookie Paul Perkins, and free agent signee Bobby Rainey all competing for roster spots.
At tight end, the Giants have several players fighting for potentially two open spots. Behind the best rookie tight end in the NFL last season in Will Tye, the Giants have four tight ends all vying for roster spots—Larry Donnell (who is coming off of a serious neck injury), sixth round pick Jerrell Adams, 2015 undrafted free agent Matt LaCosse, and undrafted free agent Ryan Malleck.
At inside linebacker, the Giants have several options with no clear frontrunner to win the starting job. At the position, the Giants have veteran Jasper Brinkley (who resigned with the team this offseason after a solid 2015 campaign), free agent signees Keenan Robinson and Kelvin Sheppard, and fourth round selection BJ Goodson all competing for playing time. As of now, it seems like Brinkley is the favorite to win the job, but a lot can change between now and the regular season.
At each of these three positions, the Giants have great competition. However, the quality of the depth has to match the quantity of players at each position—something that has handcuffed the Giants in the past few seasons.
This week will be the first real look at the compelling positional battles at these three crucial positions.