DRC

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is at a career high with his weight.

(Jordan Raanan | NJ Advance Media)

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's t-shirt clung to his biceps for life. It stuck firmly to his chest.

Maybe a year ago this shirt would've had some breathing room. Rodgers-Cromartie played at a lanky (by NFL standards) 6-2, 190 pounds. Knowing he was about to play in a Giants defense that offered new demands, the cornerback went to work in Florida, redefining his body in preparation for what is going to be required by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Rodgers-Cromartie arrived for the Giants offseason workout program at a career-high 208 pounds. He believes it will help him become a more physical and complete cornerback.

"I know Spags' mentality. He want you to get your hands on people," Rodgers-Cromartie said Monday after an organized team activities workout. "So I had to bulk up a little bit, you know what I mean ... That's the Spags mentality. Every chance you get, in seems in every defense you have an opportunity to [use] press [coverage], he wants you up to press.

"There is definitely going to be a lot more press."

To put Rodgers-Cromartie's new physique into perspective, safety Mykkele Thompson (a fifth-round pick) is 6-0, 193 pounds, 15 pounds less than Rodgers-Cromartie. Former Giants and current Bears safety Antrel Rolle is listed at 6-0, 206 pounds.

Rodgers-Cromartie's inflation wasn't by accident. It was by design.

The biggest difference was he ate more and healthier. His old routine littered with McDonalds was history.

Rodgers-Cromartie went to work at IMG Academy in his hometown of Bradenton, Florida. The results were naturally defined Monday in that suddenly smedium-looking shirt.

The hope is that the muscle and weight brings his game to a new level. His weight is already at an unforeseen level.

"Not this high," Rodgers-Cromartie said of being as high as 208, which he never was during his stops in Arizona, Philadelphia or Denver. "Now you have to bang in the physical part of the game."

Tackling has never been known as Rodgers-Cromartie's strength. His tape showed he's capable but not always willing.

At 29 years old, he's trying to change the perception. And he's excited about what this year holds.

"I would say this defense.....some of the things they do here are things that are a whole lot more conducive things that really plays to our corners that we have skillsets," Rodgers-Cromartie said.

The Giants starting cornerbacks with Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara are expected to be a strength of this team, if healthy. Amukamara is returning from a torn biceps. Rodgers-Cromartie has finally shaken off an IT band problem that affected everything from his back, hamstring, ankle and knee last season.

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The plan when the Giants signed Rodgers-Cromartie last to a five-year, $35 million contract last offseason was to use him as a shutdown corner against the opposition's No. 1 receiver. Rarely healthy and often unable to play an entire game in 2015, the plan was foiled.

This year there is no indication that is the intention. With two quality cornerbacks, the Giants have so far stuck with Rodgers-Cromartie on the left and Amukamara on the right. Neither have been given any indication that will change.

What will be altered is their role in a young secondary that will have two new safeties that never started an NFL game. The soft-spoken Rodgers-Cromartie and fun-loving Amukamara will be forced to lead.

Rodgers-Cromartie, 29, and Trumaine McBride are the elders in the DBs room. Amukamara, 26, isn't far behind in NFL service time.

Rolle (Rodgers-Cromartie's close pal who he still texts with at least a couple times a week) is gone. A big part of why Rodgers-Cromartie landed with the Giants left the Giants as a free agent this offseason.

That was a shock to Rodgers-Cromartie.

"No I didn't [know he'd leave]," he said. " I knew he was in his last year [of his deal] but he came up here and did some good things in his five years so I thought he was going to stay and finish out there.

"But it's OK. It's cool."

The always in-shape Rolle may have already made his mark. The pupil, looking more like his mentor than ever, will have to help fill that void even though he plays a different position.

The added weight and new physique should help, especially in the run game.

Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.