DURHAM -- With the NFL mired in a lockout, New York Giants' quarterback Eli Manning flew into the Triangle last June for three days of workouts with his college coach David Cutcliffe.
Cutcliffe, who coached Manning at Mississippi in 2000-03, had watched video of his former quarterback from Manning's interception-plagued 2010-11 NFL season and they talked about breaking down fundamental aspects of his game. The Duke coach created a plan for recalibrating Manning's footwork and improving downfield passing vision - changes that have served him well this season.
"He worked his rear end off," Cutcliffe said last week. "It was great work, not good work, great work."
Manning has followed the great work with great play that helped his Giants to Indianapolis tonight against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.
Manning will be playing for his second Super Bowl ring and trying to bring the Giants' franchise its fourth.
His performance will be judged against that of New England quarterback Tom Brady, a three-time Super Bowl champion, who is considered by many to be one of the best to ever play the game.
In Cutcliffe's eyes, the quarterbacks are on the same plateau.
"Everybody wants to argue who's the best," Cutcliffe said. "You've got two as good as there's ever been playing. You can't gauge guys alone by the number of Super Bowls they've won, and these interception ratios and all of the statistics. When you're a football coach, you look at a guy's mechanics, his ability to help a team."
Just a text away
Cutcliffe knows how to help a quarterback. He has earned a reputation for developing them over a 30-year college coaching career. He has made stops as an offensive coordinator at Tennessee, head coach at Mississippi and a quarterback coach at Notre Dame. At Tennessee, he coached Eli's older brother Peyton Manning.
Eli Manning has been a text message or phone call away since leaving Mississippi and joining the Giants in 2004. He and Cutcliffe often talk during the football season.
"We have a great friendship and relationship that has carried on to this day," Manning said last week.
Their relationship led Manning to turn to Cutcliffe when the NFL lockout separated him from the Giants' staff.
Eli's father, Archie Manning, the legendary Mississippi quarterback, said his son asked Cutcliffe to treat him like a Duke freshman and review his fundamentals.
Cutcliffe's "about as good with as I've ever seen at fundamentals," said Archie Manning, who added the decision was in no way a negative reflection on the relationship his son has with Giants quarterback coach Mike Sullivan.
Manning arrived at the workouts with two Giants' receivers, former North Carolina star Hakeem Nicks and Jerrel Jernigan.
"I'm going to coach it like I coach 'em," Cutcliffe told Manning. "I said, 'Be careful what you ask for big boy.' "
Back to basics
Manning received harsh criticism following the 2010-11 season after throwing 25 interceptions and finishing with a passer rating of 85.3. He completed 339 of 539 passes for 4,002 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Cutcliffe watched video from that season and noted some timing issues. He noticed Manning played with some physical strains that impacted how he used his legs, so they went to work. For three days, they completed two-a-day practices, working on Manning's footwork, agility, hand placement, body mechanics and field vision.
"Everything," Cutcliffe said. "Every fundamental."
Manning took snaps under center and worked on timing with receivers. They filmed their practices and reviewed video during meetings.
Cutcliffe placed emphasis on footwork and how it related to throwing downfield. Manning's ability to see downfield and find seams started with proper leg techniques and foot alignment. They worked on his stance to take the pressure off his legs.
The stronger a quarterback's legs and core are, Cutcliffe said, the more power he has to complete throws.
"You can see it right now," he said. "He's got a big ol' arm. He's gotten on to some balls now. Watch his legs. Watch his ability to stay in the pocket and to use his power. I just think he's playing great."
Manning completed 359 of 589 pass attempts for 4,933 yards and 29 touchdowns for a 92.9 rating during the regular season. His interception total dropped to 16 . Manning has excelled during the playoffs, throwing eight for touchdowns with one interception with rating of 103.1.
"He's a great quarterback coach and ... someone who was a big help in developing me as a quarterback," Manning said.
Taking it slow
Cutcliffe recalled Manning entering college with the talent, mental toughness and athleticism to play in the competitive SEC, yet he redshirted Manning.
"He just wasn't ready for a 70-play game," Cutcliffe said.
Manning needed to develop the leg strength to perform late in games. His accuracy waned at the end of practices.
To his credit, Manning never balked. He listened.
"Typical Eli," Cutcliffe said. "His competitiveness, he didn't like it. But you would have never known it."
Manning took his freshman year in stride. When he got a chance, he delivered.
Late in his second season, in the Music City Bowl, Cutcliffe handed Manning the ball with the team trailing 42-9 against West Virginia.
Manning rallied the team with three touchdown passes and nearly helped the Rebels come away with a win. They lost 49-38.
Manning made an impression on Cutcliffe with his memory and command of the offense.
During a timeout, Manning regaled his coach with a 35-second recitation of two previous plays, providing details about safety coverage and down and distance.
"I'm standing there, even though I'm getting my rear end beat, as a coach I'm grinning," Cutcliffe said. "I hope the cameras didn't catch me grinning on the sideline.
"This is a redshirt freshman. I'm like, 'Wow. Do we have something.' "
Manning became the full-time starter as a redshirt sophomore. He opened his career as a starter by throwing 18 straight completions.
He went on to pass for more than 10,000 yards and set or tied 45 school records.
"I've never understood why Eli wasn't as touted as Peyton was," Cutcliffe said. "And I love both of them equally. People missed what he had done."
Misunderstood
Cutcliffe believes people still miss the point with Eli Manning.
Viewed as an enigmatic figure, Manning has been criticized for an aloof and laid back personality. Many see him as the shy little brother.
"He's built to do what he does," Cutcliffe said. "He followed his dad at Ole Miss. He followed Peyton into the SEC and into the league. He has the constant comparisons to both. And he pays no attention to it. It doesn't bother him."
Cutcliffe has observed Manning's quiet, competitive spirit, discovered his sharp intellect and admired his poise.
"People view Eli's non-public reaction to things as someone laid back," Cutcliffe said. "I wouldn't call it laid back. Eli is in control of his emotions. It's not an act, he's in control."
Cutcliffe said Manning made the smart choice when asked on a New York radio show whether he should be compared on the same level as Brady.
"If you say no, then what do your New York football Giants teammates, owners, fans think about you," Cutcliffe said. "Remember now, Yankees-Red Sox, Giants-Patriots. This is New York . Great answer Eli. Yes."
Coaching from afar
Tonight Manning again steps onto the NFL's grandest stage. If his team wins, he can cement a place in Giants' lore as possibly their greatest quarterback.
Cutcliffe has enjoyed watching Manning during the playoffs.
One consistent reminder to his quarterbacks over the years has been to throw the ball away when nothing is available. Manning has exercised that caution.
"If you're not willing to be booed some, you're really not a great quarterback," Cutcliffe said. "You can't throw late interceptions. Punt the football."
Cutcliffe has texted Manning with compliments.
"He's got command of that offense," Cutcliffe said. "You see him coaching those receivers in between plays. He did that here. He was very demonstrative in the meeting room when we filmed it."
After the Giants defeated Dallas on Jan. 1, Cutcliffe texted Manning a suggestion to relay to Nicks. He told the former Tar Heels star to tuck the football when he runs into the end zone.
"Tell him to tuck the football away or he'll have to take the head football coach at Duke to a steak dinner in Chapel Hill," Cutcliffe wrote.
Eli texted back, "Ha. Ha. :)."
Staff writer Joe Person contributed to this report.
