Eli talks receivers, doesn't talk money

by Ed Valentine on Aug 10, 2009 3:34 PM EDT in New York Giants News

Just my luck. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning decides to talk to the assembled media, and I was not over at camp. Fortunately for me, and you, I have all the particulars thanks to the excellent folks in the Giants' communications department (and yes, that qualifies as a little brown-nosing).

There were, of course, contract questions. Which Eli declined to discuss. Also, of course, there were lots of wide receiver questions. Eli, of course, spoke highly of his 2009 targets.

Here are some snippets.

Q: Have you gotten a feel yet for your receivers?

A: Yeah. The guys are doing well. We’re throwing a lot at them. They’re getting reps and we’re going to make mistakes, that’s part of learning, but we’re not repeating the same mistakes and that’s a good thing. We’re getting different looks, different coverages, and different reads, and they’re making plays. They’re hitting a lot of big plays. There are some mistakes we’ve got to fix, but that’s why you go to training camp and that’s why we’ve had all these practices, to work out all the kinks. We’re throwing a lot of things at them right now and once you get into a game situation and you’ll have a smaller playbook, fewer plays and you can concentrate more on those things. For the most part they’re doing well and they’re competing and working hard and I like that. There have been some big plays out there, more than we’ve had in the past, and that’s exciting.

Q: There have been a lot of interceptions in camp. Is that because you’re just getting familiar with some of the guys?

A: Yeah, you never like interceptions but in a way you’ve got to see what guys are capable of. You’ve got to give them some shots and see if they can go get the ball for you. Some of the mistakes are just being on the field on the wrong page and that’s what you learn from. There’ll be some trial and error there, but a lot of it is just little things and when one person does something a little wrong it can screw up the whole route but we’ve got to cut down on the interceptions. That’s always a must but I think there should be less and less as we get further into camp just because guys should be doing the right things and…

My take: This is something I had been wondering about. How many of these interceptions are coming on balls Eli is putting out there simply to find out how one of the young receivers will react? That has to be the case on occasion, particularly down the field.

Q: Any of these receivers surprise or impress you?

A: A lot of guys are doing well. I think Ramses [Barden] is doing really well, he’s a big target, he makes the plays, he seems like he has a pretty good feel for what is going on. Sinorice [Moss] is doing well and making some big plays, [Mario] Manningham is getting down the field and doing some good stuff so guys are doing well. It’s just about continuing to get reps and get better.

-- Read the full Eli Manning transcript
-- Tom Coughlin's morning press briefing

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Comments

Eli likes Ramses....

I know it’s still early on but i thought as a UNIT the secondary has stood out…but individually i think Barden may be the biggest surprise this summer. I"m not even sure if “surprise” is the right word…Impressive may be a better word…

i just hope he stays healthy….

by andiamo708 on Aug 10, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

Barden

continues to impress. If Eli likes throwing to him, that is also in his favor. I keep saying it, but the thing w/Barden is he does not have to be open to make a play. He made a nice catch in double coverage today, even though he could not get both feet down (Eli’s pass was a tad too far). It was still a very impressive play.

by Ed Valentine on Aug 10, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice catch in double coverage...

Sounds like every ball Larry Fitzgerald caught last season…

"We'll show up tomorrow and do the same thing we try to do every day, Kick Pedroia's ass in cribbage and try and win a baseball game."

by tito (eight and oh) on Aug 10, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

the more I hear about Barden

the more I think we have the next Marques Colston. Weaker college competition causes him to drop in the draft, but he’s just a physical freak.

by cjmulrain on Aug 10, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

+1

Colston played at Hofstra, Barden at Cal Poly. WTF’s the difference?

by FreeBradshaw on Aug 10, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

actually a decent bit..

The CAA/Atlantic 10 Conference which Hofstra plays is in is like the SEC of Division 1-AA/FCS football and the Great West Football Conference which Cal Poly plays in is like Conference USA. Needless to say though, Ramses dominated every game he played, even against teams who are 1-A/FBS and his numbers weren’t what they could have been had he played in an offense that was run out of a formation that wasn’t the flexbone. I think the fact that he played in the Flexbone could be advantageous to him though because the Wide Receivers are used extensively as downfield blockers in that offense so he knows how to block which is a shot in the arm for a team that plans to pound the rock like the Giants do.

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Aug 10, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

+1 for the CAA being awesome

but it should be noted that Colston wasn’t even a wide receiver in college, so Barden at least has that advantage over him. Ultimately, I’d say they have pretty similar situations.

by cjmulrain on Aug 10, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Can Barden Start?

Thats what I want to know…I said it in the last piece about the WRs but what if this guy starts in the slot. I know it sounds crazy but Steve Smith apparently has some jets and could play outside. Put the big guy in the slot or rotate him with Moss in the slot. How nasty can he be? Thats a defensive nightmare for nicklebacks.

by JRSu1 on Aug 10, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

I think he can...

the question is….will they let him? knowing coach C he’ll want to make sure Barden knows the play book and is able to block in the running game as well.

But talent wise, from what i’ve seen, yes he can start…(oh btw, when you say “starter” i think of top 3 WRs). He can play both inside and outside…even if he lines up outside, it doesn’t necessarily mean he has to go deep…and vice versa.

I think he can contribute in goal line situations immediately. Imagine Boss at TE at 6’6:" and Barden at WR at 6’6" as well….plus our 6’5" 265 lb running back….how do u defend that?

By the end of the year i think Barden will be a fixture in the offense…he may not technically be our #1 or #2 WR but he’ll be contributing.

by andiamo708 on Aug 10, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you'll see him worked in

kinda like Vincent Jackson on the Chargers. Situational type play. He won’t learn the playbook fully until later in the season unless he’s a real quick study (Cal Poly’s not for dumbies) or they call plays that are custom for him al a Colston.

You’ll see him on fade routes near the end zone. If he really is fast you’ll see him on some deep routes too, but starter? I don’t thinks so. Him, Beckum and Nicks will be more situational as the other guys fall in. If they falter you’ll see more of them.

by FreeBradshaw on Aug 10, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Start?

I think it’s pretty obvious that right now Hixon and Smith are the starters. They work that way every day. He could play a lot in the slot, though.

by Ed Valentine on Aug 10, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

wouldn't it be more likely

that if Ramses went in on the outside with Smith in the Slot and Hixon as the other outside Receiver?

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Aug 10, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Ramses

has been lining up in the slot and largely patrolling the middle. The Giants are giving Smith every opportunity to show he can make big plays on the outside. That might change, but for now that is how they have been lining up.

by Ed Valentine on Aug 10, 2009 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

So my vision might come true…awesome

by JRSu1 on Aug 11, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea I meant starter as in anywhere…although for some reason my mind is fixated on seeing this 6’6 beast line up in the slot and having some poor linebacker try to keep up. From what I’m hearing he can play anywhere.

by JRSu1 on Aug 10, 2009 6:21 PM EDT reply actions

This is looking great

my running around the Quad at Villanova when Ramses was drafted is looking like it paid off. Preseason is when we’ll get a real feel for what he can do.

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Aug 10, 2009 6:52 PM EDT reply actions

I like Ramses reports and potentials

But I am not sold he is ready to start just yet. Give him many games where he shows up before we anoint him the next Colston.

by brisulph on Aug 10, 2009 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

We also have to remember

that Colston plays in a receiver friendly offense in an indoor stadium, so he had a leg up.

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Aug 10, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope Gilbride uses these WR like Spags used our D line

I happen to agree w/ villanova sports…smith is better in the slot, i know they’re trying him outside and so far he’s answered the call but again, i like him inside. Hixon and Manningham to me are “outside” guys. Moss IMO is still a question mark…we’ve seen him catch the deep ball and we know he has speed but he’s got to actually consistently prove it now. Nicks and Barden seem like they can play both positions, inside and outside…but again, gotta see it in an actual game.

with that said, I don’t want to see Gilbride sending Smith deep, or having Manningham running underneath routes. and don’t get locked into the same 2 or 3 guys…i think until someone steps up Smith, Hixon, Moss, Manningham, Nicks and Barden should see the field….and they can make it work with situational playing and substitutions.

I’m not into predictions…but at the end of this year I think we’ll see Hixon, Barden, and Smith as our top 3. Nicks and Manningham in close pursuit.

by andiamo708 on Aug 10, 2009 9:31 PM EDT reply actions

steve smith

was a fixture in our offense at the end of his rookie season (granted we played 4 extra games)…and that was coming off an injury early in the year. what that tells me is that although the giants like to bring their players along slowly they’re not going to turn a blind eye to talent. it’s gonna be fun watching these guys fight for playing time.

Not to take anytihng away from Hixon and Smith but in a perfect world by the start of 2010 Hixon will be back to Returning Kicks and Smith will be back to playing slot full time. Meaning Nick/Barden/Manningham will have straight up won the #1 and #2 jobs. Which I see happening, not this year but down the road.

by andiamo708 on Aug 10, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

With these additions

Of Nicks, Ramses and Barden, on top of Mario, Moss, Smith, Hix and Boss we have so many possible matchup problems for other teams. Granted these guys are still all young, but the coaches should be able to find weaknesses in every defense that we face and use the right receiver accordingly to magnify these weaknesses. Plus with this availability of young talent there should be many different sets to work out of with 3 and 4 wides. Granted we are a running team but I figure its always nice to be able to spread it out given 2 minute drills.

by wangstu13 on Aug 11, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

Yes..

I know they’ll have their standard situation sets, but they have the tools to throw in a kink here and there and have the opposing team letting out a collective: “Rut-Ro!”

by Bobbiblue on Aug 12, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Still concerned about the O-line...

We have no capable back-ups according to what Ed and you folks that are there have seen, especially center…We can’t possibly think this unit can go injury free for three years, that is a huge problem.

by Bobbiblue on Aug 12, 2009 12:16 PM EDT reply actions