Giants Training Camp Begins: What To Watch For

The first day of New York Giants Training Camp has officially arrived, with the first practice kicking off at 1:30p.m. If you’re heading over to camp in the next few days, here are a couple of things to keep your eye on:

1. Terrell Thomas- Thomas suffered a season ending knee injury in training camp last year after a 2010 campaign in which he recorded an extremely impressive 101 tackles and 5 interceptions. The Giants resigned Thomas, and the 27 year old claims to have “no limitations,” so it will be interesting to see just how well he keeps pace in all the drills. If TT can return to that secondary 100%, it could turn one of the Giants biggest question mark units into a lockdown strong suit.
2. David Wilson- the rookie first round running back from Virginia Tech is expected to play a big time role as a potential return man and the change of pace back behind oft-injured Ahmad Bradshaw. The problem: he fumbles. Coach Coughlin puts a premium on ball security, so if Wilson cannot hold onto the football, he won’t be seeing the field. Coughlin is famous for helping former Giant great Tiki Barber fix his butterfingers; it will be interesting to see how he works with Wilson (#34) to make sure he squeezes the rock.
3. The 3^rd wide receiver battle- Hakeem Nicks may be sidelined for all of training camp, but his spot as the team’s primary target is secured. Victor Cruz and his record setting break out season has locked up the 2^ndspot, but with Mario Manningham bolting for San Francisco, the 3^rdreceiver slot is very much up for grabs. There will obviously be a number of guys vying for that slot, but I’d be looking at three guys as the top candidates to secure the job: Domenik Hixon, Ramses Barden and Rueben Randle. Hixon, who is coming off his second season ending knee surgery in as many years, has been a starter for Big Blue in the past, and is certainly a guy that Coughlin trusts. Barden, at 6’6” 224 pounds, has the physical tools to be a Plaxico style threat in the Red Zone, but has yet to earn any significant playing time in his three full seasons as a Giant. And Rueben Randle, the Giants second round pick out of LSU, comes into camp highly touted and probably holding the inside track for the position. Randle will be wearing Manningham’s #82 this season; it will be interesting to see if he can take over his role as well.

As training camp continues more intriguing storylines are sure to emerge, and we here at 104.5 The Team will be sure to keep you posted and on the lookout for what to watch for.