Friday Press Conference: Coach Ben McAdoo

Q: Was the plan to go short today or is that just because of the weather and being inside?

A: It was a quick one. We were on and off today to get the cob webs out a little bit.

Q: How is Victor Cruz?

A: How is Victor? That’s probably a good question for Victor. He looked fine out here running routes. He got some good individual work in and was sharp on his assignments. He looked good.

Q: Did he do everything that you guys asked him to do or everything that everybody else did today?

A: Yes, he practiced full today.

Q: What’s the plan with him going forward in regards to that?

A: He’s going to practice.

Q: Why is Olivier Vernon outside running extra sprints? Anything wrong with him out there?

A: I think he likes to work.

Q: Is Victor going to be full speed ahead now or are you going to monitor him?

A: Yes, Victor is in the flow of practice. Like all of our players, we’re going to monitor them, but he’s out here practicing and chomping at the bit, ready to go.

Q: Did everyone come out of practice healthy?

A: As far as I know. I haven’t had the chance to walk in the training room yet, but it looks like we got through fairly clean.

Q: How do you feel on your first day as the head coach of the Giants taking over from the Coughlin regime?

A: You’re about six months late, but it feels good, focused.

Q: Are you guys going to make any roster moves today? I know you’ve had a couple of tryouts.

A: Never say never. We’re kicking the tires on a couple guys. We brought a couple guys in, but we do that routinely.

Q: Most of them defensive linemen at this point because of the guys on the PUP list?

A: Today were defensive linemen, yes, but we’ll have a regular group of guys coming through here.

Q: Is there anything new with Snacks a day later? It didn’t seem like it was that serious yesterday. Do you still feel that way?

A: Nothing new to report.

Q: What are your thoughts about your receiving corps, having Shepard now and Cruz with the potential of him being at full strength?

A: We just have to have to get the quarterbacks and the receivers on the same page and get the timing and the chemistry going. They’ve spent some time apart, so it’s good to have them all back together and count on them making small steps and getting a little bit better each day and getting on the same page but, again, chemistry is the key and I look forward to developing that chemistry. Re: turf vs. grass

A: Yeah, we’re comfortable both on grass and on turf. Wherever we’re playing, we are good to go. We’ll play in the parking lot if we have to.

Q: At safety, do you consider the spot opposite Collins Thompson’s to lose?

A: He was out there running with the first group today. We’re going to give a bunch of guys some opportunities, but the preseason games will really determine who’s going to start there Week One.

Q: What is your biggest goal for the training camp in terms of success? How would you rate it looking for the biggest thing this training camp?

A: The biggest thing for us is that we need to build an identity. We need to be sound, smart and tough and committed to discipline and poise. We started that today, but we need to build our team up to get there. You can’t get there on one day. It’s a process and a development and it takes time to get it done.

Q: How do you view middle linebacker at the start of training camp?

A: We have some veteran guys and some young guys that are in the mix right now. Jasper (Brinkley) is a guy that played a lot there for us last year, but he has some competition. It’ll be interesting to see how it unfolds.

Q: Do you view B.J. Goodson as a guy who primarily or ideally is a middle linebacker?

A: He’s a young guy that has a chance to get some reps and improve his game and be in the mix for the position.

Q: Have you given any more thought as to who is going to call the plays offensively?

A: Every day.

Q: Is it going to be you or is it going to be Mike Sullivan?

A: We’re going to work through that.

Q: With the three receivers we keep peppering you about in Odell, Victor and Sterling, you’ve made a point of saying you like the guys to be versatile and to move them all over the place. Do you view that as you can put any of the three guys in any of your spots and that not one guy has to be a slot guy?

A: Absolutely. All three guys need to learn all three spots out there. Four spots, if we play with four. Five, if we play with five. They need to learn concepts. It’s not just about learning one position. In a no-huddle, for example, you have to learn Z and X outside and with the motion they could be 1, 2 or 3, the final 1, 2 or 3 at the snap of the ball, so they need to learn concepts. That’s the best way to learn the offense.

Q: Ben, you’ve turned the third quarterback spot over a couple of times. What was it about Logan Thomas that made you decide to bring him in?

A: He’s a young man that has played some football in this league. We feel that he has a high ceiling, some good arm strength to him. He’s a big man and a smart man. It’ll be interesting to see and we’re excited to work with him and try to bring out his natural athleticism.

Q: So you might consider carrying three to keep him?

A: It’s early, but never say never.

Q: With Victor, he hasn’t really practiced in almost a year, does he just go back and work with the first team or does he sort of have to work his way back up to that in your mind?

A: The way we do it is that one’s and two’s will work together and two’s and three’s will work together. He’ll work in with the one’s and the two’s. He won’t work with the three’s, but he’s not just going to be in there with Eli all the time.

Q: What’s the one thing you want to see most from camp?

A: A physical, heavy-handed football team. Coming out physical, heavy-handed, focused and ready to go to Dallas.

Q: Ben, you’ve been on the field a bunch of times in the spring, but was there anything different today for you?

A: No. It’s practice.