Ramses Barden impressing at training camp

From all accounts, Ramses Barden the 6-6 wide reciever that the Giants selected in the third round from Division 1-AA/FCS Cal Poly is performing well halfway through camp. This is good news for the Giants, who need someone to step up at the reciever position. It remains to be seen just how well Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon can perform as starters for a full season. With first round pick Hakeem Nicks sidelined with a hamstring injury, Barden's play is a great sign for the Giants. Here's most of Mike Garafolo's article on Barden, from yesterday's Star-Ledger:

The Giants coaches teach their wide receivers to go get the ball at the highest point a player can first reach it.Ramses Barden's highest point, as he proved late last week, is significantly above anyone else's.

During Saturday's one-on-one end-zone drills, Barden ran a fade to the left side of the end zone while being covered by rookie cornerback Stoney Woodson. A few plays earlier, backup quarterback David Carr didn't throw it high enough and Woodson knocked it away. This time, Rhett Bomar lobbed it high and at Barden's back shoulder, trusting (or perhaps daring) the 6-6 rookie to make the play.

Barden pivoted, separated from Woodson, jumped and reached his right hand about 10 feet into the air -- while Woodson could only remain on the ground and watch. With only his right hand, Barden snatched the ball and came down in bounds for a touchdown.And then came the most impressive part for some of his teammates: Barden jogged back and flipped the ball to a member of the equipment staff.

"That play surprised me, but he seemed like he had done it before," third-year wide receiver Domenik Hixon said Monday during a break at training camp. "He didn't have to hoot and holler. He didn't have to say, 'Hey, look at me.' He's just doing his thing. "But that's him. He just took care of business."

In a little more than a week here at camp, Barden has adjusted to the NFL about as well as anyone could have expected of a rookie making the leap from Division 1-AA/FCS Cal Poly.The third-round pick has made plenty of catches over the top of smaller defenders, has used his big body well to create separation while grabbing a ball in traffic and has run some pretty smooth routes for a big guy. He even took a big chunk out of the "he can't get off the line quickly" criticism with a few impressive post-snap moves, including one quick shimmy that helped him blow right past cornerback Aaron Ross.

Barden's play has surprised a lot of people. Barden isn't one of them.
"I know what I'm capable of," he said. "All I'm doing is trying to be the player I can be. As far as surprises, they have to do with expectations. I didn't really come into this with expectations at all."

With his play to this point in camp, Barden is raising expectations. "That one-handed catch was terrific. That's the kind of stuff we need," wide receiver Sinorice Moss said. "Using his size and those big hands, that's the kind of stuff you should expect from him. I know I do."

Asked Monday how the receivers are doing, quarterback Eli Manning mentioned Barden first. "Ramses is doing really well," Manning said. "He's a big target, he's made some plays and he seems like he's got a pretty good feel for what's going on."

Barden has helped limit his mental errors by burying his nose in the playbook since receiving it at the start of rookie camp in May. Moss said he's also been asking a lot of questions. And Tuesday, while a lot of players are enjoying their first day off from practice in a week, Barden will be studying.

(Star-Ledger Photos)