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PFF: Giants must keep pressure out of Eli's face

Pro Football Focus reveals data showing Giants' quarterback Eli Manning handles blind-side pressure much better than pressure from his right.

By Ed Valentine

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Want to know the best way to attack every quarterback in the NFL? Pro Football Focus is in the midst of a series of 'pressure profiles' for every starting quarterback in the league, and the resulting data would prove useful to offensive and defensive coordinators around the league.

What can we learn about New York Giants' quarterback Eli Manning in PFF's pressure profiles of NFC East quarterbacks? Manning is far better when pressure comes from his left, his blind side, than he is when pressure comes from his right, or directly in his face.

PFF included pressure data all the way back to its inception in 2008, so this is not simply a one-season sample. The passer ratings from PFF when Manning is pressured are as follows:

  • LT: 84.0
  • LG: 83.0
  • C: 49.1
  • RG: 42.9
  • RT: 50.1
  • Overall vs. pressure: 65.7

When pressured, PFF's data has Manning throwing 29 touchdown passes vs. 36 interceptions since 2008.

What does this tell us about the 2013 Giants? It tells us, first, that the Giants must do whatever they have to in order to keep pressure from coming into Manning's line of vision.

With that in mind, it means the competition for the right tackle job between veteran David Diehl, first-round pick Justin Pugh and third-year player James Brewer could be critical to the success of the Giants' passing attack. It also means the health of center David Baas and right guard Chris Snee, both currently recuperating from offseason surgeries, is important.

What could Giants' defensive coordinator Perry Fewell take away from PFF's study?

Pressure up the middle bothers Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys more than anything else. His worst ratings are when pressure comes over the center (66.7) or right guard (74.5).

Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles is bothered most by pressure from the edges, with his passer dropping to 34.3 when pressure comes through the left tackle and 43.8 when it comes from the right edge.

Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins fared worst in 2012 when pressure came from the right edge, with only a 28.5 passer rating.

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