New York Giants Minicamp Review

There are upwards of 60 minutes of interviews with players and staff on the Giants.com Multimedia site. Here are some takeaways from minicamp:

1) Gilbride on Manning: "The Quarterback was particularly sharp for this early in the year... not only with his accuracy but recognizing blitzes."

2) Moss has that chip on his shoulder and the media will not let it go away until he not only earns a roster spot but also starts making plays.

3) TE Darcy Johnson got singled out a few times for his good play.

4) Pierce noted how 'smart' the rookie LBers (Goff and Kehl) are.

5) Spags on Kiwanuka: "Light years ahead of where he was a year ago." He is remaining very flexible on where Kiwi goes in the defense. If the Giants had more speed and an answer at SAM, Kiwi would be doing what Tuck did last year with Tuck at left DE. But since the Giants' weakest position on the field right now is LB, you have to believe that they are invested in Kiwi to make it work there. So he is the blitzing LBer, 5-2-4, or 5-1-5.

6) Pierce noted how he has had 7 defensive coordinators in 8 years. He is very relaxed and happy about actually knowing a defense. He sees the difference in practice when all the players are in the right places etc...

7) Toomer... "the old man... all he does is show up and make plays."

8) O'Hara points out that with Eli in his 5th year now, he is like another coach out there, telling people where they need to be. You can feel his confidence is up to another level. His focus is on improving, period. We have the new Eli until we don't. Coughlin was positive on Manning's "growth" as well.

9) Coughlin handed out the players a stat sheet with numbers for what happened to the Super Bowl Champion the following year, and it was not particularly pretty... the team got a dose of reality and was confronted with 'the brutal facts' (Good to Great by Jim Collins). Sobering.

10) The Shockey hangover continues. At least he had a shouting match with Reese. Good, that is a start.

11) Sometimes it is what is NOT said... No rookie flashes yet.

12) Albany in 38 days.