New York Giants quarterback Davis Webb did not look sharp on Thursday but is it time to be concerned or is that an overreaction?
Davis Webb completed just nine of 22 passes in the New York Giants 20-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.
This was the first time the Giants second-year quarterback Davis Webb saw game action in nearly a full year. To be exact, this was Webb’s first game since the 2017 preseason finale against the New England Patriots on Aug. 31, 2017.
Unfortunately for Webb and the Giants, he played like someone who’s been out of football for a year.
Webb entered the game on the Giants third possession of the first quarter with the Giants trailing 7-3 with 2:55 remaining in the quarter. He would misfire on his first six pass attempts.
He finished the game completing nine out of 22 passes for 70 just yards. Webb was playing the second string offensive line when he entered the game, but the Giants did have Sterling Shepard and Cody Latimer in the game who started in place of Odell Beckham Jr.
Despite not playing in a year there were high expectations for Webb because of how well he played in minicamp and early on in training camp.
Perhaps he struggled because he was too anxious and wanted to show the world that one day he can be Eli Manning’s successor. Webb admitted after the game that he was amped up and that could have led to a few of his passes sailing over his receivers heads. Webb spoke about this after the game.
“I need to put it (the ball) on the guy’s chinstraps. That’s what I want to do, that’s what I need to do. Yeah, I missed far too many, but at the same time I’m going to get better from it. I’m not too worried about it. I’m going to learn from it and get better for next week”.
It was only the first game of the preseason and there are reasons to believe that Webb will bounce next week against the Detroit Lions.
Davis Webb saying he'll learn from tonight's game and will get better. #GiantsPride #NYG #Giants pic.twitter.com/WJghk471y3
— Jason Leach (@JasonKLeach) August 10, 2018
But in the New York market overreaction happens often and there’s already fans doubting if Webb can be the eventually successor to Eli Manning.
Manning is 37 and his contract expires at the conclusion of the 2019 season. So it’s imperative that the Giants get a feel on whether or not Webb can be their signal caller of the future.
Since Manning has never missed an NFL start due to injury, Webb’s best chance to showcase his talent is to be productive in the preseason. Since he underachieved Thursday night, that’s what caused any overreactions.
But have faith Giants fans. Webb will be back on the practice field to work on the mistakes he made, so that he’ll have a better outing against the Detroit Lions next Friday.
It’s way too early to be concerned or dismiss the notion that the 23-year-old Webb can one day be the Giants quarterback of the future.
We’ll have a better assessment of Webb at the conclusion of the preseason.
