Safety second, not first
Safeties coach Dave Merritt indicated Antrel Rolle would be the team’s nickel cornerback covering the slot receiver in the aftermath of Terrell Thomas’ ACL injury, which is expected to keep him out for the season.
An interesting twist to the three-safety package implored the last two seasons would be – if the Giants do not re-sign Deon Grant, who is a free agent and wants to return – to use a linebacker, either Jacquian Williams or Keith Rivers, in that spot.
For Rolle, who had expressed his desire for the freedom playing safety would allow, switching back to the role in which he excelled down the stretch last season seems likely.
“You go back and look at theGreen Baytape. You look at the playoff game inGreen Bay[and] Antrel did a phenomenal job in the slot,” Merritt said. “You would love to get him back playing as a true safety position, but we all can’t forget but he came in here as a corner, and he moved to the safety position. We’d love to have him at safety, but we’re going to put him in the best position we can afford to help ourselves as a team.”
From the mind of Martellus
Here Martellus Bennett goes again.
In describing himself, the former Cowboys tight end has previously referenced Greek god Atlas, Professor Klump, Kim Kardashian and Gandhi. Now he offered up another one Wednesday: a unicorn.
“I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been. Ask any of the guys in the camp,” Bennett said. “I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I’m faster than I’ve ever been. I could run all day. I’m kind of like a black unicorn out there. It’s amazing to watch.”
Bennett’s play has picked up in practice. The pads have gone on and his blocking prowess is starting to emerge, not to mention signs that his chemistry with Eli Manning has begun to build.
“Eli’s a real laid-back guy. He’s easy to talk to. Just ask him what he wants,” Bennett said. “It’s not like, sometimes like your wife, you never know what she wants. You ask and she’s like, ‘Well, I don’t want chicken.’ You’re like, ‘Well, do you want steak?’ She’s like, ‘No, I don’t want steak.’ You know Eli knows if he wants chicken or steak.
“He helps me out a whole lot. Because I come back, ‘Hey did you like [this]?’ ‘No, I don’t like that. I want you do this, this and this.’ I’m like, ‘OK, the next time I do it, I’ll just do it the way he likes it.’ I like playing for Eli.”
Eye opener
Even at linebacker, Mathias Kiwanuka can get in the backfield and cause havoc.
He did so Wednesday, breaking through the left side as two others also rushed Eli Manning and brought tremendous pressure from all angles. Manning had no choice but to check down and attempt to hit Henry Hynoski in the flat, but Kiwanuka adjusted and read the play perfectly.
Kiwanuka tipped the ball to himself for an interception and he would have gone to the house if this were an actual game, not a drill.
Quote of the day
“Maybe we will get some holding calls. Wishful thinking.” – Justin Tuck on the notion of the regular season starting with replacement officials
Source:
http://blog.northjersey.com/giants/2839/camp-insider-wednesday-august-1/