A year ago the New York Giants were installing a new offense under coordinator Ben McAdoo while Eli Manning dealt with ankle surgery, limiting his offseason reps.
After struggling to start the season, Big Blue caught a groove. Thanks in large part to the scintillating performance from Odell Beckham, Manning bounced back from a pitiful 2013 to complete a career-high 63.1 percent of his passes with a 30 to 14 touchdown-interception ratio in 2014.
After a year in the system, Manning actually being able to tinker with the offense during the offseason will allow him to be even better in 2015.
"It was important having this last month -- watching the film, talking a lot about the mechanics, the footwork, being able to go outside with him and working on a lot of drill work," Manning said recently during OTAs via the team's official website. "A lot of it is stuff I wasn't able to do last year. I was coming off the ankle surgery, I had a new offense -- of lot of things going through the mind, trying to figure out concepts.
"This year, I understand the concepts. I'm still working on it, but I'm concentrating on the footwork and the mechanics and the timing of everything. It was great to have that this year and kind of get back to the basics of everything. I feel comfortable, I feel real good right now."
With the injury to left tackle Will Beatty, offensive line issues could short circuit a unit that hopes to be more efficient in Year 2 under McAdoo. But if Victor Cruz can return from a torn patellar tendon to start the season, he'll give Manning a bona fide 1-2 punch with the unguardable Beckham that could release some of the pressure.
With huge question marks on defense, Big Blue's O will need to carry the team if they are to climb to the top of the NFC East.
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