Quest Diagnostics Center—-The Giants started off the practice in red zone drills as offense and defense went back and forth in pads for a change. Defensive players, Leonard Williams and LB Azeez Ojulari, had another day off for the for the second day. Daniel Jones and the offense looked real and impressive and the offense looked sharp in the red zone session.
Jones hit Daniel Bellinger, Darius Slayton, and Saquon Barkley for touchdown scores. Slayton made an impressive grab in the back of the end-zone.
All of the practices are with NFL officials presiding over them and they were a little flag happy in the red-zone period.
Safety Jason Pinnock was flagged for taunting Isaiah Hodgins after an incomplete pass.
Darrian Beavers committed a PI infraction at the goal line got caught tugging on Barkley’s Jersey on a out and up route.
WR Parris Campbell is making a name at training camp. The 26-year-old slot receiver runs very crisp routes and is not afraid to run across the middle. At Friday’s practice, Campbell caught a few nice receptions and gave S Darnay Holmes problems running slants in the red-zone.
New Formation For The G-Men:
The Giants were experimenting with the wildcat formation with Barkley leading the way.
Barkley was in the back field taking snaps — some with Jones split motioning out to the wide receiver position. The G-Men will implement every formation they can muster to compliment its array of talent they have surrounding Daniels this year.
Earlier in the media presser, head coach Brian Daboll talked about Neal’s progress and his improved technique.
“I think Evan’s done a good job, like I said a couple of days ago. He’s improved, he’s got the right mindset and we’ll just grinding along with him,” Daboll said.
Also, the Giants also made a few transactions on Friday, waiving wide receiver Jeff Smith with an injury designation. The veteran had suffered a knee injury earlier in the week.
If Smith clears waivers, he will go back to injured reserve destination.
The Giants signed nose tackle Donovan Jeter, who was recently released by the Bears.
The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Jeter was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Michigan in 2022. He also spent some time with the Washington Commanders last year.
Injury Update:
DT Leonard Williams, WR Sterling Shepherd and OLB Azeez Ojulari were given rest days.
WR Jalin Hyatt did not participate in team drills for undisclosed reasons.
DL Ryder Anderson did not practice but “will work through” an apparent arm injury and OG Jack Anderson’s undisclosed injury isn’t a long-term issue, coach Brian Daboll said.
OT Evan Neal left practice and entered concussion protocol.
Some Excerpts From Head Coach Brian Daboll:
Q: What’s the plan or idea behind operating with three quarterbacks?
A: Each year’s different so sometimes it’s four, sometimes it’s three. (We) felt comfortable with he three (that) we have.
Q: In a lot of places, it was portrayed that last training camp you set up QB Daniel Jones for adversity to see how he would respond. Are you still taking that approach?
A: Look, here’s what we do. We sit down as a staff (and) sometimes I sit down on my own and not let anybody know what’s going on, see how they react, whether that’s a coach, whether that’s a player. Again, all the substitutions and things that we do in training camp, which I know is important to you all, all of it is planned. Maybe it’s for a personnel matchup, maybe it’s to see a reaction. So, everything we do, we try to map out and plan the best way that we can. This year is different than last year but certainly we have a lot of conversations. Sometimes I’ll just spring something on a coordinator in a certain situation or a player to see their reaction in a competitive situation. But every year’s different.
Q: Is it still slanted against Daniel because he’s the starter?
A: No, no. I wouldn’t say any of that. I’d say you try to put players in different positions and that’s the job of a coach and that’s what I try to do.
Q: What were you getting on Dexter Lawrence about?
A: I don’t know, that was a few practices – I think somebody asked me that. I don’t think you were here that day. I can’t remember. It’s practice, it’s competitive. I love (defensive tackle) Dexter (Lawrence).
Q: Back to Daniel. From our perspective it looks different than it did at this point last year. What much different does it look from your perspective?
A: I don’t even think of it like that. I didn’t think of it that way last year, and I don’t think of it that way this year. Go out there, practice (and) coach the things we need to coach. Put him in different situations (and) see his reactions. Like I said last year and I’ll this year, I have a lot of confidence in him, he’s done a good job, he works hard, and he learns from his mistakes, like you want all your players to do.
Q: What impresses you about him this year?
A: Well, we’re in day eight of training camp. I think he’s operated our offense. Certain plays I know he’d like to have back, we’d all like to have back. He’s a consummate pro, he tries to work every day, he tries to improve and that’s what we’re going to need from him.
Q: What do you look for when a guy gets beat in one-on-one drills?
A: One-on-ones are really about fundamentals and techniques. It’s competitive all the time because it’s one-on-one but it’s not real football. You’re trying to improve techniques and fundamentals. One-on-ones for an offensive lineman are hard. One-on-ones for defensive backs against receivers are hard but you’re trying to just improve techniques (and) fundamentals. You go back, you watch them, you coach but that’s really what one-on-one’s are for, really the individual technique part of it. Who gets beat and who doesn’t get beat, that’s going to happen all the time. Particularly in certain drills you know that it’s more skewed toward one side of the ball, but you need to do them to improve your techniques.
Q: What do you look for when someone gets beat in group sessions?
A: Just move on to the next play. It’s going to happen, it’s football. You’re going to have a bad call as a coach or a bad decision or a bad play as a player. It’s about the next play so our next-play mentality is important.
Q: What have you seen from Evan Neal’s technique?
A: I think Evan’s done a good job, like I said a couple of days ago. He’s improved, he’s got the right mindset and we’ll just grinding along with him.