EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants on Monday begin the next phase of their offseason program -- the organized team activities, or "OTAs." These will be full-team practices with the offense on the field against the defense for the first time. No contact is allowed, but these start to look like real practices. Monday's practice runs from 10:45-12:15, and after that we will hear from coach Ben McAdoo, quarterback Eli Manning and a few other players.
As the Giants enter Phase 3 of their offseason program, they have a number of questions to answer. Here's a look at a few of the ones I'll be following closely in the coming days and weeks:
How will things be different under McAdoo than they were under Tom Coughlin? Things already look a little different around the facility. The weight room has been renovated to match up with a new, movement-based strength and conditioning program under new strength coach Aaron Wellman. There is some new signage on the walls in the hallways and the meeting rooms that highlight the great Giants teams of the past. When the Giants hit the practice field Monday, there will be some new touches, such as music during practices and fundamental periods named after franchise greats -- "The Duke" for Wellington Mara, "LT" for Lawrence Taylor, "Snee" for Chris Snee, etc. Practices will incorporate TV timeouts and other features designed to simulate in-game scenarios.
Who will get the first-team reps at right tackle and right guard? Marshall Newhouse and John Jerry finished the 2015 season as the starters in those two spots, but both were originally signed as backups and became starters due to injuries. They are both still on the team, and the injured players they replaced -- Geoff Schwartz and Will Beatty -- are gone, but that doesn't mean they're assured of keeping their starting roles. The Giants will throw the competition open at both of those positions, and we'll watch to see whether they work in 2015 seventh-rounder Bobby Hart at one of them. Hart said last week he's lost 25 pounds since this time last year and hopes he can convince Giants coaches to consider him for a larger role.
How do the rookies look? Can first-round pick Eli Apple learn the nickel corner position quickly enough to be a factor there this year? How will McAdoo move second-round wide receiver Sterling Shepard around the formation and mix him in with Odell Beckham Jr.? Can third-round safety Darian Thompson, fourth-round linebacker B.J. Goodson and fifth-round running back Paul Perkins challenge for starting roles at their respective positions with strong springs and summers? Thompson merits special attention. The Giants started one rookie safety (Landon Collins) last year, and there's no real incumbent to beat out at free safety. Thompson hasn't played a whole lot less NFL football than have other free safety candidates Nat Berhe, Bennett Jackson and Mykkele Thompson.
Will Victor Cruz do anything anytime soon? Cruz hasn't played since Week 6 of 2014, when he suffered a significant knee injury. He missed all of the 2015 season due to a calf injury suffered in training camp. The team is understandably bringing him along slowly, and I'd be surprised to see him do much if anything in these OTA practices. If he does, you'd have to count that as a good sign. If he doesn't, I don't think it changes much.