Big Blue View
Pads bring out the physicality
The New York Giants practiced with pads on Monday for the first time in 2025 on a blistering hot day in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With the level of physicality dialed up, the Giants focused on running the football during team period — much to the delight of the offensive line.
Right tackle Jermaine Eleumunor spoke to the media after practice and reinforced the importance of playing with pads on. He also discussed Evan Neal, and the former first-round pick’s journey to tackle.
Eleumunor said Neal had a few “DAMN!” combo blocks in practice; here’s one at the where the offense prevented the defense from picking up a first down on three plays to conclude practice:
Eluemunor mentioned Neal’s conscientious nature in his transition to guard and how Neal’s potential remains high due to his physical attributes.
I mention Neal, specifically, because the idea of Neal starting on the offensive line is not far-fetched. He earned first-team reps at right guard, as did Greg Van Roten. Neal is entering a contract year and is just 24 years old. If he can smooth out his pass protection and understand his role inside, he could earn a starting role, probably at right guard.
There’s upside to Neal starting, but he’ll have to take the job from Van Roten, who is 35. Eluemunor is correct about Neal’s palpable power; the man moves bodies in the run game, but there’s more to playing football than brute force.
It wasn’t the most eventful practice for the first padded period of the season. The Giants mostly focused on running the football and hitting up front. They did one-on-one offensive/defensive line drills on the far-end of the field, away from the media. I’ll include my notes with that below.
Brian Daboll lost his cool on the offense after the unit had three false start penalties. The offense operated mostly backed up on their side of the field. There weren’t red zone drills for the offense, it was mostly conservative play-calling to gradually ramp-up the physicality.
The first team offensive line was mostly Jermaine Eluemunor, Greg Van Roten, John Michael Schmitz, Jon Runyan Jr., and James Hudson III, with Neal earning reps at right guard.
The Giants ran a lot of play-action passes and slip-screens throughout practice. Focus on getting the running backs in space, where Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo both had several plays that elicited cheers from the crowd. Here’s one play where John Michael Schmitz got the best of Bobby Okereke in space:
Skattebo had two runs that resulted in cheers, one with an excellent cut-back off quality blocking up front with the first team offense and defense. Zach Pascal had a tough catch over the middle of the field:
Cornerback Art Green secured a one-handed interception against Jamies Winston:
Rookie UDFA Dalen Cambre earned some first-team reps with Wan’Dale Robison inactive for practice. The reps were in an install period, but still noteworthy. Jalen Hyatt...
