The New York Giants‘ future converged on its present during a recent training camp practice.
Early in practice, Giants quarterback Russell Wilson stared across the line of scrimmage at the pass rush duo of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter pre-snap, before taking two steps and rifling the ball into Malik Nabers on a quick slant pattern which the explosive wide receiver snagged, planted his foot and exploded upfield for a big gain after the catch.
“They didn’t bring a guy like Malik Nabers onto the roster just to have a pedestrian offense,” Giants legend Carl Banks recently told Heavy, during a wide-ranging phone conversation.
Carter has been hailed as a game-wrecker with All-Pro potential, and after being chosen No. 3 overall in this spring’s NFL Draft, the Giants hope he can make a transcendent impact on a defense New York anticipates being the backbone of its turnaround.
Similarly, Banks believes Carter and Nabers share the kind of athletic traits that give them the chance to have special careers in East Rutherford, and the Giants’ sparks for years to come.
“The beautiful part about guys like Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter,” Banks says. “Is that they kind of bring their own bag. They travel with their own bag. You don’t really need to draw comparisons. Other than comparing them to other guys who can make plays.”
Nabers’ big-play ability was evident during a stellar rookie season in which he caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns, in just 15 games.
Healthy, back on the field, and building a strong chemistry with new Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, Nabers has the potential to be a real field-stretcher for the Giants’ offense this fall.
Banks says Nabers’ skill set doesn’t just fit the modern NFL — it elevates it. And, the Giants’ offense.
“Malik Nabers is a guy that is his own guy,” Banks explains. “You watch him, and I did a breakdown on Giants receivers a couple months ago. He’s just, he’s good beyond his years. The way he separates, the way he sets up routes, if it’s a back-shoulder fade, the way he goes about it is different than everybody else.
“It transcends what they’re teaching him. He understands what [the coaches] are teaching him, but he incorporates it into what he does. It just looks different.”
If Banks is right, it won’t be long before the rest of the league starts seeing it, too.
Giants Rookie Cam Skattebo Continues to Deal with Nagging Injury
GettyNew York Giants running back Cam Skattebo got a positive injury update at training camp.
Rookie running back Cam Skattebo was one of the Giants’ pleasant surprises this spring and early into training camp, but, New York’s fourth round selection in this spring’s NFL Draft has been reduced to being a spectator over the past week’s worth of practices.
“With all the guys that are hurt, they’re all making progress,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters when asked about Skattebo. “If they can be out there, they’ll be out there. … Well see where we’re at each day. Everybody is day by day.”
Skattebo continues to work through a hamstring injury, and while it remains to be seen if he will miss any meaningful time, the Giants did sign Jonathan Ward after a workout with team.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Carl Banks: Malik Nabers “Good Beyond His Years,” Poised to Ignite Giants Offense [EXCLUSIVE] appeared first on Heavy Sports.