Cam Skattebo’s practice fire has become a talking point inside Giants camp, and John Harbaugh didn’t exactly soften the edges when he was asked about it.
Skattebo, the second-year running back, set off a fight at practice on Wednesday after he caught a pass, slid, and came close to the legs of two defensive backs. The defense wasn’t allowed to hit in that period, and Jevon Holland and Greg Newsome took issue with it. The moment escalated between Skattebo and Newsome, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.
Leonard also reported that Skattebo had recently run over linebacker Zaire Barnes on another day when the defense was not hitting, and that the move is beginning to wear thin with some of his defensive teammates.
When Harbaugh was asked about Skattebo’s “infectious” energy, he turned the compliment on its head.
“He got a 15-yard penalty at the end of practice,” the coach said. “Did you see that?
Yeah it’s infectious. It can be infectious the other way, an infectious disease type of thing.
We want it to be in a positive way.”
Harbaugh has been clear that he likes Skattebo’s edge. He has praised him as a tone-setter and a downhill runner. But he also made it obvious that he wants that intensity directed at opponents, not at teammates who can’t respond physically in those periods.
Skattebo is expected to be the lead back. As a rookie, he ran for 410 yards and five touchdowns in eight games before a broken ankle against the Eagles ended his season. That year, he also became Jaxson Dart’s best partner in crime.
Harbaugh likes practice to be physical. What he does not like is a slide that turns into a cheap shot when the defense is handcuffed. The 15-yard penalty at the end of the session was enough for him to make the point publicly.
The season is coming fast, and Skattebo will have plenty of chances to bring that same style into Week 1 against Dallas. For now, though, Harbaugh has drawn the line: the energy can be contagious, just not in the wrong way.
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