Dave Diehl is co-hosting this morning, so there was some good Giants talk. A caller said that Eli didn't seem to be a good fit for the new offense, and mentioned the shortage of quality WR's with Beckam not being able to get on the field. Diehl went thruogh the whole spiel about the offensive line taking time to gel, but then brought up that Eli is 11th all time in 4th quarter comebacks for a reason, because the up tempo offense gives him the ability to call plays/audible at the line, and that Eli is at his best when he is up tempo and reacting to the defense, and doing things with cadence to get them to show their hand. Said we're going to see more of that this year. It actually made me feel better about the offense, because I feel like the one drive that we've seen this pre-season was exactly that, so hopefully that's an actual glimpse of what the offense will look like over other stuff we've seen.
Papa then moved on to the recievers. Basically blamed Randle for all of the miscommunications. Said that Tom Coughlin was "sick and tired" of hearing "I saw one thing and he saw another" in the meeting room. He said Randle's miscommunication on third down was the "worst play of the game".
He said you always see Eli and Randle on the sideline pointing and talking, and one's gesturing one way, and the other is gesturing the other... Mentioned you never see him doing that with Cruz.
Said this is Randle's third year and it shouldn't be happening anymore.
Thanks, Jon.
1) As a staunch Eli supporter
2) Because Eli knows the shit out of football.
3) Randle hasn't come across to me as being particularly hard-working compared to the other WRs.
So it made sense to have RR shoulder most of the blame there.
When he was doing the Hall of Fame game he was talking about guys on the Giants roster that would be considered pretty obscure to anyone who is not a fan of the team. I like that.
He has a nice jack of all trades skillset but nothing about him really stands out. Even if he does put it all together mentally, he doesn't look like he'll ever be a true #1 type WR. At this point he kind of looks like another recent LSU WR who went in the 60-80 range during the draft, Brandon LaFell. Hopefully he improves the mental part of his game and becomes more than another LaFell.
I'm a lot more higher on ODB (another LSU WR) than I ever was Randle. Despite being shorter, he seems to have a bigger catch radius than Randle and better hands. Everyone also mentions what a great route runner he is and he combines that with great speed. The start of his NFL career has been awful due to the hamstring, but he flashed some future #1WR talent in college and I hope he can get his ass healthy and help this passing game when he comes back.
I DOUBT he's flat-out dumb. That stuff usually shows up pre-draft. He could be dumb, but I doubt it. Toomer wasn't.
I just think at 23 years old, he needs to grow up -- which means learning how to WORK and FOCUS like a professional athlete, and a man. It's unlikely he had to do either of those things much at LSU.
Mayock is pretty good too...could use a little less analytics but that is not bad thing versus the stale commentary from some of the other chuckleheads in the booth.
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That Amani Toomer's first few seasons at WR were really spotty because he couldn't grasp the mental aspects of the position at the pro level. And this was Dan Reeve's give-the-ball-to-Rodney Hampton-every-first-and-second down offense, no less.
I seem to recall Eric saying something about hearing rumors that Toomer was "dumb as dirt."
Well we all know that after a few season, Toomer righted his ship and became a very productive WR. The most productive WR in Giants history in fact.
My point is that it is too soon to give up on Randle, who comes to the team with several similarities to Toomer.
Both were second round picks from big schools, where they both relied FAR more on their physical gifts than polished techniques to succeed at the college level. Both started out fielding punts early in their careers. Both guys struggled early as starters.
Sure, it would be best if everything clicked for Randle THIS year, but if it doesn't, it doesn't mean you give up on him. At some point, Beckham will get on the field, and either push Randle to do better and keep his job, or Beckham will take it from him, and the problem will work itself out that way.
This is a good post, especially the last part. Unfortunately, he's the best option we've got right now.
The difference is, Toomer wasn't as dumb as dirt. Toomer has even mentioned that he had a bit of an attitude problem coming in, the game took a bit of time to settle in, and injuries set him back. However, Toomer worked very hard on his craft, and comparing those two players, you have be careful, because who knows the difference between their smarts and work ethic. Certainly no one here.
he had 44 receptions for 635 yards total over his first 3 yrs.
the 4th yr it clicked for him & he started his 1,00 yd runs.
so let's not give up on randle just yet.
Supposedly, Jim Fassel had a long sit down with Toomer. Fassel encouraged the kid to be the best WR he could be. Put in that extra effort and it will pay off.
Toomer took the talk to heart and the rest is history.
Coughlin needs to make sure Randle gets plenty of extra homework. It should pay off.
Sometimes he says things we, as fans, don't want to hear, but that doesn't make him wrong.
This!
He smiled in those pictures with JR's daughter.
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Guys like a statue.
He smiled in those pictures with JR's daughter.
He smiled in the picture where he was holding JR's daughter
what doesn't make sense is that we weren't having this many miscommunications between Eli and Randle in Gilbride's offense which arguably had more reads and adjustments. And now one that is supposedly simply is having them have major issues?
611 yards, 6 touchdowns is not "almost a thousand yards and double digit touchdowns"...
At this stage of his career, Randle should be taking his game to a very high level. Instead, he has not shown consistency and I question whether he can carry the load at WR like we need him to. I hope he has a great year but the apparent fuck-ups have me worried.
what doesn't make sense is that we weren't having this many miscommunications between Eli and Randle in Gilbride's offense which arguably had more reads and adjustments. And now one that is supposedly simply is having them have major issues?
What are you talking about?
There were tons of mis-communications last year
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what were his stats last year? oh yeah almost a thousand yards and double digit touchdowns. He needs to work harder to stop with the mental screw ups but its up to the coaches to use him effectively and get him to minimize these mistakes, not keep asking him to do things he struggles at. That's not putting the player in position to succeed. More the definition of insanity.
611 yards, 6 touchdowns is not "almost a thousand yards and double digit touchdowns"...
Well ... Rounding those numbers ... the statement is factually correct ... 1000 yards and 10 TDs ...
And on the average every American has one testicle and one ovary ... is also factually correct ...
Toomer caught 1 pass his first year in the league and 16 his second year with 1 td.
Randle caught 19 passes his first year and 41 with 6 td's his second.
Seems like he must be doing something to further his NFL career. BTW, Cruz doesn't think this is a big deal.
I guess he *could* be an idiot and what he's "seeing" is a route that leads him right into an awaiting defender or the goalpost or a Gatorade bucket on the sidelines. But couldn't he just see something that would work just as well as what Eli sees?
Wait, isn't it an instant ban for mentioning that name?
Dave - if Randle put up those types of numbers nobody on BBI would care if he changed his name to Forrest Gump.
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totally messed up the call on the trey junkin fiasco.
Wait, isn't it an instant ban for mentioning that name?
RAY HANDLEY
I guess he *could* be an idiot and what he's "seeing" is a route that leads him right into an awaiting defender or the goalpost or a Gatorade bucket on the sidelines. But couldn't he just see something that would work just as well as what Eli sees?
He's had the same issues with Nassib and Painter this off/preseason, when he's been out there with them.
It's him.