The Giants' offense needs more receiving targets. The only Giants receiver I watched last season with which I was happy was Shepard, who looked and played like a real NFL pro. But he is what is, and he's never going to stretch the field, or grow a few inches. The rest? Bah! Please don't talk to me about unfulfilled promise, or 40 times!
Some nice talent in this draft, and I wish the Giants would come away with someone in the 1st, except that with the exception of The Hand of God, or a QB, they're reluctant to pull the trigger on skill players too early, considering all the other holes.
"The Splendid Splinter" was originally a nickname for Ted Williams due his slender build, which puts me in mind of a WR in this draft who really impresses me, 6'1", 175 DeVonta Smith. While slender, he's surprisingly strong, and as tough as you'd want him to be, though it remains to be seen how well he'll do against NFL press coverage. But I think he'll do fine. He's got great hands, And while his long limbed stride doesn't reveal it, on the field, he is really, really FAST!
Unfortunately, I'm not the only one he's impressed, in that many sites have him listed in the top 10. But should he hang around to #11, I'd be happy to see the Giants grab him. I think he would be both versatile, and able to take the top off of opposing defenses.
If not, any of Waddle, Chase, Toney or Pitts would be nice consolation prizes.
DeVonta Smith Highlights - (
New Window )
And he's going to cost 9 million this year! I don't get the love for this guy. There is nothing we are getting out of Shepard that we can't get elsewhere for less money.
Let's hope the team is not as emotionally invested in JAGs as the team's fans seem to be. Shepard should be shown the door. If they keep him and pay him 9 million this year, they collectively should have their heads examined.
And he's going to cost 9 million this year! I don't get the love for this guy. There is nothing we are getting out of Shepard that we can't get elsewhere for less money.
Let's hope the team is not as emotionally invested in JAGs as the team's fans seem to be. Shepard should be shown the door. If they keep him and pay him 9 million this year, they collectively should have their heads examined.
Apt. Had this been about Shepard.
But this wasn't intended to be more of the endless, "He, sucks, no he's great!" debates, that seem to dominate. Shepard was ARUGABLY the most successful Giants WR in an overall crappy offense. I thought he made more of the plays that needed to be made, and looked like a pro doing it, not that he's All-pro. But that's subjective, and like I said, this thread isn't about him.
OY!
And he's going to cost 9 million this year! I don't get the love for this guy. There is nothing we are getting out of Shepard that we can't get elsewhere for less money.
Let's hope the team is not as emotionally invested in JAGs as the team's fans seem to be. Shepard should be shown the door. If they keep him and pay him 9 million this year, they collectively should have their heads examined.
Smith sure is splinter-slim...
He's really the only WR that I think we should consider at #11. I'm more than fine passing on the "Splendid Splinter"...
He's really the only WR that I think we should consider at #11. I'm more than fine passing on the "Splendid Splinter"...
I like Chase, but think Smith is both better and faster. Terrace Marshall is another good prospect.
He's really the only WR that I think we should consider at #11. I'm more than fine passing on the "Splendid Splinter"...
I like Chase a lot too. I don’t think he is falling to 11 though.
best Position player (after Sewell) and won't be there.
I also think that Waddle and Smith will not be close to the BPA available at the 11 th. pick - though I'd bet one, and likely both, will be available. I think both are risky - too risky for the 11th. pick where you have to leave the field with an immediate contributor.
I don't think there's anyone worth the money in free agency either. As a consequence, I don't see any easy fix, in spite of he fact that the year is supposedly deep in WR s.
Unless??? UNless Pitts is there. To my mind this is where BPA meets area of greatest need. Unfortunately, like Chase, I don't think he'll be there.
Can reasonable people create a scenario wherein the Giants develop a decent passing attack without the addition of a high profile, high impact player?
Well maybe, but a lot of things have to go right.
* The offensive line has to be much better (I'm almost willing to take this as a given)
* Saquon has to return. His running has to bring up the safety's, force 8 in the box, and he has to provide the same deep threat in the receiving game that a top notch wide out would provide. Tall order, but after all, he's a generational player (LOL, but I, nevertheless believe it)
* Evan E. has to - absent the burden of bring the no.1 receiver - have a good year.
* Darius S has to achieve the potential that several of us here see in him.
* They have to find a WR to replace TAte who is better than Tate.
i hold that each of those propositions is "more likely than not". I don't think collectively they all will happen but at least it offers reasonable hope.
best Position player (after Sewell) and won't be there.
I also think that Waddle and Smith will not be close to the BPA available at the 11 th. pick - though I'd bet one, and likely both, will be available. I think both are risky - too risky for the 11th. pick where you have to leave the field with an immediate contributor.
I don't think there's anyone worth the money in free agency either. As a consequence, I don't see any easy fix, in spite of he fact that the year is supposedly deep in WR s.
Unless??? UNless Pitts is there. To my mind this is where BPA meets area of greatest need. Unfortunately, like Chase, I don't think he'll be there.
Can reasonable people create a scenario wherein the Giants develop a decent passing attack without the addition of a high profile, high impact player?
Well maybe, but a lot of things have to go right.
* The offensive line has to be much better (I'm almost willing to take this as a given)
* Saquon has to return. His running has to bring up the safety's, force 8 in the box, and he has to provide the same deep threat in the receiving game that a top notch wide out would provide. Tall order, but after all, he's a generational player (LOL, but I, nevertheless believe it)
* Evan E. has to - absent the burden of bring the no.1 receiver - have a good year.
* Darius S has to achieve the potential that several of us here see in him.
* They have to find a WR to replace TAte who is better than Tate.
i hold that each of those propositions is "more likely than not". I don't think collectively they all will happen but at least it offers reasonable hope.
The potentials of Engram and Shepard have come and gone as both are what they are at this point. Shepard is a contributor but nothing special. Engram has too many flaws in his game to be a net positive contributor as we all have seen. Slayton has more potential but needs to be able to handle physical CBs that press him at the LoS. Pettis can play but projects to more of a reserve/backup.
Bill - the Giants will likely add two wideouts this offseason, an experienced WR in Free Agency to replace Tate (which shouldn't be difficult) and another in Rd 1 or Rd 2 of the Draft depending how the picks fall. The unit clearly needs the investment.
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best Position player (after Sewell) and won't be there.
I also think that Waddle and Smith will not be close to the BPA available at the 11 th. pick - though I'd bet one, and likely both, will be available. I think both are risky - too risky for the 11th. pick where you have to leave the field with an immediate contributor.
I don't think there's anyone worth the money in free agency either. As a consequence, I don't see any easy fix, in spite of he fact that the year is supposedly deep in WR s.
Unless??? UNless Pitts is there. To my mind this is where BPA meets area of greatest need. Unfortunately, like Chase, I don't think he'll be there.
Can reasonable people create a scenario wherein the Giants develop a decent passing attack without the addition of a high profile, high impact player?
Well maybe, but a lot of things have to go right.
* The offensive line has to be much better (I'm almost willing to take this as a given)
* Saquon has to return. His running has to bring up the safety's, force 8 in the box, and he has to provide the same deep threat in the receiving game that a top notch wide out would provide. Tall order, but after all, he's a generational player (LOL, but I, nevertheless believe it)
* Evan E. has to - absent the burden of bring the no.1 receiver - have a good year.
* Darius S has to achieve the potential that several of us here see in him.
* They have to find a WR to replace TAte who is better than Tate.
i hold that each of those propositions is "more likely than not". I don't think collectively they all will happen but at least it offers reasonable hope.
The potentials of Engram and Shepard have come and gone as both are what they are at this point. Shepard is a contributor but nothing special. Engram has too many flaws in his game to be a net positive contributor as we all have seen. Slayton has more potential but needs to be able to handle physical CBs that press him at the LoS. Pettis can play but projects to more of a reserve/backup.
Bill - the Giants will likely add two wideouts this offseason, an experienced WR in Free Agency to replace Tate (which shouldn't be difficult) and another in Rd 1 or Rd 2 of the Draft depending how the picks fall. The unit clearly needs the investment.
Agree.
Among Giants receivers who were targeted 50 or more times, Shepard had the highest percentage of completions, and many of those were contested throws underneath to which he often added tough yards after the catch. Shepard caught nearly 3/4 of his targets, whereas Slayton and Engram only caught a bit more than half. Tate actually had a better percentage catching about 2/3 And Engram was targeted the most with 109 targets.
Shepard never was a very effective downfield target, nor especially successful in the end zone. But he's usually money along the sidelines and has gotten much tougher after the catch. Solid NFL pro, if he can be used in the right role.
Pro Football Reference - ( New Window )
And he's going to cost 9 million this year! I don't get the love for this guy. There is nothing we are getting out of Shepard that we can't get elsewhere for less money.
Let's hope the team is not as emotionally invested in JAGs as the team's fans seem to be. Shepard should be shown the door. If they keep him and pay him 9 million this year, they collectively should have their heads examined.
This is kind of silly. Though I admit he has injury problems and that's fair to call out.
He does everything we want our WRs to do. Catches everything, beats zone coverage like a drum, run blocks like hell (which continues to be wildly undersold part of his skills). But he's not a "#1" so he's forgettable.
The second he's off the team you'll see the gaping hole in the group that he filled. He's a very solid 2-3 option. I'd rather pay him 9 million than pay a dried up corpse like Tate to play football with a fork in his back then whine that he doesn't get the ball enough.
Nor should they.......