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In advance of their preseason opener on Friday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New York Giants have released an unofficial depth chart. We will break it down in two posts. This one will be dedicated to the offense, a subsequent one to the defense.
Here is the unofficial depth chart for the offense, with some of my thoughts included.
Wide Receivers
Starters -- Victor Cruz, Domenik Hixon
Second Team -- Jerrel Jernigan, Brandon Collins, Ramses Barden, David Douglas
Third Team -- Reuben Randle, Dan DePalma, Julian Talley, Isiah Stanback, Hakeem Nicks
Valentine's View -- Of course, Nicks will go to the first team as soon as he is healthy. Don't go nuts about Randle being listed with the third unit. It is because he is a rookie, and that will change once games begin being played.
Left Tackle
Starter -- Will Beatty
Second Team -- James Brewer
Third Team -- Matt McCants
Valentine's View -- Right now, this position is a problem. Neither Beatty nor Brewer have been practicing due to back injuries, and McCants -- the sixth-round pick -- is not NFL ready. Veteran Sean Locklear has been playing there, and has been inconsistent. The Giants have even given rookie Brandon Mosley some snaps there.
Left Guard
Starter -- Kevin Boothe
Second Team -- Selvish Capers
Third Team -- Brandon Mosley
Valentine's View -- Mosley has been playing several positions on the line, both tackles as well as guard. The real backup here is Mitch Petrus.
Center
Starter -- David Baas
Second Team -- Chris White
Third Team -- Jim Cordle
Right Guard
Starter -- Chris Snee
Second Team -- Mitch Petrus
Third Team -- Steve Goodin
Valentine's View -- Petrus is really the primary backup at both guard slots
Right Tackle
Starter -- David Diehl
Second Team -- Sean Locklear
Third Team -- Joel Reinders
Valentine's View -- Mosley has gotten a lot of snaps in this spot. Brewer was getting some early in camp. He needs to get back on the field.
Tight End
Starter -- Bear Pascoe
Second Team -- Martellus Bennett, Chris Hopkins, Larry Donnell
Third Team -- Adrien Robinson, Ryan Purvis, Travis Beckum (PUP)
Valentine's View -- I really enjoy Pascoe, but he is eventually going to lose this job to Bennett. Robinson might take a while, but don't sleep on him making an impact later in the year.
Quarterback
Starter -- Eli Manning
Second Team -- David Carr
Third Team -- Ryan Perrilloux
Valentine's View -- Nothing to see here with Manning and Carr. Perrilloux has had a wildly inconsistent camp thus far, both in terms of his accuracy, or lack thereof, and his decision-making. If he doesn't show more I would not be shocked if the Giants go shopping for a practice squad quarterback.
Fullback
Starter -- Henry Hynoski
Second Team -- Joe Martinek
Valentine's View -- This is clearly Hynoski's job. Martinek is bidding for a roster spot with Andre Brown and Da'Rel scott, though. He can catch and run, and of late has shown surprising toughness as a blocker despite trying to lead block and stonewall blitzers at all of 225 pounds. Martinek has often been aligned in one-back sets.
Running Back
Starter -- Ahmad Bradshaw
Second Team -- David Wilson, Da'Rel Scott
Third Team -- D.J. Ware, Andre Brown, Martinek
Valentine's View -- This is an interesting listing. Ware is clearly the No. 2 back right now, and Wilson has taken almost all of his practice reps with the third squad. Scott has barely been seen, having suffered two injuries thus far in camp.