Simms: Eli’s gotta move
PHILADELPHIA — Carson Wentz leads the Eagles with 61 rushing yards, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt. It is not what the Eagles want, as running backs Darren Sproles and LeGarrette Blount have yet to get on track in two games. Still, it does show the mobility Wentz possesses.
This brings us to Eli Manning and his disinterest/ability to gain a few yards or buy more time for himself with his legs.
“You do not have to be a runner, but you have to be very mobile in the pocket,’’ Phil Simms said on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio. “I don’t think Eli does that enough. I’ve said it many times, Peyton [Manning] actually moved a lot, Tom Brady moves in the pocket all the time. And what do they do? They see a hole, they move up in it, they go outside, they throw the ball.
“Sometimes you gotta do it on your own. NFL quarterbacks, you gotta make four plays a game on your own. What is it? A great throw moving ... Eli is going to have a chance to throw the ball down the field. The Giants wide receivers will get open against the Philadelphia Eagles, so they gotta make the plays this week to get it done.”
If CB Janoris Jenkins (ankle) cannot play, Ross Cockrell becomes a key defensive replacement. Cockrell, signed Sept. 2, started 16 games last season for the Steelers. He did not play any defensive snaps against the Cowboys and played 39 defensive snap versus the Lions, replacing Jenkins.
“I thought Ross did really well on plays downfield,’’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “He had some run-support issues that we have to get ironed out.’’
One of those issues was a brutal missed tackle versus Lions RB Ameer Abdullah. “Yeah. We need to tackle better on that,’’ head coach Ben McAdoo said.
With Justin Pugh moving outside to right tackle, the interior of the Giants’ line could be vulnerable, with LG Brett Jones facing Tim Jernigan and RG John Jerry facing Fletcher Cox. In his two starts this season, RB Paul Perkins is averaging 1.9 yards per rushing attempt.
The Giants will look to exploit a vulnerability on the Eagles’ offensive line. Left guard Isaac Seumalo has been benched and replaced by Chance Warmack, a bust with the Titans who signed in Philly this season. Look for Spagnuolo to move DE Olivier Vernon inside in pass-rush situations to challenge Warmack.
LB Keenan Robinson, out since the preseason with a concussion, will make his 2017 debut. He was a fixture on the defense last season as a key member of the sub packages, working as a coverage linebacker.
“I’ve been on the sideline for like five weeks, four weeks, something like that,’’ Robinson said. “Just hope I can just do my part. Whatever my job is, whether it’s manning the middle, covering backs, covering tight ends, I just want to do it as well as I can and just do my part on the play.”