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Cover 3

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Cover 3: Takeaways from Week 1 of training camp

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The Giants.com crew recaps the biggest news and storylines from the first week of training camp:

John Schmeelk: In training camp, my eyes have been on the two positions that the Giants put so many of their resources into improving the last two years: offensive line and wide receiver. Dan will handle the offensive line next. We will have a better feel for that group (and the defensive front) after joint practices with the Lions next week.

The investment in the wide receiver group over the past three drafts appears to have paid off. Former second-round pick Wan'Dale Robinson looks as good as he ever has about 20 months off his ACL surgery at the end of his rookie season. He is a constant target in the short and intermediate areas of the field for quarterbacks.

Jalin Hyatt's teammates and coach Brian Daboll have talked about the improvement from the 2023 third-round pick heading into his second year thanks to his work with wide receivers coach Mike Groh. His releases, route running and craft of playing wide receiver are all clearly more advanced than they were last year. He should be a more complete player this season.

Then you have wide receiver Malik Nabers, who has met every expectation he built up for himself during the draft process and his extremely productive career at LSU. The speed and explosiveness are obvious, but it's been his ability to adjust and attack the football with strong, quick, and late hands that has been impressive. He is someone that quarterbacks can throw the ball to even when he isn't open and expect him to make a play. He is truly the player in the group that makes it all work, and makes everyone else fit into a perfect role for their skillset.

All three of the aforementioned receivers and Darius Slayton have all shown the ability to get behind the defense. It looks different than it has in past seasons. In the Giants' playoff season two years ago, Isaiah Hodgins emerged late in the year as the team's second wide receiver. This year, he is competing for a spot on the final roster. The group is better at the top and deeper. It's a good problem to have.

View the best photos from training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

Dan Salomone: There has been only one constant on the offensive line through the first week of training camp, but things should start to settle down. With Andrew Thomas firmly planted at left tackle, the first bit of news we received was opposite him at right tackle. Evan Neal was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list and has yet to practice. Jermaine Eluemunor, an offseason addition who spent the spring at left guard, moved to right tackle.

Aaron Stinnie took over at left guard and Jon Runyan Jr. had been at right guard – until Tuesday. The two guards switched sides for several reps on the same day the Giants signed Greg Van Roten, whose NFL experience includes 110 regular-season games with 71 starts (43 at right guard, 27 at left guard, and one at center).

In the middle of it all, second-year center John Michael Schmitz has missed two practices with a shoulder injury. Austin Schlottmann, Jimmy Morrissey and Runyan have all taken reps at center, where Van Roten will also get a look.

"We've had conversations about it if this was going to happen," coach Brian Daboll said. "When everybody gets back healthy, we'll see how it shakes out. I wouldn't rule out left side, right side. We'll just see how it goes relative to how we've got to practice with the guys we have."

After a day off, players will return to the practice fields on Thursday, one week before the preseason opener against the Detroit Lions. The two teams will hold joint practices at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center leading up to it.

View photos of the New York Giants' 2024 active roster as it currently stands.

Matt Citak: While John and Dan focused on the offense, I decided to take a look at the defensive side of the ball, specifically how the young secondary has looked through the first week of training camp. Let's start with perhaps the most important person in the Giants' defensive backfield, Deonte Banks. The second-year corner has found himself in one-on-one coverage with Malik Nabers almost every day, with these matchups being some of the best of training camp so far. The rookie wide receiver has had his moments, but so has Banks. Even when Nabers has made some impressive catches, it came on plays in which Banks has had tight coverage. Considering the slate of top wide receivers Banks will face this season, he is gaining great practice going up against Nabers this summer.

Elsewhere among the corners, rookie Dru Phillips has played well. Based on what we saw in the "Hard Knocks" season finale, it's clear the coaching staff thinks very highly of the corner out of Kentucky. Phillips is in the running to be the team's starting slot corner, and so far in camp, he's played well in both coverage and in the run game. He's gotten his hands on the ball a few times and has made some strong plays to stop runs in the backfield, as well. I'm excited to see how Phillips does next week when the Detroit Lions come to town for two joint practices before the preseason opener. Nick McCloud has also had a strong start to camp, both in the slot and on the outside. McCloud has broken up several passes in the first few practices, where his versatility has been on full display.

Moving on to the safeties, the player that's really stood out this first week has been Dane Belton. The third-year player has had a knack of finding the football in his first two seasons, despite playing limited snaps on defense. That has carried over to training camp, as Belton had an interception near the goal line in one practice and has looked good in coverage throughout the first week. Rookie safety Tyler Nubin has been out with a calf injury, which has led to increased reps with the starting defense for Belton, who has taken full advantage of the opportunity. Once Nubin returns, which coach Brian Daboll indicated should be soon, it will be interesting to see how playing time with the starting defense is distributed between the rookie, Belton and Jason Pinnock.

The other safety that deserves some recognition here is Gervarrius Owens. The 24-year-old did not play a single snap on defense last year, but through the first week of his second training camp, Owens is making a case for some playing time. He's had two interceptions in the first week along with a few more pass breakups. Similar to the situation with Belton and Nubin, Owens has taken advantage of the increased reps he's received with veteran Jalen Mills missing the first week of practice. If Owens can take a step in his development this season, then the Giants' safeties could prove to be the deepest position group on the roster.

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