Eli Manning: His Most Underrated Attributes

By Chris Schisler | May 23, 2015

New York Giants fans know a different Eli Manning than the casual NFL fan does. We’ve watched every snap and been with him in every moment. Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in football, which makes him incredibly valuable. Manning doesn’t get enough credit though, for the command he has of the game.

Manning doesn’t get enough credit for how he is a student of the game, for how sharp he is on the football field. There have been many quarterbacks who have come and gone in this league since Manning took over for the Giants. There is a reason why Manning is still the Giants leader.

By the time a quarterback makes it to the NFL, unless his name is Tebow, its a good bet that they have the physical skills to succeed. What so few quarterbacks have is the mental component of the game, the ability to throw with timing and anticipation, the ability to beat defenses before he even receives the football from the center.

Manning is a risk taker, that’s where all the interceptions come. When the pass protection fails he reverts into his gun slinging ways. When Manning has the time however, he is going to carve your defense up like a surgeon on a mission.

More from NY Giants News

Manning can throw receivers open, he doesn’t need a receiver to be wide open to make a play. He regularly gives his receivers a chance to go up and make plays. That’s why his interception numbers dwindle much lower when he has a good group of receivers. He takes chances and trusts his receivers to come down with the football, and it leads to huge plays for the Giants.

Manning just doesn’t get thought of as an amazingly cerebral QB, but that is exactly what he is. That is why the quick strike offense that he runs now works so well for him. His quick decision making skills combined with a quick release is a deadly combination.

Nov 3, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) heads to the sideline after a three and out during the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

A quarterbacks responsibility, that doesn’t get enough attention from fans, is to avoid bad plays altogether. Manning is a master at changing calls at the line, whether it is pass protection or changing a receiver’s route, Manning thinks of it before it happens.

The reason you don’t get credit for this as a quarterback is simple, if you do it nobody knows a bad play could have occurred in the first place. This trait in a QB is like an offensive lineman, if the announcer makes a big deal about it, it’s probably a bad thing.

Manning is a calm, quiet and poised leader. While the world of Twitter has a delightfully witty way of making memes about his facial expressions, Manning is a pretty intellectual quarterback.

In a league in which everyone is physically talented, Manning has the mental component that gives him an edge. It is this mental component to his game that is his most underrated attribute.

Next: New York Giants: The Value Of Dwayne Harris

More from GMEN HQ

Home/NY Giants News