Former New York Giants OC says Eli Manning decline is ‘ludicrous’
By Bryan Rose
Few coaches know Eli Manning better than former New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.
The longtime football mind worked as the Giants quarterback coach from 2004-2006 and eventually moved to the OC role in 2007 until 2013. Needless to say, he’s spent plenty of time with Manning and believes the rumors of his decline are ‘ludicrous’.
"So is Eli in decline?“I think that’s, to be honest with you, ludicrous,” Gilbride said. “I think he’s going to be fine. . . . He’s going to throw the ball to the right person and he’s going to throw it accurately.”"
While Eli is nearing an age where many players have began a decline, there’s no doubt Manning was given few tools to work with last year. Not only did he have nothing more than a patchwork offensive line, but the Giants also had zero run game. Combine the two and you have a pass rush constantly getting to Manning with no help out of the backfield – not an enviable situation.
The Giants did what they could to improve both this offseason, so 2014 should be a better test of Manning’s perceived declining skills.