Haley ready to make plays in second year as slot corner
EAST RUTHERFORD >> Shortly after his preseason debut ended, Grant Haley was ruing the play that got away.
Early in the second quarter of Friday night’s game at MetLife Stadium, Haley was hovering the middle of the field and jumped a route as Bears quarterback Chase Daniel fired a dart to Riley Ridley on third-and-12. The pass fell incomplete but went straight over Haley’s hands as Chicago was forced to punt.
“I felt like I did pretty solid in coverage today. I’m mad about an opportunity I should’ve had, but it’s just a learning curve,” Haley told The Trentonian in the Giants’ locker room. “I can’t let those plays slip out of my hands.”
That competitive nature is part of why the Giants believe the second-year pro out of Penn State has a chance to be a play-maker in their secondary this season.
As a rookie, Haley steadily climbed from the practice squad at the start of the season to the active roster in October. He started nine of New York’s final 10 games, but many wondered whether the 5-foot-9 slot cornerback could maintain his job throughout the offseason, especially after the Giants drafted Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love.
Sure enough, Haley continued to start in the Giants’ nickel defense throughout the spring and in training camp under second-year coordinator James Bettcher.
“I just feel comfortable out there, that’s honestly the biggest thing,” Haley said. “Even last year when I was playing I felt comfortable, but I think from Year 1 to Year 2 it’s just a difference in the system. For me it’s like night and day. I’m just being able to not just know what I’m supposed to do, but what other players are supposed to do. It’s just taking my knowledge and advancing it with this system, and also seeing what other opponents do.”
The Atlanta native missed the preseason opener Aug. 8 after hurting his shoulder while diving for a ball during camp. He soon ditched his noncontact jersey in practice and checked out OK when he dove for another ball. He feels the injury is fully behind him.
Haley played 44 percent of the Giants’ defensive plays (25 snaps) against the Bears and returned to his prominent role in sub packages with the first-team defense.
“It’s almost a nickelback. You’re playing corner but you’re also playing linebacker,” Haley said. “You have to know what they do, what teams we’ll play this year do: From a lot of motions and jets … bring the nickel and the corner into the run fits, and being able to read my keys and trigger and read my pullers. Not just be able to be a great pass defender but also be a good run support defender and just being physical, feisty, quick. Those are the ideal traits for a slot corner.”
Two defensive series after his near interception, Haley supplied strong coverage on Ridley in the back corner of the end zone on second-and-15.
“Just trusted my role,” Haley said. “I know how to play safety in the middle of the field, so I played on his outside hip, let him run a seven (curl route), made him run a long way. I just did my job, do what my coaches teach me. It just helps me be able to make plays.”
Those lessons are even more critical now with the Giants’ stricken with injuries at cornerback. Antonio Hamilton departed Friday’s game with a groin issue after replacing DeAndre Baker (knee) in the starting lineup. Sam Beal (hamstring) has also been banged up throughout the summer.
Soon after being content with the Giants’ team win but eager to not let another interception pass him by, Haley was ready to hit the film room.
“I think for me the first thing I do is just I see my overall performance. Knowing the play I’m in and knowing the job — if I did it correctly or not,” Haley said. “The second thing is you should know, if they didn’t make a play or I made a play — good or bad — seeing what other position I could’ve been better in to make a play. If I could’ve gotten my head around quicker, or I just could’ve done something a little bit better. Maybe I false stepped a little bit — just little things that help me take my game to the next level.”