Eli

I know it's only been two games this season but I assert that we are seeing the emergence of Eli as a legitimate star. Last year's playoff run is irrefutable evidence that he has the talent, he has the grit, and lord knows, we didn't need the playoff performance to know that he certainly has the pedigree. But some were left with some reasonable doubt and questions: was last year's playoff run a good player playing over his head for a short stretch? Was he riding the wave of the Giants themselves playing superior football for those four games? Giants were a mediocre 10-6 last year and barely squeaked into the playoffs with a rain-soaked win in Buffalo in game 15 that was sparked by two defensive touchdowns and one 80 yard run by Bradshaw, after they came from way behind early in the 2nd half. So - doubters could reasonably maintain that the Giants as a team were playing over their heads last year and that Eli was the beneficiary of that good play.

My assertion is exactly the opposite. It's not true that Eli was just along for the ride - quite the contrary - he was the main impetus to that offense playing Superbowl caliber football. The MVP for the Superbowl was certainly earned, but more than that - he was the MVP of the entire playoff run. He completely outplayed every qb that he came up against in the playoffs including pro-bowler Romo and future HOF-ers Favre and Brady. He carried the offense on his shoulders through the entire playoff run. Remember, the Giants running game was still adjusting to the loss of Shockey's blocking and lost a full yard per average carry. Eli did more to lead the team through the playoffs than most other qbs that I can remember. Everyone talks about the great 2 minute drive to win the Superbowl, but to me, the most impressive drive I have ever seen was the TD at the end of the half against Dallas. We got the ball back with 47 seconds left, down a TD after two exhausting, punishing 10 minute drives by the Cowboys offense. The best case scenario and all you could reasonably hope for was a FG to give us 3 points and a little boost going into the locker room. But you remember what happened: 23 yards to Steve Smith; 12 yard to Steve Smith + a face mask penalty; 20 yards to Boss down to the 4 yard line followed by the TD to Toomer. That drive turned the entire game and I think gave the entire team - offense and defense - the feeling that we had a great qb and we could beat anybody.

But - the above is still looking back to last year - the doubters could still question whether last year was a one-time fluke. I am going to pick out 4 plays from the 2008 version of Eli from the first two games that should prove why I think he is an emerging star.

1. Redskins game: 1st half, 1st drive of game, Giants have the ball 3rd and 6 from the Washington 17. Eli drops back to throw and the pocket closes up real fast. the RDE gets a good push on Diehl and looks like he is about to sack Eli. Eli takes a quick two steps back and to his right to give him an extra half second to see the field. As he is being grasped by the DE, off his backfoot, he has enough armstrength to throw a perfect pass to Burress in the middle, who has a DB right on his back and makes the juggling catch for the first down. This showed tremendous poise, pocket awareness, strong and accurate throwing arm and the ability to throw while under pressure.

2. Two plays later on the same drive, Giants had a first and goal from the 1 after a PI in the endzone against Fred Smoot. Everybody is looking for a dose of B Jacobs up the middle. Instead, Eli fakes to Jacobs and rolls out on a bootleg to his right. It looks to me like he is trying to the throw the ball to a TE in the endzone, but nobody is open. So instead he tucks it and runs toward the goal line. He dekes the LB Washington, who is an excellent tackler, and cuts inside of him for the score. This only adds to his resume and blunts some of the criticism that he is not athletic.

3. Game 2, against the Rams, 1st qtr 33 yd TD pass to Burress. Most people saw an easy throw to a wide open WR. I saw something else. I saw TE Kevin Boss staying in to increase the pass protection and block on the RDE. Boss stumbled and whiffed on his block of the RDE who came free on an outside rush from Eli's blind side. Eli sensed him coming, stepped up in the pokcet and let the rusher run past him. This gave him plenty of time to throw and gave Plax an extra second to get down field. The throw was easy, but perfect. The pocket awareness and the calm technique is what will allow his natural ability to come forward.

4. 2nd qtr against the Rams, 3rd down, Eli being squeezed in the pocket and about to be pulled down to the ground for a sack, has his right arm pinned to his body but is still standing. He switches the ball to his left hand and flips it to Brandon Jacobs for a 2 yd gain. Instead of losing 8-10 yards resutling in a 45 yard FG attempt it turns into a gain of 2 and a much more makeable 31 yard FG attempt. Pocket presence, confidence to improvise, balance and athletic ability are all important qualities. (Understand - I'm not saying that thrwoing lefty is an important characteristic, I'm saying that the athletic ability that someone has who can do that is what's important.)

Last year he got to the next level in the playoffs. I think we are going to see him raise his game even more and we are seeing the growth and emergence of one of the great qbs in football.