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What we learned from Giants media hour (4/25)

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The Giants take the field for the second day of voluntary minicamp!

Before the Giants took the field for their second practice of voluntary minicamp, head coach Pat Shurmur and players met with the media. Here are the highlights:  

1. WEBB: 'I DON'T HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING'

Quarterback Davis Webb never got into a regular-season game as a rookie, but he is handling questions about the looming draft like a seasoned veteran. Today, the former third-round pick, like his new head coach Pat Shurmur and new general manager Dave Gettleman have done, downplayed the importance of this week's bonus minicamp for the backup quarterback. The Giants hold the second overall pick tomorrow night in what is heralded as a deep quarterback draft class.

"I don't have to prove anything," Webb said before throwing a handful of touchdowns in practice today.

"All I've got to do is show what I've got and that's up to them. I try to do the best I can in the meeting rooms, the weight workouts, the practices especially. Just kind of show what I have and let them make a decision. It's out of my control and I'm not really too worried about it, I promise. I just work hard and I know I'm going to get a chance someday."

Webb said he will tune in tomorrow night for the first round of the three-day draft, but on Friday night, he'll probably just go to dinner. Over the past month, some of the top quarterback prospects came to the facility on official visits.

"I've known a couple of them for a while," Webb said. "So, yeah, I've seen a couple. It doesn't bother me. I understand, that's their job. Listen, if I was a GM, I understand, I'd do the same thing. So, that does not hurt my feelings, I do not care about that. The only thing I worry about is being the best I can be because I know I'm going to get an opportunity in this league and when that comes, I'm going to be ready."
But does that light a fire under him?

"No," he said. "I'm pretty motivated already."

2. MANNING IS 37 YEARS YOUNG

Shurmur has called Eli Manning the "fittest" 37-yeard-old he has ever seen. In typical Manning fashion, the two-time Super Bowl MVP quipped today, "I guess he hasn't been around too many 37-year-olds maybe." But in all seriousness, Manning, whose ironman streak ended last season for non-injury reasons, said he is moving around well and always working on his flexibility and conditioning in the offseason.

After having the same head coach for his first 12 seasons, Manning is transitioning to a new one for the second time in three years. Now that they have had some time on the field together, Manning spoke about Shurmur.

"I think every coach is going to be a little different," Manning said. "I think he does like to coach on the field. Some coaches like to just run the plays and then you coach in the film room after. He likes to each play have a quick discussion. Some you don't, some you do. But, he'll grab a receiver, he'll grab me and just talk a little bit about what you do well, what you could have done better, but I think he had a good demeanor the whole time.

"But he's a coach, he likes to coach up the guys and get everybody on the same page. It's a little different, it's kind of the first time you're running things. A lot of times in this time of year you have a few weeks to practice some routes and practice things on the field before you go practice them. This year you're kind of thrown right into the mix and we're kind of learning on the fly a little bit."

3. GIANTS BALANCING MINICAMP WITH DRAFT

Because of this bonus minicamp allotted to teams with new head coaches, the Giants are balancing what they already have on the roster with what they want to add starting tomorrow night. Will it be a quarterback for the future or a position player to help the team now?

"Well, I think really the narrative is that every player we pick is going to help us win. Done. And that's the way I look at this," Shurmur said. "I really am excited about this draft because I really believe after going through the process and seeing the way that Dave and [assistant general manager] Kevin [Abrams] and all the scouts and all the player evaluation people and all the conversation, I'm very confident that we are going to pick players that are going to help us in all rounds of the draft, so that's where my excitement lies."

4. SHURMUR SPOKE TO FLOWERS, EXPECTS SNACKS BACK SOON
Offensive tackle Ereck Flowers and defensive tackle Damon Harrison have not participated in voluntary minicamp this week. Regarding Flowers, Shurmur said, "I've talked to him a couple of times. If you talk to the players, I'm sure there are certain players that have called him, but if they are not here – how much you can get done in a short phone call is not much."

Shurmur added that he does not know if Flowers' absence has to do with his change to right tackle after the Giants signed veteran left tackle Nate Solder from the Patriots in free agency. As for Harrison, Shurmur expects the 2016 All-Pro tackle back "soon."

5. OGLETREE, MARTIN TALK NEW DEFENSIVE SCHEME

Once Shurmur shored up his coaching staff, which includes defensive coordinator James Bettcher (previously of the Cardinals), the Giants made their first major roster move and acquired Alec Ogletree in a trade with the Rams. Ogletree is the "defensive quarterback" as an inside linebacker in Bettcher's 3-4 scheme.

"It's going to be a good defense," Ogletree said. "We've got a lot of talent here and I'm definitely happy to be here. Coach Bettcher has been one of the top defenses in the league the past few years and hopefully we can bring that here."

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