Here is your Wednesday evening practice report from New York Giants training camp.
- The best news of the evening involves a player who didn't even make a play throughout the entire two-hour session. At least, however, No. 1 pick Hakeem Nicks was back on the field participating fully after sitting out several practices with a tender hamstring. We do not need a Sinorice Moss/Mario Manningham rookie season repeat from Nicks.
- Manningham and Steve Smith did not work out, along with Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, DeAndre Wright and the other usual spectators.
- This was quite possibly the best night for the offense in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills. Eli Manning opened the evening with a long throw to Domenik Hixon over Terrell Thomas that would have gone for an 80-yard touchdown. The offense finished the evening by scoring twice in goal-line situations, once on a nice catch by Kevin Boss and the second time on a hard run off right tackle by Andre Brown.
- Those of you who have screamed from the rooftops for Kevin Gilbride to call more screen passes will be happy to know there were several of those today, in both sessions. Particularly 'bubble' screens to Moss and Hixon, and a couple of screens to Ahmad Bradshaw. The screen should be an effective play for the Giants with the smallish, quick receiving threats they have.
- It's nice to have a veteran backup quarterback, but when you go to sleep tonight please pray that David Carr does not have to play meaningful snaps. He is an adventure running around behind center, and committed the cardinal quarterback sin tonight. Running 11-on-11 backed up against his own end zone he threw a pass over the middle for Lee Vickers that was intercepted at the 10-yard line by Chase Blackburn. It was a great read, and a terrific leaping catch by Blackburn, but a ball that a veteran quarterback simply can't throw. Ugh!!
- It seemed like pick on Kevin Dockery night. I would give you details, but I lost count of the number of times the offense attacked Dockery, playing right cornerback, successfully.
- Cancel that Ramses Barden Hall of Fame bust. He had a pass bounce off his hands tonight that was picked off by Stoney Woodson. In fairness, that might be Barden's first drop of camp.
- Always tough to judge running backs during these drills, but Danny Ware made a couple of nice cutback runs tonight -- including one that drew whoops of joy from his offensive teammates.
That's it for me tonight. I won't be at camp Thursday, but I will have a couple of things for you nonetheless. Here is a little more reading material for you this evening. Night, folks!