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After shedding Jets Green, Ellis is adjusting to life with Big Blue
Tom Coughlin is “sneaky.’’ Sharing a practice field and locker room with Eli Manning injects a “different feeling.’’ Life in the trenches doesn’t deviate much, but moving from Jets green to Giants blue is a drastic change for Kenrick Ellis.
Ellis, 27, is in the midst of his first minicamp with the Giants after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Jets as a reserve defensive tackle for Rex Ryan. Trading Florham Park for East Rutherford has been a breeze for Ellis, in terms of geographic familiarity, and as he acclimates to his new team, he already has spotted several glaring distinctions.
Item No. 1: The quarterback.
“It’s a different feeling, man,’’ Ellis told The Post on Wednesday while sitting by his locker after practice. “I notice in practice having a franchise quarterback of Eli Manning’s caliber is a lot different in practice than when I was with the Jets. Those guys are good quarterbacks, but having a franchise, Super Bowl- winning quarterback, practice is a lot different. The feel of it is a lot different. The way it’s run is different, and it’s a beautiful thing. I really like it.’’
Ellis in his time with the Jets saw Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith start at quarterback and bore witness to the Tim Tebow phenomenon and sideshow. “I never really paid attention to what was going on,’’ Ellis said.
Item No. 2: The head coach. “It’s a lot different,’’ Ellis said. “Coach Coughlin is a military guy, really, really disciplined. Rex was disciplined as well, but it’s just a little different. You walk in the building, you’ll see coach Coughlin anywhere. He’s so sneaky, man, you’ll see him anywhere. It forces you to be on point as far as your demeanor, how you act, everything in the building, it’s real professional.
“The structure here is a lot more intense. You have your schedule, you have to be where you’re supposed to be. They did that too with the Jets, be where you’re supposed to be, on time, but here it’s not regular time, it’s coach Coughlin’s time, which is five minutes early. It was an easy adjustment, you just have to move your clock. I don’t see why people make a big deal, it’s just being accountable for your actions, and I respect that.’’
Not that there’s anything wrong with the Rex Ryan approach.
“Don’t get it twisted, I love Rex,’’ Ellis said.
With the Jets, Ellis lived in the Morristown/ Morris Plains area. In four years, he played in 47 games, making just five starts — not exactly the upward mobility you want from a third- round draft pick. He signed a one- year, $ 1.65 million deal with the Giants, who guaranteed Ellis $ 500,000. He has found a home in the Clifton/ Secaucus area.
There is no secret why the Giants wanted Ellis. They were 30th in the NFL in run defense in 2014, allowing 135.1 yards per game and a leagueworst 4.9 yards per rushing attempt. Ellis is a run- stopper — he has one career sack — and is a big body to plug the interior of the defensive line.
He is not quite as big of a body as he once was. Ellis played at 355 pounds with the Jets, but the Giants wanted him lighter, and he has trimmed down to about 335 pounds.
There is a starting spot open next to Johnathan Hankins, and Markus Kuhn, Jay Bromley and Ellis are candidates. Veteran Cullen Jenkins has worked more often at defensive end this spring.
“That group right there, when we get in pads and when the live bullets start being fired, production is going to tell us a lot about who is going to be playing and how the rotation is going to work,’’ said defensive line coach Robert Nunn, who added Ellis “has got to continue to improve.’’
Ellis said he has a vivid memory of being on the sideline as a rookie when Victor Cruz near the end of the 2011 season tore through the Jets defense and changed the fortunes of both teams.
“That was a dagger in our hearts,’’ Ellis said. “Ninety- nine freaking yards, launched Victor Cruz into stardom. That was a turning point.’’
Now, Ellis has Cruz as a teammate, Tom Coughlin as a coach and Eli Manning as his quarterback.
“Right now I’m just trying to work my butt off to prove I’m qualified to call myself a Giant,’’ Ellis said. “It’s gonna be a beautiful thing.’’
paul. schwartz@ nypost. com