At this time a year ago, Andrew Adams was considered a long shot to stick on the Giants roster, an undrafted safety from UConn with many bodies ahead of him and much ground to make up.
One year later, the vision Adams has as he puts head to pillow is far different. He wants what he had as a rookie. He wants to retain his starting job at free safety.
“I think about that every night before I go to sleep,’’ Adams told The Post after practice Sunday. “There’s nothing like Sundays and being able to contribute to the team for the better. We have big goals as a team and to be able to contribute to that, it’s just a great feeling.
“I have goals, personal goals and team goals. [Starting] is definitely a goal.’’
Just as he overcame the odds in 2016, Adams will have to do it again in order to maneuver his way back into the starting lineup. He arrived at training camp this summer working with the second-unit defense, with Darian Thompson starting at free safety alongside star strong safety Landon Collins.
This hardly is surprising. Thompson, as a rookie third-round pick from Boise State last year, quickly vaulted up the depth chart and was considered the starter by the second game of the season, when he suffered a foot injury that ended his rookie year. Adams, a member of the practice squad during those first two weeks, made his NFL starting debut Oct. 3 at Minnesota and ended up making 13 starts, providing durability and consistency for an emerging and improving defense.
“I think I need to improve on my anticipation, being able to react quicker to what the offense does, instead of reacting off them,’’ Adams said. “Also want to be a 100 percent tackler. I think I did a great job controlling the defense, not allowing any big plays, making all the checks, getting everybody lined up. And definitely more big plays. I had one interception, I definitely want more interceptions. I want to create turnovers, that’s one of my goals.’’
Adams was on the field for 467 snaps, the third highest of any rookie safety. His grade of 79.4 by Pro Football Focus was 39th out of 90 safeties. He allowed a passer rating against him of 69.3, the second-lowest of all rookie safeties.
Adams was solid and unspectacular. He did not allow plays to be made over his head. He forged a place for himself on the team. Thompson, though, was a renowned ballhawk in college and the coaching staff is in love with his communication and coverage skills.
“He’s a great player,’’ Adams said. “He’s quick-twitch and he’s smart. He’s a good guy to have back there. He definitely looks good.’’
Collins, Thompson, Adams and Nat Berhe give the Giants four players on the back end of their defense worthy of jobs and playing time.
“We have a lot of guys that fit into that safety spot that are competing for jobs,’’ coach Ben McAdoo said. “Andrew has a great command of the defense right now, for a guy in his second year, and he’s making strides on special teams, so it’ll be great competition.’’
Berhe, back for his fourth year, has shown flashes of aggression, as befitting his “Missile’’ nickname, but he has been unable to stay on the field. He missed nine games last season because of two concussions.
“I’m not really worried about anything,’’ Berhe said. “I think this is the most relaxed I’ve felt at camp in the past four years I’ve been here.’’
Berhe said his various physical issues have been frustrating. He said he did “a lot of soul-searching’’ in the offseason but never contemplated retiring.
“It’s like the stock market, it can’t stay down for too long,’’ he said. “Eventually it’ll come up, so I’m not worried.’’
Asked what he sees as far as competition at safety, Berhe said, “I see an All-Pro,’’ referring to Collins. Asked what else he sees, Berhe said, “I see an All-Pro. That’s it.’’
Sure enough, there is no proven safety other than Collins. Thompson has the inside track to start alongside him.
“It’s still early,’’ Adams said. “Darian’s a great player. We have a bunch of great players in the DB room and we all consider ourselves as elite. In the course of a season all the guys are probably going to play.’’