Which is just the way Coach Coughlin wants it. After rain most of yesterday, especially in the afternoon, the Giants baked in the heat yesterday morning and the coach wants more. "I hope it gets a little warmer," he said. You can insert your own devilish laugh here.
Manning-to-Toomer worked again to open the 11-on-11 drills, though Toomer caught this one over the middle in a seam between LB Antonio Pierce and CB Corey Webster. The first- and second-unit defenses had some better penetration and coverage this morning; standouts were second-unit WLB Reggie Torbor and second-unit LDE Justin Tuck, who absolutely manhandled rookie OT Guy Whimper on three occasions. Tuck would have appeared to be the odd man out when the Giants drafted Mathias Kiwanuka, but I'm not buying it. Tuck was too good (remember he was stealing snaps from Osi Umenyiora early on last season) in too many roles as a rookie to be shunted aside, and he's already showing in camp how much potential he has.
With the heat came some mental mistakes, and the coaches were ready to holler some, uh, "constructive" criticism. third-unit OG Matthew Lentz jumped offsides in 11-on-11s and Coughlin got his first chance to bellow. "There's a concentration lapse right there! Wake up, Lentz!"
I would pay any amount to hear Coughlin say, "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning."
Tim Lewis has a kinder, gentler tone, and he chided Corey Webster after Harry Williams caught a pass in front of Webster with lots of cushion. "You've got to choke him, right?" Not literally, mind you, but too much cushion was one of Webster's problems (and not his alone) last season.
I'll get in an afternoon update today.
And now... Your Michael Jennings Moment of the Day. I'm hopeful that Dave Pokress' photo essay of MJ's stroll into the cafeteria today can be posted here soon, so you can all see the personality that is "One Five", aka Jennings.
MJ caught his first pass of camp this morning, a nice grab from Rob Johnson. He's moved to the 'Z' receiver spot, which is a challenge for him; he's been the 'X,' the wideout on the line who just zooms down the field, for a long while. "There's a lot of thinking involved, but if I get my reps, I'll be OK," he said.
Two pressing questions through three workouts: Who's been the best player so far? And who (besides MJ) has the nicest ride?
1. "I'd have to say Amani. Ever since I've been here, every practice, every day, he comes in and works hard. He's such a professional."
2. "Michael Strahan. He's got that old-school Bentley. I told him one day I'm going to buy it from him and put my 26-inchers (rims) on it, then it'll look perfect."
The t-shirt today was one of Jennings' first prints -- of him shaking Plaxico Burress' hand after a TD catch against the Rams last season. "I'm bringing a new one up here every day," he said. I can't wait. I mean that. After three hours in the hot sun, I need my Michael Jennings Moment almost as much you do.