for many offenses. The top tier TEs can create big matchup problems for Defenses. But the thing that people forget is that that is not our offense. Shockey could have put up better production numbers in a more TE friendly TE offense and complained about the blocking we asked him to do. In our offense blocking is probably more important than the receiving aspect, and those questioning our TE position are missing that point completely.
1) If things go as we hope this year, we won't be passing as much as we did a year ago. The volume of passes were out of necessity due to being behind and lack of running game. We still believe in balance.
2) There are plenty of ways we can make up for some of the catches lost to Ballard a year ago -RBs will almost assuredly be more involved including Hynoski and Wilson. There will be some drop from Ballard to Bear, but I'm not sure it will be nearly as significant as some making it out to be.
The loss of Kevin Bossand the decline of McKenzie last year
were he primary reasons for the falloff in Jacobs performance. He needs blockers to be effective. I think Reese feels that Wilson doesn't have the same limitation.
Shockey had one injury filled disgruntled season with Gilbride as OC.
Why would Pope stay if TE wasn't important. I think TE is a spot where a unique talent has been found and the team isn't going to reach in the draft nor spend tons of money in FA for.
It's a spot where they can get by without an elite talent. But I don't think this is like a Martz offense where an elite TE would just rot on the bench.
He complained about all the blocking (even though he did develop into a pretty good one), he didn't like all the motion and things like that. He outwardly stated it preferred the old regime where he just had to line up and beat his guy. These were story lines years before he was traded.
Bennett was signed. The beat reporter said that every successful Dallas run last year began with a Bennett block and that his loss was going to be a lot more important than the Dallas fans understood.
Hope he can do that for us. And catch 2 or 3 first downs a game.
about specific passing stats at the TE position, but it is one of the mos featured positions on the team. It's critical in the running game, and very important in the whole balanced philosophy where we can run the ball and use PA to strike. Just look at the position as a whole. We live in the I formation family and consistently use those formations with 1 or even 2 TEs. On top of that, we do throw to them, and they get decent to good stats or production. However, when you factor that with being used in run blocking in many formations, it is a very key position. I remember from my game breakdowns how many formations we used with a TE in tow.
I Pro right
I pro left
Ace-Double Tight
I pro right wing right
I pro left wing left
Y trips right
Y trips left
We pretty much lived in those formations and Shockey and Boss held it down for us within that. So the TE position is key for us, in both the running game and passing game. If that position can be productive and our OL can run block, we can get our faulty running game back to normal again.
NotoriousOHM
Martellus Bennett just chatted with reporters about polar bears and how pandas are fierce. I like this guy.
1 minute ago from Twitter for iPhone
This offense is NOT TE unfriendly, whatever the fuck that means.
The TE is utilized but it helps if they know the fucking route they are supposed to run. Shockey, who could have been an extraordinary player, is dumber than a rock, arrogant to a fault and had the retention of a mushroom.
Ebenezer Samuel@ebenezersamuel
Nicks - like everyone - loves Randle: "I think he's gonna be aplaymaker. I see flashes of great things. He got strong hands, runs some good routes. He's ready to go out there and play. You see it in his eyes
Ebenezer Samuel@ebenezersamuel
Nicks said he's run on the foot, and he hasn't felt anything afterwards: "There's no pain, no pain right now. Ran on it before, next morning, it responded very well. There's no pain. It's just a matter of being smart about it."
one year he played in this system (when he was 6th -- 7th? -- IIRC) and had probably the best statistical year of his career in this offense.
When you factor in how often he and his QB weren't on the same page, how the injuries clearly started to chip away at him early on, and his attitude/behavior, how much more was he really supposed to be featured?
Nicks says one key difference between his injury and Amukamara's is how quickly Nicks addressed his. Nicks fractured the bone on a Thursday, and had surgery the next day. "Mine was fresh when I got my surgery. That was the difference in mine. I took care of it the right way. I don't feel nothing at all."
You think Jerrel Jernigan is a slot receiver, and that's what he did at Troy mostly. But he can do more, he says: "When I was at Troy, I played the majority in the slot and pretty much people didn't get to see me outside. I think I can go outside and I can showcase, stretch down the field. Not only in that slot but vertical, end routes curl routes and everything."
I had this discussion about drafting Fleener and everyone went off on me. With the " Giants don't use the TE in the passing game it would be a waste" BS!!!
I had this discussion about drafting Fleener and everyone went off on me. With the " Giants don't use the TE in the passing game it would be a waste" BS!!!
Please at least acknowledge the context. I was referring to passing production and never said it wasn't important. Our TEs aren't going to catch as many balls or be the focal point in the offense in the manner of other offense.
A major factor of the TE position is getting open. Does anyone here really think Boss, Ballard or Beckum were above average at running routes and getting open?
I would bet dollars to doughnuts that if Eli had a Gronk, Graham, Gonzo or Gates, the TE position would produce top 10 stats.
If your open Eli will find you!!
If you the lumbering Ballard or Boss your probably not going to be open too often!!
season has been noted enough, Ballard, according to both the OC and the QB, was a very good route runner and, before the knee injuries piled up and cut the teeth out of what was mounting to be a very good statistical season, was able to get open quite a bit, regardless of his footspeed, in part due to that.
There should be a 'but' beteween 'enough' and 'Ballard' there.
They would adjust, obviously. But the team has not put much effort into going out and getting an elite pass catching TE. If it was such an important part of the offense to have a guy like they, we probabably would have seen things handled differently in the FO.
TE M Bennett is a blocking upgrade with potential receiving upside
The looks like "Tarzan" but plays like "Jane" taunts from Dallas fans could be true. Sometimes a change of scenery and contract needs make a guy step up and perform better. If he replaces Ballard well we should be happy.
I think we'll finish with a more balanced offense this year. I would not be surprised that if we stay healthy on offense and defense we'll score more this year than last year. Eli would have more touches and we should have a better running game to support him.
Would someone post some pics of the new layout of the fields.
So in reality during passing plays,Ballard went out to catch passes on around 42% of his snaps. Overall on passing plays he ran a route 451 out of 601 around 75% of the time.
Man during the draft season, I absolutely could not stand during the coby fleener debates how everyone kept screaming the giants would barely use him in the receiving game and maximize his talents
I thought it was BS. Fuck, there were snaps when Pascoe was freaking out-wide last season. The giants pass out 22 sets plenty of times last year.
When shockey was here there was plenty of occassions under kevin gilbride in the 07 season where he would pop out of a 3-point stance and go out wide, getting a tremendous match-up. They even tried to do this with beckum a couple of times. The Giants use TEs damn it! Its just mediocre talent more than anything
Yesterday Jerry Reese referred to Martellus Bennett as being the best
blocking TE that the Giants have had since the days of Howard Cross while being interviewed by Tim Ryan & Pat Kirwan on SiriusXM yesterday afternoon during their annual visit to Giants Training Camp.
I don't disagree with what you are saying. Of course if the Giants had some major mismatch at TE they would use him.
But the other end of it, which is my point, is that having that stud pass catching TE is not a necessity for this offense. The offense can run pretty darn well with guys who can block and run good routes and doen't require a guy who is a major mismatch physically. Other teams covet that kind of player at the TE position more than ours does. This is IMO, based on what we have seen from the FO.
I agree with your position. My reservations are more towrads those who feel if the giants DID have that type of talent at TE, they wouldn't use it which was frequently stated a lot a few months ago
has been tight so that's prevented them from getting an already established talent at TE. There hasn't been an early round TE that's been BPA when they've drafted. Beckum's been slower to develop and had many injuries too.
They're trying to develop a stud TE but it hasn't happened and the team made Boss look better than he was so he got an offer the Giants couldn't match.
I think the addition of Bennett and the drafting of A. Robinson shows that they are trying to improve the athletic pass catching ability type of guy.
We will never know how they had Fleener graded, but you can bet that if they felt he could become a Gates, Gonzo etc they would have drafted him.
Maybe it has more to do with upgrading the running game, or that they were extremely high on Wilson.
I have to admit I am excited about our new TE's and Wilson in the 1st.
Wilson really seems like he is a perfect fit for the G-men, he just has a great attitude and I would be surprised to see this kid make headlines for off the field issues.
Over the next couple of years we are going to see more talent coming out of the college ranks at TE.
Let's not forget that they drafted the JPP of tight ends.
i wouldn't look too much into it yet. as a fan you have no idea why the coaches put people in and don't put people in.
putting paysinger in with the ones could be as simple as seeing what he can do since he is a bubble guy as opposed to someone like williams who isn't. i'm not saying that's their reason for it, but as an outsider looking in you have no idea of these things.
Fair enoguh. I think they would like to have such a guy, but it does not strike me as a priority compared to other things. Bennett they may see potential, but has proven little pass catching-wise. Robinson, yes, but only in time. If it was a critical element to the offense, you handle it differnetly. Their not making a stronger push for Boss and rolling the dice with Ballard are noteworthy. Not that they are elite guys, but more proven than what else was on the roster at the time.
Perhaps if our TEs had been better run blockers, there would have been fewer pass plays called on, say, 2nd & long, 3rd & long, out of necessity.
Also, just because a TE went out for a pass, doesn't mean he didn't have to hit someone on his way out. I don't know how you'd measure that, or gauge its effectiveness.
Finally, we may not have a Gronk/Hernandez or Jimmy Graham, but no one else has The Hynocerous, our not-so-secret weapon.
The late-round picks, the UDFAs, the vets trying for one last hurrah...but I don't think I've ever rooted harder for a kid to make it than I am for Mark Herzlich.
...The way Herzlich has been playing so far, I think begs the question of just how much rooting for he needs. I think, barring injury, he's a dead lock to make the team and, before the year is out, to start at MLB.
Also, I think he's just started to get really healthy and is going to get much, much better than he is now.
Hyno and Wilson look to add a new phase to our pass game. If Bennett develops into a reliable receiver by mid-season we will be able to chuck the ball anywhere we want.
Also, I am loving the positive pub on our LB's. If Herzlich starts at some point and is a true upgrade over Chase we are just that much better at a position where we took a beating at most of last year. Chase was fresh which helped when he came and saved us. Honestly, I am not sure we make the playoffs last year without Chase's work at MLB - it was that much of an upgrade.
If Jones has really turned the corner and is a player it only helps as well since he is already a superb special teams player. So far, camp is going well for the Giants.
I just don't want to see or hear about any injuries!
year's camp. Throwing a rookie MLB on the field without any OTA and limited camp is a recipe for disaster. Speaks well of his effort that he lasted as long as it did before he was wisely replaced. The Giants love players that can play multiple positions, so it can only help to learn OLB too. He was a tackling machine at Mich St.
a lot of us expected.. a logjam.. but makes for some great competition which could bring out the best in a lot of these guys.. also helps that the rookies actually are having a normal offseason this year.. and hopefully they all stay healthy and the best of the bunch make the final 53..
totally agreed on Herszchlich (I will never spell his name properly). But now, for me, I am actually getting excited about his talent, and am not just rooting for him as a guy.
Herzlich's an easy guy to root for, any which way you do it.
Alrighty RT @espn_nfceast: He did mention that Shockey was a better blocker than many realized. #nyg
Mike Garafolo@MikeGarafolo
With Cross comment, I think he's selling Shockey's blocking short RT @espn_nfceast: Reese: Bennett a blocking TE
Graziano column he's referring to:
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/41182/reese-martellus-bennett-is-a-blocking-te
2) There are plenty of ways we can make up for some of the catches lost to Ballard a year ago -RBs will almost assuredly be more involved including Hynoski and Wilson. There will be some drop from Ballard to Bear, but I'm not sure it will be nearly as significant as some making it out to be.
Why would Pope stay if TE wasn't important. I think TE is a spot where a unique talent has been found and the team isn't going to reach in the draft nor spend tons of money in FA for.
It's a spot where they can get by without an elite talent. But I don't think this is like a Martz offense where an elite TE would just rot on the bench.
all around TE and is a clone of Ballard...
we need to keep him on PB for insurance
Justin Trattou entered cafeteria wearing boot on left foot. He said it's a sprain. #nyg
Hakeem Nicks has started running. Will begin cutting next few days. Says no setbacks thus far and mid-Aug return remains reasonable. #nyg
Hope he can do that for us. And catch 2 or 3 first downs a game.
I Pro right
I pro left
Ace-Double Tight
I pro right wing right
I pro left wing left
Y trips right
Y trips left
We pretty much lived in those formations and Shockey and Boss held it down for us within that. So the TE position is key for us, in both the running game and passing game. If that position can be productive and our OL can run block, we can get our faulty running game back to normal again.
I do understand that some sprained ankles are worse than breaks but hopefully he won't miss too much time.
Martellus Bennett just chatted with reporters about polar bears and how pandas are fierce. I like this guy.
1 minute ago from Twitter for iPhone
I do too.
This offense is NOT TE unfriendly, whatever the fuck that means.
The TE is utilized but it helps if they know the fucking route they are supposed to run. Shockey, who could have been an extraordinary player, is dumber than a rock, arrogant to a fault and had the retention of a mushroom.
Other than that, he was perfect.
Nicks - like everyone - loves Randle: "I think he's gonna be aplaymaker. I see flashes of great things. He got strong hands, runs some good routes. He's ready to go out there and play. You see it in his eyes
Ebenezer Samuel@ebenezersamuel
Nicks said he's run on the foot, and he hasn't felt anything afterwards: "There's no pain, no pain right now. Ran on it before, next morning, it responded very well. There's no pain. It's just a matter of being smart about it."
Hakeem Nicks actually got to camp early to start running with training staff. Said he wasn't surprised to land on PUP.
When you factor in how often he and his QB weren't on the same page, how the injuries clearly started to chip away at him early on, and his attitude/behavior, how much more was he really supposed to be featured?
http://middletownpress.com/articles/2012/07/28/sports/doc5014c0b13bcbf796252641.txt
Nicks says one key difference between his injury and Amukamara's is how quickly Nicks addressed his. Nicks fractured the bone on a Thursday, and had surgery the next day. "Mine was fresh when I got my surgery. That was the difference in mine. I took care of it the right way. I don't feel nothing at all."
http://blog.northjersey.com/giants/2815/trattou-hobbled-waiting-for-x-ray-results/
Ebenezer Samuel@ebenezersamuel
You think Jerrel Jernigan is a slot receiver, and that's what he did at Troy mostly. But he can do more, he says: "When I was at Troy, I played the majority in the slot and pretty much people didn't get to see me outside. I think I can go outside and I can showcase, stretch down the field. Not only in that slot but vertical, end routes curl routes and everything."
Jernigan's still back there on punt return and kick return too. "Yeah, that's the plan."
Ebenezer Samuel@ebenezersamuel
Jernigan knows he still hasn't truly made a big splash yet: "Not yet. It's only two days. We've got a whole nother cpl wks to go."
I would bet dollars to doughnuts that if Eli had a Gronk, Graham, Gonzo or Gates, the TE position would produce top 10 stats.
If your open Eli will find you!!
If you the lumbering Ballard or Boss your probably not going to be open too often!!
I think we'll finish with a more balanced offense this year. I would not be surprised that if we stay healthy on offense and defense we'll score more this year than last year. Eli would have more touches and we should have a better running game to support him.
LBs Michael Boley + Keith Rivers, RB Da'Rel Scott and the 4 on PUP are sitting out today. We'll find out more on Boley + Rivers later
total plays-1054
Pass-451
Run Block-446
Pass Block-150
So in reality during passing plays,Ballard went out to catch passes on around 42% of his snaps. Overall on passing plays he ran a route 451 out of 601 around 75% of the time.
Pascoe
total plays- 513
pass- 189
run block- 268
pass block- 56
There is always alot of talk without facts.
Man during the draft season, I absolutely could not stand during the coby fleener debates how everyone kept screaming the giants would barely use him in the receiving game and maximize his talents
I thought it was BS. Fuck, there were snaps when Pascoe was freaking out-wide last season. The giants pass out 22 sets plenty of times last year.
When shockey was here there was plenty of occassions under kevin gilbride in the 07 season where he would pop out of a 3-point stance and go out wide, getting a tremendous match-up. They even tried to do this with beckum a couple of times. The Giants use TEs damn it! Its just mediocre talent more than anything
With Boley/Rivers sitting, spencer Paysinger joining Blackburn and Kiwi with top LB. unit
But the other end of it, which is my point, is that having that stud pass catching TE is not a necessity for this offense. The offense can run pretty darn well with guys who can block and run good routes and doen't require a guy who is a major mismatch physically. Other teams covet that kind of player at the TE position more than ours does. This is IMO, based on what we have seen from the FO.
They're trying to develop a stud TE but it hasn't happened and the team made Boss look better than he was so he got an offer the Giants couldn't match.
We will never know how they had Fleener graded, but you can bet that if they felt he could become a Gates, Gonzo etc they would have drafted him.
Maybe it has more to do with upgrading the running game, or that they were extremely high on Wilson.
I have to admit I am excited about our new TE's and Wilson in the 1st.
Wilson really seems like he is a perfect fit for the G-men, he just has a great attitude and I would be surprised to see this kid make headlines for off the field issues.
Over the next couple of years we are going to see more talent coming out of the college ranks at TE.
putting paysinger in with the ones could be as simple as seeing what he can do since he is a bubble guy as opposed to someone like williams who isn't. i'm not saying that's their reason for it, but as an outsider looking in you have no idea of these things.
Bradshaw had a nice run on left side. He says he's feeling great. Looks like it so far
Tyler Sash makes diving catch on pass by David Carr. Play before Wilson made Steve Brown miss by completely stopping and bending backward
Randle makes a catch across middle on Hosley. Paysinger working with 1st team at OLB for Boley. jones moves to 2nd team OLB with Rivers out
David Douglas has three nice catches so far. Also, defense tries Herzlich at OLB on 3rd team in addition to MLB on 2nd team with 2 LBs out
Also, just because a TE went out for a pass, doesn't mean he didn't have to hit someone on his way out. I don't know how you'd measure that, or gauge its effectiveness.
Finally, we may not have a Gronk/Hernandez or Jimmy Graham, but no one else has The Hynocerous, our not-so-secret weapon.
Corey Webster picks off Eli for Cruz by winning a jump ball. "Salsa that!" says Rolle. #nyg
More 7 on 7: Jernigan makes catch past Thomas. Bennett with a catch on left side as well
Isaiah Stanback and Dan DePalma make catches in 7 on 7. Herzlich breaks up pass for Pascoe to Perry Fewell's delight
Thomas is not scrimmaging. Seems to be icing knee
Ohm Youngmisuk@NotoriousOHM
Tuck blows up running play in backfield. Tuck also batted down a screen pass as well On a previous play, Rogers appeared to stuff a run.
Also, I think he's just started to get really healthy and is going to get much, much better than he is now.
suspect he will overtake chase during season RT @shamron137 @giantswfan I heard Herzlich looks much better this year. Good enough to start?
Two straight excellent practices for LB Greg Jones, who seems to have adjusted well to the move from MLB to OLB. #nyg
Rueben Randle has taken his jersey and pads off. Has a towel on his back. If I were to guess, I'd say he's overheated. #nyg
Ha! I kill me.
Ohm Youngmisuk@NotoriousOHM
Martellus Bennett catches a hard and high throw from Eli Manning for a TD on Phillips. Used his size and hands
1m Ebenezer Samuel@ebenezersamuel
Bennett takes lessons from polar bears, catches TD over middle from Eli with Phillips in coverage
Stanback finally drops a pass. Is having a good practice with several catches.
And David Douglas continues his solid practice with a TD catch on Bing in back of end zone.
Also, I am loving the positive pub on our LB's. If Herzlich starts at some point and is a true upgrade over Chase we are just that much better at a position where we took a beating at most of last year. Chase was fresh which helped when he came and saved us. Honestly, I am not sure we make the playoffs last year without Chase's work at MLB - it was that much of an upgrade.
If Jones has really turned the corner and is a player it only helps as well since he is already a superb special teams player. So far, camp is going well for the Giants.
I just don't want to see or hear about any injuries!
Per Coughlin, Boley has a "little hamstring (injury)." Same for Rivers. Trattou MRI tonight. T. Thomas left early to manage his knee. #nyg
Ohm Youngmisuk@NotoriousOHM
Coughlin says Greg Jones has practiced well last few days and can play outside and inside.
1m Ohm Youngmisuk@NotoriousOHM
Coughlin says Boley has a hamstring issue. May take a few days. Rivers' hamstring kept him out today too.
On Herzlich, Coughlin says he is moving well, focused and has no issues other than wanting to be on field more.
Mike Garafolo@MikeGarafolo
Coughlin says the contact will be increased tomorrow. Half-pads practice. They've been in shells so far. #nyg
43s Ohm Youngmisuk@NotoriousOHM
Coughlin says good to see Bennett healthy and making a couple of plays
Randle "was tired ... ran out of gas." #refuel #nyg
Trattou having MRI tonight.
Patricia Traina@Patricia_Traina
Boley and Rivers have hammies.
Patricia Traina@Patricia_Traina
Tc said they would probably be a couple days.
Tyrone Wheatly