EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –- The New York Giants went through their first practice in full pads of training camp.

And Jon Beason might’ve been the most excited Giant to be back in full gear.

“I just want to get out there and get my nose bloody a little bit, and get back in the swing of things,” Beason said before practice.

Jon Beason said he's looking forward to being a leader for the Giants' defense this season. Noah K. Murray/USA TODAY

The Giants’ linebacker was happy to report that he is feeling better than he has at this point of a season in recent memory.

That is a very good thing for the Giants, who only had Beason for a total of four games last season due to a toe injury. Beason has played a total of 24 games since 2010 when he last played a complete season for the Carolina Panthers.

“Several years, several years,” Beason replied when asked if this is the best he has felt in a long time. “This is the first year I’ve come in and not been injured or going through the process of going through rehab. I feel strong, I just need more reps, I need more contact. New system, obviously, with Coach Spags, so the more reps I get, the more time in it is going to help me.”

New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will likely lean on Beason to be his defensive leader perhaps in the same way he did with middle linebacker Antonio Pierce when Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator during the Giants’ 2007 Super Bowl run.

Beason, who had 93 combined tackles in 12 games during the 2013 season for the Giants, has tried staying as attached to Spagnuolo as he can.

“It’s coming along quite fast,” he said. “[Spagnuolo is] a guy who loves ball all the time -- he’s nonstop. We get a chance to hang out during the special-teams period, where I’m a little less involved as I would be, so we get a little one-on-one time.

“I knew going into it that his scheme was going to be very complex. A lot is on my shoulders and that’s something that I’m trying to live up to the expectations.”

Perhaps that is a bit why Beason wouldn’t mind if NFL teams were allowed to do two-a-day practices again. Not only can he get more reps, but Beason craves the old-school practice mentality in full pads that was done away when the collective bargaining agreement was signed in 2011.

“Well, I miss that,” Beason said. “With the new CBA, I understand taking care of guys’ bodies. Everything has changed so much. But the two-a-days, pads every day, banging every day helps you because think about the brand of football that you see during preseason. It’s sloppy.”

“Blocking and tackling is always at a premium when you’re trying to take care of guys,” Beason added. “So you take advantage of these full-padded days because you know that’s the game. On Sunday, there’s no tagging off [to replace tackling in practice]. So, we need to work our craft.”

More than anything, Beason is just happy to be healthy enough to keep trying to perfect his craft.

“Football is injury prone,” Beason said. “You know it’s seriously out of your control. That’s the most frustrating part about it. When people say that this happens to one guy more than not, there’s been great players that never were. High school, college players that never were due to injury.

“So, I’m blessed. I’m fortunate to have come this far, to have the time that I have -- I enjoy it. Now, I just focus on being in the moment and enjoying the very next rep because I know that’s all that is guaranteed.”