Brian Baldiner calls Shane Lemieux 'tougher than nails'

Shane Lemieux missed almost the entire 2021 season with a knee injury.

Now that he's back on the field, the third-year lineman is showcasing some of the grit and toughness that led to the Giants spending a fifth-round pick on him back in 2020.

Former offensive lineman and current NFL.com analyst Brian Baldinger recently visited the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, where he chatted with Lemieux after a training camp practice. Baldinger then took to Twitter later to compare the young lineman to a legendary Giants guard in Billy Ard.

Ard spent eight seasons with the Giants from 1981-1988. He appeared in 113 games (106 starts) and played a role in the team's Super Bowl XXI win.

"Tougher than nails," Baldinger recently said about Lemieux on the Giants Huddle podcast. "Shane never missed a start in high school or college. He started every game in Oregon. When he started his rookie year here at the Giants, I thought for a brief period the line really started to come on with him and Andrew (Thomas) on the left side. But, he's a tough guy that wants to learn. Even now, he was just talking protections and some of the things. He wants to be good. He's a good pulling guard. He's got some versatility to him...

"I think right now, it's a question of honing your techniques because that's what training camp's all about. But then really working because you're only going to be as good as your weakest link. So now it's a question of really playing with Andrew and playing with Jon (Feliciano) and playing with Glow (Mark Glowinski). And really thinking like one group."

Giants release first unofficial depth chart of 2022

The New York Giants released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots. As always, it is subject to change. It simply serves as a guide, more so for the media than the coaches.

Here are some notes on the first depth chart:

The receiver corps

Most of the corps wore red non-contact jerseys in the spring, creating opportunities for players like Robinson while they rehabbed. But when training camp arrived, Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay were full-go. Toney, last year's first-round draft choice who has been the talk of camp, is listed on the first team alongside Robinson and Golladay. Sterling Shepard remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

The offensive line

The revamped line has remained mostly unchanged at the top. From left to right, the lineup is Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux, Jon Feliciano, Mark Glowinksi, and the rookie Neal. But the Giants' depth has been put to the test recently. Last week, the Giants lost two players in Matt Gono (exempt/left squad and then released) and rookie Marcus McKethan (injured reserve with an ACL). Ezeudu is listed as the backup at both left guard and left tackle, which is nothing new for the rookie who was known to change positions mid-drive at North Carolina.

Click here to see the first unofficial depth chart of 2022

OC Mike Kafka to call plays in preseason opener vs. Patriots

Mike Kafka is in intense training for a role he hasn't officially received.

Giants coach Brian Daboll has not publicly announced who will call the team's offensive plays this season. Kafka, the Giants' first-year offensive coordinator, assumed that duty throughout the offseason practices and in training camp, and will do so when the Giants play their first preseason game Thursday in New England.

"I look at it as an opportunity," Kafka said yesterday in his first public comments since camp opened two weeks ago. "An opportunity not only for myself, but for the players. Everyone out there is working hard to make the team and show what they can do and show that they can build themselves a role. So, I'm looking to go out and do my job to the best of my ability and put the guys in the best position to be successful and show what they can do."

Click here to read more about Kafka calling plays vs. Patriots