Friday was a sweltering day for practice at UAlbany as temperatures reached 89 degrees, and the New York Giants went full pads for the second straight day. Here is today's practice report, which will be limited somewhat by the fact that the media vantage point today was 40 to 50 yards, or more, from the action and blocked by lots of bodies.
Injury Report
Left tackle Will Beatty did not practice as his troublesome back has been flaring up. Coach Tom Cooughlin said Beatty "has been slowing down a little bit." Veteran Sean Locklear took first-team snaps at left tackle. ... Linebacker Jacquian Williams also did not practice. Coughlin indicated Williams should be fine, but was held out by doctors due to some soreness in his hip.
Players Who Impressed
- Will Hill. Again. The undrafted free agent safety continues to be a downhill force against the run and pass playing the "in the box" safety role. If Hill keeps doing this he is going to turn Deon Grant into a retired NFL player.
- Spencer Paysinger. Had a near interception and a tipped ball on the final two plays of practice today, in the two-minute drill. Paysinger, looked at as having a difficult time making the roster when camp began, has been playing the WILL with the first unit with Michael Boley sidelined.
Practice Highlights
Again, these are a bit difficult to do today based on the view that we had, and will probably be somewhat abbreviated.
- A mixed bag today for wide receiver Ramses Barden (yes, him again). Two nice catches early in practice, one on a back-shoulder fade over Prince Amukamara and one on a slant route where he got inside position on Corey Webster. Late in practice, though, Barden could not win a jump ball with Michael Coe on one play and had Mark Herzlich rip a pass out of his hands on another.
- Linebacker Keith Rivers intercepted a pass after a tip by defensive tackle Marvin Austin. The quarterback at the time was David Carr. Austin might also fit into the 'players who impressed' category. He seems to be getting penetration into the backfield, and was a handful during a 1-on-1 blocking drill held right in front of reporters (the only thing we had a good view of all day).
- Chris Horton, playing an excellent center field, was in position to intercept a long pass from Ryan Perriolloux to Brandon Collins but had the ball go right through his hands.
- Rookie tight end Adrien Robinson worked his way behind the defense on a seam route during red zone drills, but dropped a perfect pass from Carr.
- A couple of good lead blocks from Joe Martinek today, including one on a run to the right where he sealed Mathias Kiwanukas as David Wilson skirted around the end.