New York Giants Camp: Encouraging To Say The Least

The New York Giants had a levy full of confidence entering the 2009 season before camp. If training camp is any indication of the measure of success they are looking for, that confidence has only increased.

The battle for playing time at the wide receiver position has been fierce, among other things, often breaking out in aggressive shoving, getting in each others faces, and so on.

Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon were supposed to be the starters, but that may in fact change once the season starts.

Derek Hagan and Ramses Barden have been killing the defense so far.

In the past soon-to-be three weeks, Hagan has dropped one pass. If there was one person who I would be worried if the Giants cut, it is definitely Hagan; can anyone say Ryan Grant?

The team has seven receivers that are all performing well, it will be a tough decision when the team is cut to 53.

Ramses Barden had the catch of the camp when he leaped over the defense for a one-handed touchdown grab a week ago and has continued to impress while Steve Smith sits out due to injury.

Hakeem Nicks is finally getting into the swing of things, about time seeing as how he sat out most of camp due to a lingering hamstring problem. This is encouraging, the Giants are counting on Nicks to be the heir apparent to Plaxico Burress, minus the shooting himself in the leg skill.

Mario Manningham is starting to show why he was drafted in the third round last year. He battled injuries up to this point, but now is putting all that behind him as well as the defense. If there is nothing these receivers lack, it is speed, and Super Mario is no exception.

Sinorice Moss has been possibly the most impressive in the collective off season. He was burning the defense in mini camp and has continued his success in two-a-days.

Eli Manning will have a grand arsenal of weapons when the season starts, and he better be ready to use them.

One bad thing you could say about the offense is that they have thrown over 25 interceptions since camp began on Aug. 3.

This is either good for the defense, or bad for the offense. The defense wasn't exactly a turnover machine last year, so this is exciting if they have turned over a new leaf.

I'm not sure if anyone is as excited for Ahmad Bradshaw as I am. His touchdown run against the Panthers on Monday night was definitely as sign of things to come, and opposing teams should be worried.

I will go out on a limb and say Bradshaw will be better than Derrick Ward was last season. Bradshaw was forced to sit back and watch Ward and Brandon Jacobs do their thing, becoming the fourth duo to each record 1000 yards in a season.

I can guarantee he is out to prove that Ward will not be missed, maybe even prove that he should have been in Ward's place.

Watch out NFL, Ahmad Bradshaw is a forced to be reckoned with.

The offensive progress coupled with the expected dominance of the defense is giving the team unparalleled confidence heading into the season, maybe just enough to bring home the Lombardi trophy. Time will tell.