In the run up to the 2014 draft, I stood firmly in the Aaron Donald camp. Odell Beckham, Jr., was around fourth or fifth on my wish-list that year. Still, I did want the Giants to draft a WR, and the guy I wanted them to draft was Cody Latimer.
This is what Sy'56 wrote about him:
| Latimer caught my eye the first time I watched Indiana in October. His size and movement ability are easy to notice, as he can run away from some defensive backs but bull over others. He is a matchup problem for a lot of defenses. In addition, Latimer does a lot of the little things right. He sees the ball in to his hands, rarely using his body to bring the ball in. He runs crisp routes and understands how to use the field to his advantage. Often I would see Latimer be the guy to come to the rescue on broken plays, working towards his quarterback and finding the vacant areas of a defense. On top of all that, Latimer is a high-effort blocker. He is a borderline first round talent that can be had on day two, perhaps even in round 3. |
This is what Todd McShay said about him:
Todd McShay
Well, he did go on day two, 2nd round to Denver (#56 overall), and to say that he's been disappointing would be an understatement. 35 receptions for 445 yards with three TDs
in four years. That kind of production kind of makes me appreciate Rueben Randle a lot more. I've heard that he had trouble with the playbook. I heard about an altercation he had at a Denver nightclub a year or so ago. Sheesh.
On the plus side (such as it is), he's been okay on special teams, which is nice if you're David Tyree.
Anyway...the Giants didn't draft a WR this year, and it looks like they're going to give Latimer a shot to start opposite the WR they
did draft in 2014, with Shepard, presumably, in the slot. I'm not saying the light will magically come on for Latimer, but even if it flickers a little more than it did in Denver, that'll be one less thing for the Giants to worry about. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
There isn't a ton of pressure on him, Giants are loaded skill position wise, so expectations are minimal.
He's big, fast and physical, kind of perfect for that Z role. I hope he can put it together, but I was a big fan of the signing.
"The 6’2”, 215-pound Latimer was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Broncos. In four seasons with the Broncos, Latimer played in 45 regular-season games with three starts. He has 35 career receptions for 445 yards and three touchdowns. Despite missing five games due to injury, 2017 was Latimer’s most productive season as he caught 19 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns."
He makes the team almost by default, but WR and CB are two positions where we are essentially just collecting bodies and hoping that a few players emerge. Remember also that Barkley can be used as a WR. Latimer's best value might be on ST. Despite his drops, Roger Lewis might be a better receiver.
This is a Reese-type rummage sale play. We have wasted enough time and resources with this type of player over the last 10 years.
He doesn't have to be great. We do have Beckham, Shepard, Engram and Barkley to catch the ball. But he does have to work hard and keep one defensive back occupied.
Why? Lewis had more production last season but thats only because everyone was getting injured. He didnt beat out anyone on the roster that was a starting caliber player. Latimer hasnt done anything either and its really splitting hairs I guess...but I dont think he’ll have any problem beating out Lewis.
So low risk, high reward move
This is a Reese-type rummage sale play. We have wasted enough time and resources with this type of player over the last 10 years.
Why would you cut him? That’d be a knee-jerk reaction. Who’s better? Lewis? Rudolph? Sharp? The WR depth is awful. Hes still better than everyone behind him. Hes not getting cut unless some of these no name guys behind him suddenly go lights out in camp, which most likely isnt happening.
This is a Reese-type rummage sale play. We have wasted enough time and resources with this type of player over the last 10 years.
Latimer will probably never live up to his draft status, but he helps to raise the floor at WR, and he can contribute on specials. That’s worth what the Giants are paying him. If Beckham, Shepard and the TEs are healthy, the other WRs might not get a lot of snaps.
I know he was buried on the depth chart at WR for Denver for a few years but that wasn't the case lately so sounds like he is behind in his development in passing game.
The special teams help ain't nothing though...since we suck at them.
not to mention it was a weak WR class i would have liked st brown in the later rounds thou as they need that bigger WR for the redzone when they dont punch it in with barkley running behind hernandez up the middle
We will see. At a minimum I am hoping for a good ST contribution from him. With the talent we have on Offense we really would not have to ask much of him.
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yeah, give him a try I guess but if he doesn't show immediately cut his ass if he can't be useful on special teams.
This is a Reese-type rummage sale play. We have wasted enough time and resources with this type of player over the last 10 years.
Guys like Domenik Hixon and Devin Thomas?
Latimer will probably never live up to his draft status, but he helps to raise the floor at WR, and he can contribute on specials. That’s worth what the Giants are paying him. If Beckham, Shepard and the TEs are healthy, the other WRs might not get a lot of snaps.
We will see. At a minimum I am hoping for a good ST contribution from him. With the talent we have on Offense we really would not have to ask much of him.
Our WRs coach who coached him in Denver thought the arrow was pointing up enough to recommend him to DG. The light bulb seemed to turn on for him late last year. Guess we'll see soon enough. We dont need a probowler just someone who can make a timely catch or two when single covered as he will be most of the time.
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yeah, give him a try I guess but if he doesn't show immediately cut his ass if he can't be useful on special teams.
This is a Reese-type rummage sale play. We have wasted enough time and resources with this type of player over the last 10 years.
Why would you cut him? That’d be a knee-jerk reaction. Who’s better? Lewis? Rudolph? Sharp? The WR depth is awful. Hes still better than everyone behind him. Hes not getting cut unless some of these no name guys behind him suddenly go lights out in camp, which most likely isnt happening.
The guys you mentioned suck. So does Latimer. How does bringing in more suck help improve the team? You take a shot I guesss but don't expect much out of him and don't put a lot of resources into him. He's not worth it.
If your going w two tight ends and outside runs maybe this player is a useful piece.
That would be nice, except McCaffery was actually good on the Giants before he became even better in Denver.
I know he was buried on the depth chart at WR for Denver for a few years but that wasn't the case lately so sounds like he is behind in his development in passing game.
The special teams help ain't nothing though...since we suck at them.
Agreed. He was a great gunner for Denver, so he'll make the team if only for that.
But the bottom of this roster, including the WRs, could be changeable when other teams make cuts over the course of the preseason.
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In comment 13955321 HomerJones45 said:
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yeah, give him a try I guess but if he doesn't show immediately cut his ass if he can't be useful on special teams.
This is a Reese-type rummage sale play. We have wasted enough time and resources with this type of player over the last 10 years.
Why would you cut him? That’d be a knee-jerk reaction. Who’s better? Lewis? Rudolph? Sharp? The WR depth is awful. Hes still better than everyone behind him. Hes not getting cut unless some of these no name guys behind him suddenly go lights out in camp, which most likely isnt happening.
Who cares? You want a better team or not? If you do, then you don't waste time on a rummage sale player UNLESS HE PLAYS SPECIAL TEAMS. [emphasis added for the hard of thinking] Latimer the receiver couldn't beat out such luminaries as Benny Fowler, Jordan Taylor or Jordan Norwood. They all played with the same qb's.
The guys you mentioned suck. So does Latimer. How does bringing in more suck help improve the team? You take a shot I guesss but don't expect much out of him and don't put a lot of resources into him. He's not worth it.
Giants had too many holes and not enough resources (picks/$$$) to plug them all in one off season.
So as you pointed out..."You take a shot" with guys like Latimer.
In the "is it bad coaching or bad GMing" debate, you can point to players we drafted moving on to another team and playing better, like McCaffrey and Wheatley. Reese cultists couldn't point out a single case in the fire Coughlin/Reese debate. Dumbest Giants move of all time.
Why? I'd rather we get another good WR and let EE develop at TE.
Moving Engram to WR would be a mistake. His strength is being a mismatch weapon at TE.
No, I don't think it's a Patriots-type move.
What I see is an inexpensive move for a guy whose physical skill is undeniable, but who wasn't able to produce for the team that drafted him, for whatever reason.
I'm sure that the Giants' new WR coach, Tyke Tolbert, who used to be Denver's WR coach and is no doubt very familiar with Latimer, vouched for him before the Giants made the move. Just one more new addition to keep an eye on this summer.
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In comment 13955321 HomerJones45 said:
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yeah, give him a try I guess but if he doesn't show immediately cut his ass if he can't be useful on special teams.
This is a Reese-type rummage sale play. We have wasted enough time and resources with this type of player over the last 10 years.
Why would you cut him? That’d be a knee-jerk reaction. Who’s better? Lewis? Rudolph? Sharp? The WR depth is awful. Hes still better than everyone behind him. Hes not getting cut unless some of these no name guys behind him suddenly go lights out in camp, which most likely isnt happening.
Who cares? You want a better team or not? If you do, then you don't waste time on a rummage sale player UNLESS HE PLAYS SPECIAL TEAMS. [emphasis added for the hard of thinking] Latimer the receiver couldn't beat out such luminaries as Benny Fowler, Jordan Taylor or Jordan Norwood. They all played with the same qb's.
The guys you mentioned suck. So does Latimer. How does bringing in more suck help improve the team? You take a shot I guesss but don't expect much out of him and don't put a lot of resources into him. He's not worth it.
Its actually less suck, not more. Which is the whole point of depth.
b) He will be useful on special teams, that's why they gave him the guaranteed contract.
He is for all extensive purposes replacing Dwayne Harris...as he Latimer will be a key gunner on Specials, return kickoffs and get some snaps in certain WR sets and when folks get dinged up a bit.
That's the track...