August 24, 2014 New York Giants Practice Report

Ryan Nassib – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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AUGUST 24, 2014 NEW YORK GIANTS PRACTICE REPORT…
Maybe this was exactly what Ryan Nassib needed, because the quarterback who took the field in this afternoon’s practice was like nothing who took the field before.

After throwing three touchdowns in Friday’s preseason victory over the Jets, Nassib took the practice field with a confidence that was bubbling over. He was moving around in the pocket, taking shots deep down the field, accurate and putting incredible zip on the ball. A near 180-degree difference from the quarterback who was demoted to the third team two weeks ago.

It was a pretty easy and light practice for the Giants today, so the report is a bit lighter. The team returns to the field tomorrow for practice two of three this week.

On to the report…

Peyton Hillis – © USA TODAY Sports Images

THE WALKING WOUNDED
Peyton Hillis (ankle/foot) and Jayron Hosley (foot) returned to practice on Sunday. Trindon Holliday (hamstring) practiced on an individual basis. Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring), Marcus Harris (shoulder), Xavier Grimble (hamstring), Geoff Schwartz (toe), Charles Brown (shoulder), James Brewer (back), Markus Kuhn (ankle), Jon Beason (foot), Prince Amukamara (groin) and Cooper Taylor (foot) did not practice.

Some new faces joined the bike squad as well with undisclosed injuries: Justin Anderson and Emmanuel Dieke did not practice this afternoon. Brandon Mosley missed practice when his back flared up.

SPECIAL TEAMS…
A couple key observations to be made with special teams, including a little bit in terms of the punt returning.

• Giants punt returners were as follows: Rueben Randle, Trindon Holliday and Victor Cruz. Preston Parker did not take any reps with the punt returners. While the group was fielding, he was off on the side with a coverage unit doing some of those drills.

• Parker did however get some work with the kick returning unit, along with Quintin Demps, Michael Cox and Jerrel Jernigan.

HURRY UP OFFENSE…
With Geoff Schwartz sidelined and Mosley out, the Giants offensive line again went into a shuffling process. There’s no timetable on Mosley’s recovery, which certainly doesn’t bode well for an already reeling line.

• The Giants went with the following unit as the team’s ‘starting’ offensive line: LT William Beatty, LG Weston Richburg , C J.D. Walton, RG John Jerry, RT Justin Pugh.

• Eli Manning had a pretty good practice and went to Rueben Randle quite often. The two connected for a long touchdown when Manning went through his initial two reads, rolled out of the pocket and Randle broke off his initial route and went deep. The two connected on a second touchdown in the redzone on a slant. On a second run through of the same drill, Manning hit Randle on a deep in.

• Seriously, I think it was just about getting confidence because Ryan Nassib had a very good practice. He has a little bit of Brett Favre in him with that fast ball that can take someone’s head off. He displays it time and time again. On one play, he rolled out and put the ball on a line to Preston Parker standing right at the sideline on a comeback route.

SEVEN-ON-SEVEN…
As I said before, it was a light practice for the Giants so the highlights were a bit hard to choose from. Overall I’d say it was an average day, but there were still some things to note:

• This was the drill Ryan Nassib completed his deep pass. Off play action, he dropped back and fired one deep down the field. Travis Harvey had beaten his man and Nassib put the ball on the money.

• Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had a near interception of Eli Manning as he jumped one intended for Jerrel Jernigan. Instead of picking it off, it just grazed by his hands and Jernigan leaped into the air (he had run a curl) to make the grab.

Eli Manning and Curtis Painter – © USA TODAY Sports Images

TWO-MINUTE DRILL…
With the fifth preseason game coming up on Thursday, I’d expect the reserves to get the majority of the work in practice. That includes Nassib, who got a few reps with the starters today. Again, I don’t expect Manning to see more than one or two series on Thursday, so this is probably just to prepare Nassib if he gets looks with the starting line.

For the two-minute drill, the Giants put 1:28 on the clock for the third team offense versus third team defense. Curtis Painter trotted the Giants on the field…and off just a few plays later.

1st and 10-
Curtis Painter hits Julian Talley for a first down on an out route.

1st and 10-
Curtis Painter drops the shot gun snap. It was a good snap.

2nd and 14-
Curtis Painter goes to Corey Washington on deep in.

1st and 10-
Curtis Painter goes deep to Corey Washington, intercepted by Ross Weaver.