The countdown to training camp is underway and the calendar now sits at under one month before the New York Giants return to the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The roster is stocked full of quality talent ready to play football in 2013.
Fortunately for many of the players, a number of jobs are still available.
Position battles are always a large focal point during training camp and, as the preseason schedule picks up, it will be no different for the G-Men this summer. These seven are the ones to follow when training camp begins:
1) Middle Linebacker: The Giants brought in free-agent veteran Dan Connor, but they appear adamant about third-year pro Mark Herzlich earning the starting role. Herzlich ─ signed by the team as an undrafted free agent in 2011 ─ has done everything asked of him as he continues to return to football form after a well-documented battle with cancer. All indications are that the coaches would love nothing more than to award him with an opportunity as the starter by the end of the summer. The Giants will likely give Aaron Curry a shot in the middle as well, just to gauge what he has to offer.
2) Right Tackle: David Diehl is still in New York and appears to be the incumbent starter at right tackle. But rookie Justin Pugh and third-year pro James Brewer will try to make their mark this summer. Diehl is on a steady decline and the Giants could use someone younger and more reliable to man the position. Because he’s been around longer, Brewer may get the first swing at the role, but Pugh presents greater potential to stabilize the right side of the offensive line for the long term.
3) Joker (Hybrid Linebacker): With Mathias Kiwanuka expected to see substantial time at defensive end — his natural position — the Giants are seeking a new player to fill the void left at their “Joker” position within the linebacking corps. Speculation places rookie Damontre Moore as an ideal fit because he played a similar role at Texas A&M. However, the Giants have some other players who may be a good fit, such as defensive end Adrian Tracy (“Young Osi”), who was very impressive in training camp last summer. Tracy was a fairly successful pass rusher in college at William & Mary, but has been labeled as too small to play the position in the NFL.
4) Third Receiver: It’s pretty easy to pinpoint the Giants’ top two receivers: Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. But after them, it’s a huge question mark. Second-year player Rueben Randle and free-agent acquisition Louis Murphy appear to be the front runners, but which one will see the most reps once the regular season starts? Ultimately, it could just be a matter of offensive schemes. Randle projects better as an outside receiver, similar to Nicks, whereas Murphy is a smaller, speedier option best suited in the slot like Cruz. What’s more likely would be to label the two players 2A and 2B, but it will be fun to see how they perform in camp. Jerrel Jernigan, Ramses Barden (and others) also bear watching to see what they have to show for themselves.
5) Nickelback: For better or worse, the Giants’ top two cornerbacks are Corey Webster and Prince Amukamara. What happens behind them on the depth chart is not quite as certain. Returning veteran Aaron Ross, second-year player Jayron Hosley, rookie Charles James and even oft-injured Terrell Thomas are all potential — and viable— options for the nickel role. Hosley is best suited covering the slot and may be the most talented of this group to do so at this time. This is an unnerving thing to say as, according to Pro Football Focus, he was one of the worst slot corners in the NFL last season.
6) No. 2 Running Back: David Wilson has already been declared the starter, but he’s not going to shoulder the entire load in the running game. The Giants have always depended on an assembly of backs to get the job done and this season will be no different. Andre Brown is the projected backup, but rookie Michael Cox could earn himself some carries this summer. Da’Rel Scott and Ryan Torain are also battling for this role and, if they fall short, they might be without jobs.
7) Kick Returner and Punt Returner: Right now, Wilson is also expected to be the return kicks but, it’s not a wise idea to risk your starting running back on special teams play. The punt return role is up for grabs as well because, as Rueben Randle proved last season, he’s not the best candidate for the job. Jernigan and Ross both have experience, and free-agent signee Keith Carlos is a versatile athlete with spectacular speed. He has experience returning kicks from his days at Purdue, but he has yet to make an NFL roster since entering the league in 2011.
Louis Musto is a reporter and sports talk host for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can email him at lmusto@sportsjourney.com and follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.