EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ben McAdoo is known to alter his routine. Usually it’s planned though, like when he switched offensive and defensive coaches during meetings last week.
Making players run laps as penalty for sloppy play for the first time (at least in practices open to the media) since becoming the New York Giants head coach wasn’t in his Tuesday plans. Yet it happened during the final day of “training camp.”
Quarterback Geno Smith and running back Wayne Gallman were sent for a lap after two fumbles in the same drill. The first McAdoo put on Smith, who apparently came out of the center-quarterback exchange early.
The backup quarterback was pulled for a snap, which is the standard punishment at Giants practice for fumbles or pre-snap penalties. Except when it happens again (on the play after Smith returned) that’s apparently when the rules change.
“The ball was on the ground way too much [Tuesday],” McAdoo said. “We needed an opportunity to gain our composure. So I gave a couple players an opportunity to gain their composure.”
That capped an up-and-down day for the Giants, who spent the second half of practice working in the rain. However, it had not yet rained when the fumbles occurred.
McAdoo didn’t want to hear about it being the middle of summer or the third week of a long camp.
"We could use that as an excuse. But we won’t," he said. "It’s sloppy."
The Giants completed their third straight day of practice Wednesday. After staying in a hotel for almost three weeks, veterans return home for good Tuesday night to sleep in their own beds. The younger players on the roster have to remain at the hotel for another week or so.
The Giants don't practice on Wednesday. Players will return to the field Thursday and Friday before they play three preseason games in 11 days.
“This week is going to be our most challenging week,” McAdoo said. “We have three games in 11 days coming up. We need to make sure we make the most out of this week right here. That is by design. We’re going to be a little heavy-legged and we're going to be sore. We’re going to build callouses. When we get our legs back it’s going to lead to great things for us. But we’re not going to get them back any time soon."
The Giants open the season on Sept. 10 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Other practice notables:
It was Aldrick Rosas' day to kick field goals at practice. He made all four of his attempts, with the longest being from 47 yards.
Rookie wide receiver Jerome Lane had another strong practice. He has come on after a slow start to camp. His size (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) and strength are notable.
With injuries piling up at the linebacker position, Curtis Grant and Calvin Munson received plenty of snaps with the first-team defense. They made their presence felt and have emerged as dark-horse candidates to make the final roster. Munson flashed with a tackle in the backfield during a goal-line running play. Grant had solid coverage in the flat as he knocked down a pass during the same drill.
Tight end Jerell Adams has played well of late. He looked solid blocking again on Tuesday. It’s becoming hard to imagine a final 53-man roster without him on it.
Fullback Shane Smith delivered a crushing block in the hole on a running play during live team drills. He definitely brings a unique skill set to the table, one the Giants didn’t have last year. He plays and blocks with good leverage.
