For the first time since 2004, the New York Giants will not have quarterback Eli Manning under center at training camp. It will be a strange and new dynamic, but it’s an adjustment the team will have to make as the Daniel Jones era is now full steam ahead.
Even with Jones cemented in as the franchise quarterback, the Giants still have a lot of questions at the position. And Jones has a few surrounding him as well.
Here’s a quick preview of what we can expect to see from Giants’ quarterbacks come training camp on July 28.
Daniel Jones
After taking over for veteran Eli Manning in Week 3 of last season, Jones went on to complete 61.9% of his passes for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, he also tossed 12 interceptions and fumbled the ball 18 times, losing 11 of those.
Ball security will obviously be a point of emphasis in 2020, which Jones got a head-start on this offseason.
“One of the things I’ve tried to focus on this offseason is my ball security and [holding onto the ball] in the pocket,” Jones said in May. “Being more mindful of that and more intentional on how you hold the ball and how you secure the ball.”
Not only did Jones spend much of his offseason working with quarterback gurus on ball security, he added nine pounds in an effort to be stronger at the point of contact. He will also focus on avoiding unnecessary hits this season, which was a major reason for his fumbling issue as a rookie.
“Ball security is a focus for a lot of guys, but for him, that was the first thing he said,” QB Country trainer Anthony Boone told The Athletic. “Early on, I think I sneaked in and poked one or two out. But now everything he does, you can just tell when it’s in his hands, he’s like, ‘Listen, this thing is secure.’ You can see in his face and the way he’s gripping, you can see his forearms poking. He’s like, ‘This ball is mine. Nobody’s getting this thing out of my hands.’ He’s definitely gotten a lot better at it.”
Meanwhile, with Manning now retired, Jones will no longer be inhibited by that awkwardness. Still, it’s clear he’s taken a page from The Book of Eli and wasted absolutely no time preparing this offseason despite the many pitfalls brought about by COVID-19.