New York Football Giants: Quarterback Preview
Dec 29, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws a pass against the Washington Redskins in the first half during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback Preview
With the NFL season just around the corner, we thought it’d be a good idea to take a look at the Giants current roster, position by position, and see what team BLUE has in store for us this season. So… without any further GIANT ado, let’s take a look at the G-MEN’s hurlers of the pigskin in our Quarterback preview:
It’s been a decade since the New York Football Giants made a draft day trade with the San Diego Chargers for the rights to Eli Manning. In that time, Eli has won two Super Bowl championships and has firmly positioned himself among the NFL’s elite QB’s with his success. Despite Eli Manning having a dreadful year in 2013, the Giants super star QB has no worries about his job security. Barring injury, Eli will be the Giants QB for every game this upcoming season. With a new offense being installed to suit Manning’s strengths, it’s time for Manning to show he still belongs in the conversation for great QB’s in NFL history. A strong showing in a new system could do wonders for Eli’s overall legacy…. QB. Mississippi. Eli Manning. 1. player. 31
NFL talent evaluators fell in love with Nassib’s arm skills during the draft process, but holes in the remainder of his skill set led to a 4th round selection. For undersized quarterbacks to succeed they need instincts… a feel. Nassib hasn’t shown a hint of either, albeit in limited opportunity. He has great difficulty reading complex NFL defenses, and at the first hint of pressure he turns skittish — not a winning combination. Better utilization of his legs could open up new doors for success, but again, it’s just not a natural strength for Nassib. Arm talent can buy you time. The question is, how much? . QB. Syracuse. Ryan Nassib. 2. player. 31
QB. Purdue. Curtis Painter. 3. player. 31. Painter carries with him the experience card, something the Giants value in a backup quarterback. The 29-year old is what he is at this stage of his career — a security blanket. Painter knows how to run an offense, and in a pinch the situation won’t overwhelm him. He’s always possessed an above adequate arm, but he lacks confidence and pocket presence. He’s been sacked 20 times in 14 career NFL games (8 starts). He’s trigger shy, which makes him a sitting duck.
Overall
It’s no secret that the New York Football Giants are depending on Eli Manning. Simple GIANT statement: If the Giants succeed, it’ll be due to Manning’s return to Pro Bowl form. If the Giants fail, it’ll be due to Manning’s continued steep regression.
The team can’t afford to have another season where Eli throws 27,659,627 interceptions. It can’t happen. If it does, the Giants will naturally struggle to win games. The Giants have expressed interesting in rolling with two active quarterbacks, which means either Curtis Painter or Ryan Nassib won’t be on the team by the time the regular season kicks off on September 8th.
Earlier this offseason, the Giants signed and released Josh Freeman (Josh Freeman, Little Apple, Big Apple. Job Application) in the Spring. That move signified that while Painter and Nassib might not both crack the 53-man roster, at least the team potentially values their services more than that of a 26-year old former first round pick with 80 NFL level TD’s.
Regardless of the competition at the backup QB position, the Jints entire season is hedged on the bet that Eli Manning will return to Super Bowl form. The Giants are installing a brand new West Coast Offense style in line with what the Green Bay Packers are doing with Aaron Rodgers. After all, new Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo is from the Mike McCarthy school of offense. And while we can’t pinpoint his exact style because he’s never called plays in the NFL, Giants Nation can be rest assured it will be a system featuring quick 3-5 step drops, up-speed tempo and lighting quick short passes meant to beat the NFL pass rush to the punch.
The Giants days of persistent vertical attacks might not be over, but the deep passing game will assuredly be curtailed–no matter the quarterback.