SiriusXM host and Giants play-by-play man Bob Papa previews Big Blue’s training camp with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: What positional matchups are you eyeing in training camp?
A: I’ll be interested to see what happens with that third linebacker position, knowing that when (Jon) Beason is healthy he’ll be in there. (Spencer) Paysinger showed quite a few things, Jacquian Williams had flashes earlier in his career, but he’s been invisible the past couple of years. The tight end situation is a mixed bag. It’ll be interesting to see who emerges from that group, it’s not exactly a list of household names there.
Q: Is there lots of pressure on Rueben Randle this camp?
A: Randle has got to get some stuff done here, I don’t think there’s any question about it. Last year, during training camp he seemed to wow you – in every practice he’d have the catch of the day. He was just imposing his will. It really didn’t manifest on the field with consistent, big-time plays that you’d get out of a second-round pick. What speaks to that pressure is that they went out and drafted Odell Beckham. That’s got to tell you they are looking for more production and Randle has to step up his game.
Q: How different will the Giants offense look this season?
A: It’s a different philosophy, but I think they are going to obviously use some things from the old offense that Eli (Manning) was comfortable with. They aren’t going to come here and take a two-time Super Bowl MVP and say, ‘you will now do it completely different.’
Q: Any concerns after Manning’s rough season?
A: He’ll be fine. It’s interesting that he’s such a lightning rod. Other quarterbacks will have down years and people aren’t talking about that franchise needing a new quarterback. Eli has a bad year and suddenly it’s, ‘maybe he’s not the long-term answer.’ Eli didn’t play great, he had an off year by his own admission, but I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. He’s proved that he can carry this football team.
Q: Did you like the additions on defense?
A: The whole thing is fascinating. Their defense ranked eighth in the NFL last year and they spent most of the money on the defensive side of the ball. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is going to be a wonderful addition, and then you add Walter Thurmond and Quintin Demps, and I think their secondary is going to be fortified even more. You can talk about all the additions, but the linchpin in Jason Pierre-Paul. He’s been pretty much non-existent for the last year and a half. Unless he regains that form, and I know he’ s had injuries, they are going to have issues. They desperately need that from him.