John Harbaugh on Isaiah Likely, Jameis Winston’s adjustment and a fumble problem before the Saints

John Harbaugh drafted Isaiah Likely in Baltimore, and now the tight end is one of Jameis Winston’s favorite targets in New York. After Wednesday’s practice, the Giants head coach explained why Likely has translated so well.

“He’s a really unique kind of an athlete,” Harbaugh said. “He went in the fourth round. Nobody really could get their arms around it. He made all these plays in college, but it just looked different. Turns out it’s really good what he does. He’s elusive. He can get away in man and zone coverage. He’s got great hands, amazing catch radius.”

Harbaugh added that Likely was “crazy good as a perimeter blocker” at Coastal Carolina, and said the bigger role in New York explains the jump in production. Playing behind Mark Andrews limited his chances in Baltimore, Harbaugh said, “and those reasons were fine. Mark Andrews is a great player as well.”

Building more of the offense around Winston

Winston had to step in on short notice with an offense built for someone else. “It was awkward and he fought through it and he kept his confidence and he kept his poise and he found a way to win football games,” Harbaugh said. “Now we’re starting to get adapted a little bit to the game plan and getting reps on the things that are more Jameis type things.”

He said the adjustment runs both ways, and that Winston is more versatile than people think. “You saw him scramble, make all those scramble plays, and we were having fun in the team meeting and he’s like, ‘I’ve always been a scrambler,’” Harbaugh said.

Fumbles, Thibodeaux and Theo Johnson

Ball security is the sore spot. “It’s a major point of emphasis from day one and it’s still not good enough,” Harbaugh said. “The league is more of a punch-out league than it’s ever been before. The fact that we’ve had a number of fumbles, way more than we should, we’re making a big deal out of it.”

Asked whether Kayvon Thibodeaux needs to produce more opposite Abdul Carter, who did not practice and will appear on the injury report, Harbaugh pushed back. “I think you guys are underestimating what Kayvon’s bringing to the table,” he said. “Stats are important. But the tape is what tells the story.”

He also praised tight end Theo Johnson for embracing kickoff coverage after logging no special teams snaps last season. “When he’s running down in kickoff coverage, he’s running people over and making tackles,” Harbaugh said. “I wouldn’t want to stand in front of him.”

Respect for Tyler Shough

Harbaugh called Saints quarterback Tyler Shough one of the more productive young passers since he took over as a starter and pointed to his connection with his top receiver. “He’s been lighting it up since he started,” Harbaugh said. “But he’s still a young quarterback, too. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”

The Giants host the Saints on Sunday, October 18.