Victor Cruz

After coach Tom Coughlin said earlier this week that the offense is “way ahead” of where it was at this point last year, Manning put up a big practice during Thursday’s organized team activities. The franchise quarterback, who is entering his 12th season, threw two touchdowns during 11-on-11 drills, one to tight end Adrien Robinson and the other to wide receiver Preston Parker. Manning is relishing the second offseason in offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s system.

“It was important having this last month – watching the film, talking a lot about the mechanics, the footwork, being able to go outside with him and working on a lot of drill work,” Manning said recently during OTAs. “A lot of it is stuff I wasn’t able to do last year. I was coming off the ankle surgery, I had a new offense – of lot of things going through the mind, trying to figure out concepts.

“This year, I understand the concepts. I’m still working on it, but I’m concentrating on the footwork and the mechanics and the timing of everything. It was great to have that this year and kind of get back to the basics of everything. I feel comfortable, I feel real good right now.”

Manning finished the season as the #10 fantasy quarterback, but was #2 over the final six weeks, when OC Ben McAdoo said that the team finally played the way it wanted to play. In Odell Beckham, Manning finally has a stud receiver. The free agent signing of receiving specialist Shane Vereen and the return of a (hopefully) healthy Victor Cruz give Manning two more weapons to utilize in the passing game. He looks like a great value for those who want to wait on the position until the 9th or 10th round.