There was a slight problem yesterday at the end of practice: Eli Manning scored too quickly.
A training camp two-minute drill is supposed to last longer than 10 seconds, but this one did not. The clock read 1:14, the ball was placed on the 31-yard line and the objective was for Manning to drive the offense into field goal range.
Manning waited until tight end Brandon Myers found room to run after safety Antrel Rolle, defending against Myers, released him. Was Rolle supposed to get help? Not sure, but Myers was left wide open and Manning hit him in stride. Safety Stevie Brown came over but Myers had already moved well within field goal range, and as he raced into the end zone the offensive erupted and the practice ended.
That’s not the way it’s drawn up. Ideally, Tom Coughlin wants to see a drive so he can evaluate a number of plays. But when the offense gets it done on one play, well, what’s a head coach to do?
“There are two sides to that,’’ Coughlin said. “What is the objective? The objective is to get the ball to a certain point for a field goal. They got it there, so now what am I going to do? Change the objective? Change the game? Change the rules? I don’t usually do that.’’
It was the first real bust-out play from Myers, who caught 79 passes last season for the Raiders. The Giants hope he can be a down-the-field threat, but in the first week of camp his receptions were short and intermediary catches.
“Nice adjustment,’’ Coughlin said. “When [Manning] threw it, he threw it obviously where the defender wasn’t. I thought it was a radical adjustment because of the wind and [Myers] made the catch there. It was good. Better yet though, [Manning] reacted the way he should react as he read the coverage.’’
* Rookie offensive lineman Justin Pugh remains out with the concussion he sustained on Thursday, but he was able to stand outside in the sunshine and watch practice, an indication he is not experiencing any sensitivity to light. “Yeah, he felt a little better,’’ Coughlin said. “He came out and just really observed. Hopefully he will come along.’’ … right guard Chris Snee said he will see a doctor today and if all goes well ,he’s expected to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list and practice tomorrow.
* With the Giants in full pads, there was plenty of 9-on-7 drills designed specifically to work on the running game and the run defense. Rookie defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins looked solid, as he has throughout his first NFL camp. Shaun Rogers and Linval Joseph got first crack lining up at defensive tackle, with Justin Tuck and Cullen Jenkins at defensive end. Jenkins is getting plenty of reps at end. … Dan Connor got work as one of the two linebackers in the nickel package, along with Jacquian Williams as the mixing and matching continues at that position.