Ballard and Donnell are notable examples. Bear Pascoe spent a couple of stints on the practice squad after the Niners dropped him. Darcy Johnson followed the same path, and might have amounted to something if not for injuries.
Cunningham seems to be the next candidate to step up to the 53-man roster, with Fells the most likely cut if Robinson continues to progress and Donnell avoids PUP. Tye and LaCosse are the next wave for 2016, with practice squad their probable ceiling this year unless injuries open a spot on the roster.
way down if Cruz is healthy. But TE touchdowns could go up, as defenses will have their hands full in the red zone, especially if we have a credible running game.
If our offense can win us 2 more games than last year and our defense can win us 1-2 more games, we should make the playoffs.
His movement isn't close to what those measurables would indicate. Where is the explosion and suddeness with this guy? It hasn't been seen in his limited time.
I have no hope for Robinson at this point.
I see Donnell progressing into a good starter for us this year. Here's a guy with terrible measurables but he can cut and separate. I like how he goes up for the ball too.
This unit is not what you really want but we have a lot of WR talent and Vereen to give us the mismatches.
and you utilized one of my favorite sayings "Fly in the ointment". I also believe this will be a good group. The other nice thing is they can afford an injury and still be just fine.
an explosion guy. he would be a 2-way in-line guy who can catch the ball when he's wide open. would be nice to have given he's the size of an offensive tackle
would free donnell up to move around
With close to a 40" vertical. I'd expect an explosive guy with those numbers. You're right. He's not which is why I don't expect him to contribute much.
I think we have been 'over promised' with Robinson.
Don't think he has the goods. But, this is not a very
strong group of players. When you consider that Bavaro
was also a 4th round draft choice, I think Robinson
and Brewer were a very bad mistake.
It would seem to me, that both Fells and Robinson and not
going to be on the roster. I'm a very big fan of 2 TE
sets, but not with these guys.
Robinson will do just enough in camp to get everyone oooing and ahhing about him again. Then, after he makes the final 53, he'll disappear - again - once the regular season begins.
I'd rather take my chances with Donnell, Cunningham, and LaCosse.
play NFL TE at this point. But he's a damn lock for the PS to keep around and change his body over the next year. The way he looks and the way Gilbride talks about him (being really smart) reminds me of Kevin Boss.
Hopefully Robinson has learned the position well enough to replace Fells, and even challenge a healthy Donnell for snaps.
With close to a 40" vertical. I'd expect an explosive guy with those numbers. You're right. He's not which is why I don't expect him to contribute much.
Amani Toomer and Michael Strahan "exploded" onto the scene in their fourth seasons. Toomer and Strahan had the physical ability but were raw coming out of college.
Strahan was the NFL's best rn defender in 1996 and he got good pressure, just not great until year #5 in 1997. Toomer exploded in his fourth year. You "saw" the ability but they didn't put it together right away.
TE A. Robinson has the raw tools. He missed his rookie OTA's due to college requirements. He was hurt his second season. He was healthy last year and showed some signs, especially in the Colts pre-season game.
I am a man of HOPE. We need a few young players to really STEP out and DEVELOP. We need a surprise like Cruz in 2011. Why not TE Robinson?
Yes, I am enamored with his physical tools over his play to date. The above points of his career to date are explanations for why he is where he is. This is year #2 and if he is getting praise in camp and showing well it will go a long way towards our offense being truly dynamic.
Why? Because you can't cover everyone. Beckham draws the double teams and TE Robinson chips the DE and beats the LB time and again over the middle cause he is big, fast. And if the safety makes a mistake and he has a step on a LB down the seem he is gone for good yardage.
Donnell also has upside. Why not use some two TE sets IF in FACT both improve their blocking?
I believe we'll end up with (yes) Donnell / Robinson splitting time at TE as starters and Cunningham is our #3 TE. Fells is kept til the final cuts and told to stay in shape. LaCosse somehow ends up on IR and Tye is on the practice squad. We have a good problem at TE this year.
is right on target and so is Robinson...insomuch as he's just about what a best scene scenario would hope for at the time of his drafting.
I'm not saying he's a sure thing -this year will tell us that - just saying, that it's wrong to give up on him. This is a difficult position requiring in effect two skills - that of an offensive lineman AND a Wide receiver.
Everyone knew that he was a project and would take at least two years - not counting injuries.
I really like Donnell but I think potentially Robinson could be a better player.
SG: "Yes, I am enamored with his physical tools over his play to date"
he is not going anywhere. When a coach indicates that catching and getting open are not issues, that is telling. mentally he may finally get it
95% of NFL TE and playing because they can get open and catch, not because they can block
the question is really how much production do fans expect from a 2nd TE that already has OBJ, Cruz, Randle, Donnell and pass catching RB's as options.
That's a really good post, Stretch. Sometimes because of Giants football, we get caught up in TE blocking and forget that making catches is what defines all the top TEs.
He was the third tight end on merit, but he dressed, and played, and learned the offense. This year, it's reasonable to think he can pass Fells, since Robinson is likely to improve and Fells isn't. With Donnell battling a chronic ankle issue, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Robinson start Week 1. On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me to see him bagging groceries either. He's that big an unknown.
over the past 7- 10 years I didnt think the Giants had such a position
He was the third tight end on merit, but he dressed, and played, and learned the offense. This year, it's reasonable to think he can pass Fells, since Robinson is likely to improve and Fells isn't. With Donnell battling a chronic ankle issue, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Robinson start Week 1. On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me to see him bagging groceries either. He's that big an unknown.
Hope. I'm hinging my bet that something "good" has to happen in the midst of all this off-season agony.
We need to get lucky and see the 4th year and under guys ALL develop at once. Possible? Yes. Likely? No.
But if TE Robinson, SS C. Taylor, OT Mosley, WR C. Washington, TE Cunningham, RB A. Williams, DT Bromely, LB Kennard, DE Moore, etc., all finally see the light at once and produce we'll be in good shape.
We especially need LT Flowers to surprise. At worst, he'll need to at least be able to manage with a TE at his hip.
I can't wait for camp to start.
SG/BBB: Apologies, should have said he's only STARTED 1 game
Amended: Hopefully this is the summer that Robinson has the light go off
:)
95% of NFL TE and playing because they can get open and catch, not because they can block
the question is really how much production do fans expect from a 2nd TE that already has OBJ, Cruz, Randle, Donnell and pass catching RB's as options.
Cunningham seems to be the next candidate to step up to the 53-man roster, with Fells the most likely cut if Robinson continues to progress and Donnell avoids PUP. Tye and LaCosse are the next wave for 2016, with practice squad their probable ceiling this year unless injuries open a spot on the roster.
If our offense can win us 2 more games than last year and our defense can win us 1-2 more games, we should make the playoffs.
I have no hope for Robinson at this point.
I see Donnell progressing into a good starter for us this year. Here's a guy with terrible measurables but he can cut and separate. I like how he goes up for the ball too.
This unit is not what you really want but we have a lot of WR talent and Vereen to give us the mismatches.
would free donnell up to move around
Quote:
that Robinson gets pushed off the roster. I'd be stunned if he finally became a legit contributor, the light has just not gone off.
Amended: Hopefully this is the summer that Robinson has the light go off
:)
That'd be nice Doc, but I'll believe it when I see it - the track record of projects that look like Tarzan and play like Jane is decidedly suboptimal.
Quote:
In comment 12368585 WeatherMan said:
Quote:
that Robinson gets pushed off the roster. I'd be stunned if he finally became a legit contributor, the light has just not gone off.
Amended: Hopefully this is the summer that Robinson has the light go off
:)
That'd be nice Doc, but I'll believe it when I see it - the track record of projects that look like Tarzan and play like Jane is decidedly suboptimal.
Yeah, have to agree, my friend
Don't think he has the goods. But, this is not a very
strong group of players. When you consider that Bavaro
was also a 4th round draft choice, I think Robinson
and Brewer were a very bad mistake.
It would seem to me, that both Fells and Robinson and not
going to be on the roster. I'm a very big fan of 2 TE
sets, but not with these guys.
With the injury to Beatty blocking is even that more important.
I don't see Tye sticking.
I'd rather take my chances with Donnell, Cunningham, and LaCosse.
Hopefully Robinson has learned the position well enough to replace Fells, and even challenge a healthy Donnell for snaps.
Strahan was the NFL's best rn defender in 1996 and he got good pressure, just not great until year #5 in 1997. Toomer exploded in his fourth year. You "saw" the ability but they didn't put it together right away.
TE A. Robinson has the raw tools. He missed his rookie OTA's due to college requirements. He was hurt his second season. He was healthy last year and showed some signs, especially in the Colts pre-season game.
I am a man of HOPE. We need a few young players to really STEP out and DEVELOP. We need a surprise like Cruz in 2011. Why not TE Robinson?
Yes, I am enamored with his physical tools over his play to date. The above points of his career to date are explanations for why he is where he is. This is year #2 and if he is getting praise in camp and showing well it will go a long way towards our offense being truly dynamic.
Why? Because you can't cover everyone. Beckham draws the double teams and TE Robinson chips the DE and beats the LB time and again over the middle cause he is big, fast. And if the safety makes a mistake and he has a step on a LB down the seem he is gone for good yardage.
Donnell also has upside. Why not use some two TE sets IF in FACT both improve their blocking?
I believe we'll end up with (yes) Donnell / Robinson splitting time at TE as starters and Cunningham is our #3 TE. Fells is kept til the final cuts and told to stay in shape. LaCosse somehow ends up on IR and Tye is on the practice squad. We have a good problem at TE this year.
TEs are serviceable if Donnell stays healthy and stops trying to hurdle safeties.
I'm not saying he's a sure thing -this year will tell us that - just saying, that it's wrong to give up on him. This is a difficult position requiring in effect two skills - that of an offensive lineman AND a Wide receiver.
Everyone knew that he was a project and would take at least two years - not counting injuries.
I really like Donnell but I think potentially Robinson could be a better player.
And don't compare him to Toomer or Strahan. They may not have become stars until year 4, but they were on the field and contributing.
95% of NFL TE and playing because they can get open and catch, not because they can block
the question is really how much production do fans expect from a 2nd TE that already has OBJ, Cruz, Randle, Donnell and pass catching RB's as options.
That's a really good post, Stretch. Sometimes because of Giants football, we get caught up in TE blocking and forget that making catches is what defines all the top TEs.
We need to get lucky and see the 4th year and under guys ALL develop at once. Possible? Yes. Likely? No.
But if TE Robinson, SS C. Taylor, OT Mosley, WR C. Washington, TE Cunningham, RB A. Williams, DT Bromely, LB Kennard, DE Moore, etc., all finally see the light at once and produce we'll be in good shape.
We especially need LT Flowers to surprise. At worst, he'll need to at least be able to manage with a TE at his hip.
I can't wait for camp to start.