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Things are expected to get real at New York Giants training camp on Tuesday. When they hit the field for their fourth practice of camp, they Giants are scheduled to be in pads for the first time.
It is a day coach Ben McAdoo and his players have been waiting for.
“Look forward to getting the pads back on when we get back on Tuesday and getting their feet underneath them,” McAdoo said after Sunday’s practice. “Fitting the pads in, I know those big guys are looking forward to that. Some of the drills we have planned for them will be exciting.”
Linebacker Devon Kennard was asked Sunday if Tuesday was the “unofficial” start of camp for the defensive players.
"Oh yeah, It is a day I look forward to. We finally get to hit somebody, so it has been a while,” Kennard said. “Absolutely man, you want to be able to put the pads on and the game just changes a little bit. You have to protect yourself and your teammates when you’re not in pads. When you get the shoulder pads on, you are going to see guys get into some collisions and stuff and it’s going to be good.”
Defensive end Olivier Vernon, signed as a free agent to bolster the team’s anemic pass rush, is also ready for the padded work.
“Man, it is always a good feeling to get into pads, shake the rust off and get to put your hands on somebody. There is no better feeling than that,” Vernon said. “Being physical, one thing about this game is you have to be physical. You can’t be out there soft pawing or anything like that, so I think that is the biggest thing come Tuesday, to see who wants to come and play.”
Thud and release
McAdoo said he is looking for “fundamentals, physicality” during Tuesday’s practice. What he is not looking for is full tackling.
“We’re going to have thud tempo,” McAdoo said. “Thud, wrap and release.”
Generally, that means hitting and wrapping up a ball carrier, but not taking him to the ground.
McAdoo said “there’s a possibility” he would OK full tackling at some point in practice. That, however, won’t be on Tuesday.
Will Beckham practice?
The Giants have not said one way or the other whether or not Odell Beckham Jr. will practice Tuesday after being cleated on Sunday and leaving practice early. McAdoo said after Sunday’s practice that Beckham is “probably going to be sore for a couple of days.”
The guess here is that the Giants hold Beckham for a day or two. No reason to take any chances with the superstar wide receiver.
ESPN is reporting that Beckham was “extremely sore” on Monday and is “likely to miss practice.”
In case you missed it
- McAdoo making his mark on Giants
- NFL officially announces hiring of Tom Coughlin
- Reese believes he has assembled a good team
Public practices
Tuesday, August 2, 10:40 a.m.
Thursday, August 4, 10:40 a.m.
Friday, August 5, 10:40 a.m.
Saturday, August 6, 10:40 a.m.
Monday, August 8, 11:10 a.m.
Tuesday, August 9, 10:40 a.m.
Wednesday, August 10, 10:40 a.m.
Sunday, August 14, 11:10 a.m.