NY Giants Twitter Mailbag: The 'Football Is Back' Edition

Rejoice, New York Giants fans, as for the next 20 weeks, our lonely, boring weekends without football will be no more.

That’s right—Giants football is back, starting this weekend with the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Friday night.

Slowly but surely the Giants are making progress in answering some of the numerous burning questions that faced the team at the start of camp.

However, there’s a lot of preseason football left where anything can and will happen.

So as we count down the minutes to the opening kickoff, let’s see what’s on the minds of Giants fans and try to come up with some answers. 

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

"

@Patricia_Traina is there anyone pre camp you thought was a sure lock for the final 53 that may end up being cut?

— DonnyR (@MrDonRyan) August 13, 2015"

Wow, great question, Don. The one guy who comes to mind is running back Orleans Darkwa. I thought he might be a lock, but now I’m wondering if they keep just three running backs and a fullback instead.

Injuries will help decide on that, but I think that will be the position where they “steal” a roster spot in order to accommodate another area.

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

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@Patricia_Traina what is the giants TE situation. Fells is number 1 now but will it be donnell?

— Michael Powers (@WesleyBoose) August 13, 2015"

Thanks for the question, Michael. There’s a lot of training camp left and a lot of preseason to go with it. I wouldn’t put much stock in the depth chart at positions where the competition is tight—tight end being one of them.

As much as I would like to see Daniel Fells stick on the roster, I still think that he’s the first one they lop off if Jerome Cunningham continues to have a strong showing.

"

@Patricia_Traina has Eli ever had a training camp this good?

— Kenneth S Small JR (@KSSfollowsJesus) August 13, 2015"

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Kenneth, great question. I can’t recall Eli Manning ever throwing the ball this well, as usually he’s been a slow starter out of the gate.

Manning mentioned that he worked with a pitching coach and received some tips on how to better care for his arm, so whatever advice he received, it seems to be paying off significant dividends.

I think it also helps that Manning is healthy and is more at ease in this offense than he was maybe at this time last season. I think Manning and the offense are poised to do some big things IF the offensive line holds up.

"

@Patricia_Traina is geremy Davis viewed better as a slot or outside wr?

— PindlingDollas (@JrPnutz4lyfe) August 13, 2015"

Thanks for the question. I actually put this question to receivers coach Sean Ryan a couple of weeks ago when the assistant coaches met the press before a training camp practice.

John Minchillo/Associated Press

He said, “I think he’s probably more of an outside guy where he can do a little bit more with his size and strength. There can be certain spots or roles for him where he could be used on the inside, but primarily outside.”

So that’s definitely something to watch this summer—where they use Davis and in what situations. I will say this much—I really like how he has looked this summer. This young man seems to want it badly, and he has kept his head down while working to get better.

As I joked with him during a recent interview, I think he would happily serve water behind the team’s bench if the coaches asked him—he’s that willing to contribute however he can.

P.S. Davis nodded and said if that was what would help the team win, he was fine with that (and no, he wasn't joking either).

"

@Patricia_Traina with JPP in doubt for week 1, who would be the starter at LE and RE?

— Sunflower Samurai (@SunFlowSamurai) August 13, 2015"

Uncredited/Associated Press

Thanks for the question. Unless there is an injury, I don’t think that the current depth chart, which lists Kerry Wynn and Robert Ayers as the starting defense ends, is going to change by Week 1.

Ayers was probably the team’s second-best pass-rusher last year, while Wynn looked solid against the run.

I’m very interested in seeing how much progress Wynn has made as a pass-rusher. Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I think he could be the Giants’ next complete defensive end, a guy who can play both the run and rush the passer.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

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@Patricia_Traina  Do you think our o-line will be able to protect Eli this year ?

— donna gray (@iluvelimanning) August 13, 2015"

Hi, Donna (and to everyone else who asked about the offensive line in general). I remain concerned about the tackle situation, particularly at right tackle, where I’m just not sold on Marshall Newhouse. I’ve seen him blatantly hold guys in practice, and I fear he’s going to be a penalty magnet.

Right now, the depth at that position scares me. It's somewhat unsettling that Brandon Mosley can’t seem to crack into the starting lineup.

I am convinced that the front office is going to be actively scanning the waiver wire for help at offensive tackle as cuts are made.

"

@Patricia_Traina Why Pugh at LG and Newhouse at RT when you can have Mosley at RG and Pugh at RT? They would appear to be natural fit.

— Disco Wolfman (@Fricke316) August 13, 2015"

Thanks for the question. Brandon Mosley simply hasn’t shown yet that he is first-team worthy. Flash back to last year—remember how poor John Jerry was at run blocking while playing right tackle? Per Pro Football Focus, Jerry was the worst run-blocker on the team.

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

So why didn’t the coaches bench him and put Mosley in there? He was supposedly healthy after an early-season back ailment, yet he couldn’t get on the field. That spoke volumes at the time and raised some red flags in my book, as did the fact that Charles Brown got on the field ahead of Mosley.

Moving to the present, the fact that they seem willing to stick with Newhouse for the time being and not try Mosley, who has been primarily working at tackle so far, is also telling.  

"

@patricia_traina The biggest concern right now is Geoff Shwartz.  Is his injury a re-aggravation from last year?

— Joe (@jcs02008) August 13, 2015"

Thanks for the question, Joe. I’m really not sure what’s going on with Geoff Schwartz, as head coach Tom Coughlin wasn’t really specific other than to cite soreness.

I think the question that needs to be asked—and I don’t have an answer either—involves the other day, when Coughlin put the team through a short walkthrough, a practice that literally involved ZERO running and which lasted barely an hour.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Schwartz was out on the field, standing around on his supposed sore wheel, yet I don’t’ think he got in there once.

Even Prince Amukamara (groin) and Ereck Flowers (hip flexor), who were among those nursing injuries at the time, got in there and went through the motions with the rest of the team.

I don’t like to question what another man might be feeling physically, but I did find that sequence of events perplexing.

With that said, let’s hope Schwartz is indeed ready for the start of the 2015 season and that whatever he has going on doesn’t continue to linger.

"

@Patricia_Traina How has Brett Jones looked thus far and how does he fit in the OLINE depth chart

— Bryan Blaind (@BBryan22) August 13, 2015"

USA TODAY Sports

Hi, Bryan. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Brett Jones. He is a sparkplug out there—a smart player who is tough and cerebral.

My biggest concern with him right now is that he’s mostly worked at center, which is fine. However, I can’t see the Giants devoting a roster spot to him until he learns how to master guard, so I could potentially see him land on the practice squad.

I don’t think he would stay on the practice squad long, but again, I can’t see them devoting a roster spot to what amounts to a luxury player at the moment. 

"

@Patricia_Traina #askpat how does cory washington  look and does he make the team?

— charlie g (@g68_charlie) August 13, 2015"

Hey, Charlie. How's it going? I’ve received this question a lot concerning Corey Washington, so to others who asked me, apologies I’m not using your tweet.

Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

My biggest critique of Washington is a lack of consistency. If I’m the coaching staff, what I’m looking for is for the receiver to go all out on EVERY play, regardless if he’s the focal point.

I haven’t seen that from him. I do see a player whose route running has improved and who continues to make the tough catches. I see a guy with amazing size and physical attributes that I think would look really nice in a red-zone package.

I do not, however, see consistency, and that could be the difference between Washington's making the team and being waived.

"

@Patricia_Traina how is Andre Williams looking in year 2? Any improvements in vision, comfort, speed?

— Garrett Adler (@zepfeldnyc) August 13, 2015"

Great question, Garrett. It’s still early, but to my eyes, Andre Williams does look a lot more comfortable running the ball. He’s making quicker decisions and is cutting more on a dime, and he’s running with his head up and is squaring his shoulders—all positive signs.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Where I don’t see much progress, though, is in his pass receiving. Williams works hard at that, but there are still numerous times when he catches the ball against his body rather than reaching out and then pulling it in.

I wouldn’t be surprised if out of the three running backs, he has the lowest number of pass targets this season—pass receiving as of right now just is not one of his strengths.

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

Follow @Patricia_Traina.