Mario Manningham, 09.23.09

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the work you did in the spring with Eli (Manning) and when it kind of clicked for you and when you established that comfort level?

A. I mean me and Eli (Manning), we worked a lot in the off season. We tried to get better everyday in the offseason. We did what we had to do to click, so that we could bring it into the season.

Q. Was there anything in particular that he pointed out to you which has made a difference in your performance?

A. Just looking at coverages, noticing coverages, noticing how defensive backs play and noticing what I’m going to run off the hot routes.

Q. When you were texting him, what message were you trying to send to him about your commitment to get better?

A. Last year I watched a lot and I didn’t really get a chance to get with Eli (Manning) in practice. During the off-season, I was talking to him and letting him know I am going to do what I have to do to step up, to be that receiver and try and go out there and make plays.

Q. Now that you have had some big plays and stepped up, teams are probably going to step up and play you a little differently, I’m guessing. Do you expect that?

A. I don’t know. It’s up to them what they do. We can’t do anything about what they do; we can just control what we do. I am sure we will go out there and adjust on whatever we have to do.

Q. Working as a member of the scout team last year, you were simulating opposing offenses. Is there any value to taking that and maybe incorporating what you might have learned?

A. Oh yeah. That really helped me because I was going up against our great defensive backs everyday. Going against (Aaron) Ross, Webbie (Corey Webster), (Kevin) Dockery, T2 (Terrell Thomas) and going against the safeties that we have, it was a lot of help. I did a lot of scout team last year, so it helped me understand the coverages a lot.

Q. You have matured a lot since your college days, is there any person who is influential in helping you to do that or does it just come with age?

A. I mean when you look around the locker room we are around a bunch of grown men. That’s what it is, it’s a lot of grown men in here, there are no little kids in here, so obviously that’s just how it is.

Q. Tom Coughlin said he saw something special in you last year when you were working with the scout team, is that frustrating though that you weren’t able to take that to game day and get out there?

A. That wasn’t frustrating. It’s not like we had bad receivers last year. I got injured and it set me behind. If anything, I think it helped me out sitting down to watch and seeing what the other receivers in front of me could do.