“Well, I think it still takes time”.
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It’s a scary prospect for NFL defenses.
His team is coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since he became their quarterback, 178 consecutive starts and counting, playoffs and two Super Bowl victories included. The team has suffered a good amount of defensive bleeding over the past few seasons with some of their best players finding employment elsewhere. And he did it while learning a new West Coast offense that many believed wouldn’t suit his strength, which has been throwing the ball deep downfield.
It’s not like the return (#TheReturn) of New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz needed anymore hype, but quarterback Eli Manning added to it on Thursday anyway. Manning is set up to have one of the greatest years of his entire career. Jones will definitely find his way into the crowded offense. In six games before suffering a torn ACL, he threw for 1,626 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Odell’s interpretation: “Don’t let the ball hit the ground”.
Yet because of Manning and the way he has embraced the challenge of reinventing his game, the Giants have reason to believe everything else around him will work itself out. He also talked about the upcoming scrimmages against the Cincinnati Bengals and the opportunities those joint practices will provide.
Despite the rave reviews, Manning admits there’s a little rust and an ongoing development in Ben McAdoo’s offensive system. “I plan to go out and compete, and if they take it up to another level, just be smart about it”.
A strong arm helps, too, and somehow, at age 34, Manning seems to have rediscovered that. But Ingram is big and reliable for coach Sean Peyton and should have his number called often in goal-to-go situations. “It feels live right now”.
“Just keep football as football and making sure it’s the most important to me, which it is, because it’s what I’m here to do”, he said Friday.
Football first. That’s what you want to hear from Beckham, who is learning how to balance fame with getting ready for his second NFL season. Although he’ll have to adjust to new playmakers after the departures of Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels in free agency, Steve Smith Sr.is still there, Justin Forsett is a terrific pass-catcher out of the backfield and rookies Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams are both immensely talented.
Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints: At a crossroads in 2014, Ingram broke through at an opportune time as a physical back capable of leading the charge for the Saints. “To get to where he is, you have no choice”.
You feel like you already caught it, you don’t need to look the ball in, you look away and you start having drops, and it’s not because you can’t catch, it’s just a lack of focus.
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The stats are no question impressive, but it was a certain catch one Sunday night that has all eyes on the Giants receiver entering 2015.
