2008 Giants draft retro ... Mario Manningham

by Ed Valentine on Feb 13, 2009 12:00 PM EST in News Comment 20 comments

Mario Manningham only caught four passes as a rookie. Here, he heads upfield after one of his rare grabs.

Today we move to an interesting player in our 2008 Giants draft retrospective.

Third-round pick Mario Manningham, the wide receiver from Michigan.

The only way to describe Manningham's first season as a Giant is like this -- it was a complete waste.

Manningham fell victim to the Giants Curse of the Rookie Receiver Quad Injury, following in the footsteps of Sinorice Moss and Steve Smith.

The injury kept him off the practice field throughout most of training camp, and Manningham was never able to make up for that lost time.

The sum total of his contributions was four catches for 26 yards and one disastrous 12-yard loss on a reverse against Philadelphia. He played in just four games.

That is not the kind of production the Giants were hoping for when they gambled on Manningham last April. The Giants were looking for a playmaker. Instead, they got Moss II. A player who never had a legitimate chance to show if he can actually be a contributor.

Many considered the 5-foot-11, 183-pounder a first-round talent a year ago, but he slipped down draft boards due to some off-the-field incidents and concerns about his ability to master a complicated NFL passing attack.

Considering the Giants current situation at wide receiver you have to think that come training camp they will give Manningham every opportunity to show that he can be the kind of player they envisioned. I would expect that regardless of who else the Giants trade for, sign or draft.

Manningham's rookie season was undoubtedly a failure. I think, though, that we have to give him another year before we declare him a bust.

Rookie Season Grade: F

Mario Manningham

#82 / Wide Receiver / New York Giants

Height: 5-11

Weight: 183

Born: May 25, 1986

College: Michigan

	Receiving						Kickoff Returns					Punt Returns
G	Rec	Yds	Y/G	AVG	Lng	TD	KR	YDS	AVG	Lng	TD	PR	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
4	4	26	6.5	6.5	11	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

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Incomplete

An F is certainly a fair grade based on production, but I’d rather give him an incomplete. Between the injury, the number of other receivers ahead of him on the depth chart, and the poor way the Giant’s used him, Manningham really didn’t get much of a chance to show if he can play in the NFL. The reverse was not his fault, just the wrong play call at the wrong time. If I remember right one of his catches was one of those passes thrown to the receiver after taking a step back from the line of scrimmage — which works if uou’re Randy Moss and corner is playing 10 yards back, but not so well when you are an untested rookie. Reputedly he’s had a hard time learning the system, which is troubling, but I still think there’s a lot of upside there and he should definitely get a real shot to show what he can do this preseason with Burress and Toomer both question marks.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Feb 13, 2009 1:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Grade

I think he was active in enough games to get a grade other than ‘incomplete.’ I do think, though, that you can’t quit on this guy yet.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 13, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

another 5' 10 WR

too bad he wasn’t more like 6’ 6 220lbs…

by NY17NE14 on Feb 13, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stop Reaching

Other than Smith, we haven’t had much luck with picking WRs. I say, use the 1st pick to get a stud. Trade Plax (like someone would want him by the draft), and our extra #2 and draft Crabtree.

by EverBlue on Feb 13, 2009 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i also think

that the “F” grade is somewhat unfair.. if he had been a first round pick it would be unfair…

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

by Hoyadestroya85 on Feb 13, 2009 3:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Failure is a bit harsh

maybe an INC

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 13, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Eh

I’d give him an INC as well. You’re right, though, when you say he needs at least another year before we make any decisions on him.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Feb 13, 2009 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

incomplete

its to early to grade. we have little film on this guy. we will see come OTA’s and training camp.

by rumble27 on Feb 13, 2009 6:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Grade

Definitely ‘Incomplete’ as far as how his time with the Giants will turn out. My ‘F’ is purely based on his rookie season, which was a failure. If you want to, you can give all the rookies an ‘incomplete.’

by Ed Valentine on Feb 13, 2009 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for repeating myself...

But I have said it before,( no one listened. / commented anyways…)

Everyone is insisting on getting a PLAXICO replacement out of the draft with our 1st round pick. College to the NFL is a HUGH jump and finding a WR who can command double team coverage as Plax did, just isn’t gonna happen. REALIZE THAT!!!

If you look at the film, Plax rarely “gets open”. he’s covered well but out jumps the DBs for the ball. Holmes in the SB >>> three DBs around him, he out reachs them all with HEIGHT.

I hope Mario is the next Amani Toomer and we see him in blue for years, BUT that doesn’t asnwer the question of WHO IS TALL ENOUGH to out jump DBs and demand that they put double coverage on him?

Randy Moss isn’t great because his 5’ 10 or 5’ 11

by NY17NE14 on Feb 13, 2009 9:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

how about steve smith

as in the Panthers steve smith.. he’s tiny but he’s very quick, and a burner.. can beat you deep or on a short pass where he gets tons of YAC

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

by Hoyadestroya85 on Feb 14, 2009 12:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

but NY is right in that the tall guy is what Eli needs. Sure, a guy that can burn is a big asset, but Eli needs that crutch of being able to throw it up because he’s simply not the most accurate QB in the world.

by potroast on Feb 14, 2009 7:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's more a possesion type of receiver then a real deep threat

How often do you see him getting double teamed. There are a million very good 5 something receivers, but that’s not what our needs are. we need a 6’ 3 Larry Firzgerald type. I really hope Mario can become all that we’ve waited for in Moss ( I can’t wait for him anymore)

To be totally blunt; I don’t care if it’s the POPE, I want to see more Touchdowns, less FGs. TDs from 30+ yards out would be a nice change too!!!

by NY17NE14 on Feb 14, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The height issue comes and goes in the NFL.

Our own Homer Jones at 6’2" was a tall receiver back in the sixties when a lot of cover guys were pretty short. Another tall receiver was Otis Taylor of the Chiefs was 6’3" and played a lot like Plaxico.

But there have been a lot of great relatively short receivers as well. Paul Warfield was barely six feet tall and as mentioned above, Steve Smith of the Panthers is terrific.

I don’t think we need all our receivers to be extremely tall. Now that the defenses are reacting to guys like Plaxico by drafting taller backs the short, good route running backs like Moss may become more effective.

by giant fan since 57 on Feb 14, 2009 5:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't want them ALL to be tall.

There’s a place for every size guy. Unsized (short) guys even have a place as they get really low and are hard to bring down and easily to get lost in traffic. I think you’d have to admit that over the years, the standout deep threats all were atleast slightly taller then average, long legged, long striding types. (Stallworth, Gene Washington, Randy Moss, etc…)

by NY17NE14 on Feb 14, 2009 10:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs