Golden Tate

New York Giants: Looking into the top offensive position battles

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New York Giants wide receiver, Cody Latimer.

Following the NFL Draft, the New York Giants are scheduled to have a very exciting offseason period with plenty of position battles across the roster.

As the New York Giants progress through OTAs, position battles are beginning to take shape. The offensive side of the ball has plenty of talent to enjoy a productive 2019.

Some of the exciting position battles that will ensure land at right tackle and the wide receiver positions. The signing of right tackle Mike Remmers, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, will compete against Chad Wheeler on the right side of the line.

Remmers is coming off back surgery this offseason but is expected to be fully healthy heading into training camp. Wheeler ranked as one of the worst tackles in the league last season, while Remmers lands in the bottom-middle of the pack. He should have more of an impact than Wheeler, who was an undrafted free agent out of USC. He showed flashes of competency at times but simply didn’t have the level of talent required to success consistently at the professional level.

The new Giants, Remmers, has plenty of NFL experience to help the unit succeed, especially after GM Dave Gettleman traded for right guard, Kevin Zeitler. The solidification of the right side of the line should complete a massive rebuild of the front-five. However, I do anticipate Gettleman do address the position in the next draft if not allocating cap-space towards an upgrade.

I do anticipate Remmers winning this job with ease despite Wheeler being healthy and capable.

The Giants will have a great battle for the No. 3 WR spot:

Outside of Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate, who are immediate starters, the third spot on the unit is up for grabs. Options like Corey Coleman, Russell Shepard, and Cody Latimer will all compete for the starting job. I anticipate Latimer having the best shot at securing it as he was efficient before succumbing to injury in 2019.

He racked up a solid 190 yards and one score six total games last year. He’s productive when on the field and has the speed to beat corners deep. He’s not the most refined route runner, but he has trustworthy hands — 68.8% catch-rate in 2018. However, I wouldn’t rule out Coleman as a candidate to earn the role as well.

Coleman, a former first-round pick, has struggled to live up to expectation after breaking his hand early on while playing for the Browns. The Giants found a use for him as a kick returner, but the acquisition of Jabrill Peppers diminishes Coleman’s value.

The Giants invested a second-round tender in the pass-catcher, as they have seen glimpses of the potential most saw as he exited college. I don’t expect Russell Shepard to realistically contend for the third spot, but we’ve seen crazier things happen before.

New York Giants: Does Daniel Jones Have A “Super, Super Strong Arm?”

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New York Giants rookie quarterback, Daniel Jones during voluntary OTAs.

Golden Tate, the newly signed receiver of the New York Giants recently had some strong praise for Daniel Jones, the Giants’ new soon-to-be franchise quarterback. Golden Tate praised Daniel Jones for having a “super, super strong arm.”

The Giants drafted Daniel Jones with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. This was a move that was met with a ton of controversy. Many analysts have been highly critical of both the Giants and Daniel Jones.

A knock on the Giants is that they reached on Jones and took him too high. Many predicted him to be available with the 17th pick.

One specific criticism that analysts have had on Daniel Jones has regarded his arm strength. Many analysts claim Jones has a “weak” or “average” arm. Golden Tate disputes this claim. Let’s get to the bottom of it.

Argument For The Strong Arm:

At the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, Daniel Jones seemed to show off above-average arm strength. This was demonstrated in his ball velocity numbers.

Daniel Jones was recorded throwing the ball with a velocity of 53 miles per hour to the left, and 54 miles per hour to the right. This number was surprising to many of the naysayers since 54 miles per hour was the same as “strong-arm” quarterbacks Tyree Jackson and Drew Lock.

Jones’s velocity number of 54 miles per hour was also comparable to Patrick Mahomes’s 55 miles per hour. Patrick Mahomes won MVP in 2018 behind his strong arm that is capable of throwing over 90 yards.

If Daniel Jones does have an arm comparable to Patrick Mahomes, he will be a star. However, there are some statistics that indicate Jones might not have the strong-arm the velocity numbers imply.

Arguments Against The Strong Arm:

According to the New York Post, almost all analysts were in agreement about one thing with Daniel Jones: “he does not have a superior arm.” Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com was noted saying that Daniel Jones “lacks elite arm strength.”

“I like the guy but I’m not sure how dynamic his arm is,’’ said an NFL talent observer specializing in quarterbacks. “I’m not sure what type of arm talent he has. He doesn’t have a great arm, doesn’t have an elite arm.’’ – New York Post

The Draft Network is a credible and reputable website of draft scouts and football talent evaluators. According to The Draft Network, “Jones simply does not have ideal arm strength to reach far downfield, despite the mustard he can put on his short throws.” This quote would actually support the velocity numbers discussed earlier in this article.

The velocity numbers are indicative of Jones’s strong arm throwing the ball in the short to intermediate range. However, they do not indicate an ability to keep the velocity as the distance of the throws increase.

Many also point to Jones’s film to make the case against his arm strength. There are a few plays that fans and analysts point out to demonstrate a lack of arm strength from the Giants’ new quarterback.

Plays like the one presented above are concerning. Daniel Jones will need to be more consistent with his deep ball velocity. He is consistent enough in the short to the intermediate range to be successful in the NFL. However, his deep passes could use some work.

One encouraging note for Giants fans regarding Daniel Jones’s arm strength: it can (and probably will) improve. Neither Peyton Manning or Tom Brady were considered to have cannon arms coming out of college. However, both quarterbacks improved their arm strengths drastically once they reached the NFL.

Giants news, 5/25: Golden Tate advocates for Daniel Jones

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New York Giants rookie quarterback, Daniel Jones.

Good morning New York Giants fans!

The biggest knock on New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones as he was preparing for the NFL was his arm strength. Jones was limited to the number of deep balls he attempted in college due to the lack of talent at wide receiver, but when he did his passes would often float to their destination.

Jones throws lofty passes with plenty of air, but it’s primarily on his deep balls. This could be perceived as a good thing, given the placement is in stride with his receiver and there isn’t a safety over the top.

Check out the clip below –  a perfectly placed ball that was dropped by his intended target. His receivers accounted for 33 dropped passes in 2018. Imagine three rookie Evan Engrams on the field at the same without his speed or playmaking ability.

Newly acquired WR Golden Tate advocated for the young passer, stating that he has great arm strength and will benefit significantly from Eli Manning’s mentorship. Personally, I love how the players in the locker room are interacting at this stage in the offseason. The positivity and success-driven mentality make a huge difference in the development of rookies.

It’s important for the new players to be present for team OTAs to develop chemistry early on. Hopefully, they can adapt quickly in hopes of providing quality play during the regular season.

Nonetheless-

Here is your New York Giants news and coverage:

Ed Valentine (Big Blue View) – Giants’ 90-man roster: In C.J. Conrad, did Giants find the next Jason Witten?

John Fennelly (Giants Wire) – Giants’ Corey Ballentine practices for first time since shooting

John Fennelly (Giants Wire) – Giants’ Michael Thomas: Sam Beal has learned to be a pro

Alexander Wilson (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants: Darius Slayton needs to fix one major issue

Check out my Twitter for Giants commentary and conversation!

New York Giants: How Will the Receiver Corps Shake Out?

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New York Giants, Sterling Shepard

With the acquisition of receiver Golden Tate, the New York Giants attempted to fill the role of Odell Beckham Jr., who was traded to the Cleveland Browns in a deal that shook the NFL.

Tate is the league’s top yards-after-catch receiver, but he’s not nearly as talented and explosive as Beckham, yet in the reality of the Giants offense, that might not be a bad thing. Often times, quarterback Eli Manning was found forcing the ball to Beckham and he would demand targets simply due to his electrifying nature.

The future of the offense for Big Blue is designed to burn time off the clock and maintain possession. Signing Tate and extending Sterling Shepard was a fantastic move, money aside. Both receivers can play in the interior and exterior, allowing head coach Pat Shurmur to move them around the field and create unpredictability.

It will ultimately allow Manning to spread the ball around the field without feeling the need to force the ball to one specific target. Shurmur’s scheme will finally open up and the possibilities will expand. However, there are several players fighting for starting roles on the receiver corps, so let’s see how the unit could shake out.

How will the New York Giants receiving corps look come September?

We can assume that Shepard and Tate will act as the No. 1 and 2 pass-catchers for the Giants, but beyond them, it’s a tossup. Personally, I feel that Corey Coleman can finally reach his potential and act as a true wideout. He only corralled five receptions for 71 yards in 2018, but he was featured mostly in a reserve role. With Beckham gone, Coleman has the opportunity to move up in the ranks.

I wouldn’t rule out Russell Shepard moving to the No. 3 spot, though, as he caught 10 balls for 188 yards and two touchdowns last season. He’s a solid red-zone threat in addition to his possession skills. Additionally, he averaged 18.8 yards-per-reception, compared to Coleman’s 14.2.

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It should be an interesting position battle between those two players — Coleman is a former first-round pick that has plenty of value on the offense, he just has to find a way to access it. Shepard is dependable in specific schemes but only featured a 52.6% catch-rate — Corey earned 62.5%.

Behind those two options, the Giants have draft pick Darius Slayton who apparently has feet for hands so far in OTAs. He has a lot of work to do before becoming a dependable receiver at the NFL level, however, he is extremely athletic and could develop into a solid target given a successful development.

Don’t forget about Cody Latimer. The five-year veteran played in just 6 games last year before succumbing to injury. He’s a talented player that can make contested catches. He’s mostly a deep-ball threat, but if healthy, he can easily steal the No. 3 job away from Coleman and Russell Shepard.

Latimer earned 11 catches for 190 yards and a score on a 68.8% catch-rate.

Predicting the Giants’ receiving corps:

1.) Sterling Shepard

2.) Golden Tate

3.) Cody Latimer

4.) Corey Coleman

5.) Russell Shepard 

Comment your prediction below!

New York Giants: Why Sterling Shepard Might Struggle in 2019

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New York Giants, Sterling Shepard

The New York Giants will be without Odell Beckham Jr. in 2019 and the offense will look completely different. The Giants will no longer have their superstar wide receiver for Eli Manning to force the ball too.

Instead, the Giants will have a couple of dependable slot receivers in 2019. Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate are the new primary receivers in the Giants’ passing attack.

Many believe that the subtraction of Odell will lead to the addition of increased performance by Sterling Shepard. Unfortunately, that might not be true.

Shepard’s Stats Without Beckham

It would be easy to assume that without the Giants’ primary receiver on the field, the secondary receiver’s stats would improve. Sterling Shepard’s stats did not improve when Beckham was off the field.

The New York Giants made a serious commitment to Sterling Shepard in the 2019 offseason. They signed him to a four-year, $41 million extension. This extension solidifies Shepard as the Giants’ primary receiver for the foreseeable future.

However, there is an argument to be made that Shepard has not proven himself entirely worthy of this extension. In the 11 games that Shepard played in 2017 and 2018 without Odell Beckham Jr. on the field, his stats were underwhelming.

Shep hauled in 58 receptions for 746 yards and only 2 touchdowns in those 11 games. That is only an average of 67 yards per game, and just barely over 5 receptions per game. Shepard has not been a highly productive receiver without Odell Beckham being double covered on the outside.

Why He Might Succeed:

Sterling Shepard did struggle when he was the primary receiver in 2017 and 2018. But there could be reason for him not to have the same struggles in 2019.

The Giants traded away Odell, but they replaced him with Golden Tate. Tate is a yards-after-catch monster. The receiving duo of Shepard and Tate could be among the league’s best if Shepard can reach his full potential.

Sterling clearly struggled when there was not another primary receiver on the field alongside him. But that should not happen in 2019. Golden Tate will play alongside Sterling Shepard and this should keep Shepard from struggling too much.

Whenever Odell Beckham Jr. is on the field, he requires extra defensive help and pressure. Golden Tate might not require the same assistance, but he still needs to be held in check more than Bennie Fowler or Russell Shepard. This could give Sterling Shepard the opportunity to flourish in the Giants’ new offense.

New York Giants: 5 important things to watch during OTAs

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New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard.

The New York Giants will open OTAs on Monday as they look to shake out the roster and provide their rookies with essential experience ahead of the 2019 season.

This will be an opportunity for the younger players to leave their mark, proving they’re worthy of a starting position or a reserve one. There will be plenty of position battles during this period, which will provide answers and excitement.

5 things to watch for during New York Giants OTAs:

1.) Where will Daniel Jones land on the depth chart?

As expected, Daniel Jones is the anticipated QB3 heading into training camp behind Eli Manning and Alex Tanney. While the 6th overall pick starting as a third-string option doesn’t promote the immediate impact narrative some people prefer from top draft picks, it’s better off he starts in a reserve role where he can learn and develop.

The upcoming season will be Jones’ growth season, and he will benefit significantly from it. Learning Manning’s tendencies and preparation procedure will aid him when he eventually takes over. In addition, refining his already solid technique and arm strength will be a part of his progression.

2.) How will the New York Giants use Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate?

Diving into the Giants’ receiver corps presents a ton of questions. It was always rather simple at this time of the year — Odell Beckham Jr. was the main pass-catcher and everybody else was an afterthought.

This year, things are different, and it will be interesting to see how the Giants utilize Shepard and Tate. Both have the ability to line up in the interior and exterior, which should create mismatches and unpredictable routes. Tate is the best receiver in the league in terms of yards-after-catch.

Look for head coach Pat Shurmur to find ways to get him open in the middle of the field so he can use his elevated play-making ability to pick up extra yards.

3.) Chad Wheeler vs Mike Remmers

It’s expected that former Vikings right tackle Mike Remmers will emerge as the starting player for the Giants after signing a contract recently. However, he’s coming off back surgery and there are plenty of questions that need to be answered, physically. There’s a chance Wheeler rightfully earns the starting job after flashing decency at times last year.

He’s by no means a great option, but the Giants did go out and secure a top 6 right guard in Kevin Zeitler this past offseason in the Olivier Vernon trade. If Remmers shows he has healed fully from the surgery he will be the starter hands down, but that’s not the case until we see him in training camp.

This is one of the better position battles of the offseason.

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4.) The cornerbacks unit

The cornerbacks will present a great position war this training camp period. Featuring several new players in DeAndre Baker, Julian Love, and Corey Ballentine, there are plenty of positions open for the taking.

Most have Love penciled in as a slot-corner option alongside Grant Haley, but I imagine he will fight for a starting role on the outside. Baker, the top corner in the draft, theoretically has the second starting job opposite Janoris Jenkins locked up, but I wouldn’t rule out the feisty Love from earning reps. Nonetheless, it’s an uphill battle for him.

Ballentine has lengthy arms and NFL speed/agility — he’s an underrated talent that will compete hard but will likely be a reserve option. I anticipate 2019 being a developmental year for him. Don’t forget about Supplemental draft pick Sam Beal either – he missed all of 2018 with a shoulder injury. His talents have yet to be evaluated on the field, meaning he has as good a chance as anybody at securing starting reps.

5.) Eric Dungey could be a surprising sleeper

Syracuse quarterback, Eric Dungey, was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason period. He’s an extremely athletic player that doesn’t have the most sound throwing abilities but could replicate Taysom Hill of New Orleans. He has a solid frame at 6’3″, 220-pounds.

Dungey threw for 2868 yards in 2018 with another 754 in rushing. He earned a total of 33 touchdowns over the course of the season, proving to be a capable playmaker. The Giants were intrigued by his athleticism and ability to get into the endzone. Look out for him to move around the field and play a bit of tight end and quarterback in a reserve role.

 

New York Giants: How Does The New Offense Compare To The Rest Of The Division

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New York Giants, Sterling Shepard, Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants have come in dead last in their division in each of the last two seasons. They have become the least threatening team in the NFC East and have not won the division since 2011.

The rest of the teams in the NFC East have been accumulating young talent for years. The Cowboys have made the playoffs and won the division in two of the last three seasons. Their young core of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot make them an annual playoff contender.

The Eagles have also been far more successful than the Giants recently. It is painful to say or think about this, but the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017 and made the playoffs again in 2018.

The Redskins have placed 3rd in the division for three straight years. But even they have won the division more recently than in 2011. They have won it twice since then (2012 and 2015).

Our beloved New York Giants have fallen behind in recent years and it is time for them to get back on track. The Giants made moves to improve their offense in 2019. Let’s see how their new offense compares to the rest of the division:

Offensive Lines:

The Giants’ offensive line has been bad for years. The Giants finally got rid of Ereck Flowers in 2018, but the unit still struggled as a whole, despite bringing in veteran left tackle Nate Solder.

The other three teams in the division all have above-average or excellent offensive lines (when completely healthy). The Dallas Cowboys had two Pro Bowlers on their offensive line in 2018 with left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zack Martin. Left tackle Trent Williams of the Washington Redskins also made the Pro Bowl in 2018. The Eagles also had a Pro Bowler in right guard Brandon Brooks. The Giants are the only team in the division to not have a Pro Bowler on their offensive line.

The Giants are trying to buck that trend. In 2018, they drafted left guard Will Hernandez in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Hernandez showed lots of promise in his rookie year and looks like he can be a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the future.

In the 2019 offseason, the Giants acquired a talented offensive guard via trade with the Cleveland Browns. Kevin Zeitler is one of the NFL’s best pass-blocking guards, allowing only 11 total pressures in 2018.

The Giants’ offensive line is the worst in the division. However, it has the potential to improve mightily in 2019 with the addition of Zeitler, Hernandez progressing in his second year, and center Jon Halapio returning from injury.

Running Backs:

Fortunately, the Giants still have the best running back in the division, though it is a close race. Saquon Barkley racked up more total yards from scrimmage in 2018 (2,028 yards) than any other running back. But Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot was not far behind with 2,001 yards and he also lead the NFL in rushing yards with 1,434 yards.

The Eagles also have a solid group in the backfield. They traded for former Bears running back Jordan Howard this offseason and also drafted Miles Sanders out of Penn State. Howard has racked up 3,370 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns over the past 3 seasons. In 2018, Sanders ran for 1,274 yards and 9 touchdowns at Penn State.

Technically, the Washington Redskins have the “best” running back on their roster, but that is if you are going off of total careers. Barkley, Elliot, and Howard are all young, promising players. But Washington Redskskins running back Adrian Peterson is one of the best running backs of all time.

Peterson is 33 years old now and is well past his prime. However, he was still solid for the Redskins in 2018 with 1,042 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. The Redskins also have a young, unproven back named Derrius Guice. Guice was electric in college at LSU with 2,638 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons. Guice tore his ACL in the 2018 preseason but will look to prove himself as a quality NFL running back in 2019.

The Giants have the best running back in the division and even in the NFL. Saquon Barkley will only get better in 2019. However, the team would be wise to add some more talent behind Saquon to keep him from wearing and tearing.

Receivers And Tight Ends:

The Giants easily had the best receiver in the division over the last 5 years. That changed in the 2019 offseason when the Giants traded away Odell Beckham Jr.

Now the Giants are left with pass-catchers like Sterling Shepard, the newly acquired Golden Tate, and Evan Engram. Still a solid group despite losing their best player.

No one on the Giants’ roster was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2018. Shepard, Tate, and Engram all have the potential to be 1,000-yard receivers in 2019, but there is also a good chance none of them eclipse 1,000 yards, too.

The Eagles have one of the best tight ends in the NFL with Zach Ertz. Ertz had the third most receiving yards out of all tight ends last season with 1,113. He is their best skill player on offense and will remain a consistent player for Philadelphia in 2019.

The Dallas Cowboys struggled to find a receiving threat, post-Dez Bryant until they traded for former Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper in 2019. In only 9 games with the Cowboys, Cooper totaled 725 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. The Cowboys could use some help at tight end, but Cooper is the best receiver in the division now that Odell is in the AFC North.

The Washington Redskins seriously lack playmakers on the outside. Their leading receiver in 2018 was tight end Jordan Reed with only 558 receiving yards. The Redskins did draft a couple of receivers in 2019 with Kelvin Harmon and Terry McLaurin, but it is hard to imagine these two players will make such a vast improvement to the Redskins’ receiving corps in 2019.

The Giants might not have the best receiver or tight end in the division, but they could have arguably the best group of these positions in the division. If Engram, Shepard, and Tate all reach their full potential in 2019, the Giants’ offense could be electric.

Quarterbacks:

Every team in the division has a young, franchise of future franchise quarterback on the roster. The Giants and Redskins were the last teams to acquire theirs but finally did so in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys and Eagles have their franchise quarterback starting and winning games for them, but the Redskins and Giants have not seen their young signal-callers in action yet. It is too soon to tell who has the best young quarterback in the division, but right now Carson Wentz is the best quarterback in the division.

Carson Wentz had an MVP-caliber season prior to injuring his knee in 2017. In the 13 games he played in 2017, Wentz threw for 3,296 and 33 touchdowns. This lead the Eagles to an 11-2 record. Carson made the Pro Bowl in 2017 but suffered another injury in 2018. If he can stay healthy, he is the best quarterback in the division.

The other young quarterback in action is the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott. Prescott has lead Dallas to the playoffs twice in three years and has thrown for 3,000 yards and 22 or 23 touchdown passes in all three of his seasons in the NFL. He has been to the Pro Bowl twice and is set to receive a big contract extension from Dallas soon.

The Redskins had a problem at the quarterback position but found their answer in the Draft. Their quarterback, Alex Smith, suffered a gruesome leg injury in 2018 that will probably keep him sidelined for all of 2019. So the Redskins drafted Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins in 2019. Haskins threw 4,831 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes in 2018 at Ohio State. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain a high production level in the NFL.

While the rest of the division will all be starting quarterbacks age 27 or younger in 2019, the Giants will be kicking off the season with 38-year-old Eli Manning at the helm. Manning has been underperforming for the past two seasons, failing to top 21 touchdown passes. Regardless, the Giants are committed to him as their starter in 2019. However, if Eli struggles, it could mean the Giants will move on from him as soon as possible.

The Redskins were not the only team to address the quarterback position in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Giants made the controversial decision to draft Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the 6th overall pick in the draft. It can be debated whether or not Jones was worthy of that high selection, never topping 22 touchdown passes in 3 years as a collegiate starter. The Giants will be hoping that Jones proves any doubters wrong when he gets his chance.

The Giants’ quarterback position is probably the worst in the division. Their young soon-to-be franchise guy is far from a can’t-miss-prospect, and their current starter is a legend well past his prime. Giants fans need to hope and pray that Daniel Jones shocks the world and proves all his doubters wrong in the future.

New York Giants: What Is The Plan?

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New York Giants. Dave Gettleman, Pat Shurmur

The New York Giants have had one of the craziest offseasons in franchise history. From seeing a star player walk away in free agency to trading away your best player, then eventually disappointing the fanbase during the NFL Draft, it has been one bewildering move after the other for the Giants this offseason.

This leaves fans and analysts dying to know one thing: what is the New York Giants’ plan? On one hand, they seem to be building around Eli Manning and gearing up for another Super Bowl run.

On the other hand, the Giants look ready to move on from Manning and begin a new era. However, there are so many mixed signals. It is hard to decipher what the Giants are truly trying to do.

However, I think I have figured out what the Giants’ plan is (to some extent). Now, I will try to break that plan down.

Restore The Culture

General manager Dave Gettleman has made one thing clear about the new Giants team he is building: culture is key. In 2017, the Giants’ head coach Ben McAdoo completely lost the locker room. The Giants were experiencing major issues with the locker room’s culture. It was around this time that Landon Collins called Eli Apple a “cancer.”

Dave Gettleman has made it a point to clear the locker room of any “cancers” and establish the right culture in the Giants’ locker room. Gettleman has made it clear he does not like when players criticize their teammates in the public media. Landon Collins is no longer with the team and neither is Odell Beckham Jr. after his doozy of an ESPN interview with Lil Wayne.

Dave Gettleman has replaced any locker room problems with new, classy young men and excellent football players. Say what you want about Daniel Jones, but the kid is a leader. He is a good young man off the field that will always represent the New York Giants the best he can.

The same can be said about superstar running back Saquon Barkley. Saquon is a true leader on and off the field. He has been seen coaching up his teammates on Sundays and doing charitable acts in the offseason. Most recently, Saquon Barkley made one fan’s wish come true:

The Giants are in the middle of a rebuild. Gettleman’s first step towards rebuilding is to restore the culture. He has lost some talented players in the process, but by the end of the rebuild, the Giants will hopefully have filled the locker room with high-character, but also elite-talented people and football players.

Model The Quarterback Position After Past Champions (Not Future)

The Giants are clearly not interested in building their team the way the rest of the NFL is. The rest of the NFL is trying to think outside of the box and get one step ahead. It is a copycat league, and the Giants are one of few teams refusing to copycat the new wave.

Instead, the Giants are trying to copycat something else. Something reminiscent of the 1980s. The Giants are not interested in having a strong-arm quarterback who throws off platform 80 yards and makes plays outside of the pocket (such as Patrick Mahomes).

The Giants are interested in having a tall quarterback stand in the pocket, go through his progressions, and make the right read. On top of that, they do not want a social media personality as their signal-caller. They want a quiet, reserved, and humble quarterback to fiend off the New York media. This is why the Giants went with Daniel Jones over the likes of Drew Lock and Dwayne Haskins.

All of the previous NFL Super Bowl champions feature quarterbacks more similar to Daniel Jones than to Kyler Murray or even Patrick Mahomes. Murray and Mahomes have incredible potential and are examples of the league’s evolution towards a more collegiate style of play. The Giants have no interest in this.

The Giants want to replicate the past champions. Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, stands tall in the pocket, goes through his progressions, and makes the right read. Eli Manning has done that his entire career. Each of the past Super Bowl winners has had a playstyle similar to the pocket-passing, make-the-right-decision playstyle that Daniel Jones possesses.

Let’s look at the last 10 Super Bowl champion quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Nick Foles, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Ben Roethlisberger. Only two of these quarterbacks (Wilson and Rodgers) have ever rushed for 250+ yards in a season.

Besides Wilson and Rodgers, this list compiles some of the best pocket-passing quarterbacks over the past decade. None of these guys (besides Wilson and Rodgers, again) are known for making plays out of the pocket. Daniel Jones, like seven of the last eight Super Bowl champion quarterbacks, is a pocket-passing quarterback whose game emphasizes reading the defense and making the right decisions.

Model The Rest Of The Team After Past Champions

The 2018 New England Patriots were not a team with an impressive pass-rush. Instead, the Patriots had an exceptional secondary and a defensive scheme that generated the defense’s pressure. This is what the Giants’ defense is being molded into.

The Giants seemed to fully commit to this defensive gameplan in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Giants drafted three cornerbacks in their ten draft picks.

Defensive coordinator James Bettcher has an aggressive scheme that aims to generate pressure in unique ways through the scheme, rather than through the players. This all ties into the Giants’ desire to model the team after past champions, especially the 2018 Patriots.

This modeling can be found on the offensive side of the ball too. The Giants have fully committed to a run-first offense lead by Saquon Barkley. Countless Super Bowl teams were lead by a strong running attack and a quarterback who makes plays when he needs to. A great example is, again, the 2018 Patriots.

Tom Brady threw for 262 yards and 1 interception with 0 touchdowns in Super Bowl LIII. Meanwhile, the Patriots picked up 154 yards on the ground, led by rookie running back Sony Michel who had 94 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Giants seem fixated on replicating this kind of success.

The Giants want the offense to run through Saquon, with Daniel Jones being the complimentary piece. It is the opposite for many teams across the league, but the Giants are all in on this old-school approach.

It is also worth noting how similar the Giants’ receiving corps is to the 2018 Patriots. The Pats have not had a superstar receiver since Randy Moss. The Giants just traded away their superstar receiver. The Patriots win Super Bowl after Super Bowl by running with short, quick, slot receivers all over the field. The Giants are looking to do the same.

Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard will play in the Giants’ offense similar to how Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola played in the Patriots’ offense for all those years. Dependable, slot receivers are the key to New England’s offensive success and they will be the key to New York’s success soon too.

Another interesting note is the Patriots’ and Giants’ collective commitment to the tight end position. Trading away Odell Beckham Jr. was definitely a move influenced by Evan Engram’s increased effectiveness with Odell off the field.

Engram will breakout with more targets in 2019. Like Rob Gronkowski was with the Patriots, Evan Engram will be the Giants’ biggest matchup advantage and receiving weapon.

The Giants are looking to replicate the Patriots’ offensive and defensive schemes. Let’s all hope they are able to replicate New England’s success, too.

New York Giants: Underrated Wide Receiver Prospect Meets With Giants

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The New York Giants traded away Odell Beckham Jr. and instantly opened up another huge hole on their roster. The Giants tried to patch that hole by signing slot receiver Golden Tate, however, Tate is 30 years old. The Giants do not have a ton of young talent at the receiver position, outside of Sterling Shepard.

When the Giants acquired the 17th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft in exchange for Odell, fans instantly began to speculate on whether or not that pick would be used to draft Odell’s replacement. Speculation grew on April 3rd as the Giants decided to bring a wide receiver prospect in for a visit.

Who Visited The Giants?

On April 3rd, Ole Miss wide receiver prospect A.J. Brown visited with the Giants. Brown has interest from other NFC East teams, too. Brown visited the Eagles last month and will be visiting the Redskins this month.

Outside of the NFC East, Brown has received interest from a few wide receiver-needy teams. Last month, A.J. Brown visited with the Packers and Bills. If the Giants want A.J. Brown, they are going to have to be aggressive and get him before any of these other teams have a chance.

A.J. Brown Highlights And Statistics

A.J. Brown has been an underrated and underhyped prospect so far throughout this offseason draft process. His teammate at Ole Miss, D.K. Metcalf, has received all of the hype for wide receiver prospects. Metcalf is a flashy prospect, and Brown is not. However, that should not take away from the fact that Brown is arguably the best receiver in this draft class.

Sure, Brown might not be the huge, physical specimen that Metcalf is. And he may not be near as athletic. But Brown excels in plenty of other areas. Plus, his athletic ability is more than enough to get the job done.

At the 2019 NFL Combine, A.J. Brown tested comparably to plenty of starting NFL wide receivers. The average speed for an NFL wide receiver is 4.48, and A.J. Brown posted a 4.49 40 yard dash time. NFL receivers who ran similar times include A.J. Green (4.48), Alshon Jeffery (4.48), Antonio Brown (4.47), and Hakeem Nicks (4.51).

A.J Brown also posted solid measurements in other athletic tests. He did 19 bench press reps as well as 36.5-inch vertical jump and a 120-inch broad jump.

Brown flashed a lot of this athletic ability during his time at Ole Miss. It was most visible while Brown was running routes and making plays after the catch. He had elite agility, allowing him to create separation on routes and make defenders miss in open space.

In his junior year at Ole Miss, A.J. Brown was incredible. He hauled in 85 receptions for 1,320 yards and 6 touchdowns. Brown was the primary receiver on the Rebels because he was a much more reliable receiver than Metcalf. Brown is a consistent route runner with solid hands. He will be a great player wherever he goes, and the Giants would be lucky to have him.