Newhouse remains in right spot
Marshall Newhouse started 14 games for the Giants last season. By now, many observers figured there would be a new right tackle on the scene, but there is not. On Monday, Newhouse again lined up with the starters during another Organized Team Activity practice.
“I’m going into my seventh year, so I feel like I am fooling someone really well if I am going into my seventh year and I still can’t play,’’ Newhouse deadpanned. “There is not anything that throws me off or blows me away anymore after this many years kind of seeing things.’’
Newhouse, 27, started a combined 29 games in 2011 and 2012 at left tackle for the Packers, and was thought to be a reserve at both tackle spots when the Giants signed him prior to last season. He is stronger as a pass protector than he is as a run blocker, and he was forced onto the field in 2015 after Will Beatty was lost for the season and rookie Ereck Flowers was installed at left tackle.
Last week, left guard Justin Pugh gave an impassioned defense of Newhouse and right guard John Jerry, another starter under the microscope.
“I mean, that is who Justin is, he is a loyal guy and a friend,’’ Newhouse said. “He sees day in and day out the type of work we put in and what we go through and the offensive line. Usually, [we] have to be our own best advocates because from the outside, there aren’t a lot of people who are going to stand up for ourselves if we don’t do it ourselves.’’
With a full year as a starter under his belt and the arrival of several big-ticket additions, safety Landon Collins sees big things for 2016. “The defense is going to be way better than last year,’’ said Collins, who started all 16 games as a rookie. Rookie safety Darian Thompagain showed his nose for the ball when he ended the first twominute drill by intercepting Eli
Manning. The pass glanced off the fingers of Odell Beckham Jr., and Thompson, a third-round pick from Boise State, came up with the ball.
“He picked the ball off and then took a knee,’’ coach Ben McAdoo said. “He had enough awareness to know that the game was over at that point in time with the offense only having one timeout and under 50 seconds. He showed good awareness there.’’