NEW YORK—Today, New York Giants head Coach Pat Shurmur announced that the New York Giants would be benching longstanding quarterback Eli Manning. The 38-year-old Manning has been with the Giants since 2004.
During his tenure with the Giants, Eli had become champion, and MVP, of both Super Bowl 44, defeating a nearly perfect 18-1 New England Patriots (17-14) and again defeating the New England Patriots at 46 (21-17).
Eli was also Been selected to the Pro Bowl 4x (2008, 2011, 2012, 2015). Since then, however, Eli has become a shell of himself failing to reach the playoffs in the last two years. But was the writing on the wall for Eli?
Not So Bad?
This season, Eli has thrown for 556 yards, 2 tds, 2 Ints with a completion rate of 62% and a passer rating of 78.7 (Eli Manning, Pro Football reference.com).
This too isn’t necessarily bad. At least not for the beginning of the season. So, why was the move to bench him so predictable?
Could it have been Eli Manning’s “Meh” stats?
|2018: 4, 499 yrds, 21 Tds, 11 Ints, 92. 4 passer rating.
|2017: 3,468 yrds, 19 Tds, 13 Ints, 80.4 passer rating.
|2016: 4,027 yrds, 26 Tds, 16 Ints, 86.0 passer rating.
(Eli Manning, Pro Football reference.com)
These stats aren’t all that great and, depending on the interpreter, could indicate a turnover machine in Eli, which isn’t totally surprising. Let’s, however, take another approach to making sense of these stats. let’s compare his stats with Super Bowl Champion Drew Brees:
2018: 3,992 yrds, 32 Tds, 5 Ints, 115.7 passer rating.
2017: 4,334 yrds, 23 Tds, 6 Ints, 103.9 passer rating.
2016: 5,208 yrds, 37 Tds, 15 Ints, 101.7 passer rating.
(Drew Brees, Pro Football reference.com)
With this comparison, we can see that Drew Brees has a lower turnover ratio than Eli Manning and higher passer rating. Its not looking good for Eli. But what about the defensive side of the ball?
Could it have been the defense?
The New Orleans Saints defense was ranked 14th in 2018, 10th in 2017, and 31st in 2016. By comparison, the New York Giants were ranked 23rd in 2018, 28th in 2017, and 2nd in 2016 (Giants, Pro Football reference.com). There, we can see that a better defense correlated into more wins, right? Let’s dig deeper.
The Giants Head Coach Pat Shurmur hired Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher. Bettcher, former DC of the Arizona Cardinals, is currently tasked with turning the 4-3 Giants into the blitz-happy 3-4 Giants. Still, James Bettcher, proclaimed as a “Sack Master,” just entered the party, and the Giants have been stinking up the joint for the last few years. To add insult to injury, the latest Defensive Pro Bowlers the Giants had aren’t playing for the Giants now! (Landon Collins, Oliver Vernon). Whoof!
To add insult to injury, the latest Defensive Pro Bowlers the Giants had aren’t playing for the Giants now! (Landon Collins, Oliver Vernon). Whoof!
TheAwfulGuy S. Bwell
Maybe it was the coaches?
Since the departing from Tom Coughlin in 2015, The Giants have had a weird go at with Ben McAdoo, Steve Spagnuolo, and now Pat Shurmur. Ben McAdoo did bench Eli Manning before but his career as head coach can tell you how management felt about it. Could the revolving door of coaches have negatively impacted Eli Manning’s performance? I’d say maybe. His stats over the last 3 years are, however, consistent. Not the best, but consistent.
The writing was on the wall
With the waning defense, the departing of Odell Beckham Junior, and incoming rookie quarterback—Daniel Jacobs entertaining us all in the preseason, it become clear that the writing was on the wall for Eli. The rookie looked nearly perfect against preseason players with a preseason mentality. This, I have no doubt, forced administration to no doubt set the old man aside for young blood.
Espn staff writer Jordan Raanan quoted Head Coach Pat Shurmur as saying that “Ultimately this move that I felt was best for this team at this time.”
Ultimately this move that I felt was best for this team at this time
New York Giants Head Coach Pat Shurmur
Espn commentator and former Super Bowl champion Damien Woody posted on Instagram that the “Giants weren’t going anywhere this year…this is the right move. Clock is ticking on that rookie contract, get him the experience now” (Damien Woody, Instagram)
Also Super Bowl champion and Espn’s Ted Brushci followed up with, “And the page is turned. No going back now.” (Tedy Bruschi, Instagram).
My take
Eli Manning was at one time a great quarterback that had gotten lost in the shuffle of coaches, defensive woes, and just plain bad management. That’s not to leave Eli faultless. Eli Manning would throw the wrong pass at the wrong time and throw an interception keeping the defense on the field and ruining the team’s momentum. I’d hate to say it but I’m glad the Giants have someone new. Jacobs may not be the guy but the same ‘ol just won’t due. NFL Owners realize that the window to win a championship is small and the steps you make today will maximize or minimize your chances in doing so. With that, I’ll say so long good friend. Ride off into the sunset cause you and the Giants as of late have been awful.
TheAwfulGuy S. Bwell
TheAwfulGuy can be reached at the @awfulsportsnews on Instagram or the @awfulsportsnews on Twitter.
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