Giants' Eli Apple, Lorenzo Carter impress in loss to Jaguars | Random defensive observations

Posted September 10, 2018 at 06:02 AM | Updated September 10, 2018 at 06:08 AM

By Ryan Dunleavy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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"I can always be there right there on the hip," Apple told NJ Advance Media. "That's something I take pride in. My speed. I think I can run with anybody. I know I can, actually. So, my thing is staying calm with the ball in the air, making sure I know where the flight of the ball is and making a play on it."

Apple finished with three tackles and two passes defended. FOX analyst Ronde Barber, a former Pro Bowl cornerback, lauded Apple for "fantastic execution" in a look-and-lean scenario where he played through receiver Donte Montcrief's hands.

The Jaguars offer one of the NFL's least threatening wide receiver corps after losing Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson as free agents and Marqise Lee to a season-ending injury. But, given the state of the secondary one year ago, the Giants aren't giving back any building blocks.

"We played solid," Apple said. "A couple mental mistakes we made, and that's something we've got to fix. We'll learn from them. For the most part, we were flying around and making plays, so we've got to to keep that going."

Apple also kept his cool and did not retaliate when Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson jammed his hand into Apple's face. After Bortles took a big hit on a blitz by Michael Thomas, Apple ran into the pile — the Giants dove on the ball in case Bortles' incomplete pass was ruled a fumble — and shoved Bortles in the lower back out of the way.

Robinson stood up for his quarterback, but took it too far with the personal foul penalty. By not retaliating, Apple prevented offsetting penalties and let out his emotions in terms of hyping up the crowd.

Apple was better in summer practice against Sterling Shepard and Odell Beckham than he was in the preseason games or joint practices against the Lions.

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"I watch for the connection game day, and I think he’s showing that in the last three games," Shurmur said of Apple after the third preseason game. "Connection in the game (meaning) in the flow, knowing what’s going on, covering your guy, competing if you get beat, come back keep competing. I think I’ve seen really good stuff."

It was easier to see the good stuff from Jenkins, who had one interception on a first-quarter interception on a play similar to one he was beat on earlier in the game.

"Basically he just ran a fade," Jenkins said, "and I turned around and (saw) the ball and I just grabbed it."

Jenkins had another potential interception through his hands — and through the hands of tight end Niles Paul — in the red zone for an incomplete pass rather than an interception or touchdown. The Jaguars settled for a field goal.

"It just popped out of my hands," Jenkins said, "but I’ve got to come up with a play like that."

Jenkins has looked like a Pro Bowler all preseason. Apple had one interception, 15 passes defended and 100 tackles in 25 games over his first two seasons.

Both were suspended at different times last season but have the potential to form one of the NFL's best starting cornerback duos if the arrow continues to point upward.

Here are some other thoughts on a solid defensive performance:

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