Kevin Gilbride Talks New York Giants

Kevin Gilbride Talks New York Giants: Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride addressed fans at Southern Connecticut State University yesterday. Here are some tidbits he revealed during a Q&A session with the audience:

• As of now at wide receiver, Hakeem Nicks will remain outside with Victor Cruz in the slot in three wide receiver sets. “(The slot receiver) was what Cruz was this year,” Gilbride said. “He can play the outside, but he was much more proficient inside.” The Giants will be looking for one of the other veteran receivers such as Ramses Barden, Jerrel Jernigan, and Domenik Hixon to compete with rookie Rueben Randle for the other outside spot. Gilbride said Jernigan will have to adapt to being more of an outside receiver. “You need that third guy,” Gilbride said. “Hopefully, if not one of our returning veterans, Randle will be able to give us what we’re looking for.”

• On the offensive line, Gilbride said the team hasn’t made a decision yet on where everyone will play, but said the most likely lineup would have David Diehl at right tackle, Chris Snee at right guard, David Baas at center, Kevin Booth at left guard, and Will Beatty at left tackle. “That would certainly seem to be the most likely way to do it,” Gilbride said. “Those are your five guys starting…You have five starters but you got to get some guys behind that come to the forefront in case one of them goes down…There were too many changes and injuries with the guys (last season) so we never really meshed. We got better as the season went on and the playoffs we got it going a bit. Right now, to be honest, we’re throwing the ball so well that it opens up opportunities for the running game.”

• On newcomer TE Martellus Bennett: “I think he has the chance to be a very good all-around player; blocker, receiver, the whole bit,” Gilbride said. “He just hasn’t done it to the satisfaction of the Dallas people. We look at him and we see as a guy that physically has the chance to be very good.”

Travis Beckum Still Hoping to Return by Start of Season: TE/H-Back Travis Beckum tore the the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the Super Bowl. The Daily News is reporting that Beckum still hopes to be able to return to action by the start of the 2012 season in September. According to the paper, Beckum is no longer using a brace and feels little pain. While he has not begun running yet, Beckum has progressed to strength exercises on the injured leg.

Notes and Quotes: QB Eli Manning on the team’s 2012 draft that was heavy on offensive players (five of the seven draft picks): “It’s always good when you can get good offensive guys to come join the team. I know they have a rookie mini-camp coming up this weekend, looking forward for them to get into the facility and get where I can start working with them, get ‘em kind of caught up with the offense and see how they can help us this year.”

The Giants’ rookie mini-camp will be held May 11-13.