The New York Giants are under new management. Just in case you missed the sign, all you need to do is listen to the players about the difference between this year’s offseason and those from recent years.
New head coach John Harbaugh has brought his brand of organization and football to East Rutherford, and it has been apparent early on that he is clearly in charge, and no one is complaining.
One big change is in the way the team practices. Organized team activities (OTAs) were more spirited, the level of talent has improved, and the focus on the tasks at hand has been steely.
Next week, the Giants will hold their mandatory minicamp. Last year, the minicamp was a two-day event. Under Harbaugh, minicamp runs three days. Party time is over.
From Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News:
Harbaugh’s Giants are scheduled to practice for two and a half hours on Monday, two and a half hours on Tuesday and another 75 minutes on Wednesday in the final tune-up for late July’s grueling training camp in West Virginia.
That’s six plus hours in the summer afternoon heat, including two practices that will run the maximum length allowed under the NFL’s and NFLPA’s collective bargaining agreement at two and a half hours under rules of phase three of the offseason program.
There’s little respite for the players here. Perhaps they’ve already gotten it. Harbaugh canceled the 10th and final OTA session on Thursday, deciding to take a team-bonding trip to Manhattan, where they visited the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Harbaugh’s attention to task and detail is one of the reasons why he’s here. The Giants haven’t had a coach or leader of this magnitude since they chased Tom Coughlin out the door in 2015.
Next week will be the closest thing to real football this group will face under Harbaugh and his coaches. The key is to drill everyone, get them familiar with what to expect at training camp, and keep everyone healthy.
Harbaugh’s been doing it for two decades. It’ll be interesting to see whether his methods can whip this group into shape and get it back into contention.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants minicamp will look much different under John Harbaugh
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By John Fennelly, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
