Ryan Nassib looks for bounce-back game after bad-bounce start
New York Giants quarterback Ryan Nassib (12) drops back to pass during team practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ, on Thursday, Aug 18, 2016. Credit: Brad Penner
Ryan Nassib has bounced back before. In 2014 he was demoted from second- to third-string in the preseason after some shaky performances and he wound up re-establishing himself as a backup and winning the job as Eli Manning’s understudy. So after a disappointing performance in the preseason opener last week as the starter against the Dolphins, Nassib is looking to rebound yet again.
“The thing about this game is you have to have a short memory, especially at our position,” Nassib told Newsday. “Right after it we put that game to bed and moved on to the rest of training camp and the Buffalo week.”
Nassib completed 7 of 15 passes for 75 yards during his three quarters of play, but he also threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away once in a 27-10 loss to the Dolphins. They were the first interceptions of his career, including both the preseason and regular season.
“I definitely did some things that were uncharacteristic of me,” Nassib said. “We definitely strive to protect the football here, that’s our number one priority. Those turnovers definitely didn’t reflect that.”
Manning, who has had his own share of bad games and bounce-backs during his 12 years in the NFL, said Nassib did some good things that the stats don’t necessarily reflect.
“He kind of got some bad breaks on some things,” Manning said. “He was going to the right spots, made the good decisions and good checks. Hey, you’re throwing go routes, throwing the ball down the field, you can make a couple of better throws, but that’s football. I think he was doing the right things, was aggressive, and you don’t want to take that away. Just keep doing it and know the next game you’ll make that throw and won’t get that bad bounce.”
That’s Nassib’s attitude.
“It’s another opportunity to get better and put things on game film in live action,” he said of playing on Saturday once Manning has gone through his reps as the starter. “The anticipation of the game will be like any other game. I’m just fortunate enough to have another opportunity to go out and play.”
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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