It was 2007. Bad Eli was getting lit up. 4 interceptions versus Minnesota. 20 interceptions that season. Yet Ronde Barber, who would face Manning in the Wild Card playoff round, gave his QB opponent a gift earlier in the week.
“Sometimes he just throws some bad balls. I don’t know the reasons for that. He can be had, we know that.”
Ronde Barber, of Eli Manning, January 3, 2008
Manning changed. He stopped telegraphing, and actually used the tendency to purposely look off the future Hall of Fame CB, threading a TD pass into Amani Toomer en route to a playoff win and a turnaround in his play. There’s a lesson in there for another Giants QB 15 years later.
“The dude did not want to throw the ball. Early on, you could tell it wasn’t gonna happen. Everything was a checkdown. At that point, we knew what time it was.”
Unnamed SF 49er, of Daniel Jones
We preach OL. Protect QB. Yet we won’t protect Jones from his utter collapse last night. Some Giants fans may not like the anonymous comment from the 49er. The truth hurts. Confront the brutal facts. Apparently Jones didn’t pay enough attention to what the 49er said. Unfortunately, another NFC West player would comment on Jones a game later.
“We knew he liked to stare down his first target.”
Seattle CB Devon Witherspoon, of Daniel Jones
THESE TWO DISPARAGING REMARKS ARE A GIFT TO JONES. (They are also a gift the Giants coaching staff.) Use the whole field. Stop staring down your first option. Bad Offensive Line or not, the coaching staff cannot be held hostage to bad Daniel Jones. Jones has a choice. Work smarter or be predictable toast.