CORTLAND – Geno Smith threw his first interception of training camp on Friday, a terribly thrown pass across the middle that was tipped in the air and then picked off by linebacker David Harris.
It was one of Smith’s only blemishes on the day, though. He finished team drills 8-for-10 with the interception and was sacked twice. Michael Vick also went 8-for-10 with a sack and one of his incompletions came on a dropped pass by the receiver.
Smith again received the bulk of the first-team reps, getting 13 to Vick’s 5.
Vick’s arm was on display again. His prettiest throw came on an incompletion, a deep ball to wide receiver Eric Decker, but it was just a bit underthrown and cornerback Dee Milliner got a hand on it to break it up. Even when the throw is not perfect, though, Vick’s passes catch your eye because of how easily he can flick it 40 yards.
For all of the attention the running ability of Vick and Smith get, third-string quarterback Matt Simms had the nicest run of the day when he bounced a play outside and took off around the defense.
New OLB Jason Babin made his practice debut, one day after signing his contract. He played mostly with the second-team defense, though he did get one snap with the starting defense in their sub package.
– Rookie Dexter McDougle and Darrin Walls are the second-team cornerbacks. Jermaine Cunningham was the other second-team outside linebacker with Babin. A.J. Edds and Nick Bellore were at inside linebacker.
– Rookie TE Jace Amaro has a bad case of the dropsies. He dropped a number of passes in Friday’s practice.
– Rex Ryan said he was happy with how rookies WR Shaq Evans and OLB Trevor Reilly bounced back after bad practices Thursday.
– LB Demario Davis had a good day in coverage, an area he struggled in last year. He did drop an interception, though.
– RB Bilal Powell looks great. He showed his versatility with catching passes and running the ball hard. … RB Chris Johnson showed his speed when he tracked down a 35-yard pass down the sideline from Tajh Boyd. He beat safety Rontez Miles on the play, but was ruled out of the back of the end zone by the ref when he made the impressive catch.
– Decker has great hands. He snagged a Smith pass that was thrown way over his head, snatching it out of the air. Decker also returned a punt, but I don’t think you’ll see their prized free agent doing that in the season. Jalen Saunders and Jacoby Ford are the primary punt returners.
– Guards Brian Winters and Oday Aboushi flipped sides with Winters going to the right side and Aboushi left. … WR Stephen Hill threw a nice block on a bubble screen to Jeremy Kerley. … The safeties continue to rotate, with Dawan Landry and rookie Calvin Pryor seeing some time together. … WR Jeremy Kerley looks quicker. … LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson went out for a pass pattern on a fake field goal at the end of practice, but dropped the pass. … LB Tim Fugger (ankle) and DL Zach Thompson (shoulder) both left practice. Ryan seemed concerned about Thompson’s injury …. WR Quincy Enunwa (hip) sat out practice.