New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is primed to have an MVP season. In 2015, Manning quietly put up some outstanding stats, passing for 4,432 yards and 30 touchdowns. The former Ole Miss standout accomplished all this without Victor Cruz or a running game, and a horrible Giants defense to boot. The Giants’ version of the west coast offense has taken some time to develop, but Eli has grown to become much more comfortable behind center.
The main reason for this offense being a success is the quick three-step drop; Eli continues to get rid of the ball quickly. Even with an average offensive line, Eli has been able to hide some of their deficiencies by hitting receivers on short to mid-range, 10-15 yard passes. He still takes his shots deep to Odell Beckham Jr., but it’s those high percentage passes to Shane Vereen out of the backfield — along with crisp shorter routes by Beckham — that have proven to be a successful formula.
Here are my Top 5 reasons why Manning will win the 2016 NFL MVP:
#5: Third time’s the Charm – This will be Manning’s third year in the same offensive system. This unit went through some growing pains three seasons ago and have come a long way from that opening night in Detroit. Look for the Giants QB to put up the best passing numbers of his career. I fully expect him to complete more than 62% of his passes for a third season in a row.
#4: Ben McAdoo – M &M (Manning & McAdoo) have a very close relationship. Being promoted from the offensive coordinator to the head coach means that McAdoo will have less time to spend with Eli; in other words, Manning will be more involved in the offensive game plan, maybe even calling plays regularly. These two trust each other, and that is always a winning formula for a coach and quarterback.
#3: Running Game – A quarterback’s best friend is the running game to keep the defense honest. The Giants should be much better because of center Weston Richburg. At 6’3, 300lbs, Richburg is the strength of the offensive line. New York has a plethora of talented running backs, and that should provide a solid run game from the first quarter to the last. Once they establish the run, that will open up the passing game.
#2: Offensive Weapons – With a healthy Victor Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr. and draft pick Sterling Shepard, the Giants’ passing game should be downright deadly. (Of course, this is all predicated on a healthy Victor Cruz). If that is the case, look for the Giants to shift Beckham, Cruz and Sterling from inside to wide receiver and vice versa to create the mismatches they want.
#1: A Winning Record – Let’s be honest here: If Eli passes for 6,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, he still won’t win the MVP if the Giants only win 5 or 6 games. For this to happen, the Giants need to make the playoffs (which I think they will.) The schedule is favorable in 2016, so the timing is right for the Giants to get back on a winning track. All signs point to a magnificent season for Eli.
For more of Chris Rosa and his take on the Giants, follow him on Twitter @GiantsCarbCrush.
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