The best example of strength-on-strength in the two Giants-Lions joint practices happened on one side of the line of scrimmage.
A Giants defensive line of Kayvon Thibodeaux, training camp standout Rakeem Nunez-Roches, and Pro Bowlers Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns collided with an offensive line that was ranked as the best in the NFL heading into the preseason by Pro Football Focus.
The Lions return four starters and plugged their hole by signing Kevin Zeitler, who was mistakenly jettisoned by the offensive-line-needy Giants after 2020.
“It was definitely great work. They’ve got a great front,” Thibodeaux said after Tuesday’s practice. “I was able to get some good reps. You’re not defined by one rep, but I think over the compilation of two days, it’s been pretty good.”
The Lions shaded extra attention in Burns’ direction, which could be an indicator that Thibodeaux, who had 11.5 sacks last season, will face more 1-on-1 blocks this season in a pick-your-poison scenario.
Burns still counted a few tackles for loss during Monday’s team periods and was just as disruptive Tuesday.
“To have success against them in this practice means a lot,” Burns said. “It’s a good confidence builder for us.”
Amid the heat, and before the fisticuffs took over the second joint practice, there was some excellent work between two top-tier players.
On one rep in the 1-on-1 pass-rush drill, Burns spun on Lions left tackle Taylor Decker, who guided Burns out wide and then pushed him down, sending Burns tumbling to the grass. Burns got to his feet, looked at Decker, they exchanged a low-five and went back to work.
Burns’ spin move is a different and complementary trick to what Thibodeaux keeps in his pass-rush bag.
“I’m particularly not a spin guy. I haven’t put that in my forte yet. So, to see him do it, I’m always excited,” Thibodeaux said. “Every player has their skill set and that spin is one of his key moves. I’m more of a power downhill guy. He’s more of an agile, make-them-move-their-feet [rusher]. And I like to go power long-arm, kind of work off of it.”
Daboll anticipates offensive coordinator Mike Kafka remaining in the booth on gamedays like Thursday against the Lions.
Kafka was upstairs as a play-caller the past two seasons, but, with Daboll taking over play-calling, there could be some logic in keeping Kafka on the field to speak with the offense while the defense is on the field and Daboll is managing the game.
“I have people that I rely on the last two years, communication-wise,” Daboll said. “That’s what these preseason games are for. I just want to go through the process of the preseason, the mechanics of it, the communication with my staff really in all three phases, plus the people that help me with game management. So that’s much needed.”
Thibodeaux declined to comment on whether he threw a punch during the final skirmish of practice, when a special teams drill spilled into the Giants sideline.
It seemed that he did.
“I appreciate the media for being there,” he said. “We’re just going to keep getting better.”
What was Daboll’s message to QB Daniel Jones after he jumped in the middle of a scrum during Monday’s practice to defend center Greg Van Roten when he was getting roughed up on the ground?
“Just stay out,” Daboll said.
