The Final Roster Spots: Eight New York Giants Training Camp Battles to Watch

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

For the New York Giants, camp is a little less than a month away, and with almost all of their drafted rookies signed (only three remain), the Giants will go into training camp with a lot of established players, some up and coming youngsters, and some very talented rookies.

At many positions, the starter is already known, a player is expected to win the job, or the position has many guys capable of the job who will all be used throughout the season.

The stability of the Giants' roster and coaching staff is good for a lot of players, but for a lot of young players, their luck will run out as the final roster is announced.

However, there are a few players who have had experience in the system that are on the fringe of making the roster. Right now, they are not locks to make the roster but are not the first on the chopping block, so a roster spot could be theirs.

Roster spots will be tough to come by, but each of the following players could land that last spot. The following four offensive players and four defensive players all have been with the Giants in previous seasons in some form or another and could make the roster in a special teams or backup role.

Offense

Sinorice Moss, wide receiver, entering fourth season with team

Moss is most likely the speediest receiver the Giants have. He has quick feet and has the ability to get behind defensive backs. He could be the big play receiver for the Giants if he makes the roster.

In his three seasons with the Giants, Moss has shown us a few things—he is often injured, he is inconsistent, and he does not have good instincts on the field. Additionally, he does not play special teams exceptionally well in a system where backups are expected to contribute in more than one way.

Moss is frustrating because fans and coaches have seen the talent, but thus far, he's been unable to put it all together on the playing field.

With a lot of young players looking to make an impact at the receiver position, Moss will have to work hard to get that final spot. If history repeats itself, it's improbable he makes the final 53.

Darcy Johnson, tight end, entering fourth season with team

Johnson does not have an impressive career line—four catches, 46 yards, two touchdowns. In 2007, Johnson was on his way to a starting job when he tore his ACL and was sidelined for the entire season. Last year, he was the No. 3 tight end on the roster and saw some time late in the season.

Johnson has proven he can be a capable receiving tight end. It is unclear if he can be a capable blocking tight end, which proves to be a problem when tight ends are required to block in the Giants' offense.

With starter Kevin Boss returning, rookie Travis Beckum getting a lot of snaps as a tight end/H-back hybrid, and Michael Matthews used primarily as a blocking tight end, Johnson will need to improve his game all around to make the roster. But he's impressed the coaches in the past, so he could make the roster as the third tight end on the roster.

Andre' Woodson, quarterback, entering second season with team (practice squad)

When Woodson came into training camp last year, a lot of fans (including myself) expected him to impress enough to make the roster as the third quarterback. He was a very good college quarterback whose draft stock sunk quickly, and he landed with the Giants in the sixth round.

Simply put, he stunk and ended up on the practice squad.

Woodson came to the Giants with bad mechanics and a lot to learn. Hopefully he's learned a lot in the past year, but if he hasn't, he'll get replaced by 2009 fifth round draft pick Rhett Bomar.

Woodson has the talent to make the roster, but with the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterback positions basically set, the battle will be for the third spot. If Bomar shows any promise, Woodson will end up on the practice squad or another team next year.

Guy Whimper, offensive line, entering fourth season with team (IR last year)

Whimper was a guy who came to the Giants very raw but extremely athletic. The Giants hoped he'd be the left tackle of the future, but besides a few offensive drives (mostly in the preseason), Whimper has not done much with the team.

The Giants have depth at the offensive tackle position, probably just enough to let Whimper walk if the coaches don't feel like he has a future with the Giants. He still has the athletic ability, but whether or not he has an NFL future is still unclear.

Whimper spent last season on injured reserve, so how he performs in camp is key to securing a roster spot. If other tackles have as good, or better, camps as Whimper, he could be on his way out of New York.

Defense

Jay Alford, defensive line, entering third season with team

Every Giant fan remembers Alford in Super Bowl XLII. His fourth quarter sack of Tom Brady helped the Giants win the trophy, but since then, Alford hasn't done much.

Alford, a defensive tackle who is very quick off the ball, had 2.5 sacks last season but did not as play as well as most thought he would. When the Giants acquired Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard, Alford became the fifth defensive tackle, at best.

If he underperforms in camp, he could be with another team next year. He has shown he has the ability to play at this level, but with a loaded defensive line, he'll need to really impress to stick around.

Robert Henderson, defensive line, entering second season with team (IR last year)

Henderson has shown very, very little in the NFL—almost nothing. He did a few good things in preseason last year but was put on injured reserve before the regular season started.

Henderson has the talent to make the Giants as the fourth defensive end. Right now, the spot belongs to Dave Tollefson, but he's an average depth player. If Henderson comes into camp and plays well, he could make the roster as the final end on the roster.

Henderson is a player I liked going into camp last season, but his injury made his first season a wash. If he outplays Tollefson and rookie Maurice Evans, Henderson will make this roster.

Zak DeOssie, linebacker, entering third season with team

DeOssie has the bloodlines to play in the NFL, but his play in the NFL is a different story. He came from a Brown football program that doesn't turn out football stars, but he came to the Giants as the long snapper for the punt unit. He proved to be a good special teamer, both on punts and kickoffs.

However, DeOssie has yet to show improvement as a linebacker. In two years with the team, he's been buried in the depth chart at the position, and this year the position has more capable players than it has in a long time.

If DeOssie wants a shot at the roster, he'll have to show tremendous improvement at the linebacker position. It is possible, but he has not shown much skill at that position thus far in his career.

Gerris Wilkinson, linebacker, entering fourth season with team

The career of Wilkinson is a sad story. He came to the Giants with the reputation that he was a leader and had the ability to play every linebacker position. Since then, he has underperformed, been often injured, and has not shown any promise to be an every-down player.

Wilkinson has had very few flashes of talent—in late 2007, he proved he could play in the NFL against the New England Patriots. But before and after that, he's shown very little.

Wilkinson's story is much like DeOssie's—it'll be tough to make the roster when he's going against a lot of talent at the position. But he has experience with the team and has shown more than a few other guys.

If he can put it all together, he'll probably land the last roster spot. If not, he'll be somewhere else Week One.

The Giants will go to Albany with a lot of talent and few roster spots up for competition. But there are more than a few players who have experience with the team and the ability to make the roster if they perform well.

A good camp probably ensures a roster spot. A bad camp guarantees a new home next season.

Article originally published at http://nygiants247.blogspot.com

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