When the New York Giants hired Pat Shurmur to be their head coach, it was contingent on the fact that Eli Manning would be the starter for the foreseeable future.
Manning is a seasoned veteran with plenty of success under his belt, but he’s a bit different than the quarterback’s Shurmur has worked with in the past. He’s immobile, in the twilight of his career, and has been trained to crumble under pressure after years of inadequate offensive line play.
The fact of the matter is, Manning isn’t the ideal fit for Shurmur, a coach who prefers a passer that can escape pressure but favors throwing the ball over running. That’s why the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Daniel Jones, fits the bill perfectly for the Giants’ offensive scheme.
What makes Daniel Jones so attractive for the New York Giants:
Jones, a 6’5″, 221-pound quarterback, holds prototypical size for an NFL quarterback. He has the ability to move well in the pocket and can pick up yards with his legs if need be. In addition to those attributes, he has an accurate arm with plenty of strength to get the ball downfield quickly.
Former QB for the Giants, Phil Simms, seems to agree, stating:
“I think he really fits what Pat Shurmur wants,â€Â Simms said, via MSG. “He’s a big guy, who can move around and has a good, solid NFL arm. He was taught really well down at Duke, and all of those things add up.â€
So far, Jones has shown his ability to avoid the media and their negative tendencies. He has a similar approach to the media as Manning — stay out of their way and it can’t hurt you. As most younger passers are plastered on social media and fighting back against narratives, Jones chooses to stay away. A good idea, especially when playing in New York. We’ve seen what the Empire State can do to a player, just ask Odell Beckham Jr.
While the Giants’ first-round pick has looked good in rookie mini-camp, Monday will start training camp with the full roster — this is where we will really get a chance to view him in a competitive scenario.