The Giants are all too aware of The Danger of The Backup Quarterback, and are therefore on high alert for Scott Tolzien on Sunday.
“Going in there, kind of with your guard down, that could potentially be a danger, to like, ‘Man we’re not facing Aaron Rodgers,’ You kind of wipe your brow and you’re like, ‘OK, we may not have to do X, Y, Z as if we’re facing Aaron Rodgers,” safety Ryan Mundy said.
“But that’s definitely not the mind-set of our team right now. Regardless of who’s playing quarterback, who’s playing running back, wide receiver, it doesn’t matter. We need to win ballgames, and that’s our focus right now. We’re hungry, we’re focused, and we’re taking it one game at a time.”
And one quarterback at a time. Nick Foles came off the bench for Michael Vick and shredded Big Blue, and the list of Bubby Brister clones who have burned the Giants over the years is a long and sobering one (from Charlie Whitehurst to Vince Young to Jon Kitna to Matt Moore to Brad Johnson to Craig Krenzel to Patrick Ramsey to Steve Matthews to Trent Green to Jason Garrett to …).
The Giants (3-6) promise they understand that while not having to face Rodgers, who is out with a broken collarbone, is a blessing, sleeping on Tolzien can be a curse.
“In terms of arm strength, accuracy, the ability to scramble and buy time with his legs — [Rodgers is] the best,” Jon Beason said. “Not having him is going to hurt their offense, but at the same time, this guy’s proven that he can go out and get it done.”
Tolzien, cut by the 49ers before the season, was a Green Bay practice squadder, a third-stringer who was forced to throw his first NFL passes last week against the Eagles after backup quarterback Seneca Wallace left the game early with a groin issue. The Giants have scouted the ends of the earth looking for game tape of Tolzien.
“[The Packers] pretty much stuck to their game plan,” Mundy said, “and it kind of spoke a few volumes about him when they had an opportunity to bring in Matt Flynn the first time and they didn’t, they kept Seneca Wallace in, and even now I think they came out and said that he’s going to be their starter no matter what. I think with a full week of preparation, he should be much better.”
Tolzien was 24-for-39 for 280 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions against the Eagles.
“He’s a pocket passer, he’s your typical NFL quarterback,” Mundy said. “Sometimes his throws were a little off, didn’t have the timing down with the wide receivers, but like I said, with a week of practice and preparation, I’m anticipating that to be a lot better this week.”
Since the start of the Eli Manning Era in the 10th game of the 2004 season, Giants’ opponents have never had to prepare for a backup quarterback. Manning has started every game.
“I do feel like we’re fortunate,” Justin Tuck said. “This is our ninth year together? And every game that I’ve played he’s played. That’s rare. That talks to the strength of this O-line, the strength of Eli getting in the weight room. And doing all the right things to keep his body right.
“He’s been hurt, but seems to always be able to still get out there on Sunday day for us. The quarterback is the head, and whenever you don’t have that guy, especially the caliber of quarterback we have and the caliber of quarterback Green Bay had, it’s a huge difference, not only in ability, but in the mental state of an offense losing a leader like that.”
The Giants are intent on stopping Packers running back Eddie Lacy and daring Tolzien to beat them. Asked if you can get in the head of a guy who hasn’t played a lot, Terrell Thomas said: “Definitely. No doubt.”