IT’S GO-DELL TIME!
SHURMUR SHOULD TURN OBJ LOOSE IN PRESEASON OPENER
AFTER the final public training camp practice ended Tuesday, the Giants wanted to acknowledge a special guest to their training facility: the Army football team.
The Black Knights from West Point had watched the workout from the makeshift bleachers behind the 10-foot fence that separates the field from the parking lot. Among the NCAA’s more ridiculous rules is that college athletes can’t come on the field to get a closer view. That would be deemed special treatment, so the Giants came to them.
Sweaty, tired and in their practice gear, they walked to the fence where they saluted the cadets of head coach Jeff Monken as Pat Shurmur applauded.
“These guys are terrific young men and at some point they may be defending our freedom,” Shurmur, the Giants coach, said afterward. “I thought it was great [the Giants players] went over there and acknowledged them.”
Odell Beckham Jr. went a step further by doing a Spiderman imitation and climbing the fence before pausing for effect. The Army football team, all in black shirts, loved it, hooting and oo-rahing from the bleachers. Beckham loved it, too. After all, he was born to be seen.
That brings us to Thursday’s first preseason game and the question whether the wide receiver should play given his health history and unresolved contract status. There’s only one choice: Play him. Beckham needs to be seen.
Shurmur said he will let his players know by Wednesday what their status will be for the 7 p.m. exhibition versus the Browns at MetLife Stadium.
“Every player will receive the consideration necessary with regard to the play time,” Shurmur said. “They’re all at different stages of being ready to play in Week 1. We’ll just try to balance it and make good decisions.”
Shurmur needs to start his first unit against the Browns and let it get in a couple of series, if not the entire first quarter. Here’s why: Beckham needs to get hit. He needs to run a pattern, catch a pass, get knocked down and get back up. He hasn’t played a game since last Oct. 8, when he broke his ankle in that ugly 27-22 loss to the Chargers.
If Beckham is healthy — and there’s no sign he isn’t — he should see at least a series or two against the Browns to shake off the rust or whatever unknown that might be lingering. It will be the final hurdle in his rehab.
Furthermore, the Giants need to
start working on their chemistry now, from the new coaching staff to the new roster. This is the first dress rehearsal and it shouldn’t be wasted.
If you’ll recall, the Giants were toothless during the preseason last year. They didn’t score their first touchdown until the third preseason game against the Jets. It was assumed they would become an offensive juggernaut once the regular season began. Instead they were 3-13.
There is a new offense to learn, new faces in new roles. The Giants need to create positives vibes as soon as possible, and what better way than for Eli Manning, Beckham and the revamped offensive line to have some early success against the Browns?
“I’d like to see them do something,” Shurmur said. “We’ll just
see how it plays out.”
The new coaching staff needs everyone in place as well. Shurmur will call the plays, but rely heavily on offensive coordinator Mike Shula to deal with the quarterbacks. Coaches on the field have to work with coaches in the booth. Personnel changes during the game have to be made without confusion.
“There’s a lot to be learned, especially between the first and second preseason game when you’re a new staff working together,” Shurmur said.
First-round draft pick Saquon Barkley needs his welcome-to-theNFL moment; so does guard Will Hernandez. If Beckham wants a mega-deal he needs to show people that he’s back. It should start against the Browns.