Practice Report: Takeaways from OTA No. 4

Malik Nabers, the sixth overall pick in the draft, started the day with the first of a handful of completions from Tommy DeVito. Coach Brian Daboll talked last week of the progress being made by the rookie receiver.

“There’s a lot of information to learn, you know that,” Daboll said. “He works really hard. There’s a couple different positions that he has to move around and learn, but that’s why we drafted him. So, good young pro, works really hard at it. Spends a lot of extra time with [wide receivers coach Mike] Groh when he can, kind of like Jalin [Hyatt[ did last year and Wan’Dale [Robinson] did the year before. So, it’s been nice.”

The long play of the day was a pass to veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson II, who signed with the Giants earlier this month, but defensive lineman Ryder Anderson found his way into the backfield for what would have been a sack. Just before, two-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence sped up a throw to force an incompletion.

Cornerback Deonte Banks also had a hand in a strong day for the defense, forcing an incompletion of his own. The former first-round pick looks to take the next step in his second season.

“It’s always a big difference between year one and year two,” Daboll said last week of Banks. “Obviously he’s done it for a whole year in terms of how we do things here, learning some new things of what we’re putting in defensively, but he has the right mindset. He’s working extremely hard and trying to do as good as he can do.”

Banks is part of a larger storyline this spring as the Giants install a new defense under coordinator Shane Bowen.

“It’s important for those guys to hear the call, the meeting time, being able to take it from the classroom to the field,” Daboll said. “They have done a good job. That’s why these are so important, particularly when you can get out now and line up against a formation or something like that, but it’s a work in progress.”

Lawrence Cager was a factor on Tuesday with a few receptions from DeVito, including one for a big gain down the middle. Rookie Theo Johnson, another tight end, also got in on the action with a catch from Drew Lock. Daboll spoke recently about getting the rookies up to speed while mixing in with the veterans.

“They’re obviously behind mentally, trying to catch them up physically,” Daboll said. “I think [Executive Director of Player Performance Aaron] Wellman has done a good job with the plan that he’s kind of set in place along with the training staff of how many reps we give them each period. We are trying to build them up. We don’t want to take any setbacks physically. Try to throw as much as you can on them mentally, which is different from the rookie camp, so they’re getting a lot of information right now.”

May 30-31, June 3-4, June 6-7, June 11-13 (minicamp)