Golden Tate

New York Giants: How Darius Slayton will make an impact in 2019

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New York Giants, Darius Slayton

The New York Giants drafted wide receiver Darius Slayton in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and his qualities match up perfectly with what head coach Pat Shurmur wants to do.

Having elite speed is only one facet of becoming a quality pass-catcher in the NFL. Slayton, who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine, brings that with him from Auburn. His quickness off the line of scrimmage and ability to break out into the open field is deadly, and something the Giants will look to utilize early and often in his young career.

The New York Giants are getting a glimpse of what Slayton can do:

To start the offseason, Slayton looked as if the Giants plucked him off a high school field — dropping every ball thrown his way and looking like a bigger mistake than positive influence. Since then, he’s emerged as one of the top rookies of the summer for Big Blue, earning first-team reps with teammate, CJ Conrad. The two rookies were the only players to earn reps with the starting team, an indication of their quality and progression so far.

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The reality is, Slayton will likely play a specific role in 2019 — I imagine as a wide-receiver screen and deep ball specialist. His speed gives him the ability to beat corners deep while Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard draw attention from the top corners on the opposing defense.

I would like to see Shurmur utilize Tate and Shep as blockers on the outside in a trips formation, throwing the ball to Slayton to see if he can break through into the secondary. It will be interesting to see how the Giants get him on the field and in what capacity.

He will ultimately be fighting off Corey Coleman and Cody Latimer for playing time this year, but he’s more than capable of stealing some reps away from the veterans.

New York Giants: Sterling Shepard competing with Golden Tate for No. 1 spot

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New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard.

With Odell Beckham Jr.’s departure, the New York Giants need to establish a new No. 1 wide receiver, and the competition will be between Sterling Shepard and new signing, Golden Tate.

From an outside perspective, it might seem as if Tate would be the top option considering his past success and trustworthiness. However, Shepard is familiar with the playbook and has chemistry with starting quarterback, Eli Manning. Those two factors might be more determining.

The New York Giants are in good hands with Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate:

As a duo, I believe they will be extremely effective, especially when you consider their ability to play on the exterior and interior. Flip-flopping and moving around on the line of scrimmage will be a frequent action on the Giants offense, keeping the opposing defense on its heels and forcing them to adjust, pulling players away from Saquon Barkley.

One of the methods of success I anticipate from Shep and Tate is their innate ability to catch the ball. They both have stellar hands, both securing over 61% of balls thrown their way in 2018.

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Tate is one year removed from a 76.7% catch rate, and Shep 70.2%. Eli Manning’s days of heaving passes into triple coverage in hopes of Beckham coming down with it are over, and that’s a positive thing.

Often times, we would see Manning force the ball to OBJ, causing turnovers and incompletions. Relying on your top pass-catcher isn’t a bad thing, but he was so dedicated to finding him he would often miss wide open receivers in the flat.

That negative response will now be eradicated after his departure. The position battle that will ensure to replace the No. 1 spot will be fierce. Both Giants receivers haven’t dropped a ball this spring and are showing they’re capable of handling the load. It’s possible the Giants simply consider them both a No. 1 receiver and utilize them in a similar fashion.

 

New York Giants: Corey Coleman finally ready to take his game to the next level

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New York Giants, Corey Coleman

With the New York Giants trading away star wideout Odell Beckham Jr., the wide receiver unit was shaken up and has been left a bit uncertain as we head towards the 2019 regular season.

Options like Cody Latimer and Russell Shepard present value on the field going into their second-year with Big Blue, but former first-round pick Corey Coleman might be the player to win the No. 3 job. Coleman, coming off a quiet season of just 71 yards on five receptions, will compete for the staring role alongside Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard.

His ambition and work ethic has been elevated lately, as he seeks to perform at the level expected of him coming out of college. After breaking his right hand in Cleveland, Coleman never returned to form, struggling to stick with the starting unit and landing with the Giants in a reserve role.

However, the way he’s been practicing and preparing has presented a clear indication of his goals for the season ahead.

“We are going to see the best of [Coleman],” head coach Pat Shurmur said. “He’s the first one to tell you when he came in the league, he had a lot to learn. Now he’s got an opportunity to maybe be a front-line player.”

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Corey asked Shurmur how he managed to develop both Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen into such effective pass-catchers, and that he wants to reach that type of success. His motivation is intoxicating, and something that will hopefully allow him to reach his potential.

What makes Corey Coleman special for the New York Giants?

The one attribute that separates Coleman from his counterparts is his elite speed. Coming out of Baylor he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash, and he has shown that quickness in the NFL at times.

“I don’t think anyone’s ever questioned my speed,” Coleman said. “Being fast is great, but being able to play fast, that’s what it has to be about.”

His top utilization is the deep ball — Coleman is a capable route runner as well with solid hands. I feel as though his primary issue is more mental than physical. The tangible traits are present for Coleman, he just has to learn how to harness them. If he can build upon success early on in the season, we could see his production increase quickly.

 

 

New York Giants: Golden Tate is exactly the receiver Eli Manning needs

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New York Giants, Golden Tate

How many times did we witness Eli Manning toss up a 50/50 ball to Odell Beckham Jr. in triple coverage with players wide open in the flat? Too many. This is not to denounce the impact Beckham had on the New York Giants, but rather the attention he drew for being such a talented player. He even forced Eli to resort to him when all else was failing.

Now, the Giants are down one generational talent and up one yards-after-catch specialist. General manager Dave Gettleman added former Detroit Lion and Philadelphia Eagles pass-catcher, Golden Tate. The Eagles didn’t utilize the talented receiver well.

The Giants can utilize Tate to his potential, something head coach Pat Shurmur has effectively executed with players like Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Manning will have the luxury of spreading the ball around the field and not feeling obligated to throw in the direction of one specific option.

Additionally, the rebuilding of the offensive line will give Manning more time to move through his progressions. One of the biggest concerns with Eli so far this offseason has been his arm strength. If you are feeling wary, check out this clip.

Manning throws this pass on a rope to Tate, running a deep post route, something we are going to see a ton of with Golden acting as the primary possession receiver alongside Sterling Shepard.

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Additionally, one of the concerns with Tate was the contract he was signed to. The deal set up with the Giants was stellar, as there’s an out after the second year with a $5 million dead-cap hit. Therefore, if the Giants feel they don’t need the trustworthy pass-catcher anymore, they can simply release him for a minimal loss. A well-worked deal that benefits the Giants in the short terms and can provide value down the road as well if they elect to keep him.

 

New York Giants: Eli Manning proves he’s nervous about the 2019 season

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New York Giants, Eli Manning, Daniel Jones

Any normal human being would be nervous if their employer brought in a younger version of the employee in question to eventually take their job. This is currently the case with New York Giants veteran passer Eli Manning. Drafting Daniel Jones might not have rattled Eli visually, but behind closed doors, he is certainly nervous.

Receiver Sterling Shepard gave away Manning’s hand on Tuesday afternoon after the first session of minicamp concluded. The two teammates had worked together this offseason as usual, but this time Eli has amped up his workouts and conditioning program.

The New York Giants seem to have gotten the message across to Manning:

In other words, Manning seems to be practicing like his job is on the line, and to be quite frank, it is. This could be the two-time Super Bowl-winning passer’s last season if he fails to operate at a high level behind a revamped offensive line. There are no more excuses on the table for Eli, as providing him with more time is the supposed missing ingredient to his success.

My question is – is it too late for Eli?

Suffering from inadequate offensive line play for years created a type of muscle memory for Eli, one that forces him to worry at the sight of pressure and drop his eyes and lose track of his progressions. This is a very real mental part of any quarterback’s game that heavily impacts their efficiency.

For Manning, it’s detrimental he overcomes this obstacle. General manager Dave Gettleman has done everything in his power to provide him with protection and talent – Saqoun Barkley is generally all he needs to succeed.

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However, the current team seems to have shifted their focus from Odell Beckham Jr. to team chemistry and camaraderie. This is a positive sign for the organization as a whole and Manning, who will benefit from less distraction and more positivity.

Between Barkley, Shepard, Golden Tate, and Evan Engram, the Giants have plenty of weaponry to assist in Manning’s success in 2019, and he must take advantage of it or he will go missing faster than Tom Hanks in “Castaway.”

New York Giants: Golden Tate thinks Eli Manning will help him succeed

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New York Giants quarterback, Eli Manning.

The New York Giants acquired former Philadelphia Eagles receiver Golden Tate this past offseason after trading away Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. By no means is Tate expected to replicate Beckham’s production, but he will surely have an impact on the offense in 2019.

A primary slot-receiver, Tate will be a security blanket for quarterback Eli Manning, similar to the role Sterling Shepard has played in recent seasons. Both are effective in the short/intermediate game which will ultimately dictate the speed and style of the offense moving forward.

Tate is very excited to start working with Manning, a two-time Super Bowl-winning passer. He has been impressed with his knowledge of the game and ensuring Tate has the best opportunity to catch the ball in the open field. Understanding coverages and enabling Tate to utilize his yards-after-catch efficiency will be the priority in 2019.

New York Giants: Golden Tate comments on Manning’s abilities

“His understanding of the game,” Tate told NJ Advance Media. “As a savvy receiver — specific to my situation, I play in the slot a lot — you want to have a guy who is really good at reading coverages so he doesn’t throw you into any headaches. Eli’s knowledge of the game is great.”

“Talent-wise, I still think Eli is very productive,” Tate said. “I think he still has a very strong arm.

 

New York Giants: Top News 6/2 – Eli Manning has gas left in the tank?

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New York Giants quarterback, Eli Manning.

Good Morning, New York Giants fans!

Another Eli Manning homer has surfaced! His name is Golden Tate, newly acquired receiver for the Giants. Is he a homer or does he simply think Eli can still get the job done?

Tate commented that Manning sees the game extremely well and still has a strong arm…should we believe him or cough it up as friendly teammate chatter. Eli has always been a quality quarterback in the slant-game and on short post-routes. I imagine Tate will be a major benefactor of that reality.

Extending Sterling Shepard should further indicate that head coach Pat Shurmur wants to utilize the slot-position more frequently in his second season running the offense. Both Tate and Shep can play inside and out, which will create unpredictability and open up the field for Eli.

Additionally, I’m very excited to see the play-action in full form. A poor offensive line hurt Manning’s ability to properly carry out an effective play-action simply because he didn’t have much time to scan the field. Adding Kevin Zeitler and Mike Remmers should increase his efficiency from the pocket. His overall production should actually see a jump because of the line, something general manager Dave Gettleman prioritized this offseason.

Nonetheless–

Your top Giants news of the day!

Dan Benton (Giants Wire) – Things ‘slowing down’ for Daniel Jones as he caps a solid week of practice

Ed Valentine (Big Blue View) – Giants’ 90-man roster: WR Bennie Fowler competing for spot in crowded field

Matt Lombardo (NJ.com) – Here is the Giants’ current unofficial offensive depth chart

Alexander Wilson (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants might have a darkhorse linebacker in Tae Davis

John Fennelly (Giants Wire) – Giants’ Golden Tate specializes in making tacklers miss

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Check out my Twitter page! You won’t regret it.

New York Giants: Golden Tate Talks About His Skill At Breaking Tackles

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New York Giants signed Golden Tate to a four-year contract during the 2019 offseason.

Golden Tate is one of the most notable additions to the New York Giants this year, and will come in with the expectation of helping the team move on from Odell Beckham Jr., who was the undisputed dominant receiver of the offense in past years. Tate will work with Sterling Shepard to replace the production, but both players bring different things to the offense – one of the things that Tate brings, of course, is the ability to pick up yards after the catch by making defenders miss.

“I just don’t like to be tackled. I try to fight for as many extra yards as I can. I think whenever the ball is in my hands, there is an opportunity for something special to happen,” Tate told NJ Advance Media.

Tate additionally claimed that part of getting yards after the catch has to do with the quarterback and the way that the ball is thrown.

“The quarterback plays a big role in that as well. Going back to my time in Detroit, Stafford was always getting me the ball and it was there so quickly that I had time and space… If the ball is coming late, you don’t have time to make moves. [Stafford] was giving me a runner’s ball, placing it where I could stop on a dime or run through it, or a ball with some touch where I could hit the brakes.”

When Odell Beckham Jr. was a member of the Giants, he was somewhat known for being able to turn slants and other short routes into big plays. It should help the offense as a whole – and more specifically, quarterback Eli Manning, to have someone that can play with a similar skillset.

Tate had 795 receiving yards last season with two different teams but only started 8 games compared to 12 the season before. Before last season, Tate had also broken 1,000 yards in back to back years – production which would greatly help the Giants if Tate can manage to hit those levels again with Eli Manning as the quarterback throwing to him.

New York Giants: What Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate can do for Big Blue

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New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard.

Trading away Odell Beckham Jr. was certainly the biggest headline of the offseason for the New York Giants, but the most important thing of the entire scenario is how they responded to his departure.

The Giants went out and signed veteran pass-catcher Golden Tate, a player known for his yards-after-catch abilities. The new acquisition and weapon for Eli Manning has led the NFL in forced missed tackles in five of the last six seasons, finishing second in the only season he didn’t come in first, according to Pro Football Focus.

If you can remember the electrifying plays Beckham made and the number of tackles he avoided, it’s hard to imagine Tate breaking even more tackles and picking up more yards. I’m not saying that Tate is anywhere close to as talented as Beckham, but in specific areas, he’s more refined.

“He is nifty,” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said. “Obviously, before the ball is thrown and then once he catches it, he has a way of breaking tackles or making them miss. I can see that is going to be a part of his game already.”

One of the best attributes Tate holds is his health. Beckham has missed a total of 16 games in two seasons, so essentially missing an entire year. Tate, on the other hand, has missed just one game in six years. The best way to make a difference is to actually be on the field, something OBJ couldn’t consistently do on a regular basis.

Manning will benefit greatly from a clean bill of health for his receivers moving forward.

How will the New York Giants utilize Tate and Shepard in 2019?

One of the major positive in regards to Tate and Shepard is their ability to play inside and outside. Head coach Pat Shurmur will be able to create an unpredictable offense with two diverse receivers. Additionally, they are possession receivers that will help keep the ball with the offense and the defense on the sidelines.

Running down the clock and holding onto possession should help the overall efficiency of the team. Ultimately, it comes down to Manning and his ability to get the ball to Tate and Shep quickly in space. Speedy receivers are better when the ball is in their hands with room around them.

Tate averaged 10.7 yards per reception in 2018 and Shepard 13.2. Both will be impactful players on a rebuilt Giants offense.

 

New York Giants: Grading the offseason acquisitions

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The New York Giants acquired Jabrill Peppers in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade.

The New York Giants made various impactful offseason moves to help bolster the team in terms of talent and cap space. The cap-space factor won’t kick in until the 2020 season, but several players were added to help elevate the quality of play for the foreseeable future.

Trading away Olivier Vernon and Odell Beckham Jr. played a big part in the turnover of the team and the securing of several new players. We will grade and evaluate all new players with the exemption of draft picks.

New York Giants: grading the acquisitions

1.) OLB Markus Golden

Contract: 1 year, $4.75 Million

The Giants brought in Golden to help supplement the loss of Vernon at the outside linebacker position. Three years ago, Golden recorded 12.5 sacks under defensive coordinator James Bettcher, so the hopes are that he can replicate that same production in 2019.

Coming off a significant knee injury, it’s fair we limit our expectations for the former Cardinal defender, but there’s plenty of value to be had.

Grade: B

2.) WR Golden Tate

Contract: 4 years, $37 Million

The Giants locked up the top receiver in the NFL in the yards-after-catch category this offseason. Tate is a stellar pass-catcher with trustworthy hands, however, his contract is certainly bloated. He was brought in to fill Odell Beckham Jr.’s role, while at a much lower level.

Tate will be a good player on the field and in the locker room, which elevates his value. At 30-years-old, the Giants are investing a lot in a player that will end his career in Blue at 34.

Grade: B-

3.) SS Jabrill Peppers

Contract: 2 years remaining, $3,280,452

The Giants secured Peppers in the Beckham trade with the Cleveland Browns, bringing in a defender that has immense potential. Peppers will cost a fraction of what Landon Collins was asking for in free agency, and he has the skill-set to be even more impactful.

Peppers is a New Jersey native so he will be returning to his home town. What I like most about Peppers are his diverse abilities that range from coverage to stopping the run. He has a similar frame to Collins but is much faster and has better hands. He’s not the type of defender that will fill be a force in the run game, but he can do everything at an average to an above-average level. I imagine Bettcher will utilize him in various different ways in 2019.

Based on his potential, this was a great acquisition for the Giants.

Grade: A-

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4.) RG Kevin Zeitler

Contract: 3 years, $32 Million

The Giants brought in right guard Kevin Zeitler to fill a role on the offensive line that was inhabited by Jamon Brown mid-way through the 2018 season. Brown was a major addition that saw the Giants take a massive jump offensively, especially in the run game. Let’s keep in mind, Brown was ranked as the #62 guard in the NFL last season.

Bringing in Zeitler will improve the offensive front tremendously. He ranked as the #6 guard in ’18. His influence will be impactful and will help Eli Manning operate at his best level. Saquon Barkley will also reap the benefits of his prowess in the trenches.

I believe this was, in fact, the best addition for the Giants.

Grade: A

5.) RT Mike Remmers

Contract: 1 year, $2.5 Million

The Giants needed to upgrade the right tackle spot this offseason and they did so by means of former Minnesota Viking, Mike Remmers.

Remmers is coming off back surgery but is expected to partake in training camp this offseason. Hopefully, the surgery will return him to his former glory as he attempts to fight off Chad Wheeler for the starting job. I believe he will earn the role, and it will benefit the Giants’ offensive line significantly.

We might finally see Manning protected enough for him to blink twice in the pocket. On a one-year deal, the Giants aren’t giving up much to test the waters with Remmers, especially if they plan on addressing the position with youth in 2020. Nonetheless, a solid signing here.

Grade: B