Notebook: Players accepted DC Shane Bowen’s challenge

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen issued a challenge to his players on the morning of June 12, the final day of spring practice.

“I want to see guys grab these opportunities,” Bowen said before the team dispersed, “and run with them.”

At the time, Bowen was a little more than four months into his new job, the same one he held for the previous three years with the Titans. Bowen had seen improvement but “not enough” in his view.

“I think it’s going to be more telling come August,” he concluded.

Now the time has come. The calendar flipped to the month that will end with the announcement of the 53-man roster, meaning coaches need to start seeing separation in heated competitions.

“I have [seen that],” Bowen said Thursday morning. “I think they accepted the challenge going into the offseason. I’m very pleased with how they came back in shape, ready to go. I feel like there’s been good recall from the spring in terms of what we’re asking them to do, and guys are making plays. They’ve shown up. It’s been various guys as we’ve went here, but we’re kind of starting to see guys show up, making plays, and give themselves a chance to earn a bigger role.”

The Giants will suit up for their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions next Thursday night. Leading up to the game at MetLife Stadium, the intra-conference opponents will hold joint practices for the second consecutive year, with the Giants hosting this time around.

Bowen knows next week will be a “big tell” for his defense, especially the cornerbacks going against a Detroit passing attack that ranked second in yards a year ago.

“I think it’s a competitive group right now,” Bowen said. “We’re rolling guys in, giving them all opportunities to go out there and compete. I think the biggest thing for them is day in and day out, play in, play out, the consistency. You see flashes from all of them, and then you see some things that they need to improve on. And again, we’re early. We got time, but the clock’s ticking. So hopefully those guys, that’s one position they can continue to improve, continue to show that consistency, being reliable play in and play out, and one area where we can hopefully get some definition here in the next few weeks.”

The Giants had a vacancy to fill opposite former first-round pick Deonte Banks this offseason. Cor’Dale Flott has lined up outside while Nick McCloud has worked inside and outside.

“I think with both those guys, there’s versatility,” Bowen said. “So, just trying to find the best pieces for us as it relates. Nick’s been kind of doing a little bit of everything so far in camp. He’s been outside some. He’s been inside some. He’s played some money for us on third down. So, I think the thought process initially was let’s put Flott out there. He hasn’t really played out there at this level up to this point. He played a lot inside last year. So, let’s put him out there and let him get his work there, and see what we got, see what we have with the versatility aspect of that, and that will continue to evolve with both of those guys as we kind of work our way through here.”

It gets even more interesting behind them.

While second-round pick Tyler Nubin missed time with a calf injury – the rookie returned to practice today – Dane Belton has put his stamp on the safety competition along with Jason Pinnock.

“I think obviously we want them all out there,” Bowen said. “We want them all out there practicing. It’s tough to improve when you’re not practicing. It is. And one thing I’ll say for Dane is he’s taken ownership of it, and he’s fighting like hell to earn that job. Which he should. It’s his job to lose right now. It is his job to lose. … I think the instincts show up, the playmaking ability. I think he’s smart. He communicates. You can’t really tell a whole lot about the tackling and some of that stuff right now just based on where we’re at. But he’s made plays. This first week, he’s showing up.”

The front four, meanwhile, is where it all begins for Bowen. Three-quarters of that equation is solved with Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Finding the final piece of the puzzle to play inside with Lawrence might prove to be the toughest decision of the summer.

“They’re battling,” Bowen said. “That D-line competition is as strong as any competition on our team right now. I feel like we’ve got really good depth. And right now, as it stands, there’s going to be some good football players that don’t make this team in that room, and they’re battling. So, it’ll be interesting to see how that shakes out.”

The 53-man roster must be finalized by 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 27.