Boogie Basham’s interception highlights first day of training camp

The defense claimed the big play of the day with a takeaway. Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips tipped a pass into the waiting arms of outside linebacker Boogie Basham, who secured the ball for an interception. Phillips signed with the Giants in April as a free agent and brought with him 120 games of NFL experience, including 14 appearances (nine starts) for the Bills last season.

It was a good sign for Shane Bowen’s unit. The defensive coordinator left his players with a message the last time he saw them in the spring: “New is over. … Six weeks from now we’ve got to come back ready to roll. The clock is ticking. Again, it’s not new anymore. It’s the Giants defense. We’ve got to be able to take the next step in the teaching progression, take the things from the meetings to the walk-through to the field, and ultimately when they start playing these other opponents, how our scheme and game plan is going to adjust according to personnel.”

Bowen, at the time, also added there were “a lot of positions” to be sorted out and he wanted to “see guys grab these opportunities and run with them” at training camp.

Before the interception, Lawrence Cager almost made a play that would have overshadowed the defense’s big one. The tight end hauled in a pass from Drew Lock over his outside shoulder on the left side of end zone but was ruled out as he hit the grass. It was a noteworthy effort to kick off what will be an interesting competition following the retirement of Darren Waller. Rookie tight end Theo Johnson, who flashed this spring, began training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list but should be back “soon,” according to general manager Joe Schoen.

Speaking of Day 3 picks, linebacker Darius Muasau would have delivered the hit of the day on a perfectly-timed move to close in on a running back on a short pass. The sixth-rounder from UCLA will just have to wait until the pads come on.

The 6-foot, 243-pounder led his college teams in tackles in each of the past four seasons – two with the Bruins after two at Hawai’i, where he played for Giants special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial.

“I wouldn’t say it’s all just my doing,” Muasau said this offseason about his tackling numbers. “It’s mostly the coaching staff, the players to my left and my right, the D-line, my other linebackers, and my secondary. It all starts with them doing their job, making it easy for me to execute my plays. So, all the praise goes to them. For me, it’s easy, my part. Just getting to a ball carrier, wrap up, bring the guy down. That’s what I love in this sport, the physicality of this sport. That’s what I feel like I bring most to the table. Just I just love running and hitting. That’s what I pride myself on doing.”

While his role will likely begin on special teams, he will get to learn from one of the best linebackers in the game right now in Bobby Okereke.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to most, is learning from the best,” Muasau said. “I’m a student of the game. I want to be the best version of myself every day, and soon try to be the best at my position. You know, it starts right there. Starts with Bobby.”