5 New York Giants Players with the Most to Gain in Preseason Opener
The New York Giants are in full swing of training camp, and their preseason is set to begin. Their first exhibition is Friday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.
When the Giants take the field, some players will be savoring the opportunity more so than others. The starters probably won't see much playing time, but the second- and third-teamers will be fighting for every snap.
The players buried on New York's depth chart have the most to gain Friday, as well as the three preseason games that follow. In the coming slides, we'll highlight five Giants who could climb the depth chart with strong performances over the next few weeks.
Be sure to share your thoughts and predictions for each candidate in the comment section below.
Damontre Moore, DE
1 of 5
Height/Weight: 6'5"/250 lbs.
Age/Experience: 22/Third season
Situation: Moore came to the Giants as a third-round pick with plenty of hype, but he hasn't been able to crack the starting lineup through two seasons in the league.
Preseason Outlook
We know Moore can get after the passer. He was a sack-master in college with 26.5 quarterback takedowns through three seasons at Texas A&M. Last season, Moore showed what he can do if given the chance by recording 5.5 sacks off the bench.
However, unless he's able to lock up a starting job, he'll always be a replaceable part of New York's pass-rush rotation. Right now, he's listed as a second-team defensive end behind Robert Ayers and Kerry Wynn on the Giants' unofficial depth chart.
Moore has made some noise this summer, though. Head coach Tom Coughlin praised him early in training camp, saying he has done a "pretty good job," per Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media. He also snagged headlines by getting in a fight with starting offensive lineman and draft classmate Justin Pugh.
"You know, I've had time, experience, and I've gotten bigger, faster, and stronger," Moore said, per Chris Pflum of Big Blue View. "I'm also more comfortable with the schematic side of things, and I think that also plays a part in me playing the run a little bit better."
Moore must prove that with his play this preseason if he wishes to overtake either Ayers or Wynn for a starting role in Jason Pierre-Paul's absence.
Jay Bromley, DT
2 of 5
Height/Weight: 6'3"/306 lbs.
Age/Experience: 23/Second season
Situation: Bromley was a head-scratching, third-round pick last year and is coming off a rookie season in which he hardly saw any playing time.
Preseason Outlook
Bromley played in only eight games and recorded a meager five tackles as a rookie last season. Although the Giants spent a relatively high draft pick on him (74th overall), the inexperienced defensive tackle simply was not ready to make an impact at the professional level.
"It was plain and simple: It was harder. Grown men play on Sundays," Bromley told Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media in June. "I heard that, and I worked hard, but you don't really understand it until you get out there. Sometimes you get away with things because I'm blessed with enough athleticism to get away with stuff sometimes, but in the overall grand scheme of things, I had to be stronger."
This offseason, Bromley was on a mission to redefine his body. He worked out with Pierre-Paul in Florida before the infamous fireworks accident. Bromley needed to get much stronger, so he could become a more reliable run-defender.
Veteran defensive end Ayers is "very proud" of Bromley's progress to date, according to the Giants' official website.
Bromley is listed as a second-team defensive tackle on the unofficial depth chart, but he could slip past aging veteran Cullen Jenkins for a starting role beside Johnathan Hankins with impressive preseason performances.
Preston Parker, WR
3 of 5
Height/Weight: 6'0"/200 lbs.
Age/Experience: 28/Fifth season
Situation: Parker was picked up in free agency last year and proved his value to the team after Victor Cruz went down in Week 6 of the 2014 season.
Preseason Outlook
The Giants have featured a tough wide receiver competition this summer, and there's bound to be an odd man out.
That unlucky pass-catcher might be Preston Parker.
Even though Parker caught 36 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns in Cruz's stead last season, his spot on the Giants' roster is far from guaranteed. There's a lot more talent in the receiving corps this season, so he'll have to earn his keep in the preseason.
Parker is listed as a second-team wide receiver on the unofficial depth chart, behind the starting trio of Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle. If the Giants keep six receivers on the 53-man roster, Parker and fellow second-teamers Corey Washington and Dwayne Harris would appear to make the cut at first glance.
However, sixth-round rookie Geremy Davis and veteran James Jones must also be considered. Davis is a draft investment who's probably more valuable than Parker on special teams, and Jones offers a lot in terms of experience (383 career receptions, 4,971 yards, 43 touchdowns).
For Parker to hang on to his job over these two, he must stand out on special teams and play with a veteran savvy on offense.
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Jeromy Miles, S
4 of 5
Height/Weight: 6'2"/211 lbs.
Age/Experience: 28/Sixth season
Situation: Miles was added to the roster just before training camp to sprinkle some veteran experience into the team's crowded safety competition.
Preseason Outlook
The safety position is a wild card for the Giants, as the two starting jobs are currently up for grabs. Second-round rookie Landon Collins is likely to land one of them; Miles has an outside chance to snag the other.
Miles is the oldest and most experienced safety of the bunch, with 67 NFL games played and a whopping three starts under his belt. Pro Football Focus points to his past performance with the Baltimore Ravens as evidence that he can be a valuable contributor for the Giants.
"While playing in a safety rotation for Baltimore, he allowed just 0.14 yards per coverage snap, which was third-best for 90 qualifying safeties," Nathan Janke wrote for PFF, which conducts in-depth player analysis. "In his 224 coverage snaps he allowed only two passes of more than four yards, and had an interception."
Bennett Jackson, a converted safety, is listed as a first-team safety with Collins, even though neither of them has played a single snap in an NFL game. Miles is on the third team, behind fifth-round rookie Mykkele Thompson and third-year pro Cooper Taylor.
While the four ahead of him are as green as can be, Miles has game experience playing both free and strong safety.
"I've been playing both positions," Miles said, per USA Today. "Whatever gives you the better opportunity to play, then I'm all for it. I'm here to compete. I don't focus too much on who's with the ones [the first unit] or the twos. I'm just trying to maximize the opportunity."
Miles may shoot up the depth chart with a strong showing in the preseason.
Brandon Mosley, OL
5 of 5
Height/Weight: 6'5"/318 lbs.
Age/Experience: 26/Fourth season
Situation: Mosley is a former fourth-round pick who has clung to his roster spot since 2012 without making a noticeable impact.
Preseason Outlook
The Giants are terribly shaky at the offensive tackle position. With Will Beatty on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, first-round rookie Ereck Flowers is starting at left tackle. Veteran free-agency acquisition Marshall Newhouse is stepping in with the first team at right tackle.
However, through four seasons with the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals, Newhouse hasn't been a reliable starter. If his performance is concerning early in the preseason, the Giants should not hesitate to explore other options.
Mosley is the next man up at right tackle, according to the team's unofficial depth chart. He has appeared in 22 games over the last two seasons, but he hasn't developed into a starting-caliber lineman. Mosley had a chance to replace Chris Snee at right guard last season, but some bum luck led to yet another lackluster year.
"Last year he was having a good training camp, and he got hurt, he had a back issue. From there that's where I guess the burial started because he was out," Giants offensive line coach Pat Flaherty said, per Chris Pflum of Big Blue View. "It's one of those things where you have to have a little bit of Lady Luck behind you to stay healthy, and he's a prime example of it."
The Giants now have Mosley locked in at tackle, where he could be the offensive line's last hope. By staying healthy and outperforming Newhouse in the preseason, he can make one final case for himself as a starter.
All roster, depth chart and statistical information courtesy of Giants.com.
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.
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