New York Giants Mini-Camp Report: Chris Snee out with elbow issue

New York Giants' guard Chris Snee did not practice during the last two OTAs witnessed by the media, with the team claiming that those were simply rest days for the veteran guard as he comes back following offseason hip and elbow surgery. Snee was again missing Tuesday when the Giants held their first practice of this week's mandatory mini-camp, and head coach Tom Coughlin admitted that Snee is not practicing due to a flare-up of his surgically-repaired elbow.

"His elbow is bothering him," Coughlin said after Tuesday's practice. "We're taking it step-by-step.

"The plan is to see if we can get the elbow right so that he feels comfortable and confident."

Snee will not practice during mini-camp. In his place, Brandon Mosley once again took first-team reps at right guard. That was also the case during recent OTAs.

Snee was in the weight room after practice and did speak to reporters in the locker room. He said he dropped to 275 pounds after surgery on his hip and elbow and, while he is now at 300 pounds, wants to add 10 more pounds before training camp.

"I've been training pretty hard," Snee said. "I've been in here since February and I'm just following every order they give me, so I'll do the same for this next month. In past years this would kind of be a month where you relax and make sure your body is ready. But whatever they tell me to do, I'll do."

More Injury Updates

First-round pick Odell Beckham Jr., sidelined for much of OTAs with a hamstring injury, is still not practicing fully. Beckham did individual drills, looked comfortable running and made a nice leaping catch of a high throw from Eli Manning on one route, but did not participate in the 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 portions of practice.

"He was able to go, but whether he could hit that top speed was another question," Coughlin said. "Why take a chance on it right now?"

Running back Peyton Hillis continued to be sidelined by a muscle strain.

Practice Notes

Let's take care of some lineup details first.

• As noted in the earlier post about Jon Beason not needing surgery on his injured foot, Jameel McClain has taken over at the middle linebacker spot. In nickel packages, McClain and Jacquian Williams were the first-team linebackers. In the base defense, rookie Devon Kennard took one of the spots on the outside.
• The offensive line configuration was the same one the Giants have been using recently. It was as follows: Charles Brown (LT), Geoff Schwartz (LG), J.D. Walton (C), Mosley (RG), Justin Pugh (RT).
• It was difficult to learn much of anything in terms of the Giants' plans at fullback or tight end on Tuesday. The Giants rotated tight ends, giving pretty much everyone opportunities to line up with Eli Manning at some point. Fullbacks John Conner and Henry Hynoski barely saw the field, probably because non-contact practices like these include very little work on the running game.
• In special teams drills, Quintin Demps took first-team kickoff return reps. Trindon Holliday was second-team, and Jerrel Jernigan third.

Now for a few practice highlights.

Safety Quintin Demps had a nice pass breakup. Ryan Nassib rolled left and tried to hit tight end Xavier Grimble on a sideline pass, but Demps batted the ball away.

As they did during OTAs, the Giants ran a number of screen passes. One that I'm sure will make fans hopeful Trindon Holliday can find a role in the offense featured a very quick screen to Holliday, who was lined up in the slot and jumped quickly to the outside to find his blocking. The Giants do seem to be experimenting with some ways to get the ball into Holliday's hands on offense.

When the Giants were in nickel defense Mathias Kiwanuka was often being used as a stand-up hybrid DE/LB. He was rushing the passer and not dropping into coverage, just so you don't get all crazy with the 'Kiwanuka being moved back to linebacker' stuff. That's not the case.

There was a mis-communication between cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and safety Stevie Brown that enabled Manning to hit Marcus Harris for an easy touchdown pass over the top. DRC and Brown discussed the play in somewhat animated fashion once it was over.

Practice ended when Antrel Rolle intercepted a Manning pass. Throwing the ball well after he actually would have been sacked by Mathias Kiwanuka in live action, Manning delivered the ball high to Jerrel Jernigan. It glanced off his hands and Rolle made a nice one-handed grab.