Through four training camp practices, New York Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes has generated four turnovers — three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Two of those went back for touchdowns.
If you had to pinpoint a single camp standout thus far, Holmes would have to be the guy. He’s made his presence felt each and every day, and has clearly raised his game after injury cut short his 2021 season.
“I’m at a place now where I feel that I’m back, and my mind is at ease. I’m grounded as a player, and we’re grounded as a team, and we’re ready to take these steps forward as needed, ready for what’s next,” Holmes told NorthJersey.com this week.
Holmes credits some of his early camp success to his previous failures. He’s been able to recognize the faults in his game and has worked hard to correct them.
It’s an admirable trait and something many professional athletes struggle with.
“A lot of what I struggled with [in coverage], I did to myself. I should’ve been crafting at the top of the route more and working on the things I wasn’t efficient at,” Holmes said. “When I got to the top of the route, I was guessing a lot, I wasn’t comfortable.
“Once this season came, I knew I had to be able to work the second phase in coverage. I could press, but what happens after that. I’m obsessed with improving, obsessed with figuring it out and that’s how it has to be at this level. There’s always an answer to the problem. It’s always about solving that problem, and being ready to solve the next problem.”
Holmes did get beat for a late touchdown during Saturday’s practice, and that’s likely to stick in his craw.
That’s good news for the Giants, who are relatively thin at cornerback — at least on paper. If Holmes can take the next step in his game, it will shore up some of those issues and take the pressure off of his teammates.
The team’s selection of LSU cornerback Cor’Dale Flott in the 2022 NFL draft has also helped to motivate Holmes. His father taught him long ago that there’s always someone gunning for his job and told him to assume that they’re working every bit as hard as he is.
“If you want to play a role in this defense, that’s something that must be earned,” Holmes said. “Each and every day, I’m in it to earn that spot.”
So far, so good. Few players on the field have performed at as high a level as Holmes thus far.
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