Gettleman: Pat Shurmur will call plays, Eli Manning will run them

Speaking to reporters at the Senior Bowl on Wednesday, New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman answered two key questions about the 2018 season. Eli Manning will be the quarterback, and new head coach Pat Shurmur will be offensive play-caller

Gettleman had previously said that if the tape backed up the idea that Manning’s 37-of-57, 434-yard game against the Philadelphia Eagles was more than just a blip he would stay with him. The GM is convinced.

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“I had an opportunity to watch [Manning’s film] because the quarterback is the most important position on the team,” Gettleman said. “At the end of the day, it wasn’t a mirage. It was not a mirage.”

Valentine’s View: Let’s not get all riled up with the “that’s a mistake because it’s what Ben McAdoo” did chatter. Just because flopped miserably as a head coach (and play-caller, for that matter) while trying to run the offense doesn’t mean that same fate awaits Shurmur.

Fact is, Shurmur is a far more experienced coach than McAdoo was when he took the Giants’ job. He is 52. He has been a head coach before. He has been an offensive coordinator three times. He should have far more understanding of how to juggle his various responsibilities.

Shurmur calling plays had to be expected. His work as an offensive coordinator is largely what got him hired.

Valentine’s View: This is also not unexpected. Gettleman expressed this preference at his introductory press conference and apparently hasn’t seen anything on film to change his mind.

The question that still needs to be answered is whether or not the Giants will use the No. 2 overall pick on a successor, or if they will just roll with Manning and Davis Webb.

Something to consider: The Giants, although it was a different regime, used a premium draft pick on Webb a year ago. Can they maximize his remaining years if they use the No. 2 pick on someone who will sit behind him rather than play alongside him?