Giants Training Camp 2014: Day 5 practice report

The New York Giants practiced in full pads Sunday for the first time in this training camp, and there were a few solid hits.

Fullback Henry Hynoski had a pair of crunching blocks, one on linebacker Devon Kennard and one on linebacker Dan Fox.

Not to be outdone, fullback John Conner laid a big hit on linebacker Justin Anderson.

Kennard had a big hit on running back David Wilson. Kennard had at least part of a would-be sack of Ryan Nassib, blitzing off the edge to flush the quarterback from the pocket.

Injury Update

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. did not participate in any of the receiving drills or the team drills. Beckham fielded a few punts but did no running as he still has not been cleared by the training staff following the latest setback with his hamstring.

"When they (the training staff) feel he can go and not risk recurring injury they will let him go," said Tom Coughlin. The head coach also admitted he is "more than disappointed" that Beckham has not practiced since the first day of training camp.

Undrafted free agent tight end Xavier Grimble has missed a couple of days of practice with a hamstring strain of his own.

Wide receiver/kick returner Trindon Holliday did no work with receivers on Sunday after suffering some type of leg injury while fielding punts.

Coughlin Corner

Asked about the progress of the team's new offense, the coach said it was "two steps forward, one step back."

"We have some time," Coughlin said. "Some parts today were very good. It takes time, we've got a lot of people working together for the first time."

Practice Notes

The Giants ran the entire no-huddle portion of practice (15 plays) in '11' personnel -- three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back. The offense was actually pretty efficient during this stretch.

Josh Brown, after having a terrific 2013 season, is facing competition from Brandon McManus for the placekicking job. Brown spent a long time Sunday morning talking to the media about the competition, and seemed to be trying to make a point during practice.

During the Giants' 'halftime' practice break, Brown stayed on the field and went 6-for-6 in field goals, the last two from roughly 50 yards (we couldn't see exact yardage). Later, Brown went 3-for-4 in the regular field-goal drill, and when he missed from 40+ yards on his last kick let out a loud expletive.

1-on-1 Drills

One of the more entertaining portions of training camp practices comes when the Giants have receivers go 1-on-1, which they did Sunday. Here are some of the highlights:

-- Walter Thurmond knocked away a deep ball from Eli Manning to Victor Cruz on the first play of the session.

-- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie followed by slapping away a sideline pass for Reuben Randl.

-- Undrafted free agent Corey Washington beat Charles James deep, but was overthrown by Ryan Nassib.

-- Jerrel Jernigan beat Walter Thurmond deep and hauled in a Nassib pass.

-- Washington made a beautiful double move on Jayron Hosley to haul in a Nassib pass of about 15 yards.

7-on-7

This drill was a mixed bag for Nassib, the second-year quarterback. He made some great throws, missed a couple of open receivers and had one play where he hesitated, pulled the ball down, scrambled to his left (without a pass rush) and underthrew Adrien Robinson while running. Here are a few individual plays from this portion of practice:

-- Wide receiver Preston Parker beat Prince Amukamara down the left sideline to catch a deep throw from Manning.

-- Nassib completed a well-thrown seam pass to tight end Daniel Fells just over the outstretched arm of Kennard. This was Fells' day to shine in the tight end competition as he made several catches.

-- Linebacker Dan Fox stepped in the passing lane to bat down a slant pass from Curtis Painter to Julian Talley.

-- Washington beat C.J. Barnett to catch a quick in from Painter. Washington, the 6-foot-4 undrafted free agent from Division II Newberry College, is acquitting himself quite well. I had a chance to chat with Washington Sunday morning, and more about Washington will be forthcoming.

11-on-11

By my count, the Giants ran 26 plays during the final 11-on-11 session of Sunday's practice. Seventeen of those plays came in '11' personnel. Again, that is three wide receivers, one running back, one tight end.

-- Manning completed a nice checkdown pass to running back Rashad Jennings.

-- Mario Manningham and Adrien Robinson both had drops during this session.

-- Kennard blitzed and flushed Nassib from the pocket on one play, getting a would-be sack.

-- This was the portion of practice where Hynoski and Conner each laid big hits while leading the way for running backs.

-- Lineup notes: Will Beatty took first-team reps at left tackle and Brandon Mosley did all the first-team work at right guard. John Jerry took second-team snaps at right guard. Second-year man Eric Herman did some work with the third group at center, something he did not do a year ago.