Two steps forward, one step back. That’s Tom Coughln’s analysis of the Giants’ new-look offense through five days of practices.
The aerial attack looked to be in a rhythm when Eli Manning was out there, hitting on several short passes in the new up-tempo West Coast system offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo brought over from Green Bay, Manning and Victor Cruz connected several times in 11-on-11 drills, including a pretty out pattern in which Cruz laid out with a head-long dive. The running game, however, continues to struggle.
“It takes time,” Coughlin said after the team’s first practice in pads. “A lot of people are working for the first time together, too. Hopefully it will come. Some of the throwing drills are good, some are not so good.”
Manning had arguably his best practice yet, making quick reads and connecting on a few deep balls and had plenty of time to throw. Rashad Jennings, brought over from Oakland to boost the ground game, showed glimpses of his shifty ability to turn short passes out of the backfield into big gains — the kind of weapon the Giants have lacked in recent years.
Other practice notables:
- Rookie linebacker Devon Kennard continues to stand out. The rookie fifth-round draft pick out of USC had the first big hit of the day, laying out David Wilson as the running back came across the line of scrimmage and later nearly sacking Ryan Nassib. He played some downs at defensive end.
- Fullback Henry Hynoski had a big day, landing several bone-crushing blocks that reverberated throughout the facility.
- Nassib made some nice throws, but also missed several makable ones, and showed happy feet in the pocket, taking off to run quickly. His finest moment came in 11-on-11 drills, when he hit Marcus Harris up the seam for a long touchdown.
- First-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr. remained out with a hamstring strain. Beckham did field punts and was in pads, but he has yet to be cleared by trainers, Coughlin said. He did get in some work with his best friend — the jugs gun — and wowed fans with a fancy one-handed catch of a punt from the machine during walk-through.
- All the Giants skill position players took turns fielding punts, including Cruz and Wilson.
- The practice drew a training camp-high of 3,552 fans. Manning signing autographs afterward, as part of a promotion, certainly helped the large turnout. The biggest applause throughout the practice were for Cruz, however. On every touch, a loud “Cruuuuz” cheer came from the crowd.
- Rookie tight end Xavier Grimble suffered a slight hamstring strain a few days ago, which remains a problem, and Holliday tweaked “something,” Coughlin said, and had a wrap on his right knee/leg at one point during practice. Neither appears to be serious.
- Wilson fumbled a handoff from Manning, one of several sloppy miscues by Giants skill position players; wide receiver Mario Manningham dropped a pretty toss from Manning on an out pattern; Trindon Holliday muffed a punt; running back Michael Cox dropped a swing pass; and tight end Adrien Robinson dropped a short pass from Manning, the kind of mistake that won’t help him separate himself from the pack.