It’s Showtime for These Three New York Giants

With an impending roster cut down to 75 players still over two weeks away, it is safe to say that no player on the roster bubble can do anything to make the team during the first weeks of training camp. Conversely, however, players can do enough irreparable damage before the first preseason game, that they dig too large a hole to climb out of before cut down day on Aug. 30th.

While training camp repetitions may not be meaningful to those who have a roster spot locked up, these three players must be making their case each and every day at Giants’ Camp:

ANDRE WILLIAMS:

“Williams’ carries and passing-game targets are typically a black hole.”

–ROTOWORLD–

The third-year back is a pendulum of emotion for Giants’ fans. Either you are a staunch defender of Williams, or you feel he was another one of general manager Jerry Reese’s wasted draft picks. Pro Football Focus gave Williams an underwhelming  50.4 grade last season, and he averaged a paltry 2.9 yards per carry in 2016.

Rotoworld reported on August 6, 2016 that according to SportsNet NY’s Ralph Vacchiano, it “sounds like” the Giants want to work in Andre Williams “for a couple of series a game”. “Vacchiano says the Giants envision Rashad Jennings as their starter and a pseudo-workhorse, but they continue to seem intent on making Williams work. The NFL’s least effective running back over the past two seasons,  Williams’ carries and passing-game targets are typically a black hole. The Giants would be better off cutting their losses with Williams and waiving him before Week 1.”

If healthy, Rashad Jennings will be the starter at running back, with Shane Vereen getting some carries and the bulk of the third-and-long opportunities. Orleans Darkwa has shown flashes of speed and power in his short time on the field, and Big Blue is high on 2016 draft pick Paul Perkins (UCLA). In addition, Bobby Rainey has some NFL experience and may be kept as a kick return specialist, so Williams has a tough road ahead of him.

COOPER TAYLOR:

“I want to go out there and do my best every day.” –Cooper Taylor–

Many Giants’ fans have put Taylor in the wasted draft pick category, as the rangy safety has shown flashes of athleticism when given the opportunity to play. According to NJ Advance Media in a report dated August 8, 2016, Taylor has dealt with a plethora of injuries over the course of his NFL career, which have stymied his growth and taken away starting opportunities for the fifth round draft pick in 2013 (Richmond).

He was even cut last year and then spent time on the practice squad in one of the G-Men’s many roster juggling acts in 2016. Taylor was set to spell disappointing rookie Landon Collins before a concussion ended his season with two games left. This year, it remains a numbers game with Nat Berhe, Bennett Jackson, Mykkele Thompson and free agent Justin Currie looking to line up behind starters Collins and rookie Darian Thompson. 

With Berhe, Jackson and Thompson all dealing with injury problems over their short careers as well, it remains imperative that Taylor stays on the field for the first three preseason games, or his Giants’ career will likely be over.

“I’m taking it day by day. I’m going out there to compete and try to put my best foot forward, put some good tape together and go from there,” Taylor said. “I really have no expectations for anything. I want to go out there and do my best every day. It’s a crazy, wild ride, and I’m just riding it.”

BENNETT JACKSON:

“I looked at OTAs as an opportunity to knock the rust off…”

–BENNETT JACKSON–

This issue for Bennett Jackson going into his third year is that two knee injuries have robbed him of important developmental time on and off the field with the G-Men. Jackson was mentioned prominently as a possible contender at safety last preseason, but a second knee injury in two years, during a preseason game, put Jackson on the shelf for 2015. In reality, Jackson is still a rookie in terms of on-field development because of the knee injuries.

Previously, the Giants’ likely had thoughts of Jackson becoming a hybrid defensive back for the team, since his ball skills are highly developed due to being a wide receiver in college. Unfortunately, knee injuries have made Jackson a full-time competitor at safety this training camp. And because players in the defensive backfield make their money with their legs, Jackson has had to play catch-up this past off season, just to round into form simply to compete.

“I looked at OTAs as an opportunity to knock the rust off, make my mental mistakes then, technique mistakes then so you know, and when I get to camp I’m not going to line up incorrectly because I was there before,” Jackson said in a report on NJ.com on June 13, 2016.