Week 2 of training camp began on Monday, which meant for the first time all year, the pads came on at practice.

In addition to the first practice with contact permitted, some torrential downpours began about halfway through the session, which made an impact on both sides of the ball during team drills.

Following practice No. 5, head coach John Harbaugh, along with offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, defensive lineman DJ Reader, and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., spoke to the media.

Here is what we learned Monday.

John Harbaugh 'very encouraged' by Arvell Reese

It has been only five training camp practices, but rookie linebacker Arvell Reese has already made a noticeable impact on the defense. The fifth overall pick has done a little bit of everything since the team arrived at The Greenbrier, from showing off strong coverage skills to getting after the quarterback. With an emphasis on the run game in today's first padded practice, you can add Reese's ability to stop the run to the growing list.

"Very encouraged," coach John Harbaugh said about the rookie. "I think he looked good today from what I could see. I can't wait to see the tape, but he's playing really well. He's been playing well the whole camp since he got here."

The head coach then added, "You see the talent, obviously. I think he's very sharp for a first-year guy. He gets things right pretty much all the time, makes very few mistakes. He's a very serious-minded guy, and he's very determined. I mean, he's doing things well."

Harbaugh was far from the only member of the team left impressed with the rookie's performance thus far at camp. Several veterans also heaped praise on the young linebacker Monday.

"He's quick," Jermaine Eluemunor said. "Yeah, I think he's going to be a pretty dang good player. Yeah, I'm glad he's on our team. I'll tell you that. He's quick, he's physical. You can tell that he truly loves this game and that his instincts are just ridiculous… I like him a lot. He's a great kid, in the locker room, on the field, he's a respectful young man. And I think he's going to be a tremendous player for us this year."

"He's big, strong, physical," Tyrone Tracy Jr. added. "I think he's a great football player. I think Arvell is see ball, get ball. I think that's the best way to describe him, man. See ball, get ball. He's going to run fast, he's going to hit hard, and he's going to be around the ball at all times. So, I think that's probably the best way to describe Arvell."

At just 20 years old and having never taken an actual snap in an NFL game yet, Reese still has a long way to go. But according to one of the elders on the team, the sky is the limit for the rookie.

"Kid has a real chance to be special," Reader said after practice. "You don't really get a chance to see kids that size move around like how he does at every different position, really run around and be smart. He stays quiet and really tries to learn. He's got a real chance to be really, really good."

Sisi Mauigoa 'has that leadership trait that is rare in a young guy'

Monday was also a big day for the Giants' other top-10 pick, as it was the first time Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa put on pads as an NFL lineman. Mauigoa, selected with the 10th overall pick in the draft, is the lone new member of the starting offensive line, as the remaining four starters from last year are all back. He may be the youngster of the otherwise veteran group, but the 21-year-old right guard has already made a strong first impression on one of the guys he is set to line up next to.

"He's a very energetic kid," right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor told the media. "I like playing next to him. He holds everyone accountable. You can tell that he has that leadership trait that is rare in a young guy his age. I think, what, he's 21? And so, the sky's the limit for him, too. I think him and Arvell are going to be huge players for us this year. And, yeah, I'm excited to just keep growing with him, getting better. And him learning how I play the game, me learning how he plays the game, helping each other so we can be the best this year."

After starting off his career at Miami with two solid seasons, Mauigoa broke out as an All-American last season, excelling in both pass protection and run blocking. Similar to Reese, Mauigoa still has a long path ahead of him. But after a week of training camp practices, including only one in pads, the guys in the trenches seem to be enjoying the rookie's youthful energy. Not only that, but he's already showing off his strength, as well.

"He's very heavy-handed and he can move," Reader said. "It's good to be around some young, joyful energy. I'm getting up there in some years. He's a kid, I know he's going to make me bring it every day. He's going to make me better for it, and he's going to get better for it."

'We really have to build this week'

We have already drilled home the fact that the pads have come on at practice, signaling the beginning of contact being permitted. Of course, this is important for many different position group battles, most notable the O-line vs. D-Line and wide receivers vs. cornerbacks.

But Harbaugh emphasized to the media why the importance of this second week of training camp, which will contain six consecutive days of practice, goes beyond just the pads and contact.

"This is a big week," the head coach said. "The second week is the big week of camp. This is your opportunity to really grow as a football team. We always say the second everything. The second day, the second game, the second week of camp. You build your foundation in training camp for your team. The second week should be where you cover the most miles, gain the most ground. We want to put the most miles behind us as far as developing the foundation of our team this week.

"This is just a go-to-work week. Just get to work and get better. That's really what we're focusing on this week. Not too much evaluating, just more really trying to build this week. You really have to build this week, and that's what this week is for."

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Tracy: 'We can be a premiere RB group'

Since arriving in East Rutherford, John Harbaugh has made it no secret that he wants to run the football. All you have to do is look at his 18 seasons in Baltimore to see the success his teams have had on the ground. When it comes to the Giants, the running back depth chart features two guys at the top that have both enjoyed success in the NFL. Cam Skattebo scored seven touchdowns with over 600 yards of offense in just eight games (five starts) as a rookie last year, while Tyrone Tracy Jr. has put together back-to-back 1,000-yard scrimmage seasons. Despite their respective success, the two are different types of running backs, which makes them a good complement to each other.

"To be honest with you, iron sharpens iron, so he's going to push me, I'm going to push him," Tracy said about him and Skattebo. "And, obviously, we are two different running backs, so I think we complement each other really well. So, it's not necessarily like me against him, but best believe that I'm going to push him to be the best that he can be, and he's going to push me to be the best that I can be each and every day. Whether it's running the ball, passing, blocking, being a good teammate. Obviously, Skatt's really loud. He's loud. He's a great leader, so that's allowing me to be – pushing me to be a great leader as well. Each and every thing that we're doing, I'm trying to challenge him and he's going to challenge me. So, I think we complement each other really well."

Last year's offensive line had its best season running the football in recent years. The unit then added a top-10 pick, while the offense also added an All-Pro fullback in Patrick Ricard. Add that to the two top backs, along with the rest of the guys in the RB room, and it's easy to see why Tracy is so confident in the group heading into the season.

"I think we can be a premier running back group," the third-year pro said. "Not just me, not just Skatt. I think we can be a premier running back group. When you're talking about there's running back rooms around the NFL, I think that you have a group of people in our room, me, Skatt, Motor (running back Devin Singletary), E-Gray (running back Eric Gray), Turbo (running back Dante Miller). Like, we all can go in there and execute. When you have that, it's not about one person. Not about two people. You've got anybody that can go in there and just execute any play on any given down. I think that's what makes a successful room."