Giants' No. 2 cornerback job still up for grabs
Giants corner Cor’Dale Flott (quad) defends receiver Malik Nabers during training camp. Flott’s timetable for a return is uncertain. Credit: Corey Sipkin
As the Giants play the Texans in Houston on Saturday in their second preseason game, they still have question marks at some positions, particularly on defense.
In his second season, cornerback Deonte Banks is among the team’s most valuable players. In fact, he’s almost invaluable to the Giants.
“It’s always a big difference between year one and year two,” coach Brian Daboll said this week. “Obviously, he’s done it for a whole year in terms of how we do things here, learning some new things of what we’re putting in defensively, but he has the right mindset. He’s working extremely hard and trying to do as good as he can do.”
The question: Who will win the cornerback job opposite Banks?
Cor’Dale Flott had been getting time as the No. 2 cornerback, but he’s missing valuable work this week. Flott tweaked a quadriceps in the joint practices against the Lions last week and hasn’t been on the field. His timetable for a return remains uncertain.
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said Nick McCloud and Tre Hawkins III are players who could fill in.
“Those two guys have done a good job,” Bowen said, adding that Hawkins, a sixth-round pick last season, had “a really good game” against the Lions.
“He was challenging guys,” Bowen said. “He had a few PBUs [pass breakups]. I thought he showed up in the run game. He’s done a good job for us out there. So continue to compete. Those guys battle it out and kind of see where it goes.”
Asked if cornerback is a particular area of concern, Bowen said: “I think it’s just an area we haven’t totally made a decision on. I think that’s just where we’re at right now. We’re working these guys, trying to find the best 11 as a unit together. And who those pieces are doesn’t always come down to possibly even the most talented player across the board. It’s finding the best 11 for us. Not really an area of concern as much as just something we’re continuing to work through.”
In filling out the defense, Isaiah Simmons, who seemed like a player without a position in former coordinator Wink Martindale’s defense, could be an option at multiple positions.
“Yeah, he’s done a good job,” Bowen said. “I think he’s played a little sub-backer for us in some of those passing situations. He’s been inside on early downs for us. I think he’s continued to improve and find some comfort in the places that we’ve put him in up to this point.
“I’ve been pleased with him so far throughout camp. I have seen growth from him. To be in some unfamiliar positions at times, especially out there on early downs, I think he’s done a good job of kind of understanding, being able to turn the page and progress in his understanding, not just only his role. I’ve been encouraged by him and hopefully that continues.”
At safety, rookie Tyler Nubin has started to show his playmaking ability. He had 13 career interceptions at Minnesota.
The Giants’ defense could be challenged by the Texans, a playoff team last season.
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
