Much of the discussion this offseason regarding the New York Giants' receiving corps has surrounded the massive need for a No. 2 wideout to pair with Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham has earned 2,755 yards and 25 touchdowns in just 27 games to begin his career. Eli Manning wants more from OBJ.
"Odell has obviously done great things, but we need him to raise his level as well," Manning said on a conference call Monday, per the New York Daily News.
Manning conceded that asking much more of Beckham is pushing it, after the receiver carried the Giants' offense almost single-handedly last season. The quarterback insists that even slight improvements from Beckham in technique could make a big difference in his Year 3 production.
"There are things he can work on and we ask a lot of him," Manning said. "He's required to know a lot of different routes and a lot of techniques and exactly how to do it. That's the way he's gonna get a lot of balls and be in position to do a lot of things."
With Rueben Randle departing for Philly, the Giants lack an obvious candidate to play that No. 2 role. New York remains hopeful Victor Cruz can return to form, but we're a long ways from that being a given. Dwayne Harris is a No. 3, at best.
"There's some young guys, there's some guys that have been around a little bit," Manning said. "We need them to step up and make some plays for us."
As we sit in early April, if the Giants are to move the ball in 2016, it's going to be on the back of Beckham.
