Eli-Manning.jpg

Eli Manning has seen the Giants new playbook and it reminds him of the Green Bay Packers.

(Jordan Raanan, NJ.com)

When the Giants take the field this season with their new offense under first-time coordinator Ben McAdoo, it will be with a fresh new look. After two days studying the new playbook, quarterback Eli Manning expects it to resemble the Packers' offense, with plenty of West Coast concepts.

McAdoo comes to the Giants from Green Bay, where he served as the tight ends and quarterbacks coach. But his apprenticeship under Packers coach Mike McCarthy -- who runs a version of the West Coast offense -- dates back to 2004. He's bringing what he knows best to the "broken" (owner John Mara's words, not mine) unit that ranked 28th in the NFL last season.

"I think it will be similar to what they did in Green Bay," Manning said Tuesday while sporting a walking boot fresh off ankle surgery. "That's where Ben came from, so I think it will be pretty similar to that offense.

"I've never been in a West Coast offense, so I don't know if it's exactly a West Coast or a form of it, or anything at all like it. I think it has some tendencies to it, the protections and stuff, but every offense has it's own little dial and uniqueness that makes it work."

The Giants have been preparing for this for months. How else do you explain Victor Cruz's admission that he "got a little taste of it" earlier this month while working out with Manning at Duke University?

Cruz and Mario Manningham focused on routes that are considered West Coast favorites during those workouts. They were prepping for the drastic change from Kevin Gilbride's play-action, vertical-route offense to the quick-hit system that has allowed Aaron Rodgers to blossom into one of the game's best quarterbacks. Manning is hoping it helps him bounce back after a 27-interpcetion season.

"It is a little bit different than our past offense with the timing of the routes and the ball coming out quickly," Manning said. "I'm hoping that I have success in this and become a better player."

It's not going to be easy. Manning admitted his mind was swimming at the moment, only two days into the new playbook. The Giants didn't even get to the passing plays yet. They were still digesting some of the run-game concepts and formations.

To a man, the offensive players seemed to concede learning the new language that comes with the new system will be the most daunting task. But it's nothing that can't be tackled with some time and practice.

There seems to be little resistance to the change at the moment. They're all open to new approach, especially if it means more 21st-century style.

“It’s a high-powered offense, high octane. We got a little taste of it so far and I’m excited about it,” Cruz said. “If anyone watches Green Bay, they know they score a lot of points and get up and down the field pretty quickly. And they put up a lot of big plays. So we’re excited about that.”

Once the Giants receivers learn the new verbiage, the offense in general should be easier to execute. Gone are the complicated route-reads the wide receivers were tasked with under Gilbride. In are the defined routes of McAdoo and his West Coast-style offense.

“As far as my route-running was concerned in the slot position, a lot of my routes were determined by what the secondary was doing, what type of coverage they were in. That would dictate my route,” Cruz said. “As far as this offense is concerned, it’s a lot more of your route is your route, and you can dictate that off your coverage and know what you have and Eli can find you within those different holes. Now it’s a lot less dependent on what my body language is.”

That should help the Giants cut down on the mistakes. It should help Manning cut down on the interceptions.

And make no mistake, this is no longer Tom Coughlin/Kevin Gilbride’s old-school offense.

“This is Coach McAdoo’s offense,” Manning said.

And it comes with a significant West Coast flair.