Wide receiver discussion

I doubt he keeps 3 (veritable) rookies at WR.

It's probably between Manningham and Washington for the last spot. Harris seems ahead of them both. I thought Manningham was pretty certain to get a spot but Harris and Washington have made the competition pretty intense. One thing is that Washington is PS eligible. I never though Holliday was realistic.

they seem to have more upside than the others in that tier.

Sorry brain cramp.

Even without playing STs. Then again, it's not anywhere near a sure thing that it does and that he physically gets back to something even sort of close to the vintage.

I get the feeling Washington's size is going to be a big positive for him, given almost everyone else's lack of it and the TE bunch being so terrible.

The competition is actually a lot tougher and interesting than most fans might realize. If Holiday cannot get back on the field soon and show something as a WR there is no way he makes the team. No way Coughlin keeps a WR strictly for KR/PR, even if the Giants keep 6 and I believe they will.

As great as Washington's 73yd play was on Sunday, I thought Harris had the best game of all the WRs. He showed an ability to get open and good run after the catch which is crucial in the new offense. If Harris has about two more solid games I don't know how he doesn't make the cut.

I do think it comes down to Washington vs Manningham, which is a tough tough call. Even if Manningham is 90% he is a proven commodity who Eli knows and trusts. Washington clearly has big play ability and is reportedly good on specials, which just might be enough for him to earn the 6th spot.

Many would disagree with me here, but I do think Jernigan is on the bubble. Yeah, he had three good games last year, but I do think he is in the equation if you are picking between Manningham, Jernigan, Harris, and Washington. At best Jernigan will be the 4th WR on the depth chart and if he is going to make the team he will have to show versatility at a PR and play both outside and the slot. Despite his catches on Sunday, I am still not impressed with him. He has great college highlight film which has always peaked my interest, but I just don't see a player who has consistently shown that ability. Not saying he won't make the cut, but I do think he is part of the competition.

As of today, my final six are:
Cruz
Randle
OBJ_3
Jernigan
Harris
Washington

I think Washington's special team ability will convince Coughlin to keep him. If Jernigan can show versatility then he makes it and gets activated on game day. This could come down to Harris and Manningham and it could all come down to Mario's knee.

Harris looked good out there. He was constantly making plays. Cory washington had a nice TD. but the jury is still out on him. if he grabs another 9-12 passes throughout the preseason or 2-3 touchdowns, that could definitely land him a spot. The reason i think they would take this guys over manning hame is because manningham won't play 16 games. we all know that. If these two kids can continue to make plays and catch the ball in preseason, i think they can make it.

The best part of the hall of fame game, coughlin will want to see more from them and we have four game to do so instead of three. But they need to make some more plays before they get serious consideration. but it is definitely a good start.

but I agree with Peter. It would be a great sign for us if Harris and Washington can beat him out. Depth at the WR position will free OB2 up for punt returns. That could make Holliday expendable.

To sum up, it comes down to Mario vs Washington vs Soup Harris

are no returns, then Holliday's main role of KR is gone and, thus, IMO so is he.

IMO he doesn't make the final roster as a WR. He makes it primarily as a KR and secondarily as a WR. So, if no KO returns or very few, I don't see how Holliday makes the final roster.

As to Manningham, IMO it's too early to decide whether his knee is OK. BTW I saw a recent picture here on BBI of Mario without his helmet on and he looks a lot bigger than I remember him before he went to SF.

Well put and I agree that Jernigan is not an absolute. I think he catches the ball in traffic better than he gets credit fo doing and is tougher as well. Washington will clearly have to show more than the one catch, but he has also been making those plays in practice.

I wonder if they will try some stuff with him in the red zone as we move forward?

roll the dice and keep Harris and Washington. I like what they have done. New system, and if they can show the team something, then I am done for having them make the team.

hopefully there will be no injuries and the decision will be a tough one, but I can definitely see a guy like Washington placed on the Practice Squad. Unfortunately, someone may snatch him up. Holliday might not make the team afterall. If he can't catch, he's useless as a WR and wasting one of those precious spots just to return kicks?! I don't see it. I liked what I saw from both Harris and Washington, however I don't see both making the team.

injuries, the locks are:

Cruz.
Randle.
Beckham.
Jernigan.

Manningham, Holiday, Harris, and Washington fight for the last two spots. Right now, Harris and Washington are in the lead IMO, but lots of time left.

...practice squad eligibility could become a factor. Washington and Harris have it. The others don't. Obviously, there's risk in waiving a player who has put together some good pre-season tape; but if roster spots are scarce because of needs at other positions, and a young receiver isn't going to dress in Week 1 anyway, using the practice squad to extend the roster might be an important option - especially for a raw prospect like Washington.

and if so, did he have any positive plays?

In comment 11795026 Jimmy Googs said:

Quote:

and if so, did he have any positive plays?

didn't play a lot made 1 catch looked like he was horsecollared down and didn't see anymore

Had one catch against the Bills. Could route, good catch. Tackle looked like a horse collar to me and Manningham bent awkwardly but he seemed to hold up. If Mannigham can be that guy that works the outside consistently for Eli then you have to keep him. I like the young guys (Washington and Harris) but practice squad eligibility is a factor. I like what I see in Harris. He looks like a complete WRs. Washington looks to have the physical tools and brings a specials component, but he needs more polish in my opinion. He is probably a year away from meaningful contributions on offense. If you can get him to the practice squad for a year (or hide him on IR) I think you do it.

there is always the chance coughlin carries 7 wr but more likely it will be 6

Good route (not could route)

game under their belts, Harris and Washington are going to need to do a lot more to make this team.

Somebdy may catch a break though if Manningham doesn't show enough coming back from his rehab. It was an awful injury and then he hurt it again last winter so he may never regain that ability to separate from defenders.

Is it possible we keep only 5 WRs? ODB's problems may not allow for that though.

Jernigan is the 2nd best WR on this team.

I want to be excited about Randle but his game and skillset just doesn't impress me very much. I think he's going to end up as a typical average NFL WR. He has good size and he came from a big school but his skill set just doesn't jump off the screen, at least in my eyes.

I think Jernigan has more ability. It just took him a longer time to acclimate to the NFL game. Small school...kind of a small WR. I think his time has arrived. I think the Giants will find ways to get Jernigan the ball in this offense and by October Jernigan will be getting a lot of positive talk.

Still waiting to see what Beckham can do in practice. Any day now...

in camp so far...looking strong.

Neither Cruz nor Randle even got a target on Sunday? I just looked at ESPN boxscore.

He's the biggest WR on this team. We need him to develop into a legit outside threat.

is that the Giants will kerp 3 rookie WRs, 2 of them udfas, and dump Mario?

How'd you guys get here; take the bus?

ROTFLMAO.

In comment 11795224 BlueLou said:

Quote:

is that the Giants will kerp 3 rookie WRs, 2 of them udfas, and dump Mario? How'd you guys get here; take the bus? ROTFLMAO.

Why? Is this Mario guy, amazing? Dudes been hurt for 2 years and still not 100&. Also, Holiday is a 1 trick poney and that's returning. If the others produce in practice and flash in games, then why not? I am not saying it will happen, but new system, get the Wrs who can flash in it.

... the odds are not in his favor. He'll be a Giant as long as his wheels hold up, but that might not say much.

As far as we know, the staff's enthusiasm for Harris and Washington is genuine. If they didn't like the young receivers, Wilson's roster spot could have gone to a WR rather than an obscure TE.

they have done it in the past. Its a passing league.

After reading the comments from the Giants Wide Receiver Coach after the Sunday game, I am even more optimistic about the possibility of three rookie receivers making the team, than the people that you previously criticized. The two reasons it may not happen are if either one of them suffers a serious injuries, or either one of them fail to continue making expected progress during the remaining 4 preseason games.

Clearly the Giants are excited about having such a tall receiver on the team, like Corey Washington. A leaping 6' 4" end that displays great ball skills is a much more exciting commodity for the Giants receivers, than Mario Manningham. Also, Marcus Harris has already displayed both the ability to get open frequently, along with turning a high percentage of the balls thrown in his direction into into catches.

Most of BBI had David Douglas or Douglas David, whatever his name was, making the 53 a few years ago too.

Now of course MM needs to be healthy, but I don't think the team brought him back for shits and giggles.

His route and catch last night looked very good, didn't it?

But we always get giggly over rookies, don't we?

It's Ben. Ms system. If these guys flash or show something then we probably take a look. Doesn't mean they make the team, but it's not like its out of the realm of possibility.

We don't know that. Probably took a flier on MM to see what he has. However, he is not healthy so he has that against him. TC and the whole staff are on a 2 year deal. Same with Eli. So it's like the old man Couglin is going to be here long. We basically need results now.

We are not loaded at WR either. OB hasn't shown shit as a 1st impression. RR is a question mark. Cruz is the only proven guy.. in the other system. JJ flashed in a few games. That's not a good WR corps. A bunch of what ifs and let's hope.

If those guys flash, then I can see them making it. It's not like a situation where you have Plax, Toomer, and Smith as your 3 guys locked in terms of talent.

New system, anyone can make the team if they prove they can make plays. Our TEs suck, so we better at least have talent at the WR position.

against having 3 rookie WRs on the team...

Quote:

TC and the whole staff are on a 2 year deal. Same with Eli. So it's like the old man Couglin is going to be here long. We basically need results now.

...was picked up off the scrap heap after a year on the street. He was 26 at the time, and had yet to catch his first NFL pass. Nineteen years later, he owns every Jacksonville franchise receiving record by a wide margin. (He also owns an extensive rap sheet, but that's not important right now.)

Coughlin also doesn't put much stock in draft status. R. Jay Soward made sure of that.

Backup WRs need to play specials. MM does not. Holliday can only return.

Washington and Harris have already "flashed" on national TV. They might not get to the Practice Squad.

By all accounts this offense is easier to learn than last year so it may be more "friendly" to first year players. Also keep in mind that one of the rookies is the #12 pick in the draft and supposedly "pro-ready". Yeah I know they said the same about Randall.

Lots of football left to play before we start. Great thoughts. Lets revisit the topic next week. Maybe OB3 is back and we get to see Holliday in a game.

argument might not apply so much this year because the team has a host of DBs, experienced ones in some cases, who are ST specialists: Demps and Bowman, and maybe Jackson.

Our #1 draft pick WR was a legit college returner for both KRs and PRs, and if he continues to miss practice that maybe all he does for this team until late in the season...

That doesn't favor UDFA WRs who might also contribute to ST.

He's stood out in almost every practice and he stood out in the first preseason game. Sure, he could be the next David Douglas, but he could also be the next Victor Cruz.

Point taken about DBs. I did think of that.

If OB2 is the returner then Holliday is gone. Keeping Manningham as a 4th receiver makes no sense. He would rarely see the field and is not a long term option given his health, age, and contract.

IMO - Manningham will be kept only if he pushes for the #3 spot. I don't see him doing that.

He can make the team as the fifth or sixth receiver if he's the best option as the primary backup for the outside positions. That's basically how Ramses Barden hung around: a healthy scratch until somebody got hurt in front of him, because he wasn't an asset on special teams.

Obviously, if the coaches think Harris and Washington are both already as good as Mario (or better), then keeping them is a no-brainer.

an OD, ODB, ODB2 and ODB3.

Do we have roster spots available for all these guys?