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The New York Giants defense was less than impressive in their practices against the New England Patriots this week, but let’s keep in mind that these are only drills. Players are shuffling in and out and new things are being tried.
The fact that the Patriots’ offense was being commandeered by rookie Mac Jones added to the already growing questions regarding if the Giants’ defense has taken a step forward or a step back this season.
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Linebacker Blake Martinez, the defensive captain, isn’t looking too deeply into how Jones and the Pats schooled them on a long drive on Wednesday.
“I feel like the first day, we made a lot of mistakes and weren’t good enough. We didn’t come ready to play and didn’t start fast. I think we went back and looked at the film, made the corrections, came out today and played our style of ball. There will still be things to correct, but we felt good today,” Martinez told reporters on Thursday.
One thing is not happening, however. This Giants team is in shape and Martinez believes that head coach Joe Judge’s conditioning effort is paying off.
“Oh, yeah. 100 percent,” he said. “I think I go back to even last year when we played our first game, you could just tell the difference. When we go out there, it just feels so much easier being able to play and not have to catch your breath and do those things, and you’re looking on the other side and they’re tired.”
Martinez was asked the ‘conditioning hill’ the Patriots have a their training facility that the Giants took advantage of this week.
“I think it’s great. I think it’s one of those things – you never really get that hamstring work and all those extra components that kind of builds that callous and makes you ready to go when you only have to run on a flat surface,” he said.
The Giants are winding down a preseason where many of their players had physical setbacks or are still overcoming them. Martinez got off to a slow start after a positive COVID-19 test shelved him for the first week.
One player the team is excited to get back is running back Saquon Barkley after he missed the final 15 weeks of last season with a torn ACL.
“He’s an amazing player, an amazing leader,” Martinez said. “Just excited to have him out there. Always want everyone healthy.”
Barkley participated in team drills this week and is trending towards playing in the team’s opener in two weeks.
“He still obviously has the red jersey and things like that. But yeah, he’s looking great. He’s doing what he needs to do every single day and I’m excited to have him back when he’s ready,” Martinez said.