Daniel Jones’ rust factor just one Giants training camp trend to monitor

Welcome to August. 

The dog days of summer are not yet upon us, and the Giants put six training camp practices in their rearview mirror. There has been plenty to see but not enough to make definitive statements about. Yet. 

There are trends, though. And concerns. And sparks and flashes. Here are five observations based on a week’s worth of camp: 

Hey Mr. D.J. 

What the heck is wrong with Daniel Jones? It looks as if he hasn’t faced a defense in a real practice setting in about nine months. Oh, wait, yeah, right. It actually had been that long for Jones, who tore his right ACL on Nov. 5, from the time of that devastating injury to when he got behind center in the first team period in camp. 

The guy looks … rusty. He looks as if the action is coming at him at 45 revolutions per minute, and he is still chugging along at 33 ¹/₃ RPMs (ask your parents for details about vinyl records). 

What Jones has not looked is skittish about his right knee, and his eight-month recovery post-surgery is testament to his 100 percent dedication and hard work to get back. He has not missed a snap, and perhaps easing off the gas pedal a bit might be beneficial to him. Is his work with the starting offense some good, some bad and mostly blah? Yes. This is something to monitor, but let’s get real: This much angst after six practices is premature consternation. 

Line dancing 

The Mets and Yankees are contending for division titles and wild-card spots, another heat wave is coming, and that means it is the opportune time to agonize over the Giants’ offensive line. That never goes out of style. 

It is clear after one week of camp that Evan Neal might never again be a write-him-in starting player for this franchise. He has yet to hit the field, still rehabbing from offseason ankle surgery, and this front office, after two years of dealing with Neal’s subpar performance, has paved the way to replace him. 

There are no more lifelines for the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft, and general manager Joe Schoen is likely going to have to absorb this as a big miss. Jermaine Eluemunor figures to be the right tackle, and it will be no surprise at all if newly signed Greg Van Roten emerges as the starting right guard, moving free-agent addition Jon Runyan Jr. to left guard. 

Look at the ages of these guys. Van Roten is 34. Elumunor is 29. Runyan is 26 with five NFL seasons in the books. Left tackle Andrew Thomas, 25, is entering his fifth season. Experience matters, and it will surround second-year center John Michael Schmitz. Young, recent draft picks (Neal, Josh Ezeudu, Marcus McKethan) have been moved aside, for now. 

Receptionists 

Yes, Malik Nabers is impressive. If he stays healthy, his rookie year will be filled with highlights. His attitude is as advertised in that he competes at a high level without going over the top when working against his own teammates. His thick legs and lower body are so powerful that you can see why the Giants ranked him as the most explosive wide receiver in this draft. 

From watching the passing attack, though, Nabers will be given a run for his money from Wan’Dale Robinson, as far as which player will lead the team in receptions. Robinson will be targeted early and often ,and the key will be getting him several yards off the line of scrimmage, as dump-offs and swing passes out of the backfield can take an offense only so far. 

Prime the secondary 

“Work in progress’’ is a gentle way of saying the defensive backfield remains an area that could be troublesome. Deonte Banks is set at one cornerback spot and Jason Pinnock is set at one safety spot — though it remains to be seen if Pinnock can assume the lead role that Xavier McKinney held. 

Cor’Dale Flott is next in line to start alongside Banks, and he has moments where he looks the part and moments when he does not. It has been a downer for rookie safety Tyler Nubin (second-round pick), as a strained hamstring has kept him on the sideline — this is valuable time he has missed. Steady ball-hawk Dane Belton, given this opportunity, will be tough to supplant. As far as the slot-corner role, it looks as if rookie third-round pick Dru Phillips is on his way to winning it. 

Calmer in chief 

It is not merely an impressive amount of weight that Brian Daboll has shed. He seems lighter on his feet in all regards in his third training camp with the Giants. There is no doubt he assessed the good and bad from 2023, and determined less outbursts was the way to go. He remains cautious but is noticeably more expansive with the media, and he looks completely natural calling the plays on offense, as if he is embracing a long, lost friend. There are more deep shots down the field, and players seem energized by Daboll’s presence leading the offensive meetings and calling the shots during team drills.