Palladino: First Weeks Of Camp Prove Encouraging For Feisty Giants

By Ernie Palladino
» More Ernie Palladino Columns

Even with Victor Cruz remaining out for -- what is this, his 10th year in a row? -- one gets the feeling that Ben McAdoo's rookie year is going to hold a lot more success than Tom Coughlin's last three.

If it does happen, and the Giants wind up atop what remains an eminently winnable NFC East, it won't just happen because of a new face in the head coach's office.

It will happen because of the groundwork McAdoo's men have laid over the first two weeks of training camp. Some of it has come on the MetLife Stadium field. Some has come a quarter-mile across the way on the Quest Diagnostics Training Center practice pitch.

LISTEN: McAdoo, Reese, Mara, Manning, Beckham, Vernon Discuss Upcoming Giants Season On WFAN

In those two spots, the Giants are proving themselves feisty, talented, and hungry enough to go after the division full throttle once the Sept. 11 opener in Dallas rolls around.

Now, the usual caveats of injuries and underperformance apply here as usual. But the sights and sounds of the last couple of weeks have offered hope for a future far brighter than 6-10.

Start with Friday's 27-10 preseason opener loss to the Dolphins. The subs hardly looked wonderful, but there was that moment in the first quarter that shined a hopeful light on the future. Ryan Nassib, whose only crack at playing past the preseason continues to hinge on a catastrophic injury to Eli Manning, tossed an outside route toward second-round wide receiver Sterling Shepard.

Underthrown, it appeared headed for an incompletion. Instead, Shepard found some veteran savvy, came way back on the ball, dove, and cradled the thing just off the blades of Field Turf for a 24-yard completion near the right sideline.

Big-time play.

Keep in mind, this is the man aiming to take Cruz' spot as the slot receiver regardless of the popular veterans' health. Judging by Shepard's performance and the frequency Manning offers him in daily drills, it would appear the 5-foot-10, 194-pound rookie doesn't have far to go in becoming the healthy side dish to the bountiful entrée of Odell Beckham, Jr.

In other words, Cruz can take all the time he wants recovering from his groin injury. Shepard appears to have things well under control.

MORE: Beckham Pumped About Possibilities For Revamped Giants

On the other side of the ball, Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul offered a quick glimpse of what their partnership may look like. It's encouraging.

In only two drives, Vernon and JPP, showcasing a renewed dexterity thanks to offseason surgery and a special glove fitted around his fireworks-mangled right hand, laid out a clear message to the rest of the league's quarterbacks.

"See ya soon."

It took one play on which Vernon nearly dropped Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill for a safety. So quick and disruptive was the Vernon-JPP combination that the two bumped each other in the backfield.

Seeing two Giants pass-rushers in the backfield at the same time seemed quite the novelty over the last few seasons. But Vernon and JPP provided tangible hope that the high-octane pass rush may soon reappear at MetLife.

Then, there is the spirit. This bunch has a nastiness to them. Just ask defensive tackle Damon Harrison and left guard Justin Pugh. They went after each other in Monday's practice, Snacks' fists flying and mouth in full gear.

It was heartening to see a return to the bad old days when fights between Michael Strahan and Scott Gragg, Keith Hamilton and any available offensive lineman, and Richie Seubert and any defender with a pulse galvanized the units.

There have been other encouraging signs.

The Giants need more as the preseason goes forward.

For now, though, things are looking up.

Follow Ernie on Twitter at @ErniePalladino