Takeaways from the NY Giants' Voluntary Minicamp

Wondering what life is going to be like for the New York Giants players under new head coach Ben McAdoo?

Well, if the opening day of the voluntary minicamp is any indication, there are going to be some very noticeable changes, though the end goal is still the same: winning games.

“We want to train the way we play, and that’s key,” McAdoo said after his first practice as the head coach.

Therein is one of many differences that have emerged about McAdoo, who opts for the word “train” over practice. 

He apparently is looking to his assistant coaches to teach the players little nuances aimed at helping them be more accountable and be better football players as they look to snap a four-year streak of no playoffs.

As there were no offense vs. defense drills to do player evaluations, let’s instead focus on some of the other changes that emerged from McAdoo’s first minicamp practice as the Giants head coach.

Extended "Club" Time

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

McAdoo has kept a two-year-old tradition former head coach Tom Coughlin (on the advice of his team’s leadership council at the time) introduced, and that is to have music at the beginning of practice.

The only difference between McAdoo and Coughlin is, the former allowed the music once a week and only during the warm-up period.

McAdoo, on the other hand, allowed the music—which was clearly tailored to the younger generation (whereas Coughlin would mix in some oldies but goodies such as tunes from Frank Sinatra) to be blasted in.

McAdoo also added an automated voice and a different air horn to broke up the drill periods, and he included a “TV timeout” at one point in order to simulate the pace of a live game. 

The approach seemed to work. With McAdoo apparently wanting an uptempo practice, the players were hustling around the field, working with great energy and seemed focused and driven by the music.

“I think everyone was moving quickly, and things were at a fast pace,” said defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

“We had some resting periods, but it was more of a ‘quick-and-go right now’ pace. That’s very important.”

It sure is considering at times in the past the Giants moved as though they lacked a sense of urgency.

Pre- and Post-Practice Snacks

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

No, I’m not talking about defensive tackle Damon Harrison, nicknamed “Snacks.” I’m talking about actual food.

On the way out to the field house, there was a table on which boxes of what looked like donut holes sat under a sign promoting pre-workout energy.

Upon closer inspection, the donut holes were actually rolled oats and protein bites, essential ingredients designed to provide an athlete with the necessary energy to get through a fast-paced workout.

The snacks seemed to work. The players looked as energetic to start practice as they did at the end of practice.

And speaking of the end of practice, the players were greeted with some protein shakes when they left the field for the locker room.

Whereas in the past they might shower, change and then make their way down to the cafeteria for a shake, the grab-and-go convenience enabled them to start their recoveries right away.

New Drills

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

From the time he was an offensive coordinator, McAdoo always liked to preach about the importance of mastering the fundamentals.

Now that he’s the head coach, that’s exactly what’s happening on both sides of the ball.

The coaching staff has introduced some new drills to help ensure the players are trained in little things that tend to be taken for granted.

For example, one new drill saw the linebackers work on a loose-ball recovery exercise.

The drill had the players start out by lying on their bellies. A ball would then be introduced into the “play,” and the players would then have to bounce up and secure the ball. 

Clearly McAdoo and the coaches are leaving no stone unturned. Hopefully these details will help them ensure those bounces and breaks that went against them start working in their favor.

No More Bands

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Much to the dismay of the beat writers who came to signal the end of practice by yelling out “Bands!,” the post-practice stretching device has apparently been retired.  

The idea behind the bands was, after running around during a practice, the players would “cool down” by stretching.

There were questions as to whether that approach—going right into a post-workout stretch—was the right way to go.

Per MensFitness.com, author Jeremy Duvall notes static stretching, such as what the Giants were doing, is only one piece of the puzzle.

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Along with stretching, put some light walking and foam rolling at the end of your workout. This will help increase circulation and lower your heart rate slowly instead of heading out of the gym immediately after your last set. A cool-down routine will also decrease post-workout soreness.

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It’s not known what kind of cool-down routine new strength and conditioning coach Aaron Wellman has in place for the players, but it will be interesting to see if the retirement of the bands helps. 

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 me on Twitter @Patricia_Traina.