NFL

Coughlin assures: Deep passing attack is ‘coming’

On the next episode of How the New Giants Offense Turns: The deep passing game.

“I think some of the vertical is in … you haven’t seen the ball down the field very well,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said Sunday about the state of his starting offense. “I certainly think that’s coming.’’

Through two preseason games, Eli Manning is 6-of-9 passing and his longest completion is for a mere 10 yards. It’s been dink and dunk as he and his teammates adjust to first-year offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s new West Coast attack. In only 12 snaps, Manning attempted just two passes in the 20-16 victory over the Steelers on Saturday and did not complete either of them. In seven series, the starting offense has produced two touchdowns — one on the Bills second-team defense and one against the Steelers on Rashad Jennings’ 73-yard run.

“It’s always important,’’ Coughlin said. “That’s what we’re out there for. We practice all week and it’s time to do something about it when you get your opportunity to play on the weekend.

“There’s some good and some bad. Hopefully we’re moving in the right direction towards putting together more good.’’


Sign of progress: Rookie WR Odell Beckham Jr. will participate in individual drills Monday and perhaps a bit more if his hamstring can take the added workload. Beckham hasn’t played in the first two preseason games and has barely practiced in training camp.


The Giants came out of the game almost injury-free. FB John Conner was diagnosed with a concussion, which surprised Coughlin because “his eyes were bright and he was smiling when I left the locker room.’’


Backup QB assessment: Coughlin said “there was some good and some bad’’ from Ryan Nassib, the worst being the lateral he threw that was returned for a Pittsburgh touchdown.

“I was disappointed very much in that,’’ Coughlin said.

Curtis Painter went 7-for-7 and engineered the winning touchdown drive.

“I thought Curtis did a very nice job of distributing the ball and he finished it off with a touchdown, which was very well done,’’ Coughlin said.


Remember all those communication breakdowns last season that played a role in so many of Eli Manning’s NFL-high 27 interceptions? There are some issues this summer that have to be cleaned up. It started with the very first play this past Saturday night on a misfire to Jerrel Jernigan.

“We obviously have some issues with the signal system from the quarterback to the receiver and what the expectation is as far as the receiver adjustments,’’ Coughlin said. “Sometimes it’s called in the huddle and the reaction is what you want and sometimes it’s not. I don’t expect it at all. I’m not saying it’s a big deal, we’re not going down the communication road again like we did last year over and over and over. I would like to see it cleared up and I think it will be.’’


CB Prince Amukamara showed impressive closing speed chasing down rookie Dri Archer, who has been clocked at 4.26 in the 40-yard dash, on a 46-yard catch-and-run screen pass in the first quarter. Sure, Amukamara wanted to save a touchdown, which he did, but he also wanted to show something to his new teammate, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

“I want to see how fast I ran on that play because DRC takes pride on being the fastest guy on the team — I don’t know about that,’’ Amukamara said.

Coughlin praised the kicking game, as Josh Brown and Brandon McManus hit long field goals and combined to put all five kickoffs through the end zone for touchbacks. Steve Weatherford’s net punting average was a robust 47.2 yards.


DE Jason Pierre-Paul had four tackles, one quarterback hit and looked more like himself.

“I thought he played well,’’ Coughlin said. “I thought he really chased the ball and showed the outstanding speed he has.’’