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Fact or Fiction: Training camp recap; remaining questions

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The biggest question remaining before Week 1 is the guard rotation

John Schmeelk: Fact – We have a good idea of who will fill the other main roles on the roster, but do we know who the starting right and left guards are going to be? If you had to bet right now it would be Marc Glowinski at right guard and Ben Bredeson at left guard, but it wouldn't be a shocker if Josh Ezeudu managed to shoehorn himself into snaps at left guard. The only other question is how the team will use its wide receivers? How much will they spread the snaps around among the active receivers? You can expect it will be a committee approach, but let's see on Sunday night.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll gave a State of the Team address on Thursday, and "we'll see" was a common refrain. They feel good about the pieces they added this offseason to a strong core, but you never know until "adversity strikes" in a live game. And this rings true for rookie cornerbacks Deonte Banks, the team's first-round draft choice, and Tre Hawkins III, a sixth-rounder who emerged as a factor with the first team. It's a whole new ball game starting Sept. 10, but they have answered the bell each time so far.

Lance Medow: Fact - Throughout training camp and the preseason, the Giants have been experimenting with various options at both guard spots as Ben Bredeson and Mark Glowinski have flip-flopped positions (with Josh Ezeudu an option, as well). You also can't overlook how the Giants rotated guards last season once Nick Gates and Bredeson returned from injuries. It's possible they go in several different directions at guard in Week 1 and provide the Cowboys with multiple looks.

Matt Citak: Fact – Among all the training camp position battles, the rotation at guard is the only one that seems to be still up in the air. Although almost all of the team's starters sat out in the preseason finale, Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson and Joshua Ezeudu each started and played eight offensive snaps (with Bredeson lining up at center). It's clear that the question of who starts at guard had not been answered prior to last weekend's game against the Jets, and coach Brian Daboll was not asked about it at his press conferences this week. We'll have to wait till next week to see how the guard situation plays out.

The most impressive offensive player this summer was TE Darren Waller

John Schmeelk: Fact – He beat linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks to create separation and/or make contested catches with his big frame and catch radius throughout training camp. He was the exact type of elusive weapon who lines up all over the formation that many of us anticipated when the trade with the Raiders was made in the offseason. His physical traits (size and speed) standout and he has proven be a very intelligent player and a good teammate. So far, he has checked every box.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – They go hand in hand, but Daniel Jones took the reins of the entire team this offseason. On the field, he looks comfortable and confident in Year 2 of the system. In the locker room, all we've heard about is his work ethic and leadership.

Lance Medow: Fact - It essentially comes down to Darren Waller or rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who showcased his speed on a daily basis. Let's lean more toward Waller because he's such a headache to defend given his combination of size and athleticism. Although he's a polished vet who has been in the league for several seasons, it's even more impressive when you see him in person as he towers over most defensive backs and linebackers.

Matt Citak: Fiction – Waller was probably the second-most impressive offensive player this summer, but the No. 1 most impressive guy out there had to be Daniel Jones. From the start of training camp, Jones has displayed full command of the offense. His confidence in the system has obviously grown, and it showed with his performance on the field. Other than the first joint practice with the Lions, Jones had just about as good of a summer as anyone could have hoped. Waller certainly played a part in that, and the connection between the two of them will go a long way in determining the success of the offense this season.

View the best photos of all the action at the Giants' 2023 training camp.

The most impressive defensive player this summer was S Jason Pinnock

John Schmeelk: Fiction – Pinnock played very well and certainly earned that starting safety spot next to Xavier McKinney, but he was not the most impressive player on defense – so this title remains with Dexter Lawrence. He could not be blocked during 1-on-1's throughout summer practices and was a constant presence pushing the pocket back into the lap of the quarterback. Lawrence is an athletic freak who continues to hone his craft and improve. He continues to show that there is no ceiling to his upside.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – Let's agree with Schmeelk here. It's tough for an interior defensive linemen who can't hit the quarterback to stand out in practice, but he's not your average interior defensive lineman.

Lance Medow: Fact - Rookies Tre Hawkins and Jordon Riley deserve some consideration, but if you look at splash plays and consistency, all roads lead to Jason Pinnock. With Julian Love leaving in free agency, the other starting safety job opposite Xavier McKinney was wide open this offseason and Pinnock took full advantage of that opportunity by consistently making his presence felt, especially in the opportunistic department. From full-extension, one-handed interceptions in practice to game-changing plays in the preseason, Pinnock hasn't disappointed this summer. He's stood out for all good reasons.

Matt Citak: Fact – Pinnock made an eye-opening, one-handed interception during the first week of practice and never looked back. In the first preseason game, Pinnock played just one defensive series and could not have been more dominant. On only five defensive snaps, he registered a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and an interception. He followed that up with another pass breakup against the Panthers, which all but solidified his spot among the starters in the secondary. The Giants' brass was high on Pinnock heading into training camp, and the young safety has supported that sentiment this summer with his standout performance.

Based on what you saw this summer, the most intriguing player to watch this season is rookie CB Tre Hawkins III

John Schmeelk: Fact – The Giants are asking a lot of a rookie cornerback that was drafted out of Old Dominion in the sixth round. To ask any rookie to start (let alone two) the first week of the NFL season is a big ask, but it's especially so for a player not coming out of a Power-5 conference. He earned his place as the starting outside cornerback in nickel situations (five defensive backs, including three cornerbacks), but now he has to show what he did in practice, scrimmage and preseason games against some of those most dangerous players in the NFL. It begins early, when he will face the likes of Ceedee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup on Sunday Night Football.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – Along those same lines, defensive lineman Jordon Riley turned a lot of heads as a seventh-round draft choice who played at four different colleges. He is also in an ideal spot being surrounded by the likes of Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Rakeem Nuñez-Roches, and A'Shawn Robinson - that group has a special chemistry and can set the tone for the team.

Lance Medow: Fact - Of all the developments in training camp regarding opportunities and playing time, most would say they didn't necessarily expect this year's sixth-round pick Tre Hawkins to move up the depth chart so quickly and be in line for a potential starting role opposite fellow rookie Deonte Banks. Hawkins has capitalized on his practice reps and has transferred that over to games, which is what you want to see out of all players, especially those making the transition to the NFL. How he handles the level of competition he'll see right out of the gate will be something to watch as his length and athleticism provides for an intriguing skill set.

Matt Citak: Fact – Unless you're a first-round pick, it can be difficult for a rookie to crack the starting lineup, especially on a team coming off a playoff run. Trying to do so as a rookie sixth-round pick is even harder, but that is the direction we appear to be heading in as we approach Week 1. Hawkins has acclimated quickly to the speed and physicality of the NFL, and the 23-year-old rookie already looks like he belongs. He has played so well that veteran Adoree' Jackson saw majority of his practice reps in the slot over the last few weeks of camp, highlighting just how serious the coaching staff is about the possibility of Hawkins and fellow rookie Deonte Banks starting outside. With a Week 1 matchup against the Cowboys, Hawkins will be thrown into the fire right away. CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup are one of the league's top WR trios.

View photos of the New York Giants' 2023 roster as it currently stands.

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