Aug 282016
 
Kerry Wynn, New York Giants (August 27, 2016)

Kerry Wynn – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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AUGUST 28, 2016 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY UPDATE…
ESPN is reporting that tight end Matt LaCosse, who has been sidelined since last week with a knee issue, will undergo surgery on his right knee. LaCosse apparently hurt the knee several weeks ago in practice and was trying to play through it. He missed practice this week and did not play against the New York Jets on Saturday. It is not know how long LaCosse will be out. He might end up on season-ending Injured Reserve or short-term Injured Reserve.

The following Giants were injured in the game against the Jets: linebacker Jonathan Casillas (ribs), linebacker B.J. Goodson (concussion), cornerback Leon Hall (concussion), and fullback Nikita Whitlock (foot).

Head Coach Ben McAdoo said the x-rays on Casillas ribs were inconclusive and that he is still undergoing evaluation. McAdoo also said Whitlock has a mid-foot sprain.

McAdoo was also asked about two players who have missed the last two preseason games: left guard Justin Pugh (shoulder) and tight end/fullback Will Johnson.

“Justin is making progress,” said McAdoo. “We expect him back in a limited role this week…There’s nothing really new to report with Will. We’ll know more this week.”

SUNDAY BEN MCADOO CONFERENCE CALL…
New York Giants Head Coach Ben McAdoo addressed the media by conference call on Sunday to discuss the team’s 21-20 preseason win over the New York Jets.

Opening Statement: Alright, I’ll start with a couple things here, what we did well. Defensively, our tackling improved, which limited their YAC. I thought our conditioning from week two to week three in the preseason was on point there. We were impactful with some plays and some situations. Our sudden change was big for us, one out of two there with a turnover. We were backed up with a turnover there, gave us a chance to win the game in the end. The score by Kerry [Wynn] was a huge play for us, it was great to have him back. And then, our short yardage stop on the first series of the second half was a good momentum changer there.

Our offense, we showed a lot of fight in the second half. We kept playing, even though things weren’t ideal and we got stopped down in the green zone there, and we took advantage of a takeaway by the defense and took the lead late in the game. I thought special teams, our punt return unit took a step forward with two explosive returns of 20 plus yards.

Where we need to improve, our third down defense on, you know, third down and long. Offensively, obviously we need to go forward. We need to a better job of going forward. Everything there is correctable. I’m expecting a lot of questions there about the offensive line, but it’s more than just the offensive line. But everything is correctable, we need to work hard to finish, detail our fundamentals, eliminate the penalties and we need to stay ahead of the chains. Special teams-wise, our punt awareness on the first snap wasn’t good enough. Can’t have a blocked punt the way we did, we need to clean that up. Where we go from here, we need to improve in practice this week, it’s a short week of practice and we have to get everything we can out of it to get better.

Q: Coach, you said you expected questions about the offensive line. Do you see things you can do? Do you feel the need to add personnel?

A: I think that everything with the offensive line is correctable. We need to have better effort to finish. Our detail and our fundamentals need to improve and we need to stay out of long yardage situations.

Q: You said it’s more than just the offensive line, what do you mean?

A: I think everybody’s included in the blocking part of things. Our tight ends are also a part of that as well.

Q: In that regard, does Will Tye have to show you a lot more on the blocking and you’ve mentioned several times that he needs to keep his pad level down. Is he one of the guys that you are talking about?

A: Yes, he had a couple of penalties yesterday, we expect Will to play better. He’s still a young player, he’s still a player that’s going to develop. We have faith that he’ll do that, but he needs to play better.

Q: Andre Williams didn’t have a snap in the first half yesterday. Was there a reason for that, as far as the fumble in Buffalo, or you wanted to see more of somebody else? What can you attribute that to?

A: It was a part of the plan, as far as we wanted to take a look at different players and some different situations. You know, it just happened to fall that way.

Q: Where do you stand with your tight ends and fullbacks right now? There’s a report that Matt LaCosse needs surgery on his knee, Will Johnson’s been out for a while, and now Nikita Whitlock has a foot injury from last night.

A: We have a lot of competition at the position. It’s really open at this point in time. We’re giving guys an opportunity to go out there and compete for the positions. Larry has done a nice job for us, he made a nice play for us yesterday. We need to find some guys who can block better for us.

Q: Where is Will Johnson right now, and can he be that guy?

A: Will, there’s nothing really new to report with Will. We’ll know more this week.

Q: Has Bobby Rainey, I know had trouble holding onto the ball in the Miami game, but especially his work on special teams, is he a guy who can make the team? Is he showing you a lot of explosiveness with some of these returns?

A: Absolutely he’s a guy that can make the team. He does contribute as a returner, both kick return and punt return. He does a nice job with that role. He’s a guy that provides some versatility out of the backfield.

Q: What did you see from Eli Apple last night?

A: Eli, jumping back in there after a little time off. He competed, he was physical at the line of scrimmage. He competed down the field, they went after him a little bit on the press man coverage and he didn’t back down, he stepped up. He did a nice job.

Q: When you watch the film were there things that you may have to correct to avoid future penalties for Eli?

A: Eli, we are just going to keep coaching him to be physical, playing the technique the right way, and just keep competing.

Q: With the offensive line is it more an inconsistency with technique or missing assignments?

A: I think we can tighten up our assignments, but it is really the details and the fundamentals. We need to be detailed in what we are doing fundamentally, and then we have to work like heck to finish hard and finish with effort.

Q: Do you like seeing Odell getting frustrated, even though it’s a preseason game, with the fact that the offense isn’t moving the ball?

A: No one is happy with the way the first offense operated yesterday. We need to improve, we need to make sure we are going forward, so we give guys opportunities to showcase their abilities, but frustration doesn’t solve anything. At the same point in time, we need to improve, we need to execute better and we need to play forward. We can’t be going backwards.

Q: Eli said that he thought that, in the context of a preseason game, he didn’t blame Odell Beckham for pulling up on that interception. Since it is a dry run for the regular season, would you rather see a guy go in to make that catch, or do you agree that he is so important that you do not want to see a big hit there?

A: I think the coverage surprised him. It was a post safety defense and the post safety was low and didn’t get much depth, so when the ball was on him and the safety was on him at the same time, I think he was surprised by the safety more than anything.

Q: What did you think when you saw Victor Cruz on tape? What did you think of his performance and how he looked overall?

A: It was good to see him out there. Same thing as I saw last night. He looked confident, looked comfortable, looked like he was excited and I would like to get him more touches.

Q: How was his explosion and speed?

A: The route you saw – saw some explosiveness and saw some change of direction show up when he was down the field. Eli didn’t really have an opportunity to really finish that throw, but Victor got out of a double move and he won, and we had a chance to get him the ball there, but it didn’t work out.

Q: Do you have an update on Jonathan Casillas?

A: He is being evaluated right now for his ribs.

Q: Last night’s X-rays were inconclusive?

A: Correct.

Q: What about Pugh? Is he expected back soon?

A: Justin is making progress. We expect him back in a limited role this week.

Q: Do you have any update on Nikita Whitlock?

A: Nikita Whitlock has a mid-foot sprain.

Q: How important is Justin Pugh to your offensive line? How much of the struggles can you attribute to him not being there?

A: You can’t point any offensive line struggles to one person. The unit has to play well, they have to play well together, and when it is the next man up he has to step in, and they all have to function the same and they have to function well together. You can’t just blame that on one individual.

Q: When you talk about the offensive line as a unit, do you feel you have the right five guys as your starters?

A: I feel very confident that we are going to get the offensive line going in the right direction.

Q: What did you think of Keenan Robinson’s play last night?

A: I thought he stepped in and he flashed admirably. He played hard and made some effort plays.

Q: What is your philosophy on the last week of the preseason? How do you plan to attack it, do you plan to get your starters playing time?

A: First thing is first. We need to jump back out there on the practice field tomorrow and we need to get better right from jump street. We will approach the game and we will talk about the play time for the game as we get closer to the game. That is not something that I am comfortable speaking about right now.

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The Giants return to practice at 11:45AM on Monday.

Aug 102016
 
Mike Sullivan and Eli Manning, New York Giants (July 30, 2016)

Mike Sullivan and Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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AUGUST 10, 2016 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP REPORT…
The New York Giants held their eleventh summer training camp practice on Wednesday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

INJURY REPORT…
New York Giants defensive tackle Jay Bromley (ankle) and linebacker J.T. Thomas (hamstring) remain on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) List.

Wide receiver Victor Cruz (groin), defensive end Kerry Wynn (groin), and linebacker Keenan Robinson (groin) did not practice. “I’m doing good,” Cruz said. “Better.”

PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media sources:

  • For the second day in a row, the first-team wide receivers were Odell Beckham, Geremy Davis, and Sterling Shepard (slot).
  • The defense used a three-safety package in 7-on-7 drills with the first-team including Darian Thompson and Nat Berhe deep with Landon Collins in the box. Another package had Leon Hall and Berhe deep with Collins and Thompson closer to the line.
  • The dime defense had a look with Jason Pierre-Paul and Devon Kennard at defensive end and Olivier Vernon and Owamagbe Odighizuwa at defensive tackle.
  • Kelvin Sheppard and Jasper Brinkley continue to see reps at middle linebacker with the first-team. B.J. Goodson received second-team reps at middle linebacker.
  • In 11-on-11 drills, cornerback Janoris Jenkins broke up a slant pass intended for wide receiver Geremy Davis. Jenkins later almost picked off another pass intended for wide receiver Dwayne Harris and broke up another pass intended for Davis in the end zone. Jenkins had a good practice.
  • Defensive end Stansly Maponga flashed at right defensive end.
  • Quarterback Eli Manning hit wide receiver Odell Beckham for a touchdown against cornerback Eli Apple. Manning and Beckham later hooked up for another touchdown.
  • Defensive tackle Greg Milhouse flashed by collapsing the pocket.
  • Quarterback Ryan Nassib hit tight end Will Johnson for a touchdown.
  • Wide receiver Anthony Dable caught a touchdown against cornerback Matt Smalley.
  • Cornerback Donte Deayon flashed in coverage.
  • Quarterback Logan Thomas was not sharp.
  • Place kicker Josh Brown nailed a 63-yard field goal in practice.

JERRY REESE ON ESPN RADIO
The audio of ESPN Radio’s interview with General Manager Jerry Reese on Wednesday is available at ESPN.com.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
There is no practice on Thursday. The Giants play the Dolphins in the preseason opener on Friday. The twelfth training camp practice will be held on Sunday from 11:10AM – 12:50PM. Weather permitting, this will be the last training camp practice open to the public this year.

Jul 302016
 
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (July 30, 2016)

Sterling Shepard – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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JULY 30, 2016 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP REPORT…
The New York Giants held their second summer training camp practice on Saturday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

INJURY REPORT…
New York Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison (knee swelling), defensive tackle Jay Bromley (ankle), and linebacker J.T. Thomas (hamstring) remain on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) List.

“He’s getting closer,” said Head Coach Ben McAdoo of Thomas.

PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media sources:

  • Wide receivers Odell Beckham, Sterling Shepard, and Victor Cruz all worked with the first-team offense.
  • Will Johnson worked with the tight ends and at H-Back.
  • Adam Gettis practiced at center and Brett Jones at guard. Gettis also saw first-team reps at right guard.
  • On the first play on 7-on-7 drills, linebacker Devon Kennard intercepted an underthrown pass by quarterback Eli Manning.
  • Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie worked at the slot corner position in 7-on-7 drills.
  • Wide receiver Tavarres King beat cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on a slant and then caught a bomb against cornerback Tramain Jacobs from quarterback Ryan Nassib.
  • Tight end Larry Donnell flashed, including a reception down the seam and a diving reception.
  • Quarterback Eli Manning hit wide receiver Geremy Davis for a red zone touchdown.
  • Running back Orleans Darkwa ripped off a long run with the second-team offense.
  • Montori Hughes and Greg Milhouse rotated with each other alongside Johnathan Hankins at defensive tackle with the first unit.
  • Later in practice, the Giants appeared to be rotating Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Janoris Jenkins, and Eli Apple at the outside corner position while Trevin Wade worked more in the slot corner position.
  • During the walkthru portion of practice, Eli Apple was the outside corner with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the slot corner position.

HEAD COACH BEN MCADOO…
The transcript of Ben McAdoo’s press conference on Saturday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available at Giants.com.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The third training camp practice will be held on Sunday from 10:40 AM – 12:30 PM. Only nine remaining training camp practices at Quest Diagnostics Training Center will be open to the public (weather permitting) this year:

  • Sunday, July 31: 10:40 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Tuesday, August 2: 10:40 AM – 12:15 PM
  • Thursday, August 4: 10:40 AM – 12:45 PM
  • Friday, August 5: 10:40 AM – 11:40 AM
  • Saturday, August 6: 10:40 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Monday, August 8: 11:10 AM – 12:40 PM
  • Tuesday, August 9: 10:40 AM – 12:55 PM
  • Wednesday, August 10: 10:40 AM – 12:20 PM
  • Sunday, August 14: 11:10 AM – 12:50 PM
Jun 062016
 
Victor Cruz, New York Giants (June 6, 2016)

Victor Cruz – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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JUNE 6, 2016 NEW YORK GIANTS OTA PRACTICE REPORT…
The Giants held their seventh voluntary organized team activity (OTA) practice on Monday. No live contact is permitted during OTAs, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.

The three remaining OTA practices will be held this week on June 7 and June 9-10. The Giants will hold a mandatory, full-team mini-camp on June 14-16.

INJURY REPORT AND ABSENTEES…
As previously reported, safety Cooper Taylor had surgery in May repair a sports hernia injury and will be out until training camp begins on July 28. Continuing to work on the side were wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf) and running back Orleans Darkwa (leg).

Not in attendance at the voluntary practice were wide receiver Dwayne Harris, defensive end Olivier Vernon, defensive end Kerry Wynn, and defensive tackle Damon Harrison.

PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media sources:

  • Wide receiver Sterling Shepard received first-team reps in the slot. Odell Beckham, Jr. and Geremy Davis started at wide receiver outside. Shepard made an impressive finger-tip catch.
  • Wide receiver Myles White caught a deep pass from quarterback Ryan Nassib.
  • Tight end Matt LaCosse continues to receive some first-team reps.
  • Owamagbe Odighizuwa received first-team reps at defensive end.
  • First-team secondary included cornerback Eli Apple and free safety Darian Thompson. Thompson intercepted a quarterback Eli Manning slant pass off of the finger tips of Beckham.
  • Cornerback Trevin Wade continues to see first-team reps as the slot corner.
  • Cornerback Donte Deayon intercepted a tipped pass from quarterback Ryan Nassib and returned the pick for a touchdown.
  • Safety Nat Berhe broke up a pass.

HEAD COACH BEN MCADOO…
The transcript of Ben McAdoo’s press conference on Monday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available at Giants.com.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

ARTICLES…

Jun 032016
 
Jerell Adams, New York Giants (May 6, 2016)

Jerell Adams – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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JUNE 2-3, 2016 NEW YORK GIANTS OTA PRACTICES…
The Giants held their fifth and sixth voluntary organized team activity (OTA) practices on Thursday and Friday. The media was not granted access to these practices. No live contact is permitted during OTAs, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.

Giants.com identified “5 things we learned” and “standout players” from the two practices:

The four remaining OTA practices will be held June 6-7 and June 9-10. The Giants will hold a mandatory, full-team mini-camp on June 14-16.

ARTICLES…

Dec 252015
 
Markus Kuhn, New York Giants (December 28, 2014)

Markus Kuhn – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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GIANTS SIGN MATT LACOSSE AND BRAD BARS TO 53-MAN ROSTER…
The New York Giants have placed defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee) and linebacker James Morris (quad) on season-ending Injured Reserve. To fill those roster vacancies on the 53-man roster, the Giants have signed tight end Matt LaCosse and defensive end Brad Bars from the team’s Practice Squad. The Giants now have 17 players on season-ending Injured Reserve.

LaCosse was originally signed by the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2015 NFL Draft. The Giants waived/injured him in early August with a hamstring injury. He then spent some time with the Jets before being waived before the season started. The Giants signed him to the Practice Squad in November. LaCosse is a versatile player who has played tight end, H-Back, and fullback. LaCosse has a good frame, but needs to add bulk and get stronger. He does not get much movement as a blocker, but he works at it. LaCosse has good speed and catches the football well.

Bars was signed as a rookie free agent by the Giants in August 2015 and signed to the Practice Squad in September. Bars missed the entire 2013 season at Penn State after tearing his Achilles’ tendon. He played in all 13 games in 2014 but was only credited with 10 tackles. Bars lacks ideal size for the position, but he is a decent athlete who plays hard.

NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
LB Devon Kennard (foot) and S Cooper Taylor (concussion) have officially been ruled out of Sunday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

WR Dwayne Harris (shoulder) is “questionable” for the game.

LT Ereck Flowers (illness), RB Orleans Darkwa (illness) and DE George Selvie (concussion) are “probable” for the game.

GIANTS.COM Q&A WITH TOM COUGHLIN…
The transcript of a Giants.com Q&A session with Head Coach Tom Coughlin is available at Giants.com.

ARTICLES…

Nov 032015
 
Prince Amukamara, New York Giants (October 4, 2015)

Prince Amukamara – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY UPDATE…
ESPN.com is reporting that Monday MRI results on cornerback Prince Amukamara’s pectoral muscle were encouraging. There is a possibility that he could play on Sunday depending on how well he practices this week. Amukamara has missed three games since suffering the injury against the San Francisco 49ers on October 11.

The New York Daily News is reporting that running back Orleans Darkwa suffered a badly bruised tailbone in Sunday’s loss against the New Orleans Saints. He may not be able to practice on Wednesday but he is hopeful that he can play on Sunday.

The Daily News is also reporting that the neck injury suffered by tight end Larry Donnell in the game against the New Orleans Saints is not considered serious. He also underwent an MRI on Monday. Donnell still has some soreness in the neck however.

GIANTS SIGN MATT LaCOSSE TO PRACTICE SQUAD…
The New York Giants have signed tight end Matt LaCosse to the Practice Squad. LaCosse was originally signed by the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2015 NFL Draft. The Giants waived/injured him on August 1st with a hamstring injury. He then spent some time with the Jets before being waived before the season started. Because he was waived/injured, the Giants had to wait until after Week 8 to re-sign him.

LaCosse is a versatile player who has played tight end, H-Back, and fullback. LaCosse has a good frame, but needs to add bulk and get stronger. He does not get much movement as a blocker, but he works at it. LaCosse has good speed and catches the football well.

The Giants had a Practice Squad vacancy due to the promotion of linebacker James Morris to the 53-man roster from the Practice Squad late last week.

NFL TRADE DEADLINE PASSES…
The NFL trade deadline passed at 4:00PM EST with no moves being made by the New York Giants and most of the rest of the NFL.

TRYOUT TUESDAY…
As is usually the case, the Giants worked out a number of street free agents on Tuesday. Those reportedly working out for the team included tight ends James Casey, Adrien Robinson, and Matt LaCosse. The team signed LaCosse.

ELI MANNING ON WFAN
The audio of Monday’s WFAN Radio interview with quarterback Eli Manning is available on CBS New York’s website.

RASHAD JENNINGS ON WFAN AND ESPN RADIO
The audio of Tuesday’s WFAN Radio interview with running back Rashad Jenning’s is available on CBS New York’s website. In addition, the audio of Tuesday’s ESPN Radio interview with Jennings is available on ESPN.com.

GIANTS-SAINTS: SIGHTS AND SOUNDS…
A sights and sounds video from the Giants’ 52-49 loss to the New Orleans Saints is now available at Giants.com.

NOTES…
The Giants and Saints combined for 1,024 yards (608 by the Saints and 416 by Giants), the second-most ever in a Giants game. The record of 1,042 yards was set on November 28, 2011, in the previous game the Giants played in the Superdome. The 834 combined passing yards were the highest total ever in a Giants game.

The Giants and Saints combined for 63 first downs, which is the second-highest total in NFL history. Seattle and Kansas City set the mark with 64 first downs in 2002.

The winning team in the last four Giants-Saints games scored 48, 49, 52, and 52 points. It is the first time in NFL history two teams played four consecutive games in which the winner scored at least 48 points in each of them.

In the Giants last four visits to the Superdome, the Giants have allowed 45, 48, 49, and 52 points to become the first team ever to give up at least 45 points in the same stadium in four consecutive visits.

In Tom Coughlin’s 12 seasons and 195 games (including playoffs) as head coach, the Giants have allowed 48 or more points three times – each time in New Orleans.

The Saints scored 10 points in the game’s final 36 seconds. It is the first time since the 1970 merger the Giants allowed 10 points in the final 36 seconds of a game.

QB Drew Brees completed 18 consecutive passes on Sunday, which ties the longest single-game streak against the Giants. Jim Everett of the Los Angeles Rams had a streak of 18 in a row on November 12, 1989.

The Giants lead the NFL with a plus-11 turnover differential, their highest differential since they finished the 2012 season at plus-14.

The Giants have scored 215 points this season – 108 in the first half, and 107 in the second half.

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players return to practice on Wednesday to start preparing for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Aug 022015
 
Geremy Davis and Jayron Hosley, New York Giants (July 31, 2015)

Geremy Davis and Jayron Hosley – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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AUGUST 1, 2015 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP REPORT…
The New York Giants held their second summer training camp practice on Saturday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The full training camp schedule is available at Giants.com.

JAMES JONES OFFICIALLY SIGNED, MATT LaCOSSE AND BRAD HARRAH WAIVED…
The Giants have officially announced the signing of unrestricted free agent wide receiver James Jones.  Jones will wear #89. The Giants have waived/injured tight end Matt LaCosse (hamstring) and defensive end Brad Harrah (quad).

INJURY REPORT AND ABSENTEES…
Offensive tackle Will Beatty (PUP – recovering from pectoral surgery) did not practice.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham (hamstring), wide receiver Victor Cruz (recovering from knee surgery), safety Nat Berhe (calf), and safety Mykkele Thompson (hamstring) were held to a limited number of snaps. The Giants want to work them back in slowly. Offensive guard John Jerry (sick) was limited.

Tight end Jerome Cunningham and wide receiver Preston Parker had to leave practice early with cramps.

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (hand/arm) still has not signed his 1-year Franchise tender and has not reported to training camp.

PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media sources:

  • Quarterback Eli Manning hit tight end Jerome Cunningham (now wearing #86) for a touchdown.
  • Owamagbe Odighizuwa saw some first-team reps at defensive end with Robert Ayers.
  • The defense performed well on Saturday with cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, safety Landon Collins, and safety Bennett Jackson each making a couple of pass break-ups.
  • Tight end Adrien Robinson made a nice catch.
  • Safety Nat Berhe saw some time with the second-team defense.
  • Cornerback Jayron Hosley had a good practice.
  • Wide receiver Geremy Davis made another nice reception and has looked good early.
  • Running back Andre Williams has looked quicker than last year and has received some first-team reps in practice.

HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN…
Tom Coughlin addressed the media after the afternoon practice (video is available at Giants.com):

Q: Did you get word on what happened to Preston Parker yet?

A: Cramp.

Q: I just saw Jerome Cunningham go off on a cart…

A: Cramp.

Q: Are you going to be in some kind of pads tomorrow?

A: Uppers, yes.

Q: You had two guys with cramps here, a guy with a hamstring injury. Does that concern you? You wanted guys to arrive in shape.

A: They’re in shape. Evidently, they didn’t hydrate well enough. One guy had had the runs, one of those deals. So, try as you might, you’re still going to get these things. No matter who you try to blame, it’s going to happen. It’s 90 degrees.

Q: Has Cunningham shown you a little bit?

A: Yesterday he did well. I didn’t think too many people on offense showed me anything today. He did a few good things yesterday.

Q: We hear a lot of the players saying “be where your feet are.” Where does that come from?

A: Mindfulness. Mindfulness. If you’re going to be in the gym, be in the gym. Be where your feet are. Stay in the moment. Take care of one moment at a time. While you’re here, you deal with your football, deal with your job. It’s all the same type of theme.

Q: Who came up with that? Where was it discovered?

A: Well, we studied it this offseason as a staff. We’ve always had lots of statements about things of that nature. It’s just been reinforced more heavily, to the point where the guys are repeating it.

Q: Did James Jones come in as advertised?

A: Yes. Seemed like he was in good shape. Took some snaps today.

Q: Do you think he will acclimate more quickly. He thinks the offense is very similar to Green Bay.

A: The terminology, yes.

Q: Is his ability to do things in the red zone something that you liked?

A: Well, we’ll see. Hopefully it’s that, and in the field as well. It doesn’t have to be just the red zone.

Q: What have you seen from Ereck Flowers and Landon Collins? The two rookies starting right from the get-go.

A: I haven’t seen anything particularly good or bad just yet. It’s very early. They’re both working hard.

Q: Any word from JPP yet?

A: Not to my knowledge, no.

Q: Is Larry Donnell over the Achilles tendinitis from the spring?

A: He’s practiced and he’s done well with that.

Q: I haven’t seen John Jerry that much. Does he have something?

A: He was sick yesterday, and kind of sick today but he kept going. He took some reps today.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
The following transcripts and video clips of player media Q&As are available at BigBlueInteractive.com and Giants.com:

RELATED ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The third training camp practice will be held on Sunday from 2:30-4:30PM. For a complete listing of training camp practices as well as a handy fan Q&A about training camp, see our Training Camp section of the website. Only seven remaining training camp practices at Quest Diagnostics Training Center will be open to the public this year:

  • Sunday, August 2: 2:30 – 4:30PM
  • Monday, August 3: 2:30 – 4:30PM
  • Thursday, August 6: 2:30 – 4:30PM
  • Sunday, August 16: 5:50 – 7:50PM
  • Wednesday, August 19: 5:50 – 7:50PM
  • Thursday, August 20: 5:50 – 7:50PM
  • Tuesday, August 25: 2:30 – 4:30PM
Jul 132015
 
Adrien Robinson, New York Giants (June 16, 2015)

Tight End Adrien Robinson – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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With New York Giants training camp beginning in late July, BigBlueInteractive.com breaks down each of the team’s positional groups until the players report at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL BREAKDOWNS HERE

POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN: Tight Ends

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW: As the New York Giants entered training camp in July 2014, the tight end position appeared to be a pending disaster. The Giants had parted ways with the disappointing Brandon Myers and jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none Bear Pascoe. The only returning players were Larry Donnell (16 games, 3 catches in his two NFL seasons) and Adrien Robinson (3 games, no catches in his two seasons), both of whom had demonstrated very little to date. The Giants had added Kellen Davis (unrestricted free agent from the Seahawks), Daniel Fells (who was out of football in 2013), and Xavier Grimble (undrafted rookie free agent). Late in training camp, the Giants also signed Jerome Cunningham (who was out of football in 2013).

Few predicted correctly that Donnell would win the starting job followed by Fells as the #2 tight end and Robinson as the #3 tight end. Cunningham was also signed to the Practice Squad.

Overall, while the tight end was not a position of strength for the 2014 New York Giants, it certainly was not the mess many had expected. Donnell had a breakout year as a receiver. He finished tied for 9th in the NFL among tight ends in terms of catches (63), 13th in terms of yards (623), and tied for 7th in terms of touchdowns (6). Blocking is not a strength of his game, but Donnell appears to be an ascending player with enough physical talent to get better. Fells proved to be less dynamic, but was more reliable as a blocker. And he did chip in with four touchdowns. Robinson remained buried on the depth chart, but at least he finally saw some playing time and caught his first NFL touchdown pass.

ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: The Giants signed undrafted rookie free agents Matt LaCosse and Will Tye after the 2015 NFL Draft.

TRAINING CAMP STORY LINES: The main focus will be on Larry Donnell and whether or not he can take another major leap forward in his development. He jumped from a career 3-catch target to the NFL’s 9th-leading receiving tight end in one season. But Donnell needs to improve his consistency, blocking, and ball security. The good news is he knows that and has been working hard to improve his overall game. A potential fly in the ointment is that Donnell missed most of the spring work with Achilles tendinitis.

Assuming Donnell gets and stays healthy, the other story line is which tight ends will round out the unit. Fells is the steady but unspectacular leader of the group. Cunningham really flashed as a receiver during spring practices. Robinson also made some noise in the spring and LaCosse and Tye appear to have more talent than your typical rookie free agents.

ON THE BUBBLE: Ideally, the Giants would probably like to carry four tight ends, but three is more likely. Barry injury, the only sure bet is Donnell. Fells, Robinson, Cunningham, LaCosse and Tye are probably fighting for two roster spots.

FROM THE POSITIONAL COACH: Kevin M. Gilbride on Adrien Robinson: “Adrien has made tremendous progress this spring. He’s the one who has made the most progress as far as his understanding and grasping of how to get his job done. He could always tells you what his assignment was, but he didn’t necessarily know how to go about doing it. Or he had been taught how to do it, and then moved onto something else, taught how to do that, and then lost what he had learned. He’s made a lot of progress and it’s showed up more this spring than it ever has before. And I’m not talking about making catches because he could always make catches or get open on a particular route. We’re talking about how to execute when he is working with a tackle on the front side of a zone scheme and when to come off on the backer and the angle to take and where to place his hands and how he should pressure his hands and things like that. He’s made the most progress in that area. It’s good to see because we need him to come around.”

Gilbride on Jerome Cunningham: “What stands out is his effort. He is going to give great effort, no matter what. Whether he knew what he was doing or not, he was going to be going 100 miles per hour, whether he knew what block he was supposed to make or not. He was going to be doing it as well as he could. That gives them a chance. It gives every person who plays this game a chance to be successful, or at least to be noticed as far as staying on the squad in some capacity, which certainly he did. He has carried it over throughout the season and then now through the spring where he has made some good strides.”

Gilbride on Larry Donnell: “It is technique and confidence (with his blocking). Having him miss this offseason was not good for him in that regard. He is going to have to come into training camp and pick up where these other guys have left off in the improvements we have made in that area. We focused on certain things this offseason in the run game. It really started to show towards the end of the spring, which we were happy about. Happy to see. Still have a ways to go overall, but much improved. We were happy with where it went. We just want him to be a part of it.”

Gilbride on Will Tye: “Talented kid. He has very, very soft hands. He can run straight-line very well and for as tall as he plays – because he doesn’t play with great bent knees all the time – he can get in and out of breaks very smooth. What he needs to improve is his quick-twitch and his true effort at the snap to the end of the whistle…It’s not instinctual for him to play fast…He’s got a ways to go as far as learning the offense…He has made too many mental mistakes, but that doesn’t mean he won’t eventually get it. We’ve thrown a lot at all of them.”

Gilbride on LaCosse: “Different skillset. He’s a linear guy, a long-legged guy who can get down the field. Very, very bright. Talk about Will (Tye) making too many mistakes, Matt didn’t make many mistakes, which is impressive. We had him in a role where we moved him around all the time as far as motioning and shifts.”

PREDICTIONS: I like this group of tight ends more than most. If Donnell’s Achilles tendinitis isn’t a problem, I truly think he has the ability to develop into one of the better receiving tight ends in the NFL. He looked like a budding star in his Week 4, three-touchdown performance against the Washington Redskins. Donnell can do it. He has an excellent combination of size (6’6”, 265 pounds), athletic ability, and hands. I love the way he adjusts to the football for a big man. He’s a match-up problem for linebackers. So is Jerome Cunningham, but for different reasons. Cunningham is smaller (6’3”, 250 pounds), but even faster and more athletic. He can be a match-up problem for safeties. There were whispers about him being pretty darn good as a Practice Squad player last year and his performance in the spring was impressive.

What the group seems to be lacking is someone who excels at blocking. Fells is the most consistent and reliable. But he may be pressed by Robinson, provided Robinson finally “gets it” in his fourth year.

I also have a feeling that the Giants are going to like what they see in LaCosse and Tye.

FINAL DEPTH CHART: Donnell remains the starter, but Cunningham is going to press for serious playing time as more of an H-Back type tight end. Ben McAdoo will find a role for him in his TE-centric offense. The difficult decision here for me is Robinson versus Fells. I think Robinson will do enough in camp to convince the Giants to keep their 3-year investment. But if Robinson continues to falter, Fells retains his job and provides leadership. While the Practice Squad may be the most realistic option for both LaCosse and Tye, if one excels at blocking, he has a shot at the 53-man roster.

Jun 262015
 
Odell Beckham Victor Cruz, New York Giants (June 8, 2015)

Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Giants.com Video Player Q&As: Video clips of Giants.com Q&A sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

  • WR Victor Cruz (Video)
  • DT Johnathan Hankins (Video)

Articles on the 2015 New York Giants:

Article on WR Odell Beckham: Odell Beckham insists: ‘No problem with anybody’ on Giants by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Article on the New York Giants Tight Ends: What do the Giants think of young tight end Jerome Cummingham, Will Tye and Matt LaCosse? by Jordan Raanan for NJ.com

Articles on the New York Giants Offensive Line:

Article on DE Jason Pierre-Paul: Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul intent on dropping weight for his contract year by Jordan Raanan for NJ.com

Article on LB J.T. Thomas: How Giants’ linebacker J.T. Thomas got his football education from his ‘toughest critic’ by Nick Powell for NJ.com

Article on New York Giants Cornerbacks: Sizing up the Giants nickel cornerback position after minicamp and the need to be good blitzers by Jordan Raanan for NJ.com

Best of New York Giants Mini-Camp Video: A sights and sounds video of the action from New York Giants mini-camp is available at Giants.com.