Can someone PLEASE explain to me why Reese & Co. continually refuse to upgrade the TE position into a major offensive weapon and not view it as a position of need the past several years, unlike so many other teams? We’ve had solid pass-catching TEs in the past – Bavaro, Cross, Boss, Bennett, etc. No longer. We don’t go after them as FAs, we don’t use high-round draft picks on them. We drafted some kid in the 6th round this year. Big deal. Is he still even on the team? I can’t imagine opposing defenses spend much time game-planning against Larry Donnell (8 catches for a whopping 50 yds. so far this year) and Will Tye (8 catches, 40 yds.), wondering how in the world they’re going to stop them. For heaven’s sake, why do we continue to have this blind spot in our offensive system? Why don’t we even attempt to improve it???? Any thoughts, anyone?
Giants drafted a TE in the 3rd round a few years ago. And he wasn't used much because he wasn't considered a great blocker.
This year the Giants drafted one of the highest rated TEs in the 6th round. Analysts considered it a draft day steal. Coaches haven't seen fit to use him yet.
Any other questions?
Over the years we didn't have OBJ, Shepherd, Cruz, Vereen and a mediocre OL. Needs change. Another Howard Cross would be just fine now
Tye & LD are poor in the passing game (aside from Donnell's occasional red zone presence) and liabilities blocking for Manning. It's likely either would make another NFL roster. It's a marked weakness on the team which can hopefully be improved upon in the off-season or via Adams developing.
Donnell seems awkward to me. Not a natural TE. Tye seems more fluid but the first pick vs. Washington was just as much on him as Eli. If you run a route expect the ball.
I know we're all disgusted with both of them now, but considering where they started they've both been brought along well by the giants, and have showed flashes (although inconsistent) of being quite good.
Giants are far from the only team to pay less attention to the TE spot. In the past I was very hopeful the giants would go get a guy like Ebron early in the draft to solve that problem. It would of been a horrible mistake. TE is a spot more than most where you build guys rather than draft nfl ready players.
It's a down moment, but show some patience Donnell and Tye can contribute, and/or Adams develops himself eventually
That's not true at all. It's not a zero sum game. And being adequate would be good enough. We're not even adequate at TE.
You simply can't do it all and on defense the front four and coverback have to get the most money.
On offense the QB, offensive lineman and WR have to get the lions share of the money. What's left goes to RB's and TE's,but they are no longer the most crtical links.
But by all means, continue with the criticism.
TE and LB have been completely ignored as far as looking for a top level talent.
What it boils down to is that any group that isn't performing well doesn't seem to get laid at the feet of the players, it gets laid at the feet of the GM as if he gives the coaches the finger and sneers "You'll get nothing and like it!".
I'm not even going to touch the fact that in the salary cap era, building an all-star team is nearly impossible, so you have to allocate resources to a certain strategy.
It isn't really that difficult to pick up on, yet a lot of people really have issues figuring that out. Baffling.
3 good WRs is way more important than a two way TE. Use an extra lineman sometimes to block. Problem solved. I think this need a TE talk will really grow without Vereen, cause you will probably want a replacement safety valve/junkman.
Doomster : 10:08 am : link : reply
that Tony Gonzalez could have been had.....Reese didn't need him...instead he drafted Beckum....
I mean at one time, we had a chance to get Brett Favre or we had a chance to get Terrell Davis or Tom Brady too.
Absolutely ridiculous logic.
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I think people understand a team can't be good at every position and obviously not "all-star" (bizarre notion). For instance, in a 4-3 the Dline has been prioritized and excellent acquisitions like Snacks lauded, even as the LBs are mostly pedestrian. Trade-offs.
What some are saying is that when A) you have an immobile 35 y/o QB and B) when said QB has in the past shown he likes throwing to Tight Ends, especially in key moments, it's worth prioritizing that position. At the very least, with a player who can block. It's not too much to expect a Dan Campbell at the position.
LD & Tye are poor all around (call them -2 way Tight Ends). Likely neither would make another NFL roster. One can't say the Giants haven't tried to address the position. Bennett, Myers, developing LD, drafting Adams. It just hasn't worked out. Not crazy IMV to at this point spend some FA cash or a 2nd/3rd rounder (where a lot of starting TEs come from) on one. Eli likes throwing to Tight Ends.
Regardless, I suspect Manning would like a better target at the position. Recall how much he threw to Boss and Ballard in key moments, and neither were great players.
I'm still holding out hope Tye can develop a bit more, he has some potential. LD it's likely he is what he is and will not improve. I did not think he'd make the roster this year.
The X factor, of course, is that the Giants are very consciously in "win now" mode given Manning's age.
Regardless, I suspect Manning would like a better target at the position. Recall how much he threw to Boss and Ballard in key moments, and neither were great players.
I'm still holding out hope Tye can develop a bit more, he has some potential. LD it's likely he is what he is and will not improve. I did not think he'd make the roster this year.
The X factor, of course, is that the Giants are very consciously in "win now" mode given Manning's age.
The 2013 draft was a great draft for TE's but since then there have been a lot of disappointments.
they construct the O-line .
You can blame Reece and or the scouts for consistant
failure on late mid to late round wasted draft picks .
Eli has always been better when we had someone who
had the size speed ration to get chunks of yards
up the seam and a bailout When the WR's couldn't get
open . WE have the worst core of TE's in the NFL
and it's not even close . We could cut Both Tye and
Donell and I doubt anyone would pick them up .
Offensive line same deal how many picks have we used
on a developmental O-line player and have Zero
to show for it . You can clamour all you want about
the last couple of drafts . It still doesn't make
up for all the poor drafts we have had .
Same with free agents we miss as many as we hit on .
Six of those 20 drafted tight ends didn't catch a single pass last season. Jeff Heuerman caught one for the Broncos; Nick O'Leary caught two for the Bills; Geoff Swaim four for the Cowboys; James O'Shaughnessy six for the Chiefs and Malcolm Johnson caught seven for the Browns.
Those 20 tight ends are typical draft picks. That is, few of them will ever rise above replacement level and most of them will be gone within four years. In fact, three of them are already out of the league and one, Nick Boyle, is currently serving a 10 game suspension.
Giants tight ends combined for 88 catches for 838 yards and five touchdowns last season on an offense that was 6th in points, 8th in points per drive, 8th in yards gained, 7th in yards per play, 7th in passing yards, and tied for 1st in passing touchdowns. Larry Donnell and Will Tye are important contributors on one of the best offenses in football.
Why haven't the Giants drafted a tight end in the early rounds recently? Because other players had higher grades. If their highest graded player is a tight end when they're on the clock next year, they'll draft him. If there's a tight end available in free agency who's better than what they have they'll make a good faith effort to sign him.
The Giants, like every other NFL team, are looking to improve every day at every position. However, great players don't just fall from the sky.
That said, the Giants TEs SUCK. Neither Donnell or Tye could start on another team in the league. And I don't even care much that they don't block.
I CARE THAT THEY MAKE TOO MANY MENTAL MISTAKES. Donnell is an adventure every time they throw to him, and Tye Ruben Randle'd last week and caused an INT.
That said, the Giants TEs SUCK. Neither Donnell or Tye could start on another team in the league. And I don't even care much that they don't block.
I CARE THAT THEY MAKE TOO MANY MENTAL MISTAKES. Donnell is an adventure every time they throw to him, and Tye Ruben Randle'd last week and caused an INT.
If teams don't ask tight ends to block like they used to, then why does our team rely so much on it? What are other teams doing with their running game that ours isn't - where they don't need a tight end mauling someone but we want one so badly?