Slayton and Shepard: What exactly are their positions?

And the other is a slot specialist. Complimentary players who can contribute in any offense but shouldn’t be counted on as consistent playmakers.

Giants actually pointed out shepard was most effective this year when he played on the outside. I was surprised at this myself, but it’s true. People see his body type and automatically want to say hes purely a slot guy, but it’s not the case.

Darius Slayton played a lot of X because there was no one else who emerged. That doesn’t play to his strengths because he struggles to keep consistent route timing against press coverage.

Z would be a better position for him because he gets space to release and can really open up that stride and make defenders bail or get burned. But I also think Shep’s best position is Z as well.

I really like Marshall, his stock is getting dinged because his play was somewhat nonchalant this year, had some drops, did his best work out of the slot, and decided to opt out before the season ended. I get all that. Interviews will be big for him.

I honestly feel that Sterling Sheppard just does not fit this Garrett scheme. West Coast offense was perfect for him but he just kept getting hurt.

I like Shep’s speed, he has plenty, it’s the lateral quickness that is average or below average for a slot receiver. We’ve all seen what elite lateral quickness can do for a receiver, I.e. Victor Cruz. I just don’t know where Shep fits...

If Dallas let Beasley walk for 7 million dollars, I just have to think Garrett’s offense isn’t ideal for Sheppard.

If you look at the prototype of Dallas receivers, you’ll see a trend.

X Amari Cooper. 6’1 211 4.42. Route running specialist

Z Michael Gallup 6’1 205 4.51 Deep threat/ Long strider

Y Ceedee Lamb 6’2 198 4.50 RAC/Sure Hands


Y Randall Cobb. 5’10 191. 4.46. RAC/Sure Hands
Y Cole Beasley. 5’8. 175. 4.49. RAC/ Sure Hands/ Elite COD

Y Sterling Sheppard 5’10 194 4.48 Route running specialist?? Hands were much improved this year

Hope Shep proves me wrong and has a great season but I think we start looking for his replacement this offseason.

I like Dwayne Eskridge as a 3rd day slot option. Obviously Ja’marr Chase would be most ideal for this vertical offense but both Smith and Waddle would fit as well.

I would expect that the rate of injury for a slot receiver is much higher than that of a wide receiver, especially someone the size and body type of Shep. I would guess that a large majority of injuries for skill players occur within the hash marks. I’m probably stating the obvious.

He's a 3...and i would not account for him in any decision to add Talent thru the Draft or Free Agency. I wouldn't worry that a Talented new player plays "sheps' best position." He's a professional Receiver.... he's not a guy who you add "around". He's low impact and low participation, as he appears to be a Ding or a Turf toe away from Oblivion.

If there was a Major cap savings, I'd look at eliminating Him and replacing him with "the Drafted Receiver". My best outcome would be NO SHEP... Samuel...Drafted Receiver...maybe another drafted/fa receiver...Pettis and Slayton and a cast of thousands to compete for time.

In comment 15160233 Rafflee said:

Quote:

He's a 3...and i would not account for him in any decision to add Talent thru the Draft or Free Agency. I wouldn't worry that a Talented new player plays "sheps' best position." He's a professional Receiver.... he's not a guy who you add "around". He's low impact and low participation, as he appears to be a Ding or a Turf toe away from Oblivion. If there was a Major cap savings, I'd look at eliminating Him and replacing him with "the Drafted Receiver". My best outcome would be NO SHEP... Samuel...Drafted Receiver...maybe another drafted/fa receiver...Pettis and Slayton and a cast of thousands to compete for time.

Wholly agreed

and Shep should play primarily in the slot. He was asked to play the X a lot this past season, and while he did admirably, it isn't a spot best-suited for him.

In comment 15160224 aGiantGuy said:

Quote:

Darius Slayton played a lot of X because there was no one else who emerged. That doesn’t play to his strengths because he struggles to keep consistent route timing against press coverage. Z would be a better position for him because he gets space to release and can really open up that stride and make defenders bail or get burned. But I also think Shep’s best position is Z as well. I really like Marshall, his stock is getting dinged because his play was somewhat nonchalant this year, had some drops, did his best work out of the slot, and decided to opt out before the season ended. I get all that. Interviews will be big for him. I honestly feel that Sterling Sheppard just does not fit this Garrett scheme. West Coast offense was perfect for him but he just kept getting hurt. I like Shep’s speed, he has plenty, it’s the lateral quickness that is average or below average for a slot receiver. We’ve all seen what elite lateral quickness can do for a receiver, I.e. Victor Cruz. I just don’t know where Shep fits... If Dallas let Beasley walk for 7 million dollars, I just have to think Garrett’s offense isn’t ideal for Sheppard. If you look at the prototype of Dallas receivers, you’ll see a trend. X Amari Cooper. 6’1 211 4.42. Route running specialist Z Michael Gallup 6’1 205 4.51 Deep threat/ Long strider Y Ceedee Lamb 6’2 198 4.50 RAC/Sure Hands Y Randall Cobb. 5’10 191. 4.46. RAC/Sure Hands Y Cole Beasley. 5’8. 175. 4.49. RAC/ Sure Hands/ Elite COD Y Sterling Sheppard 5’10 194 4.48 Route running specialist?? Hands were much improved this year Hope Shep proves me wrong and has a great season but I think we start looking for his replacement this offseason. I like Dwayne Eskridge as a 3rd day slot option. Obviously Ja’marr Chase would be most ideal for this vertical offense but both Smith and Waddle would fit as well.

Hell of a post, great job.

Upgrade both slots

There are a decent number of prospects in the draft who fit the mold for a traditional X, and there will be options available in early, middle and late rounds: Bateman, Marshall, Nico Collins, Seth Williams, Sage Surratt, Tomorrian Terry. Maybe they think Pitts is going to play a lot of X.

There are some guys I like with about the same build as Slayton: Tylan Wallace and Dyami Brown in particular. They seem like Z receivers to me. If the Giants like Slayton as the Z, I would think those guys are not priorities for the Giants.

I assumed the Giants wouldn't look for one the smaller receivers who look like slot F guys but there are a ton of 'em: Jaylen Waddle, Kadarius Toney, Tutu Atwell, Rondale Moore, Elijah Moore, Amari Rodgers, Eskridge, on and on and on. But the Giants won't use four of six picks on pass-catchers; they wouldn't draft, say Pitts, Marshall, Atwell and Wallace (though that would probably solve the "we need playmakers" issue for a while).

Maybe they'll look more at the X and slot guys and less at the Z guys, I dunno.

Slayton at his best is a #2, and Shepard fits best as a slot receiver. Slayton was reported to have drops issues in school, but seemed to improve as a rookie, but then appeared to regress last year, catching only 52% of his targets.

Take this scenario...
Larry Fitzgerald #1
Darius Slayton #2
Sterling Shepard #3

Fitzgerald outside the hashes...you have to have a corner on him and safety up top. That's a given.

Slayton up top. Single coverage by corner or safety depending on man or zone coverage.

Shepard across the middle, covered by slot corner.

This creates at least one and more likely two one-on-one situations. In most plays, at minimum, Fitzgerald or Slayton are going to be free within 3-4 seconds. The defense cannot focus on one or the other will kill them. If the defense focuses up top, the slot (Shepard) will kill them and keep moving the chains.

I'm not saying that we should go after Fitz (who's past his prime) but rather that we should see how the pieces we have can work with the right complement. I'm just using Fitz as an example of the possible offensive mindset. With a true #1 Slayton and Shepard are quite adequate. Think of it this way. Hakeem Nicks or Plaxico Burress), Slayton and Shepard. What a hot mess for a defense. Remember how Mario Manningham fit so perfectly into the team with Nicks and Cruz?

My point is that Slayton and Shepard are not the problem. They can excel in their roles if we get the missing piece at #1. The draft and free agency have plenty of opportunities to do this. Find the right #1 and this changes the offense completely. Just think of Daniel Jones with three reliable options on any given play.

Giants need a #1 to move both Slayton and Shepard to #2 and #3 receivers. Both guys are talented, I think a true #1 would lead to Slayton having a big year. At this point, teams are able to scheme to take both out of the picture and force receivers lower on the depth chart to make plays which hasn't happened

and you could argue a Z to push SS, tho he is somewhat multiple.