NY Giants rookie Sam Beal takes on second job to help prep for Atlanta Falcons

Art Stapleton | NFL writer

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ATLANTA - The New York Giants have given Sam Beal a second job since he is physically unable to do the one for which they drafted him right now.

Beal had big plans for his rookie season after the Giants drafted him in the third round of the supplemental draft, and team brass was optimistic the cornerback would be able to learn fast enough to contribute in the secondary before too long.

That never materialized, however, as Beal needed shoulder surgery, which resulted in his being placed on injured reserve at the start of training camp.

The Giants have found a way to still give Beal a role to play.

He might not be inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium come Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons, but Beal has studied the opposing offense as much as anyone who will.

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Beal won't be covering Julio Jones or Calvin Ridley, mind you, although there is a chance something he has seen will help the Giants' efforts in trying to do so.

In essence, Beal serves as an advance scout for the defensive backs.

"I like to think that my reports are so detailed, you could probably be able to cover the guys," Beal told NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY Network New Jersey, flashing a smile. "I have a part to play, and I'm glad to be playing it."

Beal gets started working on the next opponent even before the Giants hit the field for the game that week. When his report is finished, complete with analysis of tendencies, receiver likes and dislikes that he can pick up on video or just about anything else, the 22-year-old gives his presentation in the meeting room to the entire secondary.

The challenge this week is a daunting one with the Giants facing the high-powered Falcons who feature Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley with Matt Ryan throwing them the football.

"Coach Lou [Anarumo, the Giants' secondary coach] told me, my taking notes now to help this team will end up helping me next year because I'll already be familiar with these teams, these quarterbacks, these teams, these offenses," Beal said. "By learning this way, I'll be a step ahead when I am physically ready to get on the field and do something about it."

He paused before adding with a laugh: "These guys [the Falcons] are good."

"Matt Ryan is at the top of his game this year. He’s been doing a great job," Giants safety Landon Collins said. "They got Julio – a big, tall receiver, big-time receiver. You got Sanu, and you got Calvin Ridley that’s doing big-time things over there. It’s a good matchup. A lot of shifting motions that we have to be tuned into, and just making sure we use our eyes correctly and making sure we use those eyes to make sure we get to the right play."

The Giants (1-5) have added undrafted rookie Grant Haley to the mix on the back end, promoting the former Penn State star cornerback from the practice squad while waiving Donte Deayon.

"Definitely grew up watching him. He’s a great player," Haley said of Jones, who has yet to catch a touchdown pass this season. "Matt Ryan is a great player. He leads that offense pretty well. It’s going to be a great challenge, but I think our game plan and the plays that we have in this room, the mindset, being in the locker room, being in the team room, and the defensive room, the mindset is we’re fully focused on going 1-0 this week. Having the competition that we’re about to play, the caliber of receivers we are (playing), we know it’s going to be a challenge. As a corner, you don’t back down from those challenges. You got to step up when your number is called and do your job."

Beal will watch the Giants-Falcons game from his North Jersey home, hoping that he provided teammates with that vital piece of information that makes the difference in a victory. At the same time, even before the final whistle and Big Blue gets back on its flight home to Newark, Beal will have already begun working on the Washington Redskins, who come to MetLife Stadium next Sunday.

"You want to be out there, but you can't let it break you," Beal said. "Right now for me it's all about my lower body. I just go in the weight room and kill my legs. Just to get rid of that energy I have that I can't get rid of by playing, I go in the weight room and go crazy. In my mind, I can play the game right now. But I'm only three months out from the surgery, they're not rushing me and I'm not rushing things, either. I'm working to get back and be ready to play when this team needs me."

As for the scouting report that could benefit the Giants most in the long run, here is Beal's evaluation of - well - Beal.

"I'm fiery," he said. "I like to make plays that my teammates can feed off. I want to be one of those guys that offenses notice and defenses rally around. You're gonna know I'm there, where I am, trust me - you're gonna know where I'm at, and I can't wait for the chance to be there for this team to help on the field."

Email: stapleton@northjersey.com

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