Tom Coughlin said “I don’t have any issues right now’’ with the state of his offense and characterized the running game in Thursday’s training camp practice as “a little sharper’’ than some recent sessions. Given the uneven performances of Eli Manning and the new offense, it shows Coughlin isn’t expecting too much too soon.
“I think we’ve thrown an awful lot at them, we’re probably not quite halfway through all the installations so there’s a lot spinning,’’ Coughlin said. “We’ve got to find out what our people can do and then gauge what we’re doing according to our personnel.’’
The Giants’ offense did not go out with a bang when on the last play of the day, Manning’s pass was deflected up into the air by linebacker Jacquian Williams storming in on a blitz. As Williams was then leveled by right tackle Justin Pugh, the ball floated into the air and linebacker Jameel McClain hauled it in for a pick-six.
So it goes for the Giants and their new offense, showing small signs of improvement but not close to clicking just yet. The familiarity is gone, replaced by a new West Coast system imported from first-year offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.
The newness shows.
Impressive that RB Rashad Jennings had this John Wooden quote ready to roll, saying he lives by it: “When an opportunity presents itself it’s too late to prepare for it.’’
It was a rough afternoon from a physical standpoint. DE Robert Ayers was forced out when he got caught in a pile and rolled up his ankle. Rookie CB Brandon Jackson, in coverage during a one-on-one drill, got tangled with WR Corey Wash ington and had to be helped off the field. Coughlin said Jackson will have an X-ray of his ankle and Washington left with a heel issue. LT Will Beatty walked off the field before practice ended, feeling ill. DT Mike Patterson (shoulder) and John Jerry (knee) did not practice and LB Spencer Paysinger also sat out because of a concussion.
This was the best showing of the summer so far for WR Mario Manningham, who is slowly rounding into form following knee surgery. Manningham hasn’t shown the elusiveness he did the first time around, but he’s getting closer. His best moment was a soaring one-handed grab on the left sideline against CB T rumaine McBride.
CB Charles James jumped a route run by Manningham and came away with an interception of Ryan Nassib. Expect Nassib to get plenty of work in the preseason games. “I expect he’ll have plenty of playing time, take full advantage of it and prove to the world what he can do,’’ Coughlin said. Asked how different Nassib looks in year No. 2 than a year ago when he was a rookie, Coughlin added “Last year he was trying to find the door to the field.’’