The New York Giants wrapped up training camp Tuesday, but according to Giants.com, questions linger about their brand-new receiving corps.
"I think we have definitely grown in the receiving group,” quarterback Eli Manning told the Giants' web site. “Guys have gotten a lot of reps, gotten a lot of work to continue to learn within the offense. I think we are definitely better off than where we were a few weeks ago, when we got here. There is still definitely room for improvement, but I don't think you ever stop improving and keep working. These guys will continue to learn within this offense, learn about coverages and decisions and that part of preseason and about just experiencing game situations."
Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon are the starting receivers for now. Young veterans Mario Manningham, Derek Hagan and Sinorice Moss are battling for playing time, third-round draft choice Ramses Barden has displayed consistency and first-round pick Hakeem Nicks is getting up to speed after overcoming a hamstring injury.
"I like to think positive, so I would say it was a positive camp for me,” Nicks said on the site. “It's just a matter of me finally getting things down and I am ready to play."
Manning hasn’t offered a definitive opinion on which receiver, if any, distinguished himself at camp, and is in favor of a wide-receiver-by-committee approach.
"I think [it could be receiver by committee]," Manning said. "Some guys are stepping up and doing some good things. Still, I think we're going to rotate some guys in during the preseason and during the regular season. Some guys are doing well, but we need to keep improving."
Manning needs more time to get comfortable with his receivers, and vice versa, but a successful training camp is a start.
