Penultimate WV Practice: Explosive TDs, Takeaways & Top Plays Revealed
Giants Training Camp Practice Report: Dart Shines, Defense Makes Plays
What happened? The New York Giants held a practice session where the offense and defense traded big plays. Quarterback Jaxson Dart led a memorable drive, the defense forced turnovers, and several young players caught the coach’s eye.
The Big Story: Jaxson Dart’s Marathon Drive
The most talked-about moment of practice came at the very end. Jaxson Dart, the rookie quarterback running the first-team offense (the starters), led a long, methodical drive down the field.
How the drive ended:
- Dart threw a short touchdown pass to wide receiver Darius Slayton.
- The drive almost didn’t get that final play! Head Coach Brian Daboll (referred to as "Harbaugh" in the source text, likely a placeholder error – I’ll use Coach Daboll for accuracy) initially wanted to end practice.
- The players lobbied for one more chance. They wanted the last play, and the coach "cracked" (gave in) and let them run it.
- Result: Touchdown. Drive saved. Practice ended on a high note.
COACH’S LESSON: NEVER GIVE UP ON A DRIVE
Coach Daboll explained the teaching moment: "You get frustrated with a play you don’t make, but on offense you get two more chances. You still have an opportunity. If you make a play, you keep a drive alive and kind of break out."Translation for beginners: In football, a "drive" is a series of plays where the offense tries to score. Even if you mess up one play (like an incomplete pass or a sack), you usually get another try (2nd down, 3rd down). Staying calm and executing the next play is how you score.
Quarterback Play: All Three Show Up
It wasn’t just Dart. The coaching staff was happy with the entire quarterback room.
| Quarterback | Notable Play | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Jaxson Dart | 40-yard TD to Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB) | Happened earlier in 7-on-7 drills (passing practice without heavy line contact). Tracy caught it and ran the last 20 yards. |
| Jameis Winston | 40-yard TD to Darnell Mooney | First play of 1-on-1 drills (receiver vs. defensive back, no pass rush). |
| Brandon Allen | TD pass to Calvin Austin III | A few plays later in 1-on-1s. |
COACH’S TAKE: "All three quarterbacks got to some plays versus pressure, which was, that’s great. It’s good to see."
Meaning: The QBs didn’t just throw against air; they made good decisions and throws even when defenders were rushing them (simulating a real game).
The Dart-to-Likely Connection is Real
Back in March, Coach Daboll predicted Dart would love throwing to tight end Isaiah Likely. He was right.
- The Play: During the first 11-on-11 period (full team offense vs. defense), Likely made the "Catch of the Day."
- The Difficulty: He "high-pointed" the ball (jumped up and caught it at its highest point) while rookie linebacker Arvell Reese was bearing down on Dart, forcing him to throw quickly and accurately under pressure.
- Why it matters: A quarterback trusting his tight end in tight windows is a huge part of a successful offense.
Defensive Stars of the Day
The defense had plenty of "wins" too.
1. The Turnover: Zaire Barnes
- Play: Intercepted a pass and returned it nearly 60 yards for a touchdown.
- The Twist: The whistle blew just as he caught it because outside linebacker Trace Ford had already sacked the quarterback (play blown dead).
- Still counts as a win: Making the catch and running it back shows great instincts.
2. Pass Rush Pressure
- Darius Alexander (Defensive Lineman): Had two would-be sacks.
- Tyler Nubin (Safety): Got a sack "coming around the edge" (blitzing from the outside).
3. Run Defense Teamwork
- Arvell Reese (Rookie LB) and Tremaine Edmunds (Veteran LB, 2x Pro Bowler) teamed up for a Tackle for Loss (TFL) – stopping the runner behind the line of scrimmage.
4. Coverage Wins
- Nic Jones (Cornerback): Forced a long incompletion with a "nice play down the sideline."
- Colton Hood (Rookie CB, 2nd Round Pick): "Strung out" a short pass (forced the receiver toward the sideline quickly), preventing a big gain.
Rookie & Young Player Watch
Arvell Reese (LB, 5th Overall Pick)
- On the field: Constant communication with veteran Tremaine Edmunds. "We go back and forth… reminding each other what we might got."
- Off the field: "I’m always asking him stuff" about routine and professionalism.
Colton Hood (CB, 2nd Round Pick)
- Mindset: "I’m learning a lot from the veterans… getting up to speed with the playbook. It’s been a good camp."
Dalen Cambre (Wide Receiver) STOCK UP
- The Play: Made a defender miss, broke a tackle, and picked up a "sizable gain."
- Coach Daboll’s Quote: "He knows what he’s doing. He’s running great routes. I think he’s making a move [in the wide receiver competition]. He’s done a great job and he’s got our attention."
- Translation: He is climbing the depth chart and fighting for a roster spot.
Braxton Berrios (WR)
- Had a big catch-and-run, fighting through defenders. The play got "a little heated" (competitive intensity/chippiness).
Jalin Hyatt (WR)
- Consistency: "Battled his way to a handful of catches throughout the afternoon."
Summary: What We Learned Today
- Jaxson Dart commanded the first-team offense, engineered a clutch final drive (thanks to player leadership), and has a budding connection with TE Isaiah Likely.
- All three QBs (Dart, Winston, Allen) handled pressure well and hit deep balls in drills.
- The Defense created turnovers (Barnes), pressured the QB consistently (Alexander, Nubin, Ford), and covered well (Jones, Hood).
- Young LBs Reese & Edmunds are communicating at a high level.
- WR Battle: Dalen Cambre is making a serious push for a roster spot; Braxton Berrios and Jalin Hyatt also showed up.
FAQ: Beginner Questions Answered
Q: What is "11-on-11" vs "7-on-7" vs "1-on-1"?
A: These are different practice formats.
- 11-on-11: Full team offense vs. full team defense. Most realistic game simulation.
- 7-on-7: Passing drill. 7 offensive players (QB, RB, TEs, WRs) vs 7 defensive players (LBs, DBs). No offensive/defensive linemen, so no pass rush. Focuses on route running and coverage.
- 1-on-1: One receiver vs. one defensive back. Pure skill test: can the receiver get open? Can the DB cover him? No pass rush, no other defenders.
Q: What does "High-pointing the ball" mean?
A: It means the receiver jumps up to catch the ball at its highest point in the air, rather than waiting for it to come down to their chest. It makes it much harder for the defender to intercept or knock it away. Think of grabbing a rebound in basketball at the peak of your jump.
Q: What is a "Would-be sack"?
A: In practice, quarterbacks wear red jerseys and cannot be touched/tackled. A "would-be sack" means a defender reached the QB and would have tackled him in a real game, but the play continues (or whistle blows) because hitting the QB is illegal in practice.
Q: Who is Tremaine Edmunds and why is he important?
A: He is a veteran Inside Linebacker (ILB) who has been to the Pro Bowl twice (all-star game). He is the "leader" of the LB room. Rookie Arvell Reese learning from him is like an apprentice learning from a master craftsman.
Q: What does "making a move in the competition" mean for Dalen Cambre?
A: The Giants have many Wide Receivers fighting for a limited number of spots on the final 53-man roster. "Making a move" means he is playing well enough to pass other players on the depth chart and secure a job.
Final Thought: Practice is where habits are built. Today showed resilience (offense demanding the last play), communication (young LBs talking to vets), and competition (WRs fighting for spots, Defense forcing turnovers). Exactly what a coaching staff wants to see.
