Casillas: We ‘let Coughlin down’ last year

Tom Coughlin isn’t coaching the Giants anymore, and at least one of his former players feels partially responsible for that.

Linebacker Jonathan Casillas said Thursday the defense “let Coughlin down” by finishing last in the league in yards allowed in 2015 — a major factor in Big Blue’s second consecutive 6-10 record that resulted in Coughlin being forced out.

“It’s tough to watch sometimes,” Casillas said of the Giants’ defensive performance last season. “We weren’t as good as we should have been. I feel like, honestly, I think we let Coughlin down. It was a tough year. Our offense did what they were supposed to do in a lot of games, and defense didn’t pull through when we were supposed to in a lot of games. That’s us. We’ve got to take it. We’ve all got to wear that, and we’re here to rectify that.”

Casillas, a sixth-year pro, played in 15 games last year at outside linebacker and middle linebacker in his first season as a Giant, starting seven of them. He finished with one interception and two sacks.

Casillas said the last-place NFL ranking in yards allowed remains “the elephant in the room” when the Giants defense watches film in training camp.

“It’s tough to swallow when that number is on your back,” Casillas said. “You wear that No. 32 [ranking]. That’s tough. We’re all grown men, and we’re all responsible and hungry human beings, and we want to do better, and we will do better.”

The Giants continue to be cautious with Odell Beckham Jr., who was held out of practice Thursday for the third day in a row after suffering a cut to his leg in Sunday’s workout.

Beckham donned a uniform and went through the stretching period with teammates, only to move off to the side with a trainer and work individually once team drills began.

Kicker Josh Brown returned to practice Thursday after a oneday excused absence.