New York Giants Ryan Nassib An Improving Player

The New York Giants have an unknown in backup quarterback Ryan Nassib who is taking positive steps on the practice field.

It has been a tumultous couple of seasons for the New York Giants as they have missed the playoffs for four straight years. There has been a number of ups-and-downs during that time, but there has been one consistency throughout it all; Eli Manning would be under center playing quarterback.

Manning has not missed a start since taking over the starting job from the Giants from Kurt Warner in 2004 for the final nine games of the season. As a result, there has been very little chance to see what the backup quarterback can do in games that matter.

That is not normally a problem, as the Giants had gone with veteran options holding the clipboard behind Manning. Guys like David Carr, Curtis Painter, Anthony Wright and Jared Lorenzen to name a few have held that job, but the Giants knew what they had in those veterans. The same cannot be said for their current backup, Ryan Nassib.

The Giants traded up in the the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft to select Nassib 110th overall out of Syracuse. They had an eye on the future with Nassib, thinking that he could eventually take over as the starting quarterback for Manning. But, with Manning being the epitome of durable (knock on wood), Nassib hasn’t had a chance to showcase his ability on the field during games that matter.

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Nassib has only 10 career pass attempts in the regular season, so he is pretty much an known commodity at this point. But, he is making strides on the field and has the look of someone that is ready for a chance to be a starting quarterback.

According to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, Nassib has looked vastly improved during OTA’s this season. Nassib didn’t look like an NFL quarterback according to Raanan when he began covering the team full time in 2014. He was sailing passes over receivers heads with multiple interceptions as then offensive coordinator, and now head coach, Ben McAdoo installed his system.

Now, his third offseason in the McAdoo system, and Nassib looks like a totally different player according to Raanan. Raanan says that it is much more difficult to differentiate when Nassib and Manning are on the field, saying that they make decisive decisions and that they both have fluid footwork and a command of the offense.

He goes on to add that the biggest difference between Nassib and Manning is that Nassib, who is nine years younger than Manning, throws the ball harder and does significantly more damage while on the move. Manning has been solid for the Giants on rollouts and has more elusiveness than people give him credit for, but he is mostly a pocket quarterback; Nassib is far more athletic and does more damage on the move, which is imperative with how athletic defenders are becoming and with a questionable offensive line which the Giants have.

“Just seeing things a little bit better,” Nassib said last week after another solid afternoon of work at organized team activities. “There are definitely some things I miss. Definitely some things I need to clean up on, but my mind and thought process is starting to slow down which makes me play faster.”

It makes an interesting predicament for Nassib and the Giants that is worth watching. Nassib, who is already 26, could be looking for an opportunity to start sooner than later, and that may not come with the Giants. Manning, who is 35, has four more years on his contract and it would be tough to envision Nassib overtaking him at any time, especially with how he has looked the past two seasons under McAdoo.

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Because of that, Nassib could be looking to move on from the Giants next offseason as his rookie contract is set to expire following the 2016 season. Teams will take chances on quarterbacks that show potential and promise; look at Brock Osweiler this offseason. When Nassib will get his shot, or with what team it will come with, no one knows for sure. But one thing that is certain is that he will be prepared when it does happen.

“It’s something you can’t really think about,” Nassib said. “When the time comes, all I have to do is make sure I’m ready for it.”

That will be the only time that the Giants or anyone sees what kind of player they have had behind Manning for the past three years. He has been stellar in preseason the last two seasons, throwing seven touchdowns to zero interceptions.

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While preseason games are a different animal compared to the regular season, it may be all other teams have to go off of if they want to acquire him. If that is the case, he has some strong tape to show as he has performed when given the chance and continues to improve during practices.

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