|
|||||||||||
The first week of organized team practice activities is in the books.
Beginning on Wednesday, the Giants held their first three OTA practices at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center before wrapping up on Friday and breaking for the weekend.
When they return on Monday, they will have seven sessions left:
June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9, and June 11-12.
There has been a lot of news coming from East Rutherford this week.
Here Giants.com looks at the biggest surprises so far through the first three days of OTAs:
1. NEW-LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE
A week before they hit the field for OTAs, the Giants were thrown a curveball when starting left tackle Will Beatty, who hasn't missed a game since 2011, suffered a torn pectoral muscle during weight training that forced him to undergo surgery.
His recovery time is approximately five to six months. While all eyes were already going to be on the group after they drafted tackle Ereck Flowers ninth overall, everyone was curious to see who lined up at what position.
On Wednesday we got our answer: Flowers was at left tackle, Justin Pugh at left guard, Weston Richburg at center, Geoff Schwartz at right guard and Marshall Newhouse at right tackle. While some of the names are the same, this offensive line configuration is different from 2014 at all five positions.
2. TOP SAFETY TANDEM
Like the offensive line, safety was a position to watch heading into OTAs after the Giants traded up to draft All-American Landon Collins out of Alabama with the first pick of the second round. With no returning starters from last season in the group, Collins and Nat Berhe played opposite each other as the top tandem at rookie minicamp earlier this month. But Berhe was unable participate in team portions of practice this week due to a calf issue.
Rather, Cooper Taylor, who injured the sesamoid bone in his left foot during last preseason that caused him to miss all of 2014, is lining up with Collins in OTAs. Taylor said this is the longest he's ever been away from football until now as he and Collins learn a new system under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
"He's picked up the defense really quick," Taylor said of Collins. "Obviously we're still learning a lot of stuff, but he's come in, studied the playbook hard, treated it like a veteran, and that's what you expect [from] a kid they draft that high."
3. HIGHLIGHT REEL FULL OF SLEEPERS
Remember Corey Washington? He was the undrafted wide receiver out of Newberry who became a fan favorite last summer when he caught a touchdown in each of the first four preseason games, including three that were game-winners.
He went on to play 14 games in the regular season, catching five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. Well, he's back and spent time with the ones this week. Washington made a few highlight grabs, as did other players trying to make the roster like fellow wide receivers Juron Criner, Preston Parker, Marcus Harris, and Chris Harper.
