For as much as I love the new training camp setup at the Timex Performance Center, the practice schedule has admittedly been a bit of a challenge on deadlines, so it’s forced a slight alteration to how we do practice reports.  With that said, the plan is to still share observations — they just might take a little longer to get them posted.

Right now it’s hard to put much stock in anything you see because rosters are NOT set, certain guys cannot practice until August 4, and there are just so many moving parts going on that no sooner do we write one thing than the information is outdated. Anyway, here are a few observations I’ve taken away so far.

* Put me in the minority here, but I’m not too overly concerned at this point about the absence of Steve Smith and Ramses Barden from the lineup just yet. I think Domenik Hixon is going to fill in just nicely and he could potentially see his stock rise if everything continues to go well with his knee. Although not going full blast on punt returns, for example, Hixon looked alert and methodical in his fielding of the punts; when running patterns, I thought he looked crisp.

* I try not to get excited about a player based on one performance, which is why last year I wasn’t joining the Victor Cruz bandwagon after just one pre-season game against third-stringers. However, I’m starting to warm up to the kid, who has some nice quick moves and ability to break tackles. Whereas I thought he might have had an uphill battle to make the roster, now I’m thinking he may not only make it, he just might surprise a few more naysayers such as yours truly.

* I’m calling it now – FB Henry Hynoski is going to make people quickly forget about Madison Hedgecock.  While it’s probable that Bear Pascoe will start off at fullback, I suspect Hynoski is going to get the role full time sooner than later. The kid has great size, a non-stop motor, and has shown, at least so far, that he can be a receiver out of the backfield. Trust me, if you’re still mourning the loss of Vonta Leach, who signed with the Ravens over the weekend, don’t.

* It was weird seeing the offensive line without Shaun O’Hara and Rich Seubert. It was even weirder to see Chris Snee, a Pro Bowl guard, lining up at center, but of course the move is only temporary until David Baas is eligible to practice.

* I thought the defensive backfield looked perky early on. They were flying to the ball and just showing some hunger in wanting to make plays. Prior to the first practice, I had a chance to grab Antrel Rolle fore a few minutes and I asked him how anxious the DBs were to get back on the field. “Very,” he told me with a wide grin. Well so far, they’ve shown it.

* I’m still not sure what to make of DJ Ware. I know he has the desire, and he certainly has the talent, but at times I watch him run and it just seems like something is missing. For instance,  when sent between the tackles on a couple of runs, he looked unsure, shuffled his feet, and was stopped for a loss. It just looked as though he wasn’t trusting what he saw in front of him, which could very well be since he hasn’t run behind this new offensive line yet and was probably trying to find his way. Still, I’ll be looking to see if he keeps those feet moving forward, as when you hesitate as a running back, you’re going to be stopped, and that’s something I saw on more than a few occasions.

* Corey Webster, who ended last year with a knee injury, looked quick and spry in his step. He still does a nice job staying on a receiver’s hip and didn’t’ seem to have lost any speed. Meanwhile his partner in crime, Terrell Thomas, who’s entering his contract year this season, has an added spring in his step as well. Thomas told me over the off-season that he still has a lot to prove, and that he really feels like last year was a turning point for him given all the added responsibility he was given (I’ll have more from Thomas in an upcoming piece that is headed for the newsletter).

* I had a chance to watch the first team linebackers go through their drills – that would be Michael Boley, Jon Goff, and Clint Sintim, for those keeping track at home. Goff, to my eyes at least, looks a lot more comfortable in his role than he did last year. Several times, I saw him get vocal in the huddle and show that leadership spark, which wasn’t always there last year, especially early on.

* Meanwhile, I was looking to see how well Sintim was doing. Sintim, of course, is coming off season-ending knee surgery, and while at times I thought he looked just a tad tentative in moving around, the eagerness sis definitely there. What Sintim needs to be careful of, in my opinion, is overdoing it so that he’s not over thinking the situations.

* Worried about the third safety spot now that Deon Grant won’t be back? Nah, don’t be. Tyler Sash was very active in sniffing out the ball and getting into the mix. At times he took a couple of bad angles that cost him a split second or two in making the play, but he at least had a sense of what to do and where to go.

* It looked like rookie third rounder Jerrel Jernigan had a slight case of the jitters in the initial practices. Lining up as the punt returner, for example, he muffed a couple (though to be fair he was also trying to adjust to a strong, yet gentle breeze that was swirling during the practice). I happened to catch a glimpse of him streaking down a pattern and boy is that kid fast. I’m not sure if he’ll be in the receiving lineup – as of right now my  prediction for receiver on opening day is Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, and Domenik Hixon – but this kid definitely has potential.

* Another receiver who’s been somewhat intriguing so far is Devin Thomas, who has good size and who uses it to his advantage to shield the ball from defenders. We weren’t able to get too much about Thomas last year given how late he joined the team (though he did show signs of being a special teams demon), but I think this is another receiver worth keeping an eye on as the preseason wears on.

* Finally, if Matt Dodge is bothered about the addition of Steve Weatherford for his job, he sure didn’t show it in the initial practices as he was booming his kicks. Of course, the asterisk is there was no rush, no wind, and no real sense of urgency. Some guys look terrific in practice until they get onto the field. In Dodge’s case, I still think the talent is there; I think his issue has always been letting the whole picture engulf him, so if he can slow things down a bit, he could very well have a career as an NFL punter yet.

ODDS AND ENDS
Hard to believe it, but David Diehl is now the graybeard in the locker room. While always an outgoing personality, I noticed a slight change in Diehl’s demeanor that reassured me that he’s ready to become the leader of that offensive line, somewhat how like Shaun O’Hara was. Keep an eye on Diehl this preseason, and I think you’ll see what I’m trying to say.

INJURY UPDATE
By now, you no doubt know that C Adam Koets (knee), who had initially been cleared to practice, is on PUP. From what I’m hearing,  he should be ready to go when the season starts.

As for the receivers, Barden and Smith, I’m getting the impression – and granted it’s still early – that Barden could miss a large chunk of the preseason, which would not be a good thing. He really needs to find some consistency in his reps I he’s to take that next step thus far he hasn’t had that and I think that’s what’s in part held him back.

Regarding Smith, I had heard that there was a chance he could start on PUP if and when he does re-sign. Smith has been working hard in his rehab, but remember, he had his surgery in December. One thing is for certain — when he does come back, don’t expect him to be thrust into a full time, heavy duty workload.

FINALLY
For those panicking about the fact that TE Kevin Boss and RB Ahmad Bradshaw are, at least as of this writing, unsigned, stop. As I’ve been saying all along, the real deadline is August 4, as that’s when those guys can start practicing.

If you’re still not convinced, then remember that Boss and Bradshaw know the Giants’ playbook, so it’s not as if you have a guy coming in from the street having to play catch-up.

Both players owe it to themselves and their families to explore every option out there on the free agent market, and that’s what they’re doing. With that said, I would be shocked if at least one of them, if not both, isn’t re-signed by Wednesday.