New Schemes: Head coach Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator Mike Schula and defensive coordinator James Bettcher are bringing brand new schemes to both sides of the ball for the Giants this year. It will be the first chance for fans to see those schemes in a real game situation.
Based on what the offense has shown on the field at practice, fans should expect to see a lot more two tight end (12) personnel this season featuring Rhett Ellison and Even Engram. Skill position players have been lined up all over the formation, with Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard moving inside and outside depending on the play. Saquon Barkley has been seen lined up at wide receiver as well.
"I think we train our receivers to play receiver so they could be detached by themselves, detached with somebody inside them, or in the slot," head coach Pat Shurmur said. "At this point, it's conceptual learning. That way there's flexibility, so that when it's time to play the game and we actually specifically game plan, they've got experience in all areas."
Defensively, the best word to use to describe the scheme is "aggressive". I wouldn't expect to see the full gamut in the preseason, but at practice there have been blitzes coming from everywhere. Safeties, cornerbacks and linebackers are regularly blitzed from all angles.
The Offensive Line: The offensive line given been completely reconstructed from last year. If the current starters keep their positions on the unofficial depth chart, there won't be one player from last year's line starting in the same spot.
Given his NFL pedigree, Nate Solder should seamlessly slide into his left tackle spot and give Eli Manning some comfort on his blindside. Will Hernandez, a rookie making his first start, will get his first action at left guard on Thursday night. Jon Halapio, who appears to have a leg up at this point, is engaged in a competition with Brett Jones at center. The preseason will determine who wins that battle.
The right side will probably get the most eyes. Newcomer Patrick Omameh will start at right guard, with Ereck Flowers getting his first start at right tackle since being a freshman at Miami.
Depth at offensive tackle is also something to watch. Every team needs a good swing tackle, and while Chad Wheeler has been put in position to seize that role he will have to prove what he can do it in game situations.
Chemistry with all the offensive line units will be important to develop early in the preseason, which playing against James Bettcher's blitz happy defense in practice has certainly helped. .
"It helps a lot," Flowers said. "It helps everybody a lot. I don't think I have been to a practice where we've done this many blitzes and this many different looks. It's definitely great in terms of preparing for games."
Keep an eye on these five players in the Giants' first preseason matchup
QB DAVIS WEBB
Everyone around the Giants is excited to see Davis Webb play extended minutes in a NFL game against live competition. Webb has gotten plenty of practice reps over the last five months and has displayed all the tools anyone would want from a NFL quarterback. He has the best arm talent on the roster, is mobile enough to avoid the rush and has the work ethic you want from a quarterback.
Now, everyone gets to see how he translates all those skills and tools from the practice field to an in-game situation. Everything in a game is faster. Webb will have to process things at a must faster pace pre and post snap, and then see what he needs to see down the field with a live pass rush trying to hit him.
There's also the matter of not trying to do too much on any one given play, and making the right decisions in real time.
"I think just having the mindset of don't chase and be aggressively patient," Webb said. "Understand down and distance, the situation of the game. In practice, it's four reps or three reps and you're trying to do the best you can for that play and it's on to the next one. You kind of just have to understand the flow of the game and the situation and again don't chase and take what the defense gives you."
RT ERECK FLOWERS
The last time Ereck Flowers lined up as a starting right tackle in a football game was at Miami when he was a freshman in 2012. He has been manning that position with the Giants starting offense since he arrived for the offseason program, and the move has been a challenge.
"When you move over you kind of have to switch everything, your muscle memory, a lot of different things," Flowers said. "It's going pretty well though I have gotten a lot better at it since I first started. It's different footwork, it's different everything. There's different ways of looking at silent counts, everything is a little bit different."
The NFL is no longer a league where the right tackle has to play primarily against bigger linemen that only concern themselves with stopping the run. The three best pass rushers on the three NFC East teams the Giants compete with every year will all line up over right tackle: DeMarcus Lawrence, Brandon Graham and Ryan Kerrigan.
The bright side is that Flowers has gained a lot of experience the last three years against talented pass rushers as the Giants left tackle. Flowers needs as many snaps in possible in game situations to further acclimate himself to the right side, and build chemistry with right guard Patrick Omameh.
SAFETY CURTIS RILEY
The Giants starting safety next to Landon Collins on Thursday night appear to be Curtis Riley, who has played in 11 NFL games with no starts since entering the league in 2016. Riley missed some practice time last week with a leg injury but returned this week and was put into the starting lineup.
Riley is part of a wide open competition at safety with Darian Thompson, Michael Thomas, and Andrew Adams. Riley will get the first shot with the starters to show what he can do.
CB ELI APPLE
The struggles during Eli Apple's sophomore year have been well documented but he has been playing his third training camp with a lot of confidence and a chip on his shoulder. He will have the chance to go against a Browns receiving corps led by Jarvis Landry.
Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher's scheme appears to fit Apple's preferred playing style very well. Appls has always excelled at press coverage where he can use his length and physicality and he has been put in that a lot over the course of the summer.
With Josh Gordon still not with the Browns, Jarvis Landry could be an interesting matchup for Apple if he gets the chance to line up against him. Thursday will also be Eli Apple's birthday.
"I think every day I'm kind of getting older, growing up a little bit, and my birthday is actually August 9," Apple said earlier in camp. "I turn 23, so naturally I think I'm getting older, getting a little bit more mature. Just trying to continue to just learn – that's the main thing, learning and getting better."
RB SAQUON BARKLEY
Did you really think I was going to leave Saquon Barkley off this list? The Giants second overall pick in the draft will likely get his first game action with the Giants Thursday night. Barkley has been as advertised during the spring and summer, showing absurd agility and very refined receiving skills for a running back.
One thing no one has seen Barkley do in a Giants uniform is play against guys actively trying to tackle him. It is something that can't be simulated in practice, and can really define how good a running back is. Breaking tackles, making defenders miss, and making the right decisions against defenders going full speed is the essence of running the football.
"Definitely looking forward to the first hit," Barkley said. "The first hit in the game is the thing that knocks everything out – whether you're nervous, you're overthinking stuff. So, it definitely helps. Like I was saying out there, I haven't really got the time to really sit down and think about playing in my first NFL game. But, I'm definitely looking forward to the opportunity."
Giants fans will get their first glimpse at Barkley on Thursday night.
(Bonus No.6) WR ODELL BECKHAM JR.
Last year, Odell Beckham Jr. missed 12 games with a fractured ankle. So far this summer, he has looked like his old self (and said he feels that way too) and has taken plenty of reps with the first team offense. Will he play Thursday night? If he does, fans will be excited to see if he looks just as explosive as he was pre-injury.
"It's kind of like over the last month I've taken a huge stride," Beckham said. "I remember maybe two months ago, it wasn't as smooth and I wasn't getting out of cuts, and you kind of get that frustration and just you want to get back to where you were at. But now that I'm here, like I said, it's been a lot of hard work put in, lot of doctors, lot of treatment, lot of rehab, lot of pain you went through. It's nice to be here now."
New Arrivals: This will be the first time Giants fans get to see their newest players in Giants uniforms at Metlife stadium. The Giants brought in a number of important veterans during free agency in March. Nate Solder will be the team's starting left tackle. Patrick Omameh will start at right guard. Jonathan Stewart, another free agent addition will get snaps at running back. On defense, the Giants made a trade for MIKE linebacker Alec Ogletree. Kareem Martin will be one of the starting outside linebackers. Riley Dixon, acquired in a trade, is the only punter with the team.
It will also be the first time to see the rookie class in a game. Second overall pick Saquon Barkley is listed as the starter at running back. Will Hernandez will start at left guard. BJ Hill is listed a starter as a defensive lineman along with Damon Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson. Linebacker Lorenzo Carter will get plenty of opportunities to rush the passer. Kyle Lauletta should get some fourth quarter snaps at quarterback.
Competition: There are a number of different spots with position battles going on that Giants fans should keep an eye on.
1. Center: Brett Jones was the starter last year but Jon Halapio has come on and is getting more reps with the first team at practice. It is an open battle and preseason games will go a long way towards deciding who the starter will be against Jacksonville.
2. Safety: It's another wide open competition for who will start next to Landon Collins. Curtis Riley will start but expect a lot of reps for Darian Thompson, Michael Thomas, Andrew Adams, and Sean Chandler. William Gay is a sleeper here, who has moved to safety after playing much of the offseason as a slot cornerback.
3. Nickel Cornerback: You can say with some confidence that Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple will be the two starting cornerbacks but who is the third guy? The fourth? The fifth? Donte Deayon was having a strong camp but a hamstring injury has knocked him off the field for more than a week. Veterans BW Webb and Leonard Johnson have gotten looks as the starting slot as well. Chris Lewis-Harris has had some moments at practice as well, figuring out a way to get his hands on the football.
4. Third Wide Receiver: Who are the receivers on the roster going to be past Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. Hunter Sharp and Cody Latimer are the next two on the unofficial depth chart, and both will be featured prominently in the return game. Then you have Roger Lewis, Kalif Raymond and other youngsters that will try to make their case as well.
Breakouts and Bounce Backs: The Giants are counting on a lot of their former draft picks to take a step forward this season with more consistent play and prominent roles. Sterling Shepard looked like he was on the verge of breaking out last year before a preseason ankle injury. Evan Engram is entering his second year and hopes to eliminate his rookie mistakes and become a high level tight end every game.
One defense, BJ Goodson was in and out of the lineup all of last season due to injuries. He will have a chance to be a three down linebacker this year. Eli Apple's sophomore season problems don't need repeating, but he's shown a lot of physicality and confidence at practice. The team needs him to be a dependable cornerback.
