NY Giants news: Giants set for first preseason game in John Harbaugh Era

A Harbaugh team meeting during training camp begins with something he calls “wise words.” This is where individual players get up and share a daily message. It’s inspiration or advice, and the order for who speaks is selected based on seniority. Harbaugh used “wise words” throughout his Ravens tenure. Just not always to start meetings. Often, it was after practices. He also employed something called “spotlight” in Baltimore during which a guy would tell his backstory to the team.

Veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. used “wise words” last Tuesday to say: “Yesterday’s touchdown doesn’t win you today’s game.” His point being you can’t rest on the laurels of a good practice. You have to bring it again the following day. Beckham had his second straight strong practice that afternoon.

Odell Beckham Jr. is living in two football worlds right now and his current place with the New York Giants has very little to do with his spectacular past.

Admittedly, it’s incredibly difficult to separate the two.

C Bryan Hudson. No player has a bigger opportunity than what has been presented to Hudson this week. Starting center John Michael Schmitz has been sidelined since suffering a concussion last Friday. Backup center Lucas Patrick has been sidelined this week while managing a lingering knee injury. With the top two centers on the shelf, Hudson has taken every first-team rep for the past week.

That will continue Saturday for Hudson, who impressed in limited action during last year’s preseason. The Giants must have reservations about relying on the 33-year-old Patrick, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. The 25-year-old Hudson has a chance to establish himself as the younger, more dependable backup center option.

If the 53-man roster is going to include 10 offensive linemen, then the 6-foot-7, 340-pound Neal could steal one of the five backup jobs now that he is listed as a co-second-teamer with Aaron Stinnie at right guard.

“I’ve seen great growth from Evan in his ability to take coaching and his ability to try to understand not just how things look on paper but what certain alignments mean to him,” first-year offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren said. “I think he is seeing more in his stance, and he’s playing with more confidence. Listening to other people in the building, they feel like he’s taken some good steps. We’ll see what he’s able to do in these [preseason] games.”

Harbaugh knows Zvada’s potential and also his history of inconsistency. That’s why he said: “He does have a big leg, but the bottom line is you got to kick it straight consistently.” And it’s one reason Harbaugh pointed out that lefty Ben Sauls, the other kicker in this competition, “has a very good leg, too.”

Zvada clearly has been the better kicker in camp. Most days, with a handful of exceptions, Sauls has missed one or two and Zvada has missed none. Harbaugh and Horton have worked with Zvada on tinkering with the mechanics and operation to help him. The coach so far is splitting time between the two kickers to make it a fair, summer-wide battle.

Colton Hood is not shying away from his chance to win a starting job. He said he has no doubt he can start in the NFL from the get-go.

“Yeah, for sure,” he said. “Like, no question. I know I can…I just know the type of player I am — my technique. My athleticism, I think, is up there with the best of the best. I know I can go out there and compete — and not just compete, but win. So I definitely think I can go out there and win right now.”

New York Giants: WR Jalin Hyatt. Recovering from a torn ACL, wideout Malik Nabers might be ready to play in Week 1. The Giants re-signed Darius Slayton and inked Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III to deals in free agency and then drafted Malachi Fields in the third round of the draft. Assuming they all make the roster, Hyatt would be buried on the depth chart.

It’s also worth noting that Odell Beckham Jr. has stacked solid performances at training camp in his second stint with the team. He could provide veteran leadership in the receiver room. Hyatt lacks a clear path to a meaningful role in New York and may need a fresh start elsewhere.

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