SUMMER SCHOOL
Rookie corner Love gets tested at two new positions
Training camp can be an information overload for most rookies.
Try learning two positions in a new playbook at the same time.
That is the challenge with which Julian Love has been tasked, getting reps at both nickel cornerback and free safety early in camp, but the fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame does not mind the extra work.
“It does make it a little more difficult, but I kind of expected that coming in,” said Love, who was a full-time cornerback for the Fighting Irish except for games against run-heavy Navy and Army. “I think that’s one of my strongest qualities ... that people can trust me in different spots. So I’m really just trying to be dependable for the team in that regard right now.”
Love is one of the handful of young players the Giants have in their secondary — one of three corners they drafted in April, in addition to DeAndre Baker and Corey Ballentine. Offering versatility is a good way to stand out in the crowd.
More practice reps is never a bad thing, especially for a rookie, even if it makes for some late nights studying and watching film on his two different positions. During rookie minicamp, Love played cornerback, nickel and free safety, but now he is zeroing in on the latter two and making an impression while he’s at it. “Julian has made great progress, with regard to being able to cover,” head coach Pat Shurmur said Saturday. “He’s playing in two critical spots on the inside of the defense.” The 5-foot-11, 195pound Love now spends most of his time on the practice field with the safeties, he said. Off the field, the cornerbacks and safeties share the same meeting room, making the double duty a little easier.
When Grant Haley left Thursday’s practice early with a shoulder injury, Love stepped in and took over the nickel duties with the first-team defense. He was there again Friday, in addition to playing safety with the second unit.
“At corner, you’re on an island — guard this guy, don’t let him catch the ball,” Love said. “At safety, you’re really tied into the linebackers and the nickel and the corner — be alert for run fits as well as protecting your defense. I think I have traits that fit better for a corner, fit better for a safety. So that helps
because now I can play wherever.”
Defensive coordinator James Bettcher noted most nickels play a second position, and that lining up at safety can give Love an important perspective of the whole field.
“I think for his development he needs to play behind, as well, because when you play in the slot, you’re involved in a lot of things,” Bettcher said. “You could be involved in a run front at times, you’re going to be involved in a lot of mixed coverages, and by being able to play safety, you understand what the nickel is doing.
“He’s really eager, he wants to learn, he wants to get better, he’s highly engaged and he’s working on figuring out what his process is to be able to learn and be able to make himself a better player. As he continues to do that, like these other young guys, he’s going to keep getting better.”
Love is not trying to run himself into the ground with all the new information, cutting off his studying by 11:00 or 11:30 each night. He expected training camp to include a lot of mental work, he said, just maybe not to this degree.
“You can’t just keep absorbing, you’ll freak yourself out,” Love said. “But being around guys and asking questions and having vets around, it makes it much easier.”