Once upon a time in 2011, Brian Daboll, then serving as the offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, interviewed Dan Campbell for a job. Suffice it to say, he left an impression.
Campbell was huffing and puffing and slamming chairs and hitting walls while going through mock drills. The scene was unsurprising for anyone who knew the tough-as-nails ex-Giants tight end.
Hot got the gig … and was in the facility the next day at 5:30 a.m. power cleaning and squatting.
Fast-forward to 2023, the two young head coaches have their respective teams on the rise and got their programs together in Detroit for two days of joint practices leading up to their preseason opener.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dan as a coach and as a person, him, and his family," Daboll said Tuesday morning before the first session. "He is an outstanding, outstanding guy. He's got high energy. When we worked together back in 2011, I think it's well-documented his interview, the players I think have a lot of respect for him. He's high energy, just a really good coach, a good guy that I have a lot of respect for."
View photos from Detroit, where the Giants and Lions held joint practices ahead of their preseason opener.
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
T Andrew Thomas (78)
G Ben Bredeson (68), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
marshawn lynch, Bobby Johnson Offensive Line Coach, Brian Daboll Head Coach
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Gary Brightwell (23)
DT Brandin Bryant (69)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
TE Chris Myarick (85)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
RB Eric Gray (20)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
RB Eric Gray (20)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
Jamison Crowder (80)
TE Tommy Sweeney (89)
TE Tommy Sweeney (89)
WR Kalil Pimpleton (81)
Jamison Crowder (80)
RB Eric Gray (20)
G Ben Bredeson (68), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
OLB Oshane Ximines (53)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
S Dane Belton (24)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
OLB Oshane Ximines (53)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
OLB Tomon Fox (49)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Dane Belton (24)
OLB Oshane Ximines (53)
S Gervarrius Owens (31)
CB Darnay Holmes (30)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
OLB Oshane Ximines (53)
S Bobby McCain (21)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
QB Daniel Jones (8), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52), CB Darren Evans (35)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
marshawn lynch
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
marshawn lynch, Bobby Johnson Offensive Line Coach, Brian Daboll Head Coach
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
S Xavier McKinney (29)
Brian Daboll Head Coach, DL Leonard Williams (99)
OLB Jihad Ward (55), marshawn lynch
OLB Jihad Ward (55), marshawn lynch
DL Leonard Williams (99)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
LB Bobby Okereke (58)
RB Eric Gray (20)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)/
WR Collin Johnson (15)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
S Dane Belton (24)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
OLB Oshane Ximines (53)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
RB James Robinson (24)
CB Amani Oruwariye (20)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
OLB Jihad Ward (55)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
S Dane Belton (24)
S Dane Belton (24)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
CB Deonte Banks (36)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
DT Kobe Smith (72)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
OLB Jihad Ward (55)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
OLB Oshane Ximines (53)
G Ben Bredeson (68)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
WR Collin Johnson (15)
RB Saquon Barkley (26), marshawn lynch
WR David Sills V (13)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
Jamison Crowder (80)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
K Graham Gano (9)
S Bobby McCain (21)
K Graham Gano (9)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
LS Cameron Lyons (48)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
G Mark Glowinski (64)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
T Matt Peart (74), OL Devery Hamilton (62)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
G Mark Glowinski (64)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Korey Cunningham (70)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
QB Daniel Jones (8)
K Graham Gano (9)
G Shane Lemieux (66)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84), WR Parris Campbell (0)
K Graham Gano (9)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
RB Eric Gray (20)
RB Eric Gray (20)
RB James Robinson (24)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
RB Matt Breida (31)
RB James Robinson (24)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
RB Eric Gray (20)
G Shane Lemieux (66)
G Jack Anderson (77), QB Tommy DeVito (5)
G Shane Lemieux (66)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
TE Tommy Sweeney (89)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
CB Deonte Banks (36)
TE Lawrence Cager (83), TE Chris Myarick (85)
TE Tommy Sweeney (89)
OLB Tomon Fox (49)
RB James Robinson (24)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
TE Darren Waller (12)
S Alex Cook (23)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
K Graham Gano (9), P Jamie Gillan (6)
WR Kalil Pimpleton (81)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
K Graham Gano (9), P Jamie Gillan (6)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
TE Darren Waller (12), WR Darius Slayton (86)
Jamison Crowder (80)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Kalil Pimpleton (81)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
G Jack Anderson (77)
K Graham Gano (9), P Jamie Gillan (6)
TE Tommy Sweeney (89)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Mike Kafka Offensive Coordinator, Andy Bischoff Tight Ends Coach
DL Leonard Williams (99)
DL Leonard Williams (99), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
TE Chris Myarick (85), TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
WR David Sills V (13), QB Daniel Jones (8)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
RB Saquon Barkley (26), Brian Daboll Head Coach, QB Daniel Jones (8)
RB Saquon Barkley (26), QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
Brian Daboll Head Coach, Carl Banks
WR Parris Campbell (0)
Here's what else we heard throughout the day in Detroit:
Joint practice is 'a good acclimation'
Daboll called practicing against a different team the "next step" for training camp. "I think there is competitive juices, the coaches have it, the players have it, but we are going to try to practice the right way against a really good team," Daboll said. "I think the program that the Lions have and what Dan and [Lions executive vice president and general manager] Brad [Holmes] have been able to do has really been outstanding, so it will be a good test for us."
"It's a lot more physical out here," tight end Darren Waller said after practice. "A lot more things to take into count, somebody is going to come and put a forearm in your ribs when you run over the middle of the field even though it's just a 7-on-7. Just getting more acclimated to game-like situations and knowing that it's a physical game at the end of the day. It's not always going to be 7-on-7 and people tagging off on you. It's a good acclimation."
Injury notes
Defensive tackle Rakeem Nuñez-Roches and right tackle Evan Neal, who remains in the concussion protocol, did not practice. On Monday, Daboll said the former was dealing with a groin issue.
Meanwhile, the team will continue to "ramp up" defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson and offensive lineman Marcus McKethan, who were activated off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list before the flight to Detroit. They will acclimate to individual drills before getting into team periods.
First unofficial depth chart released
The Giants released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of Friday's preseason opener. As always, it is subject to change. It simply serves as a guide, more so for the media than the coaches.
With that said, the Giants have their first two draft picks in starting spots: cornerback Deonte Banks and center John Michael Schmitz. The latter has been competing with Ben Bredeson, who is slated at first-team left guard. Jalin Hyatt, the third-round pick and defending Biletnikoff Award winner who has been making some big plays at camp, is in the second-team column. Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell, and Darius Slayton are listed as the top three receivers.
Cornerback Tre Hawkins III, a sixth-round pick, has been a pleasant surprise, earning some reps with he first team. The Old Dominion product is listed on the second team.
Rookie Eric Gray is listed as the fourth running back and first punt returner.
"I think he's got good short-space quickness, good balance, good vision," Daboll said Monday. "He's got some good moves in the open field. He's a one-cut guy, a young guy I think has some talent to work with and now we've got to try to develop it. We'll give him ample opportunity in the preseason to return these balls."
Waller letting his play make the 'noise'
Waller hasn't missed a beat since the Giants acquired the dynamic tight end in an offseason trade. The chemistry has been notably strong with quarterback Daniel Jones, who has a similar outlook on his game.
"I just try to come in and not really make a lot of noise, but just try to be excellent at my craft," Waller said. "Some days, it looks like you're taking steps forward, some days look like a step back, but really, it's something that you can learn the most valuable lessons on those days. Really, I just try to come in and do my job as well as possible, be an example for younger guys because I am one of the older guys on the team now, and just keep that into account. Just the little details of my day, no matter what it may be, just do it with intentionality."
Giants keeping an eye on Lions' roster
Prior to 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 29, clubs must reduce their rosters to a maximum of 53 players. As last season proved once again, the rosters are by no means final on that day. Front offices will have an eye on the wave of players released at that time. And because of the week in Detroit, they will have an even closer eye on the Lions. It's a bonus for holding the joint practices.
"You get a look at a whole other roster," Daboll said. "So, I know our scouting department will be here and be evaluating the players, not just our players how they do, but also Detroit's players. I think it works well for us."
View photos of the New York Giants' 2023 roster as it currently stands.
NT Dexter Lawrence II (97), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Deonte Banks
RB Saquon Barkley
OLB Boogie Basham
LB Darrian Beavers
TE Daniel Bellinger
S Dane Belton
OL Ben Bredeson
RB Matt Breida
ILB Cam Brown
WR Parris Campbell
RB Jashaun Corbin
ILB Carter Coughlin
DL D.J. Davidson
QB Tommy DeVito
QB Jacob Eason
CB Cor'Dale Flott
P Jamie Gillan
G Mark Glowinski
RB Eric Gray
OL Sean Harlow
CB Tre Hawkins III
WR Isaiah Hodgins
CB Darnay Holmes
DL Timmy Horne
WR Jalin Hyatt
CB Adoree' Jackson
TE Tyree Jackson
LS Casey Kreiter
DL Dexter Lawrence
CB Nick McCloud
ILB Micah McFadden
OL Marcus McKethan
S Xavier McKinney
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
OLB Azeez Ojulari
ILB Bobby Okereke
WR Gunner Olszewski
S Gervarrius Owens
OL Justin Pugh
DL Jordon Riley
DL A'Shawn Robinson
OT Matt Peart
WR Wan'Dale Robinson
C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
WR Sterling Shepard
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons
WR Darius Slayton
QB Tyrod Taylor
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
OT Andrew Thomas
TE Darren Waller
OLB Jihad Ward
OLB Benton Whitley
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