SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Here are five observations from the Giants' training camp.

Camp Classic Moment

The estimable New York Giants owner and Hall of Fame member Wellington Mara did not make this training camp trip with his team and it's too bad, since any sideline chat with him is a memorable moment. Granted, there is probably a treasure trove of unforgettable anecdotes from Giants training camps of the past, given that the club is one of the oldest and most storied franchises in league annals. But spend some time with Mr. Mara and it's like walking through a human encyclopedia of NFL history. Even longtime team official Ernie Accorsi, the New York general manager, speaks about how much fun it is to watch practices with the man most people refer to as "Well." Good handle, given his first name, bad one in terms of actually describing the man. "Well" is better than well, he's one of the best. "Oh, yeah, he sets the tone for the whole (organization)," said offensive tackle Lomas Brown. "He's still very sharp, still knows the game, understands what it is we're trying to do on the field. He's a class act." — Len Pasquarelli

1. The team's NFC championship in 2000 aside, some skeptics still wonder from whom the Giants will get big offensive plays this season. Coming off a career year in which coach Jim Fassel used him brilliantly, tailback Tiki Barber isn't a prototype 1,000-yard rusher, has always been more of a spot player and is currently out of the lineup for another week or two with a broken hand. Tailback Ron Dayne, a disappointment as the Giants' first-round pick last season, has dropped some weight but still has to prove he has the stamina to be the kind of workhorse he was in college. There were times last season when Dayne was a ponderous runner who couldn't get out of the backfield or out of his own way. He is in better condition this time around, noticeably quicker according to those who see the team every day, and perhaps ready to become a force. If the former Heisman winner continues to improve, it will help, but the Giants still need someone to stretch the field a bit. Wide receiver Amani Toomer isn't a consistent deep threat, and partner Ike Hilliard is in the organization's dog house. Hilliard likely won't be ready for the start of the season anyway because of toe surgery. The bottom line is, even with the maturity of quarterback Kerry Collins, this remains a pretty vanilla offense. Virtually the same unit as 2000, it does not possess good overall speed. The line is aging, and explosiveness is lacking. It's an offense that can hammer away at people but doesn't strike fear into most defenses because of its lack of a true vertical dimension.

2. What the skeptics have stopped questioning, thanks to a new four-year contract worth about $2.75 million annually, is Fassel's long-term viability in The Big Apple. In fact, the head coach earned respect last season by placing the apple squarely on his own head and then daring the marksmen pundits to try to knock it off. His late-season "guarantee" that the Giants would qualify for the playoffs surprised many of Fassel's closest friends because it was publicly out of character for him. That the team advanced all the way to the Super Bowl probably surprised even Fassel, but he won't admit it anytime soon. Fassel is a much tougher guy than he is credited with being, and the guarantee gamble could have backfired on him but he made it work. The big question now is whether Fassel can push his team to an encore. This is a team that enjoyed tremendous chemistry in 2000 and the mix already is a little more volatile already, with weakside linebacker Jessie Armstead and wide receiver Hilliard presenting some difficult times in the offseason. If Hilliard continues to lob salvos at the organization, Fassel may guarantee him a ticket out of town. Fassel is a good fit for a stable, low-key organization, one that ranks among the classiest franchises in the league.

3. Not too long into the team's 2000 training camp, the defensive coaching staff knew it had a steal in second-round draft pick Cornelius Griffin, a tackle from Alabama who somehow lasted until the 42nd overall choice in the lottery. A year later, the steal has turned into a flat-out heist, and anyone drawing up a list of emerging young players might want to make sure they have Griffin's name on it. The second-year pro replaces the departed Christian Peter in the starting lineup and should provide innovative coordinator John Fox another versatile component with which to tinker. Even though he didn't start a game as a rookie, Griffin played extensively and finished with 24 tackles and five sacks. It is the pass-rush ability he flashed in "nickel" packages, along with the kind of quickness you normally don't expect from a 300-pounder, that intrigues the Giants so much. Griffin doesn't just push the pocket inside. He has enough speed to squeeze through the gaps or to drop off the line in zone-blitz situations. The latter quality was exhibited in the 2000 playoffs, when Griffin played the short middle zone or moved out into the flat several times on passing downs. Partnered inside with Keith Hamilton, he should give the Giants one of the more active tackle tandems in the league. Plus with Griffin playing full-time now, he might make even more of an impact than end Kenny Holmes, the team's biggest free-agent acquisition of the offseason. The front four offers a rare blend of big guys who can all run to the football. It dominated the Patriots' offensive line at times in the combined workouts this week and figures to do the same to blocking units league wide in the regular season.

4. The stars in decline in the Giants' defense are Armstead and cornerback Jason Sehorn, who will never be the same player he was before his catastrophic 1998 knee injury. Sehorn lost much of his deep speed with that injury and certainly ranks now as one of the most overrated players in the league. Still a terrific athlete, he remains capable of flashing the big play, like the interception he made while on the ground in the division-round playoff victory over Philadelphia. But more often than not now, it's Sehorn who is getting burned for big plays. Some officials from other teams can't believe the Giants gave him an eight-figure signing bonus as part of his new contract, since New York was essentially bidding against itself. Armstead simply isn't around the ball as much anymore and appears to have lost a step. The young player in ascent in the secondary is free safety Shaun Williams, the Giants' first-round choice in the 1998 draft. Williams enjoyed a breakout season in 2000, recording 125 tackles and snatching five interceptions. Williams is a fluid athlete, but his smoothness and range bely the mentality of a big hitter. Built in the mold of a weakside 'backer, Williams is outstanding in run support and can play close to the line of scrimmage when the Giants want to put eight defenders "in the box" to tighten the gaps.

5. The resurrected Collins, 28, played all but three series in the regular season in 2000 and figures to be an iron man again for the Giants in 2001. Look for the team, in fact, to extend his contract when general manager Ernie Accorsi finds some salary cap breathing room, perhaps before the start of the season. But every franchise needs a resident "quarterback of the future" and it seems that fourth-round draft choice Jesse Palmer fills that niche. The former University of Florida part-time starter certainly has stature and pocket presence, good feel for the passing game and a strong arm. Palmer is a better athlete than most people realize and, having tolerated Gators coach Steve Spurrier for four years, he's got to be thick-skinned. Palmer is under no pressure to have to play quickly, so he can serve an apprenticeship of a couple seasons and learn the ropes. Fassel is noted as a superb developer of quarterbacks, giving Palmer an excellent mentor.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.