Giants Training Camp Quick Hits: Malik Nabers standing out; Jalin Hyatt rising up

EAST RUTHERFORD – A few takeaways from the Giants' first of two joint practices with the Lions …

– I covered my first training camp practice in 2014. There isn’t one that comes to mind that was as energetic, intense or physical as Monday’s. Even the stars were out for the day: Tom Coughlin, Michael Strahan, Victor Cruz and others. They and a good number of fans saw the two teams go at it for over two hours. It wasn’t just the fights (and there were many). Every play felt like a battle between guys who don’t like each other very much. It was legitimately fun to watch and a stark difference from the first practice a year ago where the Lions wiped the floor with New York. Considering what the Lions accomplished last year, and where the Giants appear to be in their rebuild, I expected more of the same. Seriously: Not the case at all. The Giants were in no way outclassed Monday. I talked to multiple sources inside the building who were very pleased with their showing – as they should be.

– I watched the Giants offense versus the Lions defense the majority of the day. Daniel Jones and Company were far more impressive than I was anticipating. The offensive line held up very well against a good defensive line, and the receivers were open in the secondary most plays. It wasn’t perfect (Jones had a near interception and a protection breakdown erased a would-be touchdown to Malik Nabers), but far more good than bad. I had Jones 12 of 17 passing. The highlight: A tremendous catch down the right sideline by Nabers. The referee ruled it out of bounds, but our cameraman’s (shoutout Teddy Aviles) clip showed that not to be the case.

– Nabers, by the way, continues to just look so good. He really is a special talent. Aside from his on-field explosiveness, you heard the Giants praise his “dog” mentality at various points in Hard Knocks. Some scouts (other teams) were worried about that. Not head coach Brian Daboll – he wanted it. You got a little glimpse of that on Monday. Nabers, after that long catch, ran up the Lions sideline and stared down the defenders over there.

– A player who looks legitimately improved: Jalin Hyatt. He had a long catch in 7-on-7 drills from Jones. The Giants seem like they’re settling on him as the third piece with Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson. Darius Slayton is still involved, but he routinely reps after Hyatt.

– WFAN’s Shaun Morash and Tommy Lugauer were in attendance. They were over with the Giants defense while I watched the offense. Morash said Brian Burns lived in the Lions' backfield. That’s notable considering he rushed Penei Sewell most of the day. Burns, after practice, credited himself with at least “two to three” tackles for a loss. 

– There were a handful of fights – as is the case in any joint practice. The bigger ones were on the far field (Giants defense versus Lions offense). The biggest one on the field I observed involved … Daniel Jones! Yes really. Greg Van Roten was on the ground with a Lions defender when the players started to separate. Jones then ran in to defend his guy. “Daniel got jiggy with it?” an enthusiastic Burns said after practice. Indeed. I can promise you his teammates will love seeing that on film.

– Quarterback Tommy DeVito threw a back-shoulder touchdown to John Jiles. Isaiah McKenzie had a nice return during special teams. The New York Posts’ Ryan Dunleavy said corner Cor’Dale Flott struggled against Jameson Williams, who beat him twice for long gains. Williams turned around and waved to Flott on one of them. Dante Miller had a touchdown run with the backup offense.