A new NFL season is right around the corner as training camp
is quickly approaching. Leading up to the start of training camp, we will
have a run down position-by-position for the defending Super Bowl Champion New
York Giants.
The fourth position we will take a look at is quarterback.
The projected starter at quarterback for the Giants is Eli
Manning, with his backup expected to be David Carr.
There are no new editions at the quarterback position, nor
any players leaving.
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The player to watch for the Giants at quarterback is
obviously Manning. Manning is one of the
top quarterbacks in the NFL and in the prime of his career. He is coming off his second Super Bowl
victory and Super Bowl MVP award and only getting better as a player. You can not do much better than David Carr as
backup, as he provides a veteran presence behind Manning for the Giants in case
Manning ever has to miss game time. The
Giants also like third-stringer Ryan Perrilloux, but it is unlikely for him to
make the roster unless he beats out Carr as the Giants tend to carry only two
quarterbacks as a time.
One strength that Manning provides this team is his ability
to make those around him better. Last
season, Manning was charged with working in a new third receiver and starting tight
end. Manning was a big reason for the
emergences of Victor Cruz and Jake Ballard as major contributors last
season. To make matters even tougher, he
had to do all this behind a revamped offensive line and no team training
because of the lockout limiting training camp.
This season, again, Manning is being asked to develop a new tight end
and third receiver behind an offensive line that has shuffling parts. There is no reason to believe that Manning
cannot do it again, as players like Martellus Bennett, Bear Pascoe, Rueben
Randle, Domenik Hixon, Ramses Barden and Jerel Jernigan are all thought to have
more talent that the group last season.
The potential weakness for the quarterback position for the
Giants is the offensive line. Offensive
coordinator Kevin Gilbride has admitted during camp that he is concerned about
the line. He may not be overly
concerned, but there are some things that raise some question marks. Gilbride has an old face in a new place in
David Diehl, who is moving to right tackle, and a left tackle in Will Beatty
that is dealing with chronic back problems.
Kevin Boothe is being given the responsibilities at left guard and David
Baas should improve upon a rocky first season as a Giant that was derailed by
injury. Manning needs to be protected by
this line, as they surrendered 28 sacks last season and six in the NFC
Championship game in San Francisco .
The wild card for the Giants quarterbacks is the running
game. If the Giants are able to get a
consistent running game, it will make Manning that much more dangerous. Last season the Giants finished last in
rushing. Imagine the potential stats
Manning could garner with a strong running game to play off of with the deep
play action routes the Giants like to use.
Manning threw for 4,933 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, carrying
the offense without an effective running game to rely on. With an improved
running game, Manning may also have some pressure relieved in late game
situations, not having to mount as many comebacks with a stronger running game.
