Sam Beal

New York Giants: Pat Shurmur Talks Sam Beal Progress

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New York Giants head coach, Pat Shurmur.

The cornerback situation for the New York Giants isn’t yet decided. One of the key players was set to be Sam Beal, who is still waiting to play in the NFL after an unfortunate injury in training camp last year took him out for the entirety of the season, but Beal is still one of the higher rated corners on the Giants roster despite that setback.

Although, it seems that familiar problems might haunt Beal again, because while his season hasn’t been ended this time by an injury, he might miss the preseason finale and the season opener because of a more minor one than last season’s.

Head coach Pat Shurmur offered his thoughts on Sunday about Beal and his progress coming back from injury. “He was out there today for the first time. He’s closer. We’ll just have to see where he’s at as we move forward,” Shurmur stated.

“I’d like to see him get healthy and get on the field. That’s what I’d like to see,” Shurmur also said, and additionally, the head coach claimed that he’s not frustrated by the fact that Beal hasn’t gotten playing time in the past two years. “I’m not frustrated by it. Obviously, being able to compete through training camp… He’s a second-year player, but last year was like year zero. This is year one. The work that he would have gotten had he been healthy would have been very beneficial.”

Will Beal play in the last preseason game against New England, which will likely be important in deciding any position battles that aren’t yet done? The answer hasn’t been decided yet, according to Shurmur, and will depend on Beal’s health.

“I’d like to see them all play. We’ll just have to see where he’s at. It would be good for him to play if he’s healthy enough. But we don’t want to put him out there too soon.”

With corner being a position of interest for the Giants, or rather, a position of need for the past year or two, Beal making a comeback before the regular season would greatly benefit the team going into week one and give further competition to Deandre Baker, one of the team’s first round draft picks. Only time can tell, though, if that comeback will be possible or not – there’s still the better part of a week left to determine whether or not Beal is ready, after all.

The New York Giants might have a serious issue at cornerback

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New York Giants, Corey Ballentine

While New York Giants rookie cornerback Corey Ballentine showed out in the first preseason game of the season with an interception and two assisted tackles, he cannot be relied on to be a regular starter.

With DeAndre Baker evading a severe knee injury, he is the expected starter for the regular season, but he might miss the rest of the preseason and his chance to continue adapting to the physicality and speed of the NFL. That essential time will be lost, and the Giants need to have faith in their rookie first-round pick as they journey forward towards what seems to be a more optimistic season.

The New York Giants could be in trouble:

The issue is, the Giants have little depth at the cornerback position, especially with third-round supplemental draft pick Sam Beal missing consistent time due to injury. Beal has yet to play a single game for the Giants since his inception in 2018.

He missed all of his rookie season last year due to a shoulder injury that was predisposed before his drafting. After starting minicamp with an impressive showing, he has missed several weeks of essential growth and development time.

It is possible that had Coach Pat Shurmur elects to cut Beal if he does not return and show any progression. Wasting a roster spot on a player that simply can’t get on the field when there are other influential veterans available on the free-agent market, might be a difficult decision that Shurmur has to make.

“We’re just going to have to see where he is physically. We drafted him for a reason. We would like to see him be on our team. We’ll just see where he’s at, and then we’ll make a decision at the 53 (man roster),” Shurmur told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s something we’re going to have to evaluate as we go forward. He’s getting healthier by the day. It’s just unfortunate that we haven’t been able to see him do much. But unfortunately, that’s the way it is sometimes.”

It was anticipated Beal would compete directly with Baker for the number two corner position opposite Janoris Jenkins. Now, Baker will be the first team option while Antonio Hamilton and Ballentine compete for the third corner spot. If the injuries continue for Beal, his time on the Giants could be cut short.

The outlook on Beal’s injury does not look good. He has now fallen behind, and it is difficult to envision him playing a factor at the beginning of the regular season. This is Ballentine’s opportunity to prove he can play with the first-stringers. He could see more playing time than expected due to the thinness at the position.

New York Giants: Is Sam Beal a lock to make the 53-man roster?

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New York Giants, Corey Ballentine, Ronald Zamort

In the 2018 Supplemental Draft the New York Giants won their silent bid on Sam Beal with their 3rd round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

While it felt like a win for the team at the moment, he was quickly sent to season-ending IR after just one practice.

The team certainly could’ve used him last year but looking at the 2019 cornerback depth chart the competition appears to be more challenging for the 2nd year cornerback.

That leads us to this question: Is he a lock to make the New York Giants?

Here’s the main cornerback assets:

Up top is Janoris Jenkins as the proven veteran and best cornerback on the team. The only way he leaves this roster before 2020 is via trade.

DeAndre Baker was selected 30th overall in 2019 and has looked far better than what you could ask of a rookie cornerback. He’s not going anywhere.

Grant Haley has had a very solid camp and doesn’t appear to be losing his starting position at nickelback anytime soon.

Corey Ballentine was only a 6th round pick in 2019 but has been a very pleasant surprise for the team. He’s had his fair share of first-team reps with DeAndre Baker resting his knee.

Luckily for Sam Beal, Julian Love is occupying a spot at safety instead of cornerback.

Who’s Sam Beal competing with?

At this point it’s safe to consider those 4 cornerbacks larger priorities for the team than Sam Beal.

This means it’s down to Sam Beal vs. Antonio Hamilton for potentially 1 more spot on the roster. If the team were to keep 6 cornerbacks both would be viable options, barring Beal’s health.

If they only keep 5 cornerbacks which one makes the team?

On one hand, the Giants invested highly in Sam Beal with what would’ve been the 70th overall pick in the 2019 Draft. They just can’t get him healthy to find out what he’s capable of so far.

On the other hand, Antonio Hamilton was only a UDFA (undrafted free agent) in 2017, now going into his 3rd season. His productivity has been a pleasant surprise, Hamilton has rotated with Corey Ballentine for first-team reps with Baker out of the lineup.

It would be painful for GM Dave Gettleman to flush what would’ve been the 70th pick in the 2019 Draft. While that much is true, sometimes a mistake is a mistake. Gettleman has proved before he doesn’t mind correcting his own mistakes by releasing Patrick Omameh a few months after signing him to 3 year/$15 million contract with $5.5 million guaranteed. He then traded away Odell Beckham Jr. just 1 year into a 5 year/$95 million extension with $65 million guaranteed. Parting with a recent 3rd round pick wouldn’t be the hardest transaction Gettleman has had to make. Especially when considering the move would be about his health rather than failing to draft adequate talent.

At this point, the New York Giants keeping 6 cornerbacks seems like Sam Beal’s most likely path to making the team. Unfortunately for Beal, the last time the team kept 6 cornerbacks was in 2015. The New York Giants are under new management making the past less relevant but the new-comers only kept 5 cornerbacks last year as well.

What should the team do?

Ultimately, this comes down to a numbers game with the roster. If the team can only keep 5 cornerbacks due to being light at other positions a short stay for Sam Beal in New York could be more understandable. If the team can manage to sneak him on the backend of the roster as a 6th cornerback this would be ideal considering his price tag. Teams very rarely cut a 2nd-year player who equates to a Day 2 selection in the Draft, even when they’re injury-prone players.

Sam Beal might not be a lock for the roster but based on what the team paid for him recently, they’d be foolish to not at least try to prioritize keeping him.

New York Giants: Good injury news for rookie cornerback DeAndre Baker

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New York Giants, Julian Love, DeAndre Baker, Julian Love

The New York Giants can’t afford to lose any players to injury, especially one as significant as their starting cornerback. While it isn’t official, rookie corner DeAndre Baker is the expected starter opposite Janoris Jenkins for the defense. A tenacious player with plenty of grit and talent, having Baker on the field is a must for a team with minimal depth at the cornerback position.

Behind Baker, the Giants have Sam Beal, Corey Ballentine, and Antonio Hamilton. None of which are trustworthy options and can be counted on to produce quality performances against first-team talent.

New York Giants: DeAndre Baker injury update

After a severe ACL scare, Baker walked away with a mere strain. After a hectic 24-hours full of nervousness around the fan-base, the Giants’ third first-round pick survived a potential season-ending ailment.

Just eight days later, Baker is participating in individual drills and feels good.

“I feel good,” he said Monday. “It was very important to get out there, move around again, do some individual work.”

The Giants are counting on the Georgia product to utilize his aggressive style of play at the NFL level in 2019. He will likely be a consistent starting option, which makes preseason experience and live-action essential for his growth and adaptation to the league.

“We’re going to move him back in there,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “So yeah, it’s good to have him back out there.”

It’s expected that Baker will return to the starting squad before the week one showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. After not allowing a single touchdown last year in college, Baker is ready to take the next step in his professional career, and that will take place against the Giants’ biggest rival, in Arlington, Texas.

New York Giants: Injury Problem Not Gone Post-Jets Game

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The New York Giants picked up something of an injury problem going into training camp – the team lost several players to injuries in the opening days of camp, to varying degrees of injuries. Some players had to be taken off the field with minor problems like cramps but would return in the coming days, while others such as Corey Coleman suffered a bit more. Coleman, after all, tore his ACL which will put him out of the season’s plans entirely.

Star wide receiver Sterling Shepard will miss the preseason, but should come back for week one and take his spot in the starting lineup once again. Others still have a chance of returning as the preseason continues, and a few names that fans will immediately recognize are on that list: notably, Alec Ogletree and Sam Beal.

Ogletree went down with a calf strain against the Jets and it isn’t clear when he’ll be able to return to action. Beal, on the other hand, is suffering from hamstring problems and has been since early in camp. It’s not as bad as the shoulder injury that ended Beal’s rookie season during training camp, but it does make things tougher for Beal at the crowded defensive back position, which features competition from a number of other young players.

Neither player practiced on Sunday, which is somewhat predictable. It’s only the second week of the preseason and there’s no need to take risks just yet – furthermore, Ogletree’s injury is recent and therefore we can expect him to have a longer recovery time than Beal, who was injured earlier in training camp.

However, first round draft pick Deandre Baker didn’t suit up for Sunday’s practice either after being injured in individual drills, and Grant Haley’s status is still questionable. It means the position group might just be thinner than it seemed initially, thanks to other players going down at the position.

The Giants have a few more weeks of the preseason to get things sorted out on the injury front after a rough start to training camp in that area – it remains to be seen, though, whether or not the team will pick up more injuries in the coming three games. One would hope not, and if the trend continues, some of the blame may lie with the Giants conditioning staff.

New York Giants: Training Camp and 2019 Season Thoughts

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The start of the New York Giants training camp is a time when most fans find a reason to be optimistic about the upcoming season for the football team they dedicate 17+ weeks to. It’s also necessary to pause and provide some introspection on the team and address some of the mainstream storylines that have circulated across the Giants message boards and Twitter.  Below are my thoughts at we conclude the first two weeks of training camp. 

  • The Giants desperately need Lorenzo Carter to take a major leap. The Giants linebacking unit may be the worst in the league. Carter was their best cover linebacker last year and is the only player I trust to not be a liability on third down. It wouldn’t surprise me if B.J. Goodson and Alec Ogletree’s playing time was reduced in passing situations, both struggled in coverage last season. Carter might even be more valuable to the Giants playing out in space as he is rushing the passer.
  • The defense will likely stink again this season. The Giants had the 24th ranked defense by DVOA last year and is unlikely to improve this year. The Giants don’t have anyone on the roster that proved they could consistently rush the passer last season, their linebackers will struggle to defend the run and the pass and they don’t have any corners that played well in coverage last year. Furthermore, the Giants will be relying on a lot of young players (B.J. Hill, Carter, Dexter Lawrence, Sam Beal, DeAndre Baker, Grant Haley, Julian Love, and Oshane Ximines) to play well this year. It’s unrealistic to think that most of these young players can be impactful on a consistent basis.
  • Evan Engram is an upgrade over Golden Tate. The loss of Golden Tate will hurt the Giants, but not as much as people may think. Evan Engram will get more targets in Tate’s absence, and at this point of their careers, Engram is a more explosive receiver than Tate. Engram needs to improve his route running and struggles to shake from coverage, but Shurmur finally figured out how to use Engram in the second half of the season. Get him in space and let him run. I expect the Giants to use him more to stretch the field than they have in the past. 
  • The offense will not be better without Odell Beckham Jr. this year. For the first time since 2010, the Giants should have an above-average pass-blocking offensive line. However, don’t expect the Giants offense to be better than last year when they ranked 13th by DVOA. It’s too simple to look at the last four games of the season, wipe out the Titans game and come to the conclusion the Giants offense can thrive without Beckham. It can’t. Without Beckham, defenses can focus on containing Barkley and will have confidence their secondary can hold up against the Giants receivers. Shurmer will have to be extra creative with his scheme and play calling to help the Giants receiver get open against man coverage.
  • Daniel Jones needs first-team reps. The Giants can help Jones grow without sacrificing victories this season. He needs to be given first-team reps in training camp and the preseason. Eli Manning does not require 100% of the reps with the starters to get himself ready for the season. Giving Jones a portion of those reps will help Eli rest his arm while giving Jones valuable experience playing behind the first-string offensive line. The Giants will learn very little about the potential of their first-round pick if he’s spending camp and preseason running for his life. 

 

New York Giants rookie corner Julian Love learning by losing to Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate

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New York Giants, Julian Love, DeAndre Baker, Julian Love

The New York Giants made a significant effort to bolster their secondary this past offseason, drafting DeAndre Baker, Julian Love, and Corey Ballentine. The trio will influence the defense in some way, or at the very least leave their mark on the special teams unit, which is where I imagine Ballentine featuring.

However, Baker and Love have a good shot at not only earning playing time with the defense but starting in their first professional seasons. Baker is the expected No. 2 corner opposite Janoris Jenkins but will have to fend off the tenacious Sam Beal for the starting job.

Love will compete with Grant Haley for the slot-corner spot, and while the rookie is at a disadvantage due to the latter’s experience, he has a fair opportunity to steal playing time.

So far, Love has learned plenty from his fellow defenders, but it’s the pass catchers that have really opened his eyes to the talent he will be facing. Playing against Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate, two of the game’s best slot receivers will certainly help the rookie develop his game.

“I’ve learned that they’re the real deal,” Love told Giants.com. “A lot of pride for Golden Tate, a fellow Notre Dame guy. Both of them, it can be a slant and they’ll run it 20 different ways, the same route. They’re students of the game still and smart, so being able to predict an play the situation has been helpful at times and they’re just two of the best and I’m happy to be practicing with them.”

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New York Giants: DeAndre Baker and Sam Beal the future at cornerback?

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New York Giants, Julian Love, DeAndre Baker, Julian Love

The New York Giants moved into the back-end of the first round to snag Georgia cornerback DeAndre Baker in an attempt to revitalize the secondary. With Janoris Jenkins the No. 1 option and a lack of true talent behind him, Baker immediately became the expected starter opposite the veteran.

However, Supplemental Draft pick Sam Beal also has the potential to play an impactful role in the future, if not in 2019. Beal missed time during OTAs and minicamp due to a personal reason, which set him back behind Baker who has looked fantastic in non-physical shadow covering.

The expectation, though, is that Beal will sit in a reserve role — the next man up player in front of Corey Ballentine. He did have a solid offseason while present, showing good ability in coverage and speed. His shoulder surgery in 2018 does not seem to have left any negative side-affects.

The question is — is Baker and Beal the future at corner for the New York Giants?

At this point, Baker seems to be in line to take over the top spot after Jenkins’ contract ends in 2020 or is traded next season for draft assets. Beal has the potential to emerge as the No. 2 in the future alongside Baker, but he still needs time to develop his game and refine his technique.

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The one thing that has impressed me had been his leadership so far, and while he hasn’t played any meaningful snaps, just as the current rookies, that hasn’t stopped him from passing on the advice the veterans gave him last year.

“When they came in, I had to explain something to them. Just because I haven’t played doesn’t mean I can’t coach them too. When they came around, I gave them some advice, just like the older guys gave me. Coach let us know the same thing, help the younger guys even though I’m a young guy too. I’ve been here, so I have to help them,” he said.

The film he has watched will pay dividends in his progression but he still requires the physical reps to apply the mental knowledge he has gained. It will be interesting to see his development and if he can play an influential role in 2019 — the hope is he can become the No. 2 option when Baker likely takes over for Jenkins in the future.

 

 

New York Giants News, 6/30 – The secondary is finally coming together

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New York Giants, Julian Love, DeAndre Baker, Julian Love

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

Imagine thinking about the Giants’ secondary last year and realizing behind No. 1 corner Janoris Jenkins, they had Eli Apple who was traded mid-season, B.W. Webb, an inconsistent corner, and an undrafted rookie in Grant Haley starting in 11 games.

The reality is now apparent, the 2018 season was never supposed to be competitive. However, the future is now in the works. After drafting DeAndre Baker, Julian Love, and Corey Ballentine, the secondary is now looking far more efficient and tenacious.

Baker, and aggressive corner that has shined this offseason, will likely emerge as the No. 2 corner. Sam Beal, a 2018 Supplemental Draft pick, has the potential to compete, but missing time due to a personal reason has seen him fall behind.

The Giants’ late first-round pick has the potential to overtake Jenkins in 2020 if his development continues at a consistent rate. Love, a fourth-round pick that “stook out like a sore thumb” according to GM Dave Gettleman after the draft, will compete at the slot corner position with Haley.

Finally, a secondary worth talking about. A unit that will develop exponentially in 2019 and can be elite with a year of experience. With a lack of pass-rush legitimacy, I expect the young corners to get plenty of action. The 2020 draft will present the Giants with the opportunity to bolster their defensive side in the trenches.

Nonetheless–

Your Giants top news of the day!

Dan Benton (Giants Wire) – Rod Smith on early impression of Giants: ‘It’s a first-class organization’

Ed Valentine (Big Blue View) – Giants’ 90-man roster: FB Elijhaa Penny showed his value last season

Dan Schneier (247 Sports) – 10 reasons to be optimistic about the New York Giants in 2019

Anthony Rivardo (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants: Every Position On Offense Ranked From Best To Worst

John Fennelly (GMEN HQ) – Can the New York Giants win with Pat Shurmur?

Check out the best news from yesterday!

New York Giants News, 6/28 – DeAndre Baker treats mom with first paycheck

 

New York Giants: Janoris Jenkins and DeAndre Baker duo could be elite

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New York Giants cornerback, DeAndre Baker.

It was assumed that the New York Giants would feature first-round pick DeAndre Baker at the No. 2 corner spot opposite Janoris Jenkins in 2019, but Supplemental Draft pick Sam Beal might have thrown a wrench in that expected outcome.

Beal has looked fantastic so far during OTAs, but he has a long while to go before he can be considered an everyday starter. The reality is, Baker is far ahead of Beal, who’s coming off a shoulder surgery that ended his 2018 season before it even started.

The Georgia product is in a position to grab the starting job and hold on tight until he eventually takes the top role from Jenkins after his contract expires in 2020. DeAndre has already begun impression people around the Giants.

“No one seems to get very open on DeAndre Baker,” John Schmeelk of Giants.com wrote. “The young outside cornerbacks are showing promise and ability, and their development will continue in training camp as they figure out how much contact they can get away with beyond five yards.”

The Miami native showed his efficiency in coverage last year, tallying two interceptions, a team-high 10 passes defended and a forced fumble for the Bulldogs. Opposing quarterbacks tended to shy away from the talented corner, as his physicality and speed make him a threat in the secondary.

At 5-11, 193-pounds, Baker is an aggressive player that will drive on the ball and stop receivers at the line of scrimmage. He’s deceivingly fast and can catch up in a hurry on deep passes. Look for him to experience a few growing pains early in the NFL career but progress quickly.

The Giants moved up into the first round to grab Baker, a player that will likely fit very well alongside Jenkins. The Giants’ veteran has taken on a leadership role thus far after a draft that saw Big Blue acquire three defensive backs.

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Jenkins, a feisty corner that can stick with his man like glue will lock up the opposing team’s top receiver, while Baker will develop against the No. 2 pass-catcher. It’s the perfect process to catapult him into the No. 1 role after Janoris leaves the team.

The Giants will depend on these two talented corners to elevate a unit that ranked 23rd in pass yards per game (252.8( in 2018.