Ereck Flowers 'looking to keep progressing'

EAST RUTHERFORD — Many eyes will be on Giants rookie Ereck Flowers this training camp - and this season, for that matter - as the first round pick steps right in at left tackle. 

And like during minicamp earlier this year, Flowers will get plenty of reps as he gets his feet under him. The 6-foot-6 Miami product took snaps with both the first and second teams on Friday during the first practice of training camp in an effort to try and accelerate his progression a bit. 

"What we'd like to see him do, is just take off in this circumstance and become the player that we know he can be," coach Tom Coughlin said. "Grasp things as fast as he can and move from all the spring's work and the experience that he had, quickly move past that into what we're doing and what we're going to face right now. ... We want him to just take off at that spot."

Flowers will have plenty of support along the way. Guard Justin Pugh said he and center Weston Richburg, both younger players, are there to be a resource for Flowers about the transition as a rookie.

"He's a big, strong, tough kid," Pugh said. "He fits right in with the mold we're trying to create here and what we're trying to do. "

And tackle Will Beatty, who the Giants initially planned to have on the left side before he tore a pectoral muscle in May, was seen taking Flowers to the side once he exited team drills for a few moments on Friday to give him some pointers.

"Everybody in the locker room helps everybody out," Flowers said. "I'm a lot more comfortable (with the offense) then when I first came in. I've made a lot of progress, and I'm looking to keep progressing." 

Flowers had some good moments during Friday's quick practice, as well as some things to work on. But he will get plenty of time - sometimes double time - to grow into the franchise left tackle the Giants thought he could be when they selected him with the ninth overall pick.

"I worked really hard leading up to this," Flowers said. "I'm pretty proud of what I did, and I'm ready to take this next step."


(nj.com)