New York Giants second-year safety Xavier McKinney is called the “X-Man” by many of the team’s beat reporters, wresting the moniker away from third-year linebacker Oshane Ximines albeit by default.
Many consider McKinney to be the “X” factor in the Giants’ defense this year — a player who they can deploy in many ways. With two solid options at safety in Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers, there isn’t a whole lot of reps and opportunity for McKinney it would seem.
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McKinney is forcing the issue this summer. The team has seen what the second round rout of Alabama can do in a small sample at the end of last season when he came back from a fractured foot to start in four games to finish out the season. They want to see more.
In training camp, McKinney has stood out. Keep in mind, he was first-round talent that slipped into the second round in last year’s draft and was considered a major steal. He still is.
McKinney’s name surfaced last week as the instigator of the now infamous brawl where he hit running back Corey Clement a tad bit too hard sending the entire team into a wild scrum.
“We’re just competing in practice. It’s going to be competitive every day, every time we come out here and step out here onto the field,” McKinney told reporters on Sunday. “We go out there and we have fun and we compete, so it is what it is, but at the end of the day we’re all a team, we’re all brothers, so that’s how we saw it.”
The Giants’ secondary is the pinnacle of competition this summer. With Ryan, Peppers and Julian Love all established players, McKinney is still forging his role. He’s coming fast and the DB room is much better for it.
With those four and corners James Bradberry, Adoree’ Jackson and Darnay Holmes, there is an internal competition to not only be the best but the smartest player in the room.
“Yeah, I’d say that’s true, man. I think we try to figure out who knows the most,” he said. “But like I said, it makes each and every one of us better at the end of the day whether that’s just preparation, whether that’s coming out here and executing. We kind of do it all around. We actually kind of tally up some things when we’re out here on the field just as far as making plays seeing who can make the most plays and just seeing who can be the most vocal out on the field.”
Another corner in the fray this camp is rookie Rodarius Williams, who has been opening eyes with his play. By admission McKinney did not know much about about Williams, including the fact that he was the older brother of Cleveland Browns cornerback “Greedy” Williams.
“That’s his brother? I did not know that,” McKinney revealed. “That’s crazy. That’s wild. I’ve got to talk to him about that one. I did not know that.”
Williams has been impressive in all facets and will be tough to cut come September.
“He’s been playing well, man,” said McKinney. “He’s just going out there every day and making sure that he’s getting better no matter what, no matter who he’s going in with, and then in the film room and also the rookie duties, you know how that gets sometimes. He’s been up to par in everything and been making sure he’s been doing his job all around.”
Chances are neither will be anywhere near the roster bubble this summer, a true testament to the special unit the Giants have built here the past few seasons.
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