Davis Webb

New York Giants: Davis Webb Is The Quarterback Of The Future – Here’s Why

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When the New York Giants drafted quarterback Davis Webb out of Cal in the third-round one year ago, the consensus was that he would be another backup signal caller destined for a life behind Eli Manning and his predecessor. Webb has effectively take that narrative and blown it to pieces with his non-stop desire to improve and make the most out of his career as a professional football player.

With every passing binder Webb manages to fill out with notes, tricks, and daily knowledge on how to conduct himself on the field, the product he displays becomes incrementally more impressive. This offseason, he’s brought a new game to the Giants, something that wasn’t visible in 2017 but is becoming more apparent in 2018.

How good has Davis Webb been in New York Giants training camp?

We all remember hearing the interceptions, missed passes, lack of knowledge in the pro-style offense arguments against Webb. He used those points as fuel to improve in every aspect of the game – learning from under center, becoming more accurate and mobile under pressure. His skill-set has quadrupled over the course of one offseason, and as Giants fans, we should be ecstatic he’s willing to dedicate every day of his life to succeeding Eli Manning as our franchise quarterback.

Taking a look at this throw – this is a completion that last year’s Webb would only dream of hitting. That’s a 40-yard throw on the run, towards the sideline to an in stride receiver – giving him enough space to get his feet in bounds. An impressive toss nonetheless.

These are just a few votes of confidence for the young quarterback.

Davis Webb said via Giants.com:

“I think I really worked hard this summer on pocket movement and escaping, and avoiding the rush, and throwing on the run. That’s something I really try to enhance – throwing on the run once the play breaks down; getting out of the pocket.”

While we know what Manning is capable of when flushed from the pocket…not much – Webb is able to quickly move outside of the pocket and deliver strikes. His youth and athleticism allows him to be more mobile, which will be refreshing when he likely gets the first crack at taking over after the age of Manning has come to an end.

New York Giants: This Is Davis Webb’s Time To Shine

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With the New York Giants reporting to training camp on Sunday, the football season is gearing up and preparing itself to take full form. We have waited far too long to enjoy a Sunday showdown, but with only seven weeks let until the home opener, there’s reason for excitement.

One player in specific will be looking to make a splash in training camp and pre-season, his name is Davis Webb. The second-year quarterback spent his rookie season learning behind Eli Manning and adapting to a pro-style offense. His relentless mentality to improve and desire to succeed will aid him in his journey to lock up the starting job once Manning calls it quits.

The pre-season represents the best opportunity to date for Webb, who was looked over in 2017 when Manning was benched in favor of Geno smith…Bad memories. Things are on the up and up for Big Blue, and with a new offensive line and starlet Saquon Barkley, Webb will likely have a solid debut.

Here’s a clip of a nice throw from Webb, delivering the ball right in the breadbasket of a running Travis Rudolph. This was in his rookie season. In 2018, things should look even better.

If you’re looking for a an in-depth breakdown of Webb’s pre-season game versus the Patriots, here’s a great clip.

What should our expectations be in 2018 for Davis Webb?

Webb will officially be coined the backup for Manning, whereas he was a third-string behind Smith last season. It’s essential that he continues to develop and progress as the season moves forward. While Manning has never missed a game due to injury, you can never be too careful in the NFL. Personally, I believe Webb is a solid option and I’m optimistic he can be the future of the franchise with a bit of live-game experience under his belt. The pre-season should deliver just that.

What The 2018 Season Really Means For Giants’ Eli Manning

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New York Giants, Eli Manning

When considering the timeline of New York Giants‘ Eli Manning’s career, one must realize that his prime years could very well be behind him. Despite his rising age, reports have stated Manning still maintains a strong arm. Head coach Pat Shurmur believes Eli is the most in-shape 37 year old he’s ever seen. While Manning would disagree, most would take the side of Shurmur.

The Giants’ long-time franchise quarterback will have a deciding year in 2018; if he fails to perform, he might hit the free agency market in favor of sophomore signal caller Davis Webb. On the other hand, general manager Dave Gettleman has done everything in his power to prolong the shelf life of Manning. He has supplied him with various tools to take on the season ahead.

What did Gettleman provide to the Giants’ offense?

In the 2018 NFL draft, the Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley and offensive lineman Will Hernandez. Both provide immediate support to Manning, who was left to fend for himself with a battered offensive line and a slew of formerly unknown receivers. In the months ahead, he will work with a rejuvenated offensive line consisting of left tackle Nate Solder, left guard Hernandez, either Jon Halapio or Brett Jones at center, right guard Patrick Omameh, and right tackle Ereck Flowers (most likely).

If the Giants’ QB cannot manage to utilize his weapons, there will be consequences, and it might come down to cutting him to save even a bit of cap space.

Let’s check out the numbers:

If the Giants were to cut Manning after the 2018 season, they would save approximately $17 million in cap space. In fact, it’s even possible they let him walk after this coming year. They would ultimately deliver the offense to Webb on a golden platter. It’s unlikely if Eli performs, but I wouldn’t entirely rule out the idea. It would allow Gettleman to go out and invest in a a top-tier safety, offensive lineman, and/or resign Odell Beckham Jr. and Landon Collins.

Locking up the two star players must be a priority and the $17 million would do just the trick. Something to consider after this season, after we get a glimpse of Webb in the pre-season.

 

New York Giants: Looking Back At Davis Webb’s Game Winning Drive

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While we wait for the 2018 season, it’s worth looking back at what happened last year for the New York Giants. This time, we’re looking all the way back to the preseason, to a game that’s often either forgotten or discounted when talking about Davis Webb. This, of course, is the Giants final preseason game leading up to the 2017 season, when they defeated the Patriots behind Webb leading a game winning drive.

The game was won 40-38, and it only happened because of Webb’s clutch throws. Yes, it’s only the preseason, but the game should be an indication that Webb isn’t a bust that won’t be on the team by the time Eli Manning retires. Let’s take a look at one of the key plays from that game.

This throw was an important one, because time was running out and the Giants gained a key chunk of yards to help them beat the clock. The throw isn’t the prettiest one, and almost looks like it might hit the ground, but it gets the job done and Webb completes the pass to the sideline to gain much needed yards and stop the clock.

On third down and with sixteen seconds left on the clock, Webb makes a similar completion and releases the ball just as separation is made, resulting in a catch. The clock keeps running, but it’s not a problem here because the Giants are getting closer to field goal range and still have two timeouts at this point.

Again, Webb shows good timing here. He enters his throwing motion just as his receiver starts breaking towards the sideline, and even though the Patriots know that the offense will target this area, they can’t do anything to stop it. After this play, the Giants kicked the field goal that won the game.

What can we learn from this? That Davis Webb has at least some NFL talent. Of course, we can’t know at this point if he’ll be a worthy successor to Eli Manning, or even an average NFL quarterback. The odds are against him, as far as the former is concerned. However, many Giants fans treat Webb as an afterthought and don’t consider him at all when thinking about the future of the Giants’ quarterback position.

The point isn’t that Webb will be a good quarterback because of leading a game winning drive in one preseason game, but that the team already has a young QB who has shown flashes of potential. Furthermore, Webb likely picked up some skills under Eli Manning last season, and we won’t know how much better or worse he is until we see him on the field again.

But if his last preseason game is any indication of talent, Webb is at least worth looking into as an option for the future.

What The Pre-Season Means For Davis Webb And The Giants

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Flashback to 2017 when the New York Giants were plagued with mismanagement and inadequate decisions made by the deranged coaching staff. Ben McAdoo made the final go-ahead decision to bench Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith to start against the Oakland Raiders. Manning’s streak ended and McAdoo came one step close to losing his job.

But the player that was left hanging in the wing was rookie quarterback, Davis Webb. The third-round pick had followed Manning around like a puppy for the entire season in preparation of a potential opportunity later in the year. Jerry Reese and McAdoo managed to take that away from him in favor of starting Smith, who was never going to be the future of the Giants and struggled mightily in his debut with Big Blue.

Why the pre-season is so significant for the Giants:

While seeing first-round pick Saquon Barkley in action and taking a look at Will Hernandez on the offensive line will be an interesting spectacle, the most intriguing player will be Webb. He will have the opportunity to run with the first-team, as the Giants will likely keep Manning healthy and off the field for the majority of  pre-season.

The Giants chose to pass on quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen in favor of Barkley, who was the most impressive player in the draft, and the most enticing athlete in the last 30 years, according to GM Dave Gettleman.

This move instilled a new sense of faith in Webb, despite the drafting of Kyle Lauletta. Some fans believe that the former Richmond quarterback has the skill-set to develop beyond Webb and take the job out from under him. Personally, I disagree. A year under Manning as his primary mentor helps Webb exponentially, giving him a one-year leg up on Lauletta.

Is Webb prepared to be the Giants future QB?

Over the course of the offseason, Webb trained relentlessly to add tools to his tool-box and refine his existing skills. While some may write the narrative that videos in shorts making 30 yard out-route passes on the dime doesn’t prove his abilities, we will see them in first-person in just a few weeks.

The Giants’ backup quarterback has the strength and size to be a prototypical signal caller in the NFL, but his consistency needs work, as he tends to miss reads and overthrow passes at times. Getting some live-game action before the regular season starts will give the front-office an idea of what to expect from Webb and the state of his current development.

Ultimately, it will be a first-interview for the young QB, and he will further learn his weaknesses so that he can be prepared when Manning finally takes off his cape and hands the torch over to his understudy.

 

New York Giants: When Will Davis Webb Be Ready To Become The Starter?

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Thoughts of the future are intertwined in every New York Giants fans head with the excitement for the present. Having a world-class running back and wide receiver to thread opposing defenses is front and center for the Giants, but the question remains: When will Eli Manning’s ticker run out of time? And will Davis Webb be ready?

The Journey:

Offseason workouts provide the coaching staff a period of assessment, where they can break down their roster and begin to force competition to extract value and talent from players. Whittling down until the first-team is formed is the process the team must go through, but for Davis Webb, his spot on the roster is guaranteed. He will be the backup to quarterback Eli Manning, and his opportunity must wait until Manning withers away due to old age and declining talent.

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Webb has shown a great deal of improvement throughout the weeks, showing off his arm strength, accuracy, and talent commanding the huddle.

According to Bleacher Report, Webb stated:

“I know I’m going to get a shot here,” Webb said. “If it’s tomorrow, if it’s in 10 years, I know I’m going to get a chance. And when that comes, throw it deep, throw it deep. Scared money don’t make money.”

Webb surely won’t be stepping into Manning’s shoes this season, unless an injury occurs; but having a dedicated backup that’s showing extreme improvement is exciting. He will get his opportunity to present his skill-set during the pre-season, and he might even earn some first-string time, but for now, he must wait idly by while Manning plays out the rest of his career.

It’s possible Webb is forced to wait for another two season to get his shot, but he will be ready when the opportunity comes. Two or three seasons under Manning and a rebuilt offense will give him the tools and confidence to capture the starting job smoothly when his time comes. But for now, we can only break down his strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Webb, as he very well could be the future of this franchise.

Strengths:

Webb possesses a stellar mentality and has worked tirelessly to perfect his craft this offseason. He spent a majority of the summer working with trainer Tony Racioppi, who assisted in developing his footwork and arm mechanics. These tools are essential for a quarterback in the NFL, and seeing Webb not only work on the physical part of his game, but the mental, is ever-so encouraging. Often times, it’s not the physical attributes that hold a QB back, but rather the decision making and mental obstacles of being a passer in the NFL – breaking down defenses, moving through progressions, leading a receiver, timing, etc. These are all factors that require mental prowess, and they’re different for every scheme and player. Webb, luckily, has spent the time crafting his granular connections, which will help him succeed when he finally reaches the point of opportunity.

Weaknesses:

Now, we’ve heard a lot of good things about Webb, but not many poor things. The media likely has a lot to do with that, but let’s be real, there’s still many things that need to be worked on. For example, Webb threw an interception during OTAs at the cost of a poor read. He needs to work on learning the movements of safeties and linebackers, as quality players will undercut routes and take him by surprise. Webb will continue to develop his eye movement and the unpredictability of his throws.

In addition, the Giants’ backup quarterback needs to work on his medium range passing, as he’s still getting over the air raid offense he conducted at Cal. While he has a stellar long-ball, his passing over the middle can be refined.

At only 23 years-old, Webb has plenty of time to fine-tune his skill-set. Head coach Pat Shurmur stated that he believes Manning has “years” left in his playing career, and if that’s the case, Webb will be waiting quite some time before he receives a chance to start. On the bright side, he will be ready when it comes.

 

 

 

Davis Webb Making Sure Giants Brass Notices His Offseason Improvement

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New York Giants‘ quarterback Davis Webb is ripping an old page out of the book of quotes… “It doesn’t take talent to hustle.”

The rising sophomore entered the league with flaws in every part of his game, but has spent countless hours refining his skill set and proving to the Giants brass that he, in fact, has what it takes to be a starting caliber quarterback in the NFL.

Is that statement too premature? Maybe, but it shouldn’t take away from the tremendous effort and dedication Webb has given to the game thus far as a Giant.

“The biggest thing I take away from practice and every meeting in the NFL is it’s a process,” Webb told NJ Advance Media. “If you miss a question in a meeting, that’s fine. We’ll correct it, but don’t do it again. If you miss a throw or an adjustment, it’s fine.”

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While practice is just practice, Webb is doing everything he can to extract the value from the game-like situational drills he has performed during OTAs. His arm strength is more than adequate and his accuracy is improving with every pass, but the primary aspect of his game that needs refinement is his decision making.

Reading the coverage of the defense and breaking down their scheme is much easier said than done, and Webb’s mentor, Eli Manning, is certainly one of the best in the game at the specific challenge.

“I’m OK with making mistakes as long as I correct them and don’t do it again. That’s the thing I’m most excited about,” Webb stated.

Mistakes are a necessary part of any game and are essential to any learning process. Webb making the mistakes in practice only benefits him in the long-run, and having a solid defense to test his skills is exactly what he needs to continue building upon his current skill-set to eventually become the heir to the throne.

One of the most underrated aspects of Webb is his behind the scene work, where he took the initiative and began learning the offense with Manning as soon as Pat Shurmur hit the New York tarmac. Manning has been forced to learn several new offenses over the past few seasons, and adding another will only be another challenge to his dwindling prime. Luckily, Webb will have Manning’s expertise to fall back on and learn the ropes of coping with a massive change in regime and scheme.

“I had to do a lot of behind the scenes: Fake throws behind Eli, film work, which helped me expedite the process but you still need to throw to guys and call protections out,” Webb said. “Now, the biggest growth is I’m getting live reps.”

We aren’t the only ones that want Webb to get some game-action! The quarterback himself must be itching to have the opportunity to show how far he’s come since being drafted only one short year ago. To say he has improved would be an understatement, as a season under center behind a Hall of Fame quarterback would improve even the lamest of ducks.

 

 

New York Giants’ Offseason Plan Shows Faith In Rising Quarterback

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In these slow weeks leading up to training camp, New York Giants fans won’t have much to do other than evaluate our off-season moves and hope for a brighter season come fall.  Many will celebrate the drafting of Saquon Barkley at #2 overall, the very definition of a win now move that when combined with a rebuilt offensive line makes our offense look like a top flight unit in 2018.

Yet, there will be many who spend a lot of time wondering if we made a mistake passing on a QB in an NFL draft that set a record with 4 signal callers selected in the first 10 picks. Those fans can’t be blamed…I was/am extremely high on Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen and they both were available to us since Cleveland just couldn’t help being Cleveland by drafting Baker Mayfield.

Here’s a little trivia that might those fans feel better…wanna guess who pushed Mayfield out of his starting job at Texas Tech? New York Giants 2nd year QB Davis Webb, that’s who.

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Everything about our off-season tells me that Gettleman and the brass not only believe in Eli, but they also believe in Davis Webb. Not only as a future starter, but as our immediate backup, ready to step in and pilot a loaded offense. Before we get into Webb as a player, let’s break down management’s belief logically.

The Giants not only passed on a QB in round 1, they didn’t bring in a seasoned veteran to push Webb for the backup spot (Alex Tanney is about as ‘seasoned’ as Wonder bread). Eli is an ironman, but I doubt Gettleman would gamble his job by going into the season without a viable backup.

He knows their value. During his five-year tenure in Carolina, Cam Newton was always backed up by Derek Anderson, who led the Browns to a 10-6 record back in ’07 and has filled in nicely whenever needed. After taking a close look at Davis Webb’s practice and college tape, Gettleman must like what he sees enough to feel comfortable with Webb starting in the unlikely event Eli gets injured.

Let’s take a look at some Webb tape:

You can see from that highlight reel that Webb is a classic pocket passer. Standing 6’5” and weighing in at 229lbs., Webb displays impressive arm strength, good pocket movement, and strong accuracy. Per Mike Mayock on NFL.com, “Davis Webb’s got a live arm. He drops it in the bucket. Moves well enough, quick release, big arm.” His senior year at Cal, where he replaced Jared Goff, was by far his most impressive, throwing for nearly 4,300 yds & 37 td’s in only 12 games. Those physical traits and his senior year performance are what promted the Giants to select him with the 23rd pick of the 3rd round in last year’s draft.

As is true with most any young QB, based on what we saw in college there are aspects of his game that need improvement. Although he is highly intelligent, he needs to speed up his decision making and improve at reading defenses pre-snap. During the play, at times he stares down receivers and/or doesn’t ‘look-off’ safties, resulting in more contested passes from savvy defensive backs. His footwork can be better too…balls sail on him if he doesn’t keep his feet in rhythm.

By all accounts, he improved in all these areas during practice last season. As he didn’t play in the regular season last year, here are a few clips of him training just to give you an idea of how he looks:

Arm strength?

Footwork?

Accuracy?

Of course, these videos really don’t tell us much. If your QB doesn’t look like a hall of famer practicing against air, then you really don’t have a QB. There’s no way to know for sure how Davis Webb will fare once the bullets are flying. The hope is that the team surrounding our starter is good enough that he doesn’t have to be an MVP on day 1.

But I wanna offer a final thought for those who still wish we went QB in round 1: Whether or not you agree with our off-season agenda, you must admit it was masterfully executed. The organization seems to be making the right decisions lately, so I’ll put my trust in Davis Webb because the New York Giants already have.

Giants’ Pre-Draft OTA’s Could Be The Deciding Factor For NFL Draft Selection

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While sophomore quarterback Davis Webb running around in shorts and slinging passes without any pressure doesn’t depict much, it could have an influence on who the New York Giants pick in the NFL draft.

Head coach Pat Shurmur will have an up close look at his young signal caller, but in the end, it shouldn’t make a difference on who they pick on Thursday. Why? Because a practice in shorts and no pads doesn’t equate to game-tape.

How could it  ‘affect’ who the Giants pick on Thursday?

Staff within the organization has praised Webb over the course of his one-year career as a Giant, saying he’s a professional through and through, but also maintains a unique work ethic seen in only the best of the best.

He expects quality out of every player, and teammates have described him as having “the ‘IT’ factor.” Is that enough to pass on a quarterback at No. 2? Probably not — but it certainly plays a part in the circumstance that they do.

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Having a live look at Webb is the positive aspect of the additional OTA awarded to a new head coach. It will give Shurmur a chance to see him in motion, despite the lack of pressure and game-like relevance.

If the Giants proceed to snag Penn State running back Saquon Barkley in the draft, we can assume that the new regime have placed their bet on Webb. But how can they keep his cap-hit down while having to pay Odell Beckham Jr., Landon Collins, and Barkley?

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It all comes down to Eli Manning. The Giants’ franchise quarterback will likely be extended to 2019 if a quarterback is not taken on Thursday, which will give Webb a two-year cushion to sit and prepare himself from his inaugural season in 2020. That would be the final year on his rookie deal. The Giants can bait him into signing a long-term deal instead of betting on himself in one season.

Additionally, Manning will be required to take a pay-cut. There is not a single team that will pay him $20 million per-season, and the Giants won’t either. It’s either pay-cut or retire for Eli.

The Strong Arm:

Offering Webb $40 million over four years with $25 million guaranteed puts him at $10 million per-season with incentives. But how can they pull that off? GM Dave Gettleman will have to strong arm his agent, convincing him that they will to draft a quarterback in 2020 despite wanting to commit to Webb. But they won’t invest in him unless they take the deal. Webb and his agent will have to decide on letting the Giants draft a QB and potentially losing the starting job, or signing the long-term deal and guaranteeing Webb as Manning’s heir.

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This locks in a starting QB for only $10 million per-season, which in the end is an absolute steal when compared to other top-tier signal callers.

The question here is: How can we guarantee Webb won’t flop?

Investing $10 million per-year on a QB is chump change, and it wouldn’t set the Giants too far back if it doesn’t pan out. Considering Webb would have Beckham Jr., Evan Engram, Saquon Barkley, and  a solid offensive line, his chances of success are more probable than failure.

 

 

 

 

Pat Shurmur Will Have A Chance To See Davis Webb In Action Due To Great Rule

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The New York Giants and head coach Pat Shurmur are in luck…

Being that Shurmur is a new head coach, the team is presented with an additional mini-camp where players can be introduced to the new systems. This additional camp also gives the new regime a first-hand look at second-year quarterback Davis Webb.

Webb has spent a majority of the offseason working with teammate Evan Engram and wide receiver Brandon Marshall. His work ethic and improvement are both obvious, and if you don’t believe Webb has improved since college, you are surely mistaken. A year under a Hall of Fame quarterback and instruction from professional coaches would help improve any player.

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If you’re interested in seeing how much Webb has improved, check out my exclusive interview with his offseason trainer.

What the extra mini-camp gives the Giants:

The additional camp allows the Giants to break down Webb and make a final decision on if he’s the future of the franchise. Shurmur is known as the “quarterback whisperer,” and was able to find success with third-string quarterback Case Keenum.

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Keenum signed a two-year, $36 million deal with the Denver Broncos a few weeks ago. If Shurmur can make Keenum an $18 million per-season quarterback, just imagine what he can do with a player like Webb. Shurmur plays to players’ strengths, which is why we should expect to see a lot of play-action with Eli Manning and creative routes with Odell Beckham Jr.

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The Giants hold the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and the decision on whether to take a quarterback or not will influence the team for years to come. Passing on a QB in favor of Webb will put a huge risk on the future of the team, but the rewards would be grand if Webb can fill the shoes of Manning and lead the team to greatness.

EXTRA:

Case Keenum was an undrafted player in 2012. Shurmur managed to turn him into a star, and also helped Brandon Weeden see his most successful years in Cleveland. There’s no doubt he can make Webb great as well.