Quarterback Eli Manning
December 20, 2017
Q: Do you see any weaknesses in Chandler Jones and any ways you can work around him?
A: Well, I think you just got to know where he is. If you can’t get two bodies on him – you got to try to do that as much as you can – get the ball out quickly. But, he’s a good player. They do a good job getting to the quarterback, bringing some blitzes, trying to make sure backs can’t chip on him. So, just got to get it out on time, but he can make some plays. Just make sure – ball security. Don’t let a sack turn into anything worse.
Q: Quarterback to quarterback, what do you see from Drew Stanton?
A: I haven’t seen Drew play this year. Know him well. Known him since college and he’s had to play these last couple years. Believe last time we played Arizona, he played. So, he’s played well and smart guy. He’ll know how to run the offense.
Q: Is the up tempo offense something you think you can sustain?
A: Well, I think you got to use some, you know, use it at times and try to make sure it’s at the right moments and it’s going to help us and not hurt us. So, just make sure everybody is on the same page, can get the calls done and go out there and execute well.
Q: It seems like most of the passes thrown were short. Is that something to keep you up?
A: Yeah, that’s just kind of part of that West Coast offense is you get the ball out on time and hit the guys in stride and hopefully throw some short ones, let them run a long way. So, a lot of it is just timing and see if we can just get the ball out on time.
Q: What areas is Davis Webb more advanced in now than he was during training camp?
A: Tough to say. I think he’s just having a year to watch how a season goes, watch the offense, see what plays are working, why certain plays work and don’t work versus the defense, making protection calls and those types of things. So, I think he’s done a good job just studying and asking good questions and trying to play the game from behind when he’s watching practice.
Q: How much of a challenge do you think it would be if he was asked to go in a game at this point?
A: He just hasn’t had many reps with running this offense and even in training camp we had four quarterbacks. He was the fourth one. So, he’s played some. He’s a smart kid and he can figure it out.
Q: Some people say that you need to be in a game to get the experience. Is there something to be gained from sitting back and watching it that you think can help expedite the learning process?
A: Well, I think both of them help. You got to be able to learn from watching, but also nothing like game experience.
Q: Coach Steve Spagnuolo said that Davis Webb got reps with the first team today. How do you think he looked?
A: Yeah. I thought he made some good calls and got us in some better plays, some good checks and ran the offense well.
Q: He hasn’t gotten the chance to do that very often, right?
A: Right.
Q: Did they tell you before practice that Davis Webb would get reps?
A: They told me. Yeah. Spags (Steve Spagnuolo) told me earlier in the week. Late in the year. You don’t mind getting a few reps off and let him get some reps. It’s all good.
Q: How would you describe your relationship with Larry Fitzgerald?
A: Larry and I go back a long way. Known him since college. We were up for the Heisman together our senior years and from then forward, I’ve kept up with him his whole time in Arizona, seen him around different times. Obviously last year, we both won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award together, so I was around him a bunch there. Just a great person. Great football player. I’ve played some Pro bowls with him, thrown touchdowns to him in some Pro Bowls. So, we have a good relationship.
Q: How do you carry over last week’s performance into this week?
A: You learn quick in football that nothing carries over from week to week. It’s about we’re going against an uncommon opponent. We haven’t played Arizona in a while, so we got to have a great preparation and that’s starting with me. But, everybody just understanding their schemes, what they’re going to do and we just got to execute. Last week, guys made some great individual efforts. We got to continue to do that and then just find a lot of completions.
Q: Do you feel like the receivers are hitting their stride right now?
A: I thought last week they were winning some of their one-on-ones and that’s what you need to do. They didn’t win all of them, but they won the majority of them and that’s how you can get some big plays. They’re working hard and doing some good things and we just got to keep, again, know the coverages, know the style this week, know your opponent and how we can get open.
Q: When you get back from Arizona are you going to even bother going to bed or are you just going to wait for the kids to get up?
A: Yeah, I haven’t figured that part yet. I haven’t figured that part. Sleep on the plane a little bit. Yeah. They’ll probably think I’m Santa as I’m coming in at 4:30 in the morning. So, just roll with it.