Rookie WRs and their difficult adjustment

by Ed Valentine on May 12, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in News Comment 25 comments

The National Football Post ran a story Monday discussing the reasons why rookie wide receivers struggle to adjust to the NFL. Quite obviously that is a topic that should be of tremendous interest to New York Giants' fans.

Here are Matt Bowen's five reasons for the difficult adjustment.

Press Coverage
Reading Coverages
Size and speed
Playbooks
Physical demands

Not surprisingly, Bowen lists Mario Manningham of the Giants as one of the second-year wide receivers who needs to take a big step forward in 2009. Here is what Bowen had to say about Manningham.

Manningham might need to show something in camp just to make the Giants’ roster because he didn’t do enough to prove otherwise in ’08. The Giants need someone to step up and give QB Eli Manning a target, so the time is now for the former Michigan star.

Bowen is right. The Giants still have high hopes for last season's third-round selection. The competition for wide receiver jobs will, however, be fierce.

	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

Here are a couple of other notes of interest.

Ex-Giant receiver Tim Carter has signed with the St. Louis Rams.
The Chicago Bears might -- or might not -- be interested in Amani Toomer.
True Blue reports that the Giants' roster is at 89, meaning each time a rookie is signed someone will have to be released.

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Comments

Not sure if it's even a feasability

but I would love to see Toomer go to Indy. He’s not Marvin Harrison, but he could probably replace some of his production for a fraction of the price. And who knows, maybe he could put up one last really big season playing in a dome on a pass-happy team with the best QB in the league, who oh by the way is his old QB’s brother. I know some are bitter at the way Amani left, but I’m not and I really want him to succeed. I just don’t want it to come at our expense, and I’m afraid the Bears might be pretty good this year.

by cjmulrain on May 12, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you CJ

Toomer’s statements were more frustration at seeing his role diminish than any sort of long term bad attitude. I wish him well, he was a class act for a long time. What I like about Amani is that he struggled when he first came into the league. He could have easily faded into oblivion after his first couple of disappointing years, but he made himself into a versatile and productive receiver who came to play every game.

by Tucker Fredrickson on May 12, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my guess

Is that Toomer will go to a team that has a few WR injuries in training camp or in the early part of the season. At 34, most teams wouldn’t see him as anything more than a one-year stopgap, but I think he could provide value in that role

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by NYERinSF on May 12, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Pic is worth a thousand words

When I look at this picture I see two things, one we need, the other we don’t. We need to see the ball in Manningham’s hands and he making a big play for us. We don’t need to see some d-lineman rolling up the back of O’Hara’s leg like that. That shot looks like the good, the bad and the ugly all rolled up into one.

by njgiant on May 12, 2009 7:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good news

that was clearly a Seahawk, and if I remember correctly, their defensive players weren’t actually made of physical matter last year, b/c I don’t remember them making a single tackle all game. So I think that guy probably just passed right through O’Hara in that picture.

by cjmulrain on May 12, 2009 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

if all the rookie WRs didn’t pull a hammy, then they would do just fine. Clearly their training for the draft/combine is resulting in these injuries at a time when they need practise and game opportunities to learn. You can only learn so much in the film room. Something needs to be done to change the theory that combine 40 times are the be all end all for where a WR gets drafted. Manningham is a great case in point and I expected that he’ll make some significant steps forward this year.

by potroast on May 12, 2009 8:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

NYG roster at 89

I said that there was going to be a blood bath in training camp, well it looks like it’s gonna start flowing alot sooner than that.

Go to that site, click on the link for the actual roster and start cutting people. Getting to 80 isn’t hard.Try and get down to 60 (53 and 7) and you’ll have some hard decisions!!! You’ll need to cut almost 30 guys!!

by NY17NE14 on May 12, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I dunno

I took a look at the list and I could cut 30 guys without blinking an eye and only eliminate one one guy who’s ever been on the field for a play during the regular season for the Giants (Darcy Johnson or Mike Matthews take your pick) and I kept both Bomar and Woodson. I also kept all of this year’s draft choices. Who knows, some of those unknown names could be diamonds in the rough, but more likely they’re unknown for a reason.

Don’t worry NY17, I didn’t cut Rucker.

by Tucker Fredrickson on May 12, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cuts

You can also look at the roster here.

by Ed Valentine on May 12, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I could kill 30 guys too, how many of them were some of our "Development" guys.

" …I didn’t cut Rucker. "

Good thinking TF,
I always knew you had an excellent eye for talent!!!

I looked at Darcy Johnson and Mike Matthews too and thought whoever NYG is tired of being injured or progressing too slow, which I don’t know, will get the axe. I wouldn’t want to have to place a bet on that one!

by NY17NE14 on May 12, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

half our roster is WRs and DLs

by queler on May 12, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

It does seem excessive, but will serve a purpose when it’s all sorted out!

by Hootman on May 12, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roster limit

I just hate this 80-man roster limit. It started last season, and it’s a pain. What’s the harm in bringing an extra 5-10 guys to camp and giving a few more players a shot at making an NFL roster or practice squad? I just don’t get the smallish limit.

by Ed Valentine on May 12, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my guess is the union

less players = more money for the players who make it. Without getting into a broader discussion on the merits of unions as a whole, I really hate the idea of unions for multi-millionaire athletes, at least as they’re currently run.

by cjmulrain on May 12, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Manningham

Hmm, he didn’t do enough in ‘08 to prove otherwise? If i didn’t know any better, for one, it’s called a depth chart. Let’s see, Burress, Toomer, Smith, Hixon, Moss and now Mario?! Last time i knew, the Giant’s don’t use the run-n-shoot or the spread offense. So where is he going to find any playing time? Plus, he was a rookie and the Giant’s didn’t need to rush him in there either!

Besides, i cannot recall Mario running a real pattern? Unless 2-3 yards behind the LOS is considered one, i don’t know. At least in his case, you don’t have to worry about any Sophomore slumps. A 5 catch for 50 yards season would be an improvement. lol Only one way to go, up, right?!

I still think that his development this year, will be key in bridging the gap between Hixon/Smith to the rookies. Expectations should be higher for him, but let’s not put them on the rookies if it comes down to it either!

by Hootman on May 12, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Id say Manningham has to be

3rd behind Hixon and Smith right now.

I do think that the “3rd” spot is more of an open competition, cuz I think Nicks, and even Barden and Maybe Rucker will get shots to compete there.

Everyone is going to compete for the WR spots. Even the NEW H-Back position is gonna have competition. Beckum was drafted, but the Giants signed George Wrighster to compete there too.

by FreeBradshaw on May 12, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what is exciting

We have a ton of young guys with slightly different degrees of experience competing for substantial playing time. Training camp should be a real Darwinian struggle for survival of the fittest, and the guys like Manningham and Moss who have been here a couple of years and not gotten on the field much are going to be feeling the most pressure. Hopefully, that level of competition will help these guys step up there games and ensure that we end with somebody productive taking the third and 4th positions. Getting in really good shape and avoiding muscle pulls may be the deciding factor.

by Tucker Fredrickson on May 12, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In theory

I really hope that Mario does evolve into a more prominent role such as the #3. He did afterall have first round talent but went in the third for various reasons, but that’s besides the point. In this case, it would lessen the pressure to Nicks and Barden whereas they could be brought along in a fashion where they can have on-the-job training, but at the same time, being used in more of a specialized manner.

Or then again, Nicks could evolve into having a monster season as a rookie hauling in 60 for 750 yards and 8 TD’s (very good in the Giant’s O) and Mario being an afterthought? At this point, i’ll take that production from any #3, regardless of who it is!

Interestingly, perhaps Einstein’s theory of relativity. How will teams relate to covering Barden and Rucker? lol

This is exciting!!! lol

by Hootman on May 12, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How will teams relate to covering Barden and Rucker?

They’d put in their DIME package for the ENTIRE game!!!! (like that’d even help!!)

by NY17NE14 on May 12, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

put in that dime package and watch Bjake go for 1500+.

by njgiant on May 12, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

...and about (30) DBs going to the hospital over the course of the season!!!!

by NY17NE14 on May 12, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nasty, I say, simply nasty!

by njgiant on May 12, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Manningham

I’m so torn. Part of me wants to see him succeed because the Giants need him to. And the vidictive bitter Penn State fan in me wants to see him fail and never have to root for him for catching the game winner in possibly the worse loss I think I’ve experienced.

by queler on May 12, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Was that the game where the refs made some really bad call

in the last minute that resulted in Mich getting an extra play? I’m a casual PSU fan (not an alum), but that game had me outraged. It’s time to let bygones be bygones though. If Manningham is any good, let’s hope he can produce for the Gmen.

by Tucker Fredrickson on May 12, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

All the refs were Michigan alums. I know it sounds like sour grapes, but I’ve never seen anything like game ever. I saw a WR catch the ball and fall to the ground, and the refs picked the ball out of his hand and put two yards ahead. After like 5 plays like that, PSU DC came out on the field and started arguing with the ref. It looked like the ref basically said “oh yeah, watch this” and moved the ball forward even more for the first down. Then toward the end of the game, because Lloyd Carr complained to refs they put 2 seconds back on the clock for no reason and we lost on a play that should have started at -1 seconds.
I dunno, i’m sure it’s time, but Mannigham Giants jerseys make me a little nauseous still.

PS. I was trying to think what the most crushing losses I could think of were, and number #1 is definately that games, and #2 is Giant’s-Niners 03.

by queler on May 12, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs