Recently, Giants reporter/guru Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger agreed to answer a few of my questions regarding coaching changes, position battles, highlights and lowlights of training camp, injuries, etc.
Here follows the transcript of the e-chat:
AI) Shaun O’hara has a chronic ankle condition, Hakeem Nicks went out with hyperextended knee, Travis Beckum has a hamstring issue, Hixon is gone for the year – is this 2009 all over again with the Giants dropping like flies? Is there anything other than bad luck to blame for these injuries?
MG) I agree with Jerry Reese. I don’t think what the Giants are dealing with right now is any worse than what other teams are dealing with. Every team has a bunch of guys banged up. The Hixon loss hurts this team, but to lose a guy to injury before the start of the season is a common thing. Last year, tha team was snakebitten.
AI) Chris Canty and Michael Boley came to the Giants last season as free agents, never having had an injury that sidelined them at any time in their careers. Oddly, both suffered injuries that lingered all year as soon as they joined the Giants… is that an indicator that the Giants training staff is not doing something that other teams are to keep their players healthy and on the field? In your opinion, do the trainers make enough time for stretching exercises before and after practices?
MG) Canty admitted to me he wasn’t in proper shape. He believes he allowed the free agent process to affect his workouts and vowed not to have the same issues this year. Boley didn’t say as much but I think he had the same problems. You can’t pin it on the training staff. At some point these guys have to take responsibility.
AI) Brandon Jacobs news has been few and far between this camp, while Ahmad Bradshaw seems to be all over the place. Taking first team snaps, and shows he hasn’t been limited by his surgeries… have you been impressed with what you’ve see with Bradshaw and do you see him moving into the featured back role this season?
MG) I do think Bradshaw looks healthy again and could see him playing a bigger role. My question is whether his running style will result in ankle and foot injuries once again. That could be the case because of his bowlegged style.
AI) Danny Ware and Gartrell Johnson, Tom Coughlin hasn’t had anything good to say about them all year – what is the inside story here? Can we assume that atleast Johnson will be cut, and does Andre Brown have a legit shot to take over that third spot in the rotation? How has Brown looked to you?
MG) Ware has had problems with the mental side of the game. Though he claimed he was beyond such issues last year, they still crept up on him. Until I see otherwise, I’ll assume he has some more work to do in that area. Brown looks 100 percent healthy and could be huge for this team as a third-down back. He’s got quite the burst after that Achilles issue last year.
AI) Last year, Eli Manning went on record as saying he and his young receivers spent a lot of time over the playbook last offseason, particularly Steve Smith, and the main objective was “the deep ball”. Is there anything you’ve noticed yet that Eli clearly has been working on, something that shows a marked improvement from years past?
MG) Nothing different from Eli so far in camp. He’s been inconsistent at times but it’s early and it’s only camp. I expect him to continue to stress the deep ball, especially late in the season.
AI) Who is going be the backup QB as it stands right now?
MG) No question it’s Sorgi and it will be him in season.
AI) Everyone seems to want to know about Ramses Barden — does the 6’6″ second year rookie have a shot to take the 3rd or 4th string spot and be a mainstay ingredient on the Giants roster? Do you see the Giants pushing him to own his size, particularly in the red zone? What are his drawbacks right now and what can he do to be more consistent?
MG) Barden has to work on giving top effort play in and play out. He’s a big guy and he’s on everyone’s mind, so it’s easy to see when he’s giving up on a ball. Consistency will come when he can get after it snap after snap. Right now, I’m not seeing that and until I do, he’s nothing but a situational guy in my mind.
AI) How loud is Fewell’s screeching? More like a car alarm or seagull?
MG) Pretty loud. He’s giving David Merritt a run for his money as loudest coach.
AI) You’ve been covering the Giants since 04. Have you seen a change in demeanor on this Giants defense now that Fewell is running things? Would you say it’s more hands on and fiery like Steve Spagnuolo used to run things? What is your overall read, should fans be relieved? excited?
MG) Definitely more upbeat than last year. Similar to what things were like under Spags. The players are excited and that should make the fans excited.
AI) Has there been any negative reaction from the players, like the Umenyiora/Sheridan situation early on last year? (anything that might point to a larger issue down the road like that?)
MG) No, the players seem to have bought into Fewell’s approach. We’ll see if it nets positive results.
AI) Antrel Rolle / Deon Grant / Michael Johnson…. and KP on the PUP…. are we set back there this year? Who have been the standouts so far? Any surprises/disapointments? Will Kenny Phillips return to the lineup by the first game of the season?
MG) This team did a great job of upgrading that back end. Those were some of the best moves in a while – probably since the ’05 free agent class. Rolle is going to be an impact player for this team and I don’t doubt him when he says he and Phillips can be the top tandem in the league. And then, to have Grant as well is a big plus. I’m very impressed with the moves back there. Not sure about Phillips, though. I don’t think anybody is. We’ll have to see.
AI) Everyone is expecting Keith Bulluck to have an instant impact, are you seeing it from him and how does he compare to AP? Are any of the rookies stepping up the competition? How is Sintim looking, will he start?
MG) Like Phillips, I’m skeptical with Bulluck until I see proof he can play on that knee. He’s certainly got the mind to play that spot. Sintim is looking much better and is giving great effort. Very curious to see how he’ll look in a live game.
AI) How is the Osi vs Kiwi battle shaping up?
MG) I think it’s going to be Kiwi as the starter. He’s having a very good camp so far and is the better run defender right now. Plus, keeping Osi limited with his hip issues could be the approach this team takes. Might be a smart approach, too.
AI) Will JPP get into the mix this year beyond the preseason and is he progressing?
MG) He’ll play in spurts. Just obvious passing situations. He really does have a lot to learn. Technique is huge in this league and I think he has a way to go in that department.
AI) Canty / Bernard / Cofield / Alford / Joseph — who is impressing most out of this group right now?
MG) I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you can’t judge interior linemen on both sides of the ball in camp. You just can’t. You have to wait until live games, so I’ll reserve comment here until the preseason gets underway.
AI) Would you rather have Dodge with his big boot…. or Feagles with his direction?
MG) This team didn’t have a choice. Feagles was cooked. Dodge needs to be much more consistent as the season approaches.
AI) If you had to choose right now based on what youve seen, who is returning punts / kicks?
MG) I’d let Ross return punts. He looks totally healthy and has a burst back. As for kickoffs, I think that could be Ware’s chance to contribute and I think he’ll be given that chance.
[end of transcript]
Thank You
Thanks so much to Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger for taking time to answer these questions.