QB Eli Manning
Conference Call
August 31, 2018
Q: As a veteran who has gone through training camp with three different coaches, what has stood out to you about Shurmur’s training camp?
A: I don’t know if much is different. All training camps are pretty similar, especially in the first year. You are trying to learn the system, you are trying to get familiar with new players. You are trying to get a lot of work in, a lot of reps. You have to get a feel for the offense, what plays he likes to run against certain looks. When you start game planning for teams, how he is going to call plays in the game. You are just getting a feel for everything and getting a lot work and trying to work on specific things each and every week.
Q: How has Sterling Shepard looked this summer?
A: I thought Sterling has had a great training camp. I think he’s running routes well, he’s getting separation, we have moved him around a good bit with Odell being out in the spring and being limited early on in training camp. He has got work outside and inside, the last couple of years he has been mostly inside. Moving him around, putting him in different spots, he does a great job of getting open against man, you like that matchup. He gets separation and that’s what you like from those guys.
Q: How big is it that Saquon can catch the ball out of the backfield?
A: That’s what makes him special, the fact that he can be a receiver out of the backfield. It just makes him that three-down back, finding ways to get him the ball in space. That’s a matchup we like. If we get man-to-man, that’s a matchup we like in the mix. Getting him the ball and letting him be an athlete, get the ball to him in space where he can make guys miss and get some big gains for us. I think it will be helpful, if teams want to play zone and drop back, having the ability to throw check downs and let him make some plays that way.
Q: Do you think having a guy like Saquon to throw to can raise your completion percentage?
A: Yeah, it can, it depends on timing. Obviously, you want to try and get the ball down the field, but if teams are playing soft zone and taking away things down the field, just knowing you have a great outlet right there instead of holding the ball and risk sacks and other things. Taking check downs, that can get teams from doing that. If you can hit check downs and get 8 or 10 yards a pop, those are great options for us. It can help us be patient and not have to force things or wait for things to develop down the field, knowing you can get him touches in space and let him make some plays.
Q: How do you feel about where Kyle Lauletta and Davis Webb are, two guys who have never taken a regular season snap. What’s your confidence level in them?
A: I think Davis, Kyle, and Alex have done a good job picking up this offense as well. It’s been new for them, they are talented, they can make all the throws. Learning the offense, having great questions, all of us are learning it together. I think they have done a good job picking up on everything and also in the games, making some nice plays.
Q: What was your reaction to Odell’s contract, and is it a relief that it will not be a distraction?
A: I was excited for Odell, because of that reason. I didn’t want that to be a distraction going into week 1. I think he has done a great job of not making it a distraction. Not talking about it, not making it an issue with the team, he has been at practice and done everything he is supposed to do. I know he is relieved it got worked out, we can put that behind us and worry about going out there and playing football. He’s handled the whole situation well and I’m just excited for him.
Q: How much have you looked at Jacksonville, and how much did you notice Jalen Ramsey?
A: Started on Jacksonville the last couple of days. I started watching film of this season and last season, they are talented. Their front seven is talented, their back four is talented. They have a good scheme and they do it very well. They play fast and are in the right spots. It will be fun to pick coach Shurmur’s brain and see what plays we will have installed and what’s the best way to attack them. We’ll have opportunities to make plays and we have to make them.
Q: Are you curious about that process, your first in-depth game planning with Mike Shula and Pat Shurmur?
A: Yeah, definitely, you get a taste of it in preseason, but obviously you don’t do a ton of game planning. Excited about the process this coming week and I look forward to talking with them, getting on the same page and seeing what their ideas are and what schemes we want to run against Jacksonville.
