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.
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.