Eli Manning still does dumb things that make you look at the guy next to you funny. Like that overthrow to Plaxico on a great escape from the pocket in the 4th. Or "The Catch". Take a look again. It was an improbable catch. But a terrible throw. A risky throw. But the risk paid off. And that's what we remember. The risk has been paying off for well over a month now, and it has proven Eli capable in his own right, sure. But it has significance beyond Eli Manning. All of this means something, all of a sudden, when you have a young blue-chip QB turn the tables and capture value. And not just capture value, but spin myth. Eli is hero. His heroics, now, mythological. For all his struggles, for all his maligning, Eli manning has gone beyond any mere redress of ills, beyond merely recouping value. To see a young QB able to "catch magic", to "get it", after trying his hand for so long at mediocrity, this means something. To the league. To front offices looking at craters in their depth charts at QB, and high draft slots. And it means something to the Matt Ryans, and Brian Brohms of the world, whose damage done by pussing out of public appearances may mean less than zero. All of a sudden, a young blue-chip franchise QB doesn't look so bad of an idea this year, all with Big Ben, who, yeah, if he was the only one to do it, wouldn't mean much, but now, with Eli, and with Phil Rivers, this year, now these Qbs don't look so bad. Not one bit. All of a sudden, articles have come out and said, "stay bullish on Leinart." There was a small trend we've seen lately of blue-chip QBs sliding, a general feeling of sell on blue-chip QBs, where they all seem to look weak. It isn't a long term adjustment. Eli Manning is the best thing that has happened to the Jets in a LONG time. He single handedly recouped the *real* objective worth of the blue-chip QB in this year's draft. All because some QB hungry, win-starved GM sees the reflection of Matt Ryan and Brian Brohm or Joe Flacco even, in the reflection of Eli Manning's face as it cascades off the trophy that says Lombardi. You may start dreaming of QBs going #1 overall again in the 08 draft now. And it wouldn't hurt all that much if they went 4th or 5th either... Now that likelihood just jumped.
That throw to Plaxico was right where he needed to put it. Hardly a hard or impossible catch. "The Catch" was a risky throw, but dead on in the end. Both QB and WR did what had to be done. Not all throws will be great...not every throw Montana, Elway, Peyton, etc. made was great or without risk...thats why receivers have to do the best they can to finish the job. I think it's retarded how people romanticize the QB position and always try to find the "perfect" QB. Build a good line, get some good WRs and TEs, and build a running game and most QBs will look great. The intangibles can (and will) come after the team has success. QB play is vital to a franchise, but you can (and have to) manipulate QB play with surrounding talent and smart scheming. I doubt Eli's performance did anything to change views on the QB prospects this year or where they go in the draft. If anything, the Giants and Pats showed how important the trenches are...and the recent trend to pay O-line men so much shows just how valuable the NFL sees the lines nowadays. Build the line and you'll probably find your QB...and the rest of your offense.
I agree that the throw was not as much of a prayer as people think. You have to remember, you're only seeing the end of the play, after the defense has closed in on the receiver. After escaping the pile, Manning was able to find some space, stick his back foot in the ground and throw with some purpose. I guarantee when Eli released the ball, Tyree was alone. It's only after the ball travels through the air and reaches the receiver that everything tightens up. The throw hit Tyree outstretched hands. Still, it was an unbelievable catch.
I hate to say but if the Jets add some help to the oline and the defense in free agency I wouldn't complain if we dratfed Matt Ryan to compete with KC...SD did something extremely similar.
I don't think a young QB making a couple of plays in the Super Bowl is going to suddenly make the league sit up and remember that they used to love quarterbacks... I don't think the league ever stopped loving quarterbacks. But front offices are savvy enough to know when a player deserves to be a high pick and when they don't. Eli looked like a rookie for spells of the Super Bowl and hasn't suddenly 'recouped the real objective worth of a blue chip QB', whatever that means.
That wasn't a "Bad bad pass"...it was miscommunication between QB and wideout. Manning thought Burress was going to continue up field, and he stutter stepped. It happens in the all time. If you look at the play, Manning shouldn't have even got out of the pocket to get that pass off. Give the guy some credit. He has so many doubters and he just threw everything anyone has every said about him back in their faces. He was clutch when it mattered in the biggest game of his life, and he won the game. Confidence is a hell of a thing to have as a QB. I think Eli just got a ton of it.
How about when he threw into triple coverage in the end zone (3rd quarter?) when he had a wide open 18+ yard gain in the middle. How bouts dat, huh? Yea. Wut. Wut.
what about it? that has nothing to do with whether the pass to Burress they were talking about was a bad throw. what, because he made a bad decision now every incompletion is a bad pass. that's a ridiculous argument if that is what you are making -- and that is the only argument you can be inferring by bringing that up. yea, wut? MrElectric is right, the pass to Burress was fine, he simply thought Burress was going to continue up field and threw the ball to hit him in stride. that happens all the time. had he threw it backwards, anticipating Burress to stop, and Burress had to come back for the ball, costing him ten yards more on the play if he caught it, you would criticize him too for forcing his receive back instead of hitting him in stride. well, you don't get it both ways.
He was going for the homerun throw...and I respect that. Sure, Toomer was open over the middle, but maybe Manning didn't see him. He had 300+ pound linemen running full speed at him. He won the damn game, and he deserves credit for it. I can't believe people are bashing this guy now. He proved EVERYONE wrong on Sunday.
can't take anything away from eli. he put the ball to tyree up there for him to make a play. that was the game. if he gets sacked, the parade is in a different city. every guy on the team stepped up when they needed to.eli's pass to burress was on the run, throwing off balance. can't get on him for that. my hats off to him. i just hope we can build a line around clemens, to see if he's got something. i think it's unfair to judge him at this point. this is a "TEAM" sport. let's start putting together a good team.
I hope it affects the way the Jets are approaching this draft. We very well might have the pick of the litter at the QB position when we are on the clock. They better be damn sure that Clemens is the answer if they are going to pass on another franchise caliber QB. Their jobs depend on it.
Nice post. Sorry to say this is a bad place to post it. There is a growing sentiment on this board that Captain Check down Pennington can lead us to the promised land. They would rather see him check down on third and 18 as opposed to try and make something happen when the money is on the line. We will defend mediocrity until the bitter end. All you will get is references to Brad Smith and Trent Dilfer.
Its a gamble with any Quarter back . Vinny Testeverde is a good example ; Mainly because he 's old. He had a mediocore career (Barring his stats ) Nicknames such as interceptervede dont come from stellar play year after year. At the tail end of his career he had some good seasons and eventually had his swan song with the Jets in 98. Well that example shows that yes even Akli Smith would have had a good - great season eventually. Do people here actually thing Eli is a better Quarter back then his brother patton ; but he got there quicker then payton and with better play-off stats then his brother. But during the seson Payton stats were better and probally always will be . Its all a matter of timeing . The right guy at the right time.
Akili Smith is a scrub and would not have won the big one no matter who you surrounded him with. Eli is by no means better than Peyton but with that said he does have the talent to win the big one if the proper pieces are around him. He has the ability to step up and make plays when a Qb needs too. That is the difference between Eli and what we have carted out on the field the last six years.
I disagree, Chad had the right peices around him for a short time and was able to bring us to the brink of the AFC Championship; so that part of your responce is wrong. Its unfair to even mention Kellen (Not saying you did) because we dont have a good team to support him right now. I stand behind what I said, Even Akli smith could Fart Mushrooms and and get lucky charms and win a big one . It really is about timing the right guy at the right time (See Douge williams,Trent dilfer,Jeff hostetler,)
I think that if the young quarterback heroics have and effect on the '08 draft, based on the history of the draft following player trends from the previous season, it will be that teams are going to be reaching for quarterbacks this year.
Do you really think Chad could have bought the Giants down the field and won the way eli did on Sunday. Chad would have been sacked on the Tyree play and we both know it. There is a difference between lightning striking one game and having to do it four games in a row. If Chad had what it took he would have put us in the Afc Championship game. Doug Williams was good, Trend Dilfer had arguably one of the best defenses to step on a football field supporting him and Hossteler had the same plus he made some plays with his legs and arms during that run. In 2002 he crumbled against the Raiders, He put in a gutsy performance against the steelers but still did nothing to win and he does what he always does when it matters against the Pats last year. Nothing. I really don't think we need to rest our hopes in a Qb that has to have a perfect game and supporting cast around them to win the big one. We need a guy who can perform when everyone else has a bad day.
Not being a smart ass but that sounds like superman you just mentioned there. I was calling for the hook when it came to chad last year so I want to get that out there before I sound like im defending him. You are absolutely right that Chad would have not made those plays ; but he would havent enven approached the drive in that fashion , it would have been short high precentage passes and we have both seen him march down the feild on good teams in the past and by no means am I saying at any time that Chad is the man to take us to the promise land its about catching fire at the right time Just like Eli did! To bring it all into prespective the title of this thread referes to Young QB Heroics Having an effect on 2008 draft . For one thing we will not be selecting a QB in the first 5 rounds (Mark it down) and if we do it will not be someone who will be taking the reins from the start unless we are deperate and Chad and Kellen are doing it all over again (Sucking) . To the point Eli's QB Heroics do not really effect what we are going to do in the draft by any means what so ever. He caught fire at the right time . If he wins it again next year then we have a different story to debate!
