EAST RUTHERFORD -- Giants cornerback Eli Apple was subject to one of the more bizarre criticisms leading up to last year's draft.

"I worry about him because of off-the-field issues," an anonymous scout told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel last April. "The kid has no life skills. At all. Can't cook. Just a baby. He's not first round for me. He scares me to death."

Apple's lack of culinary skills didn't deter the Giants, who took the Ohio State cornerback with the No. 10 pick in last year's draft. Apple experienced the expected rookie growing pains, but he started 11 games and improved as the season progressed.

Apple believes he'll be even better in Year 2 partly due to some dietary changes this offseason. The 21-year-old proudly announced that he can now make grilled cheese, but the bigger change has been cutting down on fried foods this offseason.

"When I was (training) in Arizona, I got with the people out there to make sure that I didn't eat too many fast foods because I was out there by myself without my mom," Apple said. "But when I came back I had to talk with my mom. I had a conversation with her, like, 'Listen, we can't go with the fried chicken all the time.' We kind of made little changes there with the diet and her cooking."

The 6-foot-1 Apple said he added about 10 pounds of muscle this offseason. Now 204 pounds, he believes he's better equipped for physical battles with NFL receivers.

"I think I'll be more comfortable out there," Apple said. "I'll be able to move faster and quicker. I'm already faster and just being stronger, being able to tackle more, just bigger running backs and stuff and being able to press bigger receivers."

It raised eyebrows when Apple, who ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at last year's NFL Scouting Combine, said he's faster after adding the weight. But he said there's hard evidence to his claim, as players where GPS trackers during practice.

"They track our speed and they said that the last practice I was out here for was the fastest I've ever moved since I've been here," Apple said. "So I'm getting a little faster."

Apple has been slowed recently by minor soreness in his hamstring. He has sat out the past three OTA sessions, but said he hopes to return to the field either in the final four OTAs this week or in next week's three-day mandatory minicamp.

Just as he is on the field, Apple is a work-in-progress in the kitchen.

"That's something I'm trying to work on as well," Apple said. "Just taking a couple of classes. (His mother) helped me. I kind of just watch her a little bit, I don't watch too much because she's a good cook, but she could be a little bit better."

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Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook