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Giants quarterback Eli Manning should benefit from a new offensive coordinator.

(Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)

Whether Giants quarterback Eli Manning really wanted a new offensive coordinator or not, he's getting one. Kevin Gilbride retired last week and the Giants are in the midst of an exhaustive search for a replacement that now includes four candidates.

Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski believes whoever eventually gets hired, the change will prove to be a positive for Manning. It will give the two-time Super Bowl winner fresh perspective and life after throwing a career-worst 27 interceptions this past season.

“Yes, I think [Chargers quarterback] Philip Rivers is a real good example of it,” Jaworski said. “Philip had been stuck in that Norv Turner style of offense and all of a sudden, you get your batteries recharged. It’s refreshing.

“He was phenomenal. He flourished in that style. And Philip himself said he was reenergized. He had to relearn, reinvent himself. And I think Eli is going to go through that. He should be excited about this opportunity.”

The exact offense Manning will be running could be contingent on who gets hired as the Giants’ new offensive coordinator. Mike Sullivan, Dowell Loggains, Ben McAdoo and Karl Dorrell each bring something different to the table. Whoever is the Giants’ choice will certainly add their own twist to the offense.

But the system, the coordinator, some of the pieces may be different. Still, the philosophy is going to be very much the same as it has been for the past decade.

Head coach Tom Coughlin is an offensive guy. His fingerprints will remain on the unit that finished 28th this past season in the NFL.

“It’s Tom,” said Jaworksi, who knows Coughlin from his days with the Eagles, when Jaworski was the quarterback and Coughlin the wide receivers coach. “They’re going to run that offense. Tom has a certain way of playing football, and that is the way it’s going to be. They’re going to run the football.”

Getting back to running the football should help Manning. The Giants were ranked 29th in the NFL in that department with 83.3 yards per game this season.

Again, look no further than the Chargers as proof. Resuscitating the running game was part of Rivers’ revival. The Chargers finished this season 13th in the league with 122.8 rushing yards per game. They were 27th with 91.3 yards last season.

Rivers, 32, had one of the best seasons of his career with 32 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. Jaworski firmly believes Manning, 33, has that kind of season left in him. More than just one, too. BEGIN SOCIAL BOX

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“Eli has tremendous talent. I don’t question his motivation. He’s driven. It’s in his makeup. He’s a Manning. It was tough, it was difficult, but I think he’s going to have a bounce-back year.

“I think 33 is fine. When you’re 31, 32, 33, 34, that is when the cerebral part of your game matches your physical part. These should be your prime years. Right now, his knowledge of the game combined with his physical talent should be at its apex.”

No wonder there are some respected offensive coaches lined up waiting for the opportunity to revive Manning’s career.