The Lions are coming.
That was the clear message sent by Friday’s grueling and sweltering Giants padded practice, arguably the most difficult camp session of Brian Daboll’s three seasons running the team.
Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions are flying East for joint practices on Monday and Tuesday here in New Jersey, ahead of the teams’ exhibition opener at MetLife Stadium next Thursday night.
Campbell’s club pushed the Giants around when Big Blue flew to Michigan last summer during a light, rest-filled camp for Joe Schoen’s bunch, which foreshadowed how unprepared they would be for their 40-0 primetime Week 1 shutout loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
But Friday, on the contrary, was a grueling, tone-setting day that saw center Austin Schlottmann throw up on the field, tight end Daniel Bellinger gasp for air and water, and five players leave with injuries or ailments.
Not coincidentally, the competition ramped up on star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence’s first day back from an illness that had sidelined him the past few days.
“I think that’s my role on this team, is to push everybody,” Lawrence said after practice. “ I don’t want to be in the Pro Bowl by myself. That’s what I’ve been telling everybody. I think the mindset for me is just to push everybody… Just work hard and it translates.”
Lawrence has been pushing people alright.
Center John Michael-Schmitz (shoulder) is sidelined after having to battle the two-time, second-team All-Pro every down early in camp. Right tackle Jeremaine Eluemunor (bruised ribs) is playing hurt because of an early camp collision with big No. 97.
And Daniel Jones’ offensive line generally was struggling on Friday to handle a Giants pass rush that in many ways is going to define this team’s season led by Lawrence, big-money pass rusher Brian Burns and former No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Burns dusted Eluemunor with a spin move on one impressive red zone rep, in particular, demonstrating one position where the Giants may have improved and another where they still need work.
It is necessary, though, for an NFL team to do what the Giants did on Friday.
While the receivers and corners competed in 1-on-1 drills on one side of the field, Daboll had the linemen, quarterbacks, running backs, linebackers and safeties doing a full-contact run period near the opposite end zone.
That’s when Schlottmann puked.
The special teams kickoff return drills started to pick up in intensity. One fan was restlessly yelling at one of the Giants’ young receivers for unacceptably letting the ball hit the ground as he picked his eyes upfield.
Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski blocked a corner hard to the turf on a half-field screen pass drill.
Teams get better at football by practicing football, not taking days off.
Players need to expose their bodies to the sport’s violence in the preseason in order to be ready for the games that count.
It wasn’t ideal, of course, to see guard Josh Ezeudu, wide receivers Isaiah McKenzie (back) and Bryce Ford-Wheaton, tight end Jack Stoll and defensive tackle D.J. Davidson all leave the field with ailments or injuries.
Ezeudu, who was converted back to a guard from tackle recently, was actually carted off at the end of practice.
But this type of intensity needs to become a new normal. Ultimately that is what’s best for the team to start fast in the fall.
ON THE SIDE: Wide receiver Darius Slayton did not practice because Daboll said he was “tight.” Other players who didn’t practice included running back Jashaun Corbin, edge Tomon Fox (hamstring), linebacker Carter Coughlin (lower-body), tackle Evan Neal (left ankle, PUP list), tight end Lawrence Cager (hamstring) and safety Jalen Mills (non-football injury) … The Giants worked out offensive tackle Jack Wilson on Thursday, a 6-11, 335-pounder who played football at Washington State and also played college basketball, finishing his career at the University of Minnesota. They also worked out recently-released former Washington Commanders wide receiver Dax Milne on Friday … The team has off Saturday and returns to practice on Sunday.
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