CAMPIN' UP
The Giants have a longtime head coach and a proven quarterback — two crucial ingredients when it comes to franchise stability.
But there are few positions where the Giants can say with any certainty “We know what we have,’’ and anyone will believe them. Tuesday, they open a threeday mandatory minicamp and then go their separate ways until the start of training camp in late July. Not much will be decided this week, but there is plenty for the Giants to sort through as they wind down their offseason.
Some key areas to keep an eye on during minicamp:
Line games
How the offensive line is configured the next three days will not mean there’s any official stamp of approval for what comes next, but it will lay the groundwork for training camp. After Will Beatty’s injury ( torn pectoral) necessitated a dramatic change along the line, the Giants moved things around during their organized team activity practices and lined up with rookie Ereck Flowers at left tackle, Justin Pugh at left guard, Weston Richburg at center, Geoff Schwartz at right guard and newly signed Marshall Newhouse at right tackle. The big questions: Is left tackle too much, too soon, for Flowers? Is Newhouse, a veteran journeyman, able to hold down a starting job? Will erstwhile tackle Pugh excel at guard? Is Schwartz over his injuries and able to stay on the field?
Safety first
The OTAs began the process of sparking chemistry between Cooper Taylor and rookie Landon Collins, the two unproven youngsters manning the starting safety spots. Secondyear Nat Berhe was supposed to be in the mix but a nagging calf injury cost him time and it would greatly benefit him to get out there. Taylor needs to establish he can stay healthy and show his towering physical presence translates to the NFL game. Collins is a mansized 225 pounds and the Giants want to see and hear him communicate more forcefully with his teammates, something a firstyear player is often reticent to do.
Getting defensive
At the start of the offseason program, Steve Spagnuolo admitted he had a long way to go before feeling comfortable evaluating the talent level on the roster. After all, although this is his second stint as Giants defensive coordinator, none of these players were on the scene the first time around. Spagnuolo has to get a handle on his options at nickel cornerback — there’s Trumaine McBride and other hopefuls. Spagnuolo needs to formulate a comprehensive depth chart at linebacker, where freeagent additions J. T. Thomas and Jonathan Casillas have shots to crack the starting lineup. There are also decisions to be made alone the defensive line, where Johnathan Hankins at one tackle spot and Jason PierrePaul ( whenever he arrives) are the only sure things ensured of working with the firstteam defense.
Walking wounded
Don’t even get your hopes up — Victor Cruz will be a spectator during this threeday camp. Everyone involved insists Cruz has not experienced any setbacks and is on pace to return ahead of schedule from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon, but he will not do much of anything this week, other than continue his sideline workouts. Odell Beckham Jr. might be held out, as the Giants are not going to rush anything with their prize receiver after he recently missed time with tightness in his left hamstring. That means Corey Washington, Preston Parker and former Cowboy Dwayne Harris get extra reps to show what they can do. Expect defensive end Robert Ayers ( ankle) to be limited or not work at all and the same for tight end Larry Donnell ( Achilles tendinitis). Defensive end Damontre Moore ( shoulder) and rookie defensive end Owa Odighizuwa ( leg) also might not receive full workloads.
Where art thou?
PierrePaul has yet to sign his franchise tag tender of $ 14.8 million for the 2015 season and, as a result, will not participate in this camp, although he might show up and watch. He’s not under contract and thus is not on the roster, meaning he cannot be fined for his absence. A logical game plan for JPP is to sit out and then sign the tender soon after, ensuring an ontime arrival for training camp. The Giants have until July 15 to get a longterm deal done with PierrePaul; after that date, they are only allowed to sign him to a oneyear contract.