The New York Giants will become the first challenger to contend with the Cleveland Browns’ refurbishments when they move their season preparations onto the field.
Thursday’s preseason opener will entail a fascinating early insight into the progress of Big Blue’s highly-regarded class of rookie prospects and the response from returning New York Giants players on the back of a miserable 2017.
Newly minted head coach Pat Shurmur will take to the sidelines for the first time since his appointment, with all eyes likely to be on how his invigorated and multi-faceted offense shapes up.
It will also mark a first glimpse of the vigor defensive coordinator James Bettcher has strived to install in East Rutherford. Here are some things we are following:
Webb developer
Quarterback Davis Webb’s last on-field action for the New York Giants dates back to the final 2017 preseason clash, when he led the final drive in a win over the New England Patriots.
New York Giants
The second-year quarterback completed four passes in a 45-yard drive, and he handed place-kicker Aldrick Rosas a late 48-yard field goal opportunity. Rosas converted, and the Giants won 40-38. A chaotic regular season for the organization equated to zero snaps for Webb, making for a divisive outlook among fans heading into this year’s NFL Draft.
Webb recently revealed ex-coach Ben McAdoo planned on starting him in the final three games of the 2017 season, as McAdoo sent shockwaves across the league with the decision to bench Eli Manning. McAdoo was dismissed a day after replacing the two-time Super Bowl winner with Geno Smith in the Week 13 defeat to the Oakland Raiders. Steve Spagnuolo’s subsequent rise as interim head coach resulted in a swift restoration of Manning as starter and denied Webb of the games seemingly promised to him.
The former Cal and Texas Tech product will be a headline act this evening purely on the basis that fans don’t quite know what to expect. Regular snaps in preseason will be a valuable preview of where Webb is at in his development and whether there are clues of a future franchise quarterback.
That said, it would be wrong to expect too much, too soon from a man likely to stay behind-the-scenes for the next two seasons.
Bettcher’s boys
A demand for aggression has been salient in James Bettcher’s early months in charge of the New York Giants defense. The former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator has urged a “go-get-it” belligerence to a unit that struggled to show for its elite personnel last season. Much of that was admittedly due to the exhausting number of reps a slim defense was being forced to play by its underperforming offense.
Training camp sessions have teased an unpredictability to where a blitz-friendly setup will attack from. Bettcher has notably been sure to dismiss any complex ingenuity to his play variation and instead granted his players the licence to explode freely without having to overthink.
This ought to play into the hands of rookies B.J. Hill and Lorenzo Carter by exploiting their athleticism and dynamism – without burdening them with rocky introductions to the NFL. Carter, in particular, could prove a sparkling attraction having caught everyone’s eye with eruptive speed to the quarterback.
Though he may not be featured heavily, Olivier Vernon will be a player of intrigue in light of comparisons between his expected role under Bettcher and that of a Chandler Jones, who led the league with 17 sacks Arizona last season.
An assertion of leadership on defense will be as equally sought-after as the statistics, especially for Alec Ogletree and B.J. Goodson, as they anchor a strengthened linebacker department.
A glaring area of concern remains the depth at cornerback following the recent release of veteran Teddy Williams. Lack of depth means youthful Eli Apple must make amends for his troublesome 2017, as well as shouldering the responsibility as an integral figure across from former All-Pro Janoris Jenkins.
The stage is also now open for youngster Donte Deayon to translate a string of superb days throughout training camp into an on-field impression in aim of cementing a roster spot.
Take a right turn
Ereck Flowers is the surviving offensive lineman from the group that exposed its quarterback to a barrage of physical abuse from opposition defenses last season. It will be something of a new start for the 24-year-old as he shifts from left-tackle to right-tackle following the introduction of Nate Solder on Manning’s blind-side.
With the unforgiving nature of the NFL in mind, a new start could also be deemed a last chance for Flowers after three lacklustre seasons with the Giants.
The Giants brass continue to radiate an optimism that a no.9 draft pick is still there to be discovered, and will likely continue to do so until the day Flowers is no longer in the picture. Preseason will be a welcomed opportunity for Flowers to strike up an on-field cohesion with right-guard Patrick Omameh.
The onus is on Flowers to finally polish his mobility and the speed of his hand movement, not to mention his ability to read and track the movement from pass rushers. What will be interesting to see is how Shurmur may also utilise the versatility of Rhett Ellison to play as both a tight-end and full-back in aid of enhancing his side’s blocking in support of Flowers and co.