The countdown to Week 1 continues as the Giants practiced in shells Friday for the first time this summer.

After focusing on the red zone in each of the first two practices, the team moved the ball back on Day 3, with the line of scrimmage rarely moving past midfield. The temperature sat above 90 degrees for most of practice, but that did not stop both sides of the ball from coming up with some big plays.

Coach Brian Daboll met with the media prior to practice, while linebacker Micah McFadden, tight end Theo Johnson, and safety Jevón Holland spoke after. Additionally, former Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh was in the building Friday to formally announce his retirement from the NFL.

Here is what we learned Friday.

'Major focus' on stopping the run

A lot has been made about the Giants' pass rush this season, but as defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence said on Wednesday, you can't win on third down unless you win on first and second down. Last season, the Giants struggled to win on those early downs. The defense finished the season ranked 27^th in rushing yards allowed, which led to several additions being made in the offseason, such as Roy Robertson-Harris, Chauncey Golston, and Jeremiah Ledbetter, among others. While the team is pleased with the players added up front, McFadden told reporters it will take the entire unit playing together in order for the run defense to improve.

"The run game is holistic," the inside linebacker said. "It takes everybody. I will say we're glad about all the additions, but I think first and foremost, that comes down to communication and guys talking on the backfield behind us and letting us know the rotation and where's everybody's gap and all that and then playing aggressive and playing true up front…

"That's where it starts. If you can't stop the run, you can't stop anything. It'll be a major focus for us."

Prior to practice, Daboll reiterated the same message, emphasizing how important it is for the entire team to play better, including the offense, in order for the run defense to improve.

"We weren't where we needed it to be (last year) but the run defense is a collective team thing," Daboll told the media. "When you get behind in games quite a bit, and they keep handing the ball off, handing the ball off, it's just like the ability to affect the quarterback – it's not just a defensive stat. If we're not scoring enough points or playing good enough team football, that affects the other side. Everybody has to be better in regards to that. There were a lot of good plays when you go back and watch them, but there were too many explosive plays down the field. Whether that's a run fit, getting off a block, making a tackle, but we have to play better team football to help out team run defense."

Theo: 'Learning curve' getting used to new QBs

A major storyline surrounding the Giants this year has been the different feel around the offense due to the transformation of the quarterback room. Bringing in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, along with drafting Jaxson Dart, certainly improves the talent in the room. But when a new starting quarterback is added to the mix, it also takes some time for the pass-catchers to get used to how the signal-caller likes to do things, as Theo Johnson noted on Friday.

"There's definitely been a learning curve, for sure," Theo Johnson told the media. "Russ does things differently from anyone I've had for sure. He's got a ton of knowledge, so in the spring and even the summer we've had throwing sessions and stuff, just kind of getting on the same page, speaking the same language, seeing things the way he sees them. I think we're continuing to build that and I think we're in a good spot right now…

"He has an idea of what he wants things to look and how he thinks a concept should look. Our system has ideas as well, so it's just kind of merging together and coming together and finding a middle ground."

Wilson's NFL resume has been discussed over the last few months. But in addition to what he brings to the team on the field, the veteran quarterback's demeanor off the field has been just as important.

"The energy he brings to the building every day is just infectious," said the second-year tight end. "The way he carries himself, just a true pro, the same guy every day. That doesn't just impact the other quarterbacks in the room. That impacts the entire offense, and I think having him on, not only our offense but on our team has been huge for everybody."

Holland talks Nubin, Adebo

One of the first moves the Giants made in the offseason was bringing in safety Jevón Holland. The move gave the defense a promising starting safety duo between the veteran and Tyler Nubin, who is going into Year 2. Despite the two only being teammates for a few months now, their chemistry has already been on full display.

"He's pretty sharp," Daboll said about the veteran safety. "He's played a lot of football. Usually, it's not much different. The calls might be a little bit different. His experience helps him but he was a smart guy coming out. (I'm) glad to have him. He's done a nice job for us and I think it really adds to Nubin – the dynamic of those two guys, the way they communicate with one another. Most importantly, being on the same page. If you're not on the same page in that area of the field, it usually costs you pretty good. It's been a good addition."

"Tyler's a great communicator," Holland added. "He's a great player. He's fiery. He's got all the attitude, all the spunk. I love playing next to Tyler. He does a great job…

"If he sees something, he'll communicate with me. I see some reminders before the play, any adjustments that we have to make, just reminding each other what it is, trying to take it one play at a time so you're not just adding a bunch of comments and it's filling your head. (We're) trying to simplify the game as much as possible so that it's streamlined and everybody's on the same page."

Just before Holland was brought into the fold, the Giants added another proven player to the secondary in the form of cornerback Paulson Adebo. The fifth-year corner has the track record of a ballhawk with 10 interceptions and 43 passes defensed across his first 52 NFL games. The two defensive backs have gone through similar before signing with the Giants in March, which Holland said helps makes things a little bit easier for both guys.

"He's got mannerisms that we're similar and he came in at the same time so we kind of have the same experiences with going to an organization and building there and then moving on and now at a place where you're the vet and you've got to help lead people and so finding comfortability in that," Holland said about the veteran corner. "Paul's a great guy. Adebo's a great guy, and as a vet, he understands certain things. It just makes things easier for us to bounce ideas off each other."

Pugh: 'To the fans, it's been an amazing ride'

The Giants received a bit of a blast from the past on Friday as former offensive lineman Justin Pugh was in the building to announce his retirement from the NFL. After originally being selected with the 19^th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Pugh went on to start 131 games across 11 seasons with the Giants and Cardinals.

On Friday, he officially retired as a New York Giant.

"Like every little boy, I always dreamed of playing in the NFL or some sport, probably ice hockey actually growing up," Pugh said. "I'd always mimic that game-winning shot or that game-winning catch. I definitely never planned on making a block so Eli [Manning] could throw the ball down the field or Kyler Murray could do something. I never dreamed of being an offensive lineman. I don't think any little boys are out there right now being like, 'Oh, let me pass set and block in the playoffs to make something happen.' But what I realized is that offensive line is the position that was for me. I was built perfectly for it and something you don't choose. Everybody wants to be that star position, but it's something that really defined me as a man, as a father, and as a teammate. So, really I just wanted to do a ton of thank yous today."

After spending his first five years with the Giants, Pugh went on to play five seasons with the Cardinals. Of course, the lineman made his return to Big Blue during the 2023 season when he went "straight off the couch" into the starting lineup for a primetime matchup against the Bills.

Pugh made sure to tip his cap to all of the Giants fans that rooted him on over the years.

"To the fans, it's been an amazing ride," the 34-year-old said. "Thank you for supporting me."