I know how much people love to hate on Randle so this may not be that well received. But when the season ends Rueben Randle will be 23 years old, and won't turn 24 until next May.
I know he's the cause of all of Eli Manning's interceptions and that he can't play a lick, but the fact of that matter is Randle is still a rising player!
He is NOT a #1 WR yet, but he's a very fine #2 WR who still has promise to get better.
Right now he's the 39th rated Pro Football Focus WR, which of course is not great, but considering there are 32 teams in the league that would make him about the 7th best #2 or better than some teams number 1 WRs. He's 20th in the league in receptions. The last two years he averaged over 15 yards per catch which showed that he made some big plays down field and last year he led the team in touchdown receptions.
He is a very solid #2 WR who still has upside.
Again he is 23 years old. Right now with 3 years in the league he is still younger than these players (and I didn't search every WR age, just grabbed 50 or so names):
Rookie John Brown (24), 2nd year year players Markus Wheaton Coradelle Patterson (both an older 23) and Terrance Williams (25 years old).
He is the same age has 2nd year players Justin Hunter (Randle is older by 7 days), and Rookies Marqise Lee (just turned 23), and Bruce Ellington (will turn 24 shortly after Randle does).
Corey Washington will also turn 23 in December (Randle will turn 24 next May). Meaning Washington everyone's favorite promising young player is about the same age as Randle.
I know Randle is not yet who we hoped he would be, but he still might Be. Another year in this offensive system, and an off-season working with what seems to be a very determined player (and former teammate and friend) in OBJ might do wonders for Randle.
If OBJ is who we think he is, and Cruz can come back healthy the Giants are set at WR. They don't need another guy there because it's handled. If Cruz isn't going to come back then I think they need a slot guy, and if there is a talent like Cooper available it doesn't mean the Giants should pass, but anyone who thinks Randle is a major issue is off-base in my opinion. There are bigger issues than adding a young #2 WR to complement with Beckham because it seems like to me the Giants already have that guy.
This franchise kept the faith in Sinorice Moss for many years, and Randle is a much better receiver than he was. They will continue to try and develop him and give him chances.
people have become very polite post pick, I think we can go back to being direct
If he were the vertical threat they believed he would be, he could help stretch the defense and create space for OB and (a healthy) Cruz, but his route tree appears to be very limited and inside of 20 yards, for the most part.
bingo
This franchise kept the faith in Sinorice Moss for many years, and Randle is a much better receiver than he was. They will continue to try and develop him and give him chances.
Moss just played out his rookie deal, as Randle will as well (at the minimum)
This franchise kept the faith in Sinorice Moss for many years, and Randle is a much better receiver than he was. They will continue to try and develop him and give him chances.
hooray! he's better than Sinorice Moss!!! there's the potential
with some saying that you need a burner to threaten the D and some saying it will not matter if eli is on his ass.
I think Randle can be a nice part of the system.
I like the new OL coach.
I like how it functioned prior to RB jennings injury.
I think we lack a slot player.
if you get a burner, the speed part must only be one aspect of the thing, it must be a great wr....that means a round 1 pick.
I am leaning towards a pass rusher.
Quote:
When you draft a WR in the 2nd round, you're hoping for more than a quality #3 WR.
Not sure if serious. He was the last pick in the 2nd round. The last WR of his tier to get selected.
Yes, I'm serious. Randle is nothing to write home about. He doesn't put the fear of God into the defense & he makes a mental error every five seconds. That '12 draft was just a complete abomination.
Took Toomer (or Tommer if you prefer) 3 years to start playing well. He was almost awful the 1st 2 years.
Can't give up on a 6-2 210lb WR at 23 yrs old, yet.
Also, he plays with Eli who, in my opinion, makes all WR's better.
I doubt he turns out like Toomer but I hope he does.
Agreed. Even if he is a reliable #3 for 5 or 6 years, then the pick was worth it. I'll take 50 recpt at 600 yds and 5 or 6 tds from a #3 that doesn't get hurt.
I think that speaks volumes.
Better get used to Randle. Decent receivers are hard to find and Randle is a very decent receiver. With the state of the defense, I doubt we are spending any high picks on offensive players.
OP, good thread.
These were all if his same issues last year. You would expect some of them to lessen and yet they haven't...at all.
I think that speaks volumes.
Speaks volumes about what? Gilbride is no offensive guru. And struggled mightly as a HC when given the opportunity. He was on the staff of SB winner.
Bingo. He acts as if he' stupid. He really needs to put the time and effort in to become a very good, consistent receiver.
Maybe Beckham can work with him.
Add him in the off season and we can see if Randle can raise his game to win the #2 role or become a real #3 (manningham "esque").
With Cruz rehabbing he won't really be a threat next year or we can't risk not filling this spot
ODB, Cobb, Randle and Cruz would be great depth....let Jernigan and others fight for the 5th spot and then...we are loaded.
FA and the draft can change things, but right now, other than Randle, there is no one even close to being (deserving) 3rd on the roster. Parker? Jernigan?
Sure the hope was for better, but it could have been worse, too.
As Ryan injected, KG's politically correct nuggets to the media speak to Randle's slow adjustment to the NFL game, to be polite.
Hopefully maturation picks up momentum, but he is what he is at the moment.
I see often, and a few times through this thread when you draft a WR in the 2nd round you EXPECT such and such.
Well here are the WR drafted in the 2nd round from 2009-2013
Justin Hunter, Terrance Williams, Robert Woods, Aaron Dobson, Brian Quick, Stephen Hill, Ryan Bryoles, ALSHON JEFFEREY, Rueben Randle, Titus Young, TORREY SMITH, Greg Little, RANDALL COBB, Arrelious Benn, Golden Tate, Dexter McCluster, Brian Robiski, Mohammad Massaquoi.
And then 2008 which was odd year because no 1st round WR and a ton of 2nd round guys
Donnie Avery, Devin Thomas, JORDY NELSON, James Hardy, Eddie Royal, Jerome Simpson, DESEAN JACKSON, Malcolm Kelly, Limas Sweed, Dexter Jackson.
So since 2008 there have been 29 WR drafted in the 2nd round. How many of these guys are definitely above Randle.
Jordy Nelson, DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jefferey, and Randall Cobb, and Torrey Smith. That's 5 GUYS! 2 of those guys play with Aaron Rodgers (wonder if that helps any).
I'd listen to arguments for Golden Tate as well (but Tate was not any better through his first 3 years.
So you may HOPE for a #1 WR from a 2nd round pick, but quite frankly it doesn't really happen too often (unless you play with Aaron Rodgers)
He makes tough catches over the middle, he can be a red-zone threat, and he can at times stretch the field. He's not great, but with the emergence of OBJ I and making sure the Giants have a good slot guy (hopefully Cruz) I think Randle is a guy the Giants should consider okay to move forward with.
If he were the vertical threat they believed he would be, he could help stretch the defense and create space for OB and (a healthy) Cruz, but his route tree appears to be very limited and inside of 20 yards, for the most part.
What was the Giants basis for him being a vertical threat?
Even his right up by one of the mock draft sites said his upside in the pros would be as a possession receiver, but could not get separation on good DB's in college.
Here were three weaknesses they had for him:
- Lacks speed to separate against good DBs
- Not a deep threat; won't stretch the field
- Never was truly dominant
All of this has come true in the pros. Even every Saturday in the SEC, one could see that. My only conclusion is that they talked themselves into thinking he could be that because the QB play from LSU was substandard, figuring that having Manning would bring more out of him.
Clearly they whiffed on that.
Link - ( New Window )
Let's hope Cruz recovers enough to be our no 2 or 1B
I can see Eli going to him a lot these last five games.
In comment 12005250 SHO'NUFF said:
1 catch/ 12yards/ 0td
16 / 263 / 1
27 / 60 / 5
79 / 1183 / 6
360 yards
He's not a consistent enough route runner or pass catcher to be a starter.