The Giants concluded their three-day minicamp Thursday and won't be back in action for another six weeks when training camp opens in Albany, NY. PHOTO BY BILL MENZEL / LSV

East Rutherford, NJ – Inclement weather forced the Giants back inside Thursday morning. Giants’ minicamp was cut short as the players ended Day 3 of practice with about a 30 minute session, followed by a quick round of post-practice interviews.  

Unfortunately, I missed a good amount of the morning practice (GW bridge traffic and the June monsoon to thank for that), but I did get a chance to check in during the afternoon. The highlight of the day for me was lunch…and not because of the food, but because of my chat with Giants coach Tom Coughlin. Him and I sat together for about 20 minutes and talked everything other than football, which was a real treat.

Coughlin and several Giants took in the Yankee game last night at the Stadium. Coughlin said Justin Tuck and Chris Snee are two of the biggest Bombers fans on the team. I was out covering the Yankee game last night and saw the Giants in the crowd. Quarterback Eli Manning was interviewed by the YES Network team and the Giants really looked like they had a good time at the game.

The head coach talked about how much he enjoyed the leisure pace of a baseball game. We chatted some more about his upbringing and playing “pickup” sports, from baseball to football, and even riding bikes – something that you don’t see much from youth anymore these days unless it’s through a video game console.

Coughlin really loves being the head coach of the Giants. You can see how much passion and drive he has for the sport, his team and this organization. It was a pleasure having lunch with a man as responsible for bringing the Giants their third championship as any player.

Let’s check in again with this edition of Giants Insider.

Coach’s Sermon

Coach Tom Coughlin addressed his team following practice for the last time before the Giants return for training camp in six weeks. Coughlin spoke to the team for about 18 minutes.

In the post-practice press conference, he addressed the media, but would not go into detail about his speech to the team. “No, it was just between the players and myself. You can go with the idea of the summer and what they have to be careful of. It is a longer stretch than normal for us.

Coach Tom Coughlin pays careful detail even in practice. That's why the Giants have a shot to be champions again this year. PHOTO BY BILL MENZEL / LSV

He said he didn’t have a level of satisfaction. “I just think we work – we create objectives, we create goals and we work towards accomplishing those things. Just like in anything else, perfection. But you know you are human, but let’s keep that as our goal regardless of that fact. So we have had an outstanding offseason program.”

Q & A with Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride

Q:  You don’t have back your two starting receivers and Derrick Ward, three prominent players.  Has anything happened up til now that makes you feel more or less confident about those losses heading into a new season?

Gilbride:  “Well, I think until you play, when it counts, it is hard to know.  But based upon what we have seen, we feel pretty good about some of the guys that have been given a chance to step up, whether it is Ahmad Bradshaw at running back or Danny Ware, receivers – so many young receivers look good.  The biggest problem, I think, has just been some of the injuries perhaps slowed down some of the work or progress that we were hoping to make.  But what we saw was pretty good.  So, again, the next step is are they doing the exhibition season and then when the lights are on and it counts, can they do what they are showing now?  But right now we are not displeased at all.  I think, if anything we feel a little bit better about where we were with the big question marks that you were referring to.  It looks like there is some physical ability there to do the things necessary to move the football and give our team a chance to win.”

Q: Has the performance of the receiver group this offseason demonstrated that there isn’t a need to bring in an established veteran receiver?

Gilbride:  It’s hard for me to speak for others, but just from our coaches’ standpoint, I think we feel, again, until you do it for real, it is hard for me to say, “Hey we are all set; everything is fine and dandy.”  But based upon what we have seen in practice – which is the first step and the only thing we can judge them by, I think we have some quickness, I think we have seen some speed.  I think we have thrown the ball down the field some, made some plays.  The next step will be when we go against somebody different and can they maintain that poise?  Can they continue to show that athleticism that they displayed?  And then the big step when we go for real, are they going to continue to do the things that right now it seems like they can do.

They Said it…

New Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan on the last couple of months…

“They have been great, especially the last fifteen practices, it is what we really enjoy most around here. Having the players around and they are always very enthused; they like to practice. It is not really rock ‘em, sock ‘em, with only the helmets and shorts on. We get a lot of the installation in and get a lot of work. Especially for the young guys, it is invaluable for them. I know some of them got nicked a little bit with some muscle pulls. For these young guys it’s good to get all these practice reps. The same thing will happen when we get up to Albany. They will have the same kind of reps, because we rotate three deep through the practices. It has been really good. It has been great, and a lot of fun. The staff is great and the players are really into practice.”

Sheridan speaks on the new defensive scheme...

“We have exposed them to all the little wrinkles we are going to bring. Most of them probably come from our pressure package. We try to expose them to everything. We might only work on some stuff for one practice, but at least they got introduced to it so when they hear it again in the fall they have some familiarity with it.”

Who will be Eli Manning's favorite targets? Only time will tell. PHOTO BY BILL MENZEL / LSV

Quick Work on Day 3

The players went through walkthroughs with their offensive and defensive units on a short day of work for Big Blue. There were no passing or team drills.

Highlights from Day 2

Wednesday, the Giants announced a 15-year deal with Timex for the naming rights of their new practice facility and corporate headquarters, which have been dubbed the Timex Performance Center. Giants president and CEO John Mara said the team is still looking for a sponsor for the new stadium. MetLife Inc., Verizon and Anheuser-Busch have agreed to be three of the four "cornerstone partners," which will have exclusive naming rights to the four main entrances to the stadium.

Mara also said the new stadium will likely open with an NCAA lacrosse event in April of next year. Several concerts are also expected to follow before the first football games.

Insider Perspective

I’m concerned about the Giants for only one reason. And that’s the wide receiver position. I don’t think you can win in the NFL without an established playmaker. With that being said, I think the Giants and GM Jerry Reese did an incredible job planning for the future with this year’s draft. Hakeem Nicks is a keeper and as we highlighted in our coverage of rookie camp, the Giants did a phenomenal job on paper of acquiring good talent with all of their draft selections.

It worked for them en route to the Super Bowl championship, but I believe the Giants are built to win now and could use a big target for Eli Manning down field. I know Plaxico Burress is gone and not coming back, but I think the Giants should consider making a late move for Brandon Marshall, who requested out of Denver this week. Some of the most important moves are made late in training camp.

Do the Giants have an ace up their sleeve? Will they deal some young talent for Marshall, or some of the other established wide receivers they were rumored to be interested in on draft day?

Honestly, the vibe from inside would suggest that the Giants are standing pat. I hope they reconsider. Marshall or Arizona’s Anquan Boldin would really offset the loss of Burress and Amani Toomer, while also giving younger guys like Nicks and Sinorice Moss a chance to shine in a system that won’t be depending on them right away.   

Injuries Mounting

The Giants were banged up on the second day of minicamp with 14 players reportedly nursing injuries in the rehab area. 

Among those banged were cornerback Corey Webster and defensive tackles Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield. The missed time isn’t as big an issue for the veterans, but more of a concern for several rookies that were sidelined. Linebacker Clint Sintim and tight end Travis Beckum, as well as offensive tackle William Beatty, a second-round pick, weren’t healthy enough to take part in minicamp. Sinorice Moss, who got off to a great start earlier in the week, missed time again Wednesday and Thursday with a strained hamstring, meaning his promising spring is over.

Media Hospitality

A special thanks go out to E. Peter John-Baptiste, director of public relations for the Giants, and Avis Roper, assistant director of communications for Big Blue, for the media hospitality they provided during the minicamp. In fact, thanks go out to the entire Giants organization on a job well done. Mr. John-Baptiste and Mr. Roper do an incredible job assisting media, from making players available to accommodating the many requests made by members of the Fourth Estate. I have to thank Mr. John-Baptiste for his easy way, especially when this reporter decided to leave his mini netbook inside the Giant locker room – among the giants of the game. Leaving Mr. John-Baptiste to reply, “rookie mistake.”

And yes, LatinoSports.com is a rookie in the NFL game, but we have arrived – like Eli Manning in 2007 – with expanded coverage, and are delighted to really sink our teeth into the gridiron for this season and many to come.

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