1. The offense is "way ahead" in Year 2.

Despite opening organized team activities (OTAs) with a new-look offensive line, the team is still ahead of where it was at this time last year when Eli Manning and company were installing a new system.

**>> 3 STANDOUT PLAYERS FROM PRACTICE**

"We are way ahead in terms of that," coach Tom Coughlin said Monday after the Giants' fourth OTA practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

"The familiarity as the different installations go and the familiarity by the players, at least the guys that have been here, so what we are talking about here is obvious. There is an awful lot of information being thrown at them. They seem to being handling it well. Some of the new guys have done well with it. I haven't seen a lot of issues with that. It is natural. They have heard it. They have played it. They have been involved with adjustments. As we do more and more adjusting, they are picking that up as well."

2. Coughlin provided injury updates.

Tight end Larry Donnell was in a walking boot and held out of practice as he deals with Achilles tendinitis, which Coughlin said is "ongoing" and that he "had a little bit of that in college." A "sore" Odell Beckham Jr. was also sidelined with a hamstring as a precaution.  After practice, Beckham reiterated to Giants.com's Michael Eisen that it was precautionary and not comparable to the issue that caused him to miss the first four games of his rookie season.

"It's always frustrating when you have to miss what you love doing," Beckham said. "Just not practicing today was enough for me. But it's part of the game. The good thing is that it's just precautionary."

**>> OTA PRACTICE REPORT**

Beckham also said that if the Giants were playing a game this week, he would be on the field.

"I don't want to miss anything," he continued. "I'll just go with the flow." 

Meanwhile, defensive end Robert Ayers, who left the first OTA practice with an ankle injury, is still "swollen" and has a lateral sprain. Safety Nat Berhe (calf) has still not taken the field in OTAs. Meanwhile, middle linebacker Jon Beason was absent today after his return flight from Charlotte was canceled due to inclement weather.

3. Weatherford feels blessed.

On his way back from tending to his wife and the birth of their fourth child in Southern California, punter Steve Weatherford had to deal with canceled flights, re-routed planes, and then a serious car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike before making it to today's OTA practice.

**>> WEATHERFORD FEELING FORTUNATE AFTER CAR CRASH**

"The soreness is starting to sink in a little bit, but I am just feeling so blessed," Weatherford said. "Not even with the birth of my daughter, but just being here. I have always been an optimistic guy, but after the experience last night, there is no other way to explain than a blessing."

4. DRC thinks new defense is "corner friendly."

Like the offense a year ago, the Giants' defense is currently installing another system under Steve Spagnuolo, the Super Bowl XLII-winning defensive coordinator who returned this season. Veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who is in his second season with the team, is excited about playing in it.

"I would say this defense is kind of corner friendly," he said. "In some of the things that [Spagnuolo] does, it allows you to use your vision a whole lot more and do some things that really plays to -- the corners that we have -- our skillsets  as far just vision and then breaking on balls."

*5. Giants to turn up intensity with practices in Cincinnati. *

Before opening their preseason on Aug. 14 in Cincinnati, the Giants plan to hold joint practices against the Bengals, something Big Blue has not done in years.

"At one time, we did it a lot," Coughlin said. "I just think going out and having a couple practices against somebody else, [there will be] a little more intensity, especially going into that first game. Maybe have your ones take a few more reps than they normally would because of the way the game will be played. It will really benefit our team."