ELI IS GIANT
THE GIANTS’ public harping on Odell Beckham Jr.’s behavior, beginning with coach Ben McAdoo’s insistence Monday that his receiver “control his emotions,” is misplaced. While all the cameras and microphones point at Beckham, no one is talking about the biggest concern on the Giants’ offense: Eli Manning.
Manning, normally the picture of calm, might benefit Monday night in Minnesota from following Beckham’s lead and getting a little angry at himself for the way he has played so far.
The two-time Super Bowl MVP has fumbled four times while losing one, and thrown three interceptions already this season. That is far from acceptable.
“We’ve just got to hold onto the ball some,” Manning admitted Wednesday at the Giants’ facility in East Rutherford. “Hey, sometimes turnovers occur (when) you’re being aggressive and giving guys shots. But you can’t be too risky with the ball. You can still be aggressive and push the ball down the field, but if things aren’t there, (you have to) take sacks, throw it away, find checkdowns. You can still be aggressive and not be risky with the football.”
If only Manning could walk that talk.
He helped the Giants strike on several big plays in last Sunday’s 29-27 loss to Washington, specifically 15 explosive plays according to Manning, which means a quarter of the Giants’ plays were either a run for 12 yards or more, or a pass for 16 yards or more.
Something to build on? Sure, but the other 75% wasn’t as encouraging. Manning was outplayed by Kirk Cousins on his own field. Now, who would have thought entering Week 4 the NFC East quarterback with the most to prove in his next game would be Manning?
Rookie QBs Carson Wentz (Eagles) and Dak Prescott (Cowboys) have committed a total of zero turnovers. None of Wentz’s three fumbles were lost. Cousins had problems protecting the ball through two weeks but found a way to outduel Manning in Week 3.
Meanwhile, Manning’s turnovers are becoming a major problem, and though he had a funny response when asked if the Vikings “have his number,” Minnesota’s defense ranks second in the NFL with nine takeaways and is coming off the brutalizing of Cam Newton and the reigning NFC Champion Carolina Panthers.
“I don’t think anybody has my phone number on the Vikings,” Manning joked. “Maybe (former Giant) Linval (Joseph), I’m not sure. I’m trying to think if I have anybody’s number. Maybe somebody I’m sure. I have (Sam) Bradford. I have his number. He’s got my number. Can’t think of anybody else’s off-hand, though. I’ll look through my phone and get back to you.”