Friday Media Transcript: QB Eli Manning

QB Eli Manning

July 28, 2017

Q: What was your reaction to the Frasier the Lion story yesterday?

A: I thought it was good, you know, good story. Never heard of Frasier, so good to know.

Q: Do you have an issue with pitch count and trying to keep yourself fresh?

A: No. Nothing new. I’ve been on pitch counts before. I don’t know if I’m actually on an actual pitch count, but there’s been a system since (Ben) McAdoo’s been here. Kind of having a system of kind of having a heavy throw day, you know, kind of dialing it down with a lighter day after a heavier load. There’s always been a system that we’ve talked about in the quarterback room on which days we’re going to kind of, you know, take more throws and which days you’re going to take a little less. And, it’s more like an individual period. Once practice starts and you’re going against defense, it’s all the same. It’s just kind of more the warmup period going routes versus air. Those type of things where you can, certain days, you know, you can limit 10-15 throws on certain days.

Q: Would it be fair to say that you’re going to throw more now to the guys that you’ve played with than third string guys trying to make the team?

A: I mean that’s kind of on some of the days where you are, ‘Hey this is a lighter throwing day. We had a big load yesterday on the throws.’ So on that day, ‘Hey, get your reps and throw to Odell (Beckham) and Brandon (Marshall) Evan (Engram) and (Sterling) Shepard. You’re not just getting throws to get throws in.

Q: How would you describe the quarterback room this year?

A: You know, it’s different. Obviously Josh (Johnson) was here last year, so he knows the system. But, it’s really his first training camp with us. You have three guys going through their first training camp with the Giants. So, that’s a little different just having that many young guys. We’re having great conversations, you know, between the coaches in there and the players just asking questions. Asking me questions. So, I enjoy it. I enjoy that part of – I think a great way to learn an offense is kind of being able to teach it a little bit. You can really communicate the reads, the conversations, how you want to go over whether you’re calling the plays or letting a receiver know what his route is or what his responsibilities are. I think it helps better prepare me for the season as well.

Q: There is a bit of competition for your backup job. How much attention do you pay to that?

A: I think you’re paying attention to what the other guys are doing in practice. You want to help everybody go out there and play well, practice well and be prepared for games. So, I think when you can have a talkative quarterback room and a positive room and everybody helping out each other, that’s a good thing and that’s what we’re trying to create – that dynamic in there.

Q: Does talk about your age drive you at all and do you want to silence that?

A: I know how old I am. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being 36. I’m proud of it. Hey, I feel good. I can still make all the throws. I can still run around when I need to. So, it is what it is. But, I don’t see myself slowing down at all and I feel like I still got great football ahead of me.

Q: Do you agree that this is the most talent you have had around you?

A: We’ll see. There’s some talented guys out there that can come together as a group, as a team, as an offense and put it all together. We have some new guys. We have to get on the same page with them. I’ve got to work with them these next months and into the season to get better, make sure we’re hitting all reps. Hitting everything we need to be so come game time we’re on the same page and we can connect on those plays and give us an opportunity to make some big plays. Also continue to grow with Odell (Beckham Jr.), continue to grow with Sterling Shepard and get the running backs in the game. I think there is the possibility of us being a special group, a very talented group. It’s all going to come down to how do we perform, how do we practice and what are we doing game day.

Q: What do you expect of demand from your offensive line?

A: Those guys are tough, you know. They work hard, they know what they’re doing, we’ve got a good group in there. They take pride in what they’re doing and they’re angry about how they’re talked about – it’s a good thing. They have a lot to prove; they want to go out there and play well, and I have a good feeling they will.

Q: How has it been working with TE Rhett Ellison?

A: We missed a lot of time in the spring. Rhett had injuries so he missed some time, but he was out there today running around, so it would be good to have him in the mix. We can move him around to different spots and have him do a lot of different things. He’s a smart guy, a tough guy, and he got some good work in during the early parts of the spring, got filled in on what his responsibilities are, what his job is with the offense. I think he’ll do a good job and help us out because he can do a lot of different things.

Q: Are you bothered by WR Odell Beckham Jr.’s statement about being the highest paid player in the NFL?

A: I didn’t see it, but no it doesn’t bother me at all. Sounds, you know, could be right.

Q: What do you think of the possibility of a wide receiver being in the quarterback ranks of money?

A: I don’t get involved in other people’s contracts, so whenever that comes up, I hope he gets a good one.

Q: Do you think your time with Brandon Marshall has come further along since minicamp?

A: I think we did a good job maintaining what we knew and what we learned. Like anything, you see with kids in school, you take the summer or six weeks off and you forget a lot of things. I think a lot of that was reminding him of different signals and different depths on some of his routes and just have him mentally go through some of those things so he’s fresh. So, when he comes into these practices he’s not having to think, oh that’s this many steps, or this is this route, or what this signal is. When that happens faster, he can play even faster.

Q: Pugh said driving to camp felt like a kid before Christmas, do you feel anything special about this year?

A: Yeah. I’m excited about the year. Just because knowing the guys and the character that we have on this team. Guys have worked hard in the spring; we got better and added some elements, and so I’m excited about raising our level of play and being explosive on offense and scoring points and having a strong defense. So, the possibilities are there. We just got to get to work and we got to make it happen.

Q: Are you at a point with your offensive weapons that you say you can really stress the defense?

A: We got to see what these guys can do. We got to put in our offense, run our plays, and now it’s just a matter of getting on the same page and having our core offense and plays, making sure guys had a run on what their assignments are and sound in the timing of our offense. As we start game planning certain teams to see how they’re playing us, then you can game plan a little more and putting guys in certain positions to do well. But right now, it’s more of let’s get the basics of the offense down and make sure everyone knows exactly what they’re doing and they’re doing it the right way.