For those anxiously awaiting word of something, anything to indicate Davis Webb is getting closer to actually seeing the field, there was a glimmer of hope emanating from practice Wednesday.
There was an eight-play sequence where the Giants’ starting offense went against the starting defense. Usually, Eli Manning takes those eight reps. That normalcy was broken, as Webb was given six of the eight snaps, a sign that the organization is trying, ever so slowly, to see what they’ve got in the young quarterback taken in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
“It kind of gave me a chance to be thrown in there and actually go through it myself, have the O-line hear my calls and the receivers see my signals,’’ Webb said, “It was a cool experience. I got better from it today.’’
Interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo said, “We’re amping him up a little bit.’’
Lest anyone jump to any conclusions about this, Spagnuolo said the plan remains the same as far as Sunday’s game against the Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. Manning is the starter, Geno Smith is the backup. Will Webb even be active?
“As of right now no, but who knows,’’ Spagnuolo said.
Asked if getting Webb in a game is a priority with the season nearing a close — the Giants finish up at home against the Redskins — Spagnuolo said, “I keep going back to it and I’m just being honest with you, I’m focused on winning the football game and to me, winning the football game is with Eli Manning. Should it be anything else, that’s probably something bad happened. I prefer to have Eli Manning in there.’’
So, for now, any scraps Webb can pick up are better than nothing. Manning was told of the plan early in the week.
“Late in the year, don’t mind getting a few reps off and letting him get some reps,’’ Manning said. “It’s all good.’’
Webb sounded pleased with his six snaps.
“I think I did good,’’ Webb said. “It was my first time getting reps in a little bit, in a team setting and I think I did a pretty good job. There’s things I need to work on, obviously, but I think I did a pretty solid job.’’
Normally, Webb runs the scout team in practice, operating the opponents’ offense to give the Giants’ defense a simulation of what to expect on game day. This time, Webb actually ran the Giants’ offense, a step in the right direction.
“He did a good job in there,’’ center Brett Jones said. “He’s been preparing for it, he’s ready for it. It was cool to have him back there and it was fun. He knows what he’s doing. He did a good job and we were able to run some good plays and have some positive gains.’’
Manning said, “I thought he made some good calls and got us in some better plays, some good checks and ran the offense well.’’
Peppered with questions about Webb, the six snaps and Webb’s readiness for a real game, Manning clearly did not want to delve in too deeply.
“Well, tough to say,’’ Manning said. “I think he’s having a year to watch how a season goes, watch the offense, what plays are working, why certain plays work and don’t work vs. a defense, making protection calls and those types of things.
“He just hasn’t had many reps running this offense. Even in training camp, we had four quarterbacks, he was the fourth one. He’s played some. He’s a smart kid and he can figure it out.’’
After all these practices this season, Webb finally got to run his team’s offense.
“It’s just more fun to run your system and see your checks and pick up types of blitzes and protections and stuff,’’ he said. “It was fun.’’
Webb, too, did not make too much of this slight acceleration in his practice assignment.
“I haven’t played in a game before,’’ Webb said. “Practice is totally different, you’re not getting hit, I don’t want to sound rude but it’s just different. You’re not getting hit. You can feel the rush but you’ll feel it on Sundays if you’re getting hit. I do think my grasp of the offense has gotten better every day since I’ve been here.
“I think I took another huge step, I had a chance to get reps. I was really excited about today and now I’m more excited about getting in there and watching film of it.’’