The New York Giants are intentionally building a physical identity under head coach John Harbaugh, and veteran offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor already sees the early foundation taking hold on the practice field.
After the first day in full pads, Eluemunor highlighted a shift in approach that started months earlier. In prior seasons, teams often waited until pads arrived before digging into the run game. This year, the Giants opened it up sooner.
“You can’t wait until the pads come on to really dig into that,” Eluemunor told reporters.
Without the need to deliver heavy contact, the offense worked extensively on footwork, technique, and keeping heads in the right place. Defenders refined their block-shedding angles, reads, and gap discipline at the same time. That detailed preparation now allows the group to focus on the bigger physical elements once the pads are on—shedding blocks, creating movement along the line of scrimmage, and finishing plays with authority.
“I think that the practice we put in is going to help us in the long run,” Eluemunor added.
The same physical standard extends to the running backs, who do not shy away from contact and frequently initiate it. Eluemunor views that trait as essential to the style Harbaugh is installing.
“We’re not going to shy away from contact on any level, the offensive line, running backs, receivers,” he said. “Hopefully, (Jaxson) Dart does. You know, we’ll take that for him.”
The goal is a team that delivers sustained body shots throughout a game and is still pushing when the fourth quarter arrives.
“We’re going to be a physical team this year, and we’re going to be a team that wears you out,” Eluemunor added. “Taking those body shots and then, when the fourth quarter comes, go for that knockout punch. And that’s the type of team that we want to be, the team that Harb’s preaching.”
With the early technical work already completed, the Giants enter the padded phase of camp positioned to turn preparation into the physical brand of football their coach demands.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Jermaine Eluemunor: Giants building physical style through early run work
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Benton, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
