New York Giants training camp preview: Special teams
Here's a quick rundown of the room.
Coaching staff
Michael Ghobrial (coordinator), Cam Achord (assistant), and Stephen Thomas (assistant)
Ghobrial enters his second year on the job, as does Achord. Thomas is in his third season with the Giants. The unit brings back its major players, including their entire kicking operation and return game.
Kicking game
Graham Gano (starter), Jude McAtamney, Jamie Gillan (holder), Casey Kreiter (long snapper)
The 38-year-old Gano played just 10 games in 2024 and eight in 2023. The Giants are bringing back Jude McAtamney to challenge him this summer, as well as for insurance. They only attempted 28 field goals in 2024 (making 23) and 22 PATs. That's not on the kicking operation, however, as the Giants struggled to score the past two seasons.
Punter
Jamie Gillan (starter)
Gillan appears to be the lone punter entering camp this year, despite missing four games last season with a hamstring injury (he was replaced by Matt Hauck). The Giants were in the middle of the pack in net average (40.3), but their 36 punts inside the 20 were tied for the third-highest in the NFL last year.
Returners
Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Eric Gray, Dee Williams, and Montrell Washington
Smith-Marsette should be the primary on both kicks and punts, but as always, the returner group is fluid. He was the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 17, returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the Giants' victory over Indianapolis. It was the Giants' first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2015.
Coverage units
Dane Belton, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Chris Manhertz, Ty Summers, Tomon Fox, Darius Muasau
These faces change every week, depending on availability. The players mentioned above stood out in 2024, however.
Outlook
There was no urgency or effort to improve the "teams" this past offseason. A more productive offense should lead to more opportunities this year.
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