New York Giants training camp: Practice 2
Here are a few notes from the afternoon practice session during Day 1 of New York Giants training camp.
- Ramses Barden continued to impress. After a terrific morning session, Barden caught several more balls this afternoon. He could be a real weapon in the short passing game.
- Eli Manning threw the ball much better this afternoon than he had in the morning session. He had one pass intercepted by Kevin Dockery, but that was purely Sinorice Moss' fault. He dropped a ball that hit him right in the numbers, batting it right to Dockery.
- Love watching Jeff Feagles work, even if he did drop a snap during punt drills. He punted this afternoon, and worked the ball sideline to sideline, consistently pinning returners outside the hash marks. Nobody does that better than he does.
- Speaking of special teams, Ahmad Bradshaw had camp's first muffed punt.
- Watched Zak DeOssie snap for field goals before practice had officially started. Every snap was perfect, and I'm hoping to see DeOssie do all the snapping this season. Conversely, I watched Jay Alford 'try' to snap for punts. It wasn't pretty. Out of maybe five snaps one was a total ground ball and another was a one-hopper to Feagles. Pray to God you never see Alford lined up to punt snap during a real game.
- Steve Smith had a nice afternoon. A good sideline catch on a throw from Eli, and a long touchdown reception when he blew past Aaron Ross to catch a ball from Eli.
- Andre Woodson threw the ball well this afternoon. Funny moment on a long ball from Woodson to Moss for a TD. Smith was also wide open deep on the sideline nearest to me, having smoked Terrell Thomas (a theme all day). When he realized he was open by 5 yards and still wasn't getting the ball he said "Oh my God." Moss, incidentally, had run right by Dockery.
- Smith later showed he can get deep when he beat Aaron Ross down the left side to catch a touchdown throw from Eli.
- Danny Clark and Corey Webster made the defensive plays of the afternoon. Clark was beaten down the seam by Lee Vickers, but slapped away Eli's pass at the last instant. Same for Webster, who was beaten deep by Smith but recovered to tip the ball away.
- By the way, I can't point to one spectacular play, but Mario Manningham was impressive all day. No matter who he lined up against he seemed to get separation, and he caught everything.
That's it for me. Time to collapse for the evening.
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Great stuff Ed....what's your grade?
It seems that our main focus or concern this offseason has been on the WR corps. I know it’s the first day of practice, but what kind of vibe do you get from them as a unit and did any single receiver really show you something special. I like this group and I think that Eli’s “go to” guy is going to be the guy that is open. You’ve seen what we can’t. Can you offer some relief to those that are still skeptical. Who do you think had the best and worst practice. Once again, I know it’s the first day of practice.
Barden stood out
The man is a physical freak, and he is so huge and strong that it is impossible for a corner to take the ball away from him in those ‘jump ball’ situation. Aaron Ross is the biggest, strongest corner the Giants have, and Barden shook him off in the morning and pulled a ball away from him. But, Manningham, Moss and Smith were all impressive as well.
That's good to know
I think individually these receivers pose no immediate threat for defensive coordinators (for now), but collectively, this WR corps could be surprisingly good. Eli is going to bring out the best in this group and they are going to do the same for him. Can’t wait to see Barden. Hopefully he will command the coveted double team that so many think we need.
I'm really excited for Barden
I’ve spent the offseason tempering my expectations, b/c he’s coming from a small school and we really don’t know much about him, but I really think he could be the wild card this year. I could see him being very similar to Brandon Jacobs as a rookie – Jacobs only ran for 99 yards his first year, but he scored 7 TDs. He was just a beast in short yardage situations, but wasn’t being asked to do anything the rest of the field.
not too worried
if the guy has talent and can be half of what that guy from Mississippi Valley State was, we will be ok.
Hmmm - Hixon?
I notice the absence of praise for Hixon – Granted, it is only the first day, but the competition will be fierce, and they all need to impress
another good run down...
thanks for keeping us up to date, I’m headed up there this weekend to catch 2 maybe 3 practices so these run downs are great….
I know it’s the first day but i think the only WR’s name I haven’t heard is Hixon…not that that’s a bad thing because IMO we’re going to need one of the young guys to step up more so than Smith or Hixon. Manningham, Nicks, and Barden (and you can put Moss in that group too) will have to help us out….can’t put it all on smith and hixon.
and fyi, i don’t even know why i bother going to giants.com…i watch the video’s and cant’ hear anything. my volume and speakers are turned up to the max and can barely hear the players talk….such a shame.
I posted some audio today
I could hear it great on my recorder, and my PC speakers. Can’t hear it worth a darn playing it from the site. Don’t know why.
Thanks...
For the update Ed…I’d rather hear it from you then the regular press, afterall, your true blue!!…I grew up sitting on my Dad’s lap..Rooting for a game I didn’t even understand at the time…Now I am 53 years old and my Dad and I still act like kids when we get together for a game to watch them play…I am really excited this year!..Dad is 80 now, I don’t have to go up on the roof to turn the antenna in order to pick them up on TV anymore as I did when I was a kid..I just want him to see one more Championship. Sounds like we have the talent in camp to potentially make that happen.
Question
“…having smoked Terrell Thomas (a theme all day)”
Do you mean that Steve Smith specifically smoked TT (ie a sign that SS was having a great afternoon) or that TT was just getting destroyed in coverage (ie has TT looked slow and routinely beat, etc.)?
Thomas had an awful day
He got beat by Barden, Moss, Manningham, Smith … pretty much everybody.
by Ed Valentine on Aug 3, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Ed
why are you trying to kill the newspapers? Seriously, great work today. I’m excited (and a little jealous) for your access to camp. I’ve been in dire need of some real Giants news, what with the baseball season being as good as over for me.
LOL,CJ!
Hey, the newspapers are killing themselves. I’m just trying not to embarrass myself around here.
super mario
manningham is gonna be atleast number 3 wr
Nicks?
Has he done anything? I know OTA’s he looked impressive haven’t heard much coming out of camp on the first two days.
Yeah...
I heard Nicks was very impressive the 1st couple of days and was catching everything in his direction. I really want him to be ready as our #1 WR by opening day.
For me, winning isn't something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.
Thanks Ed….I too wanted to see Nicks #1 when we drafted him, but the reality is Rookie WR’s with the exception of few rarely make a splash. I hope maybe end of the season or next year Nicks is nasty.
Looks like Ramses is a beast and could be a good red-zone threat (they were saying the same about James Hardy in Buffalo too last year).
We can only hope these two contribute some right away.
I know I know...
Just got big expectations for the kid.
For me, winning isn't something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.

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