It was not a practice with a bunch of big splash plays, so I had to dig a little bit deeper for Top Performers today.
LB Mark Herzlich: Herzlich has been the second team MIKE linebacker for the majority of the offseason, directing traffic pre-snap. He made a couple of plays during the early team portion of practice. He was in the backfield twice on pass plays that would probably would have been sacks if there was contact allowed on the quarterback. There was also a fumble on a quarterback-running back exchange when an offensive lineman tripped quarterback Davis Webb. Herzlich scooped up the ball. Herzlich has been a core special teams player but missed 2017 after a stinger early in camp. He hopes to earn his way back into that role this season.
TE Rhett Ellison: During half-line pass drills, Ellison made a great catch on a ball from Eli Manning. Ellison was running a little flag route towards the sideline and Manning lasered a pass in between Olivier Vernon and Landon Collins for what would have been a big game. Ellison has a chance to have a resurgent year with the team after a quiet 2018, especially if the offense features two tight end sets.
S Sean Chandler: During the team blitz period, quarterback Kyle Lauletta had wide receiver Alonzo Russell open over the middle on a crossing route, but Lauletta airmailed the pass. It soared over the head of the receiver and right into the hands of undrafted rookie free agent Sean Chandler. It wasn't a spectacular read by Chandler, but he was in the right place at the right time and finished the play.
