Loading ...The New York Giants have always prided themselves on being a blue-collar football team. While their passing game posted historic numbers in 2011 under quarterback Eli Manning, the team finished dead last in rushing and that is something Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese will absolutely look to change.
Part of the struggles of the offensive rushing attack come from a flux at the tight end position. The team added former Dallas Cowboys TE Martellus Bennett who is expected to grab a starting job, but fact remains that behind him, Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum might not become available until mid season … if at all.
This brings us to the NFL Draft. Despite being considered a "need," don't expect the Giants to invest in a tight end early on in the draft. Guys like Stanford tight end Coby Fleener or Clemson's Dwayne Allen represent the "sexier" options early on, but LSU tight end Deangelo Peterson might be worth a look for a team looking for blue collar guys in a late round.
Peterson was primarily a blocking tight end at LSU, as they were a run-first team. He stands at 6'3" 243 and was a three-year starter at LSU for Les Miles. He is a fine blocker who would not have maintained his starting role in LSU's offense if he did not excel at that.
Fact is, quarterbacking and offensive philosophy held his receiving game back a bit at LSU, and his career high in receptions in only 18. He and his old coaches believe there is more behind that though.
“I think I’m an unbelievable route runner,” Peterson said. “I think I can catch the ball. I think I can do the same thing they’re doing.”
Those are traits his high school coach, Mickey Joseph, saw early.
“Good hands and he ran good routes,” said Joseph, now the head coach at Langston University in Oklahoma. “It just happened that LSU asked him to do something for the team and the kid did it for team. I think when they work him out and they put him outside, they’re going to see he can play outside.”
Ironically enough, one of his "old coaches" just happens to be Lunda Wells, formerly an assistant offensive coach with LSU and now a quality control coach for the Giants.
If Peterson has the skills to be an NFL tight end, no one knows that better than Wells. With scouts as thorough as the Giants, they will look into a guy like Peterson who could potentially represent incredible value in a late round at a position of need.
Behind Bennett, the Giants would need a guy who has a blocking mentality anyway. If Peterson can't pick up the passing game out of the gate, he still has a role.And roles are important for the Giants. Late round picks like Tyler Sash and Jacquian Williams were brought in to play roles in their rookie season and thrived despite being late round selections.
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Nice piece. A few weeks ago I would have said an emphatic no to drafting an undersized TE like Peterson. But after signing Bennett, the 4 TEs on our roster are all huge and bring similar skill sets. I think it’s more likely we draft a Peterson type of TE for some diversity. I know everyone automatically says we had Beckum and he wasn’t “used” right. I’m going on what I saw and nothing that we saw showed he was anything special. And being not just undersized but severely undersized receiving abilities didn’t make up for these deficiencies.
In addition, I would keep an eye on the Denver TE situation. They just signed Tamme and Dreessen today to bolster their TE position. But also currently on their roster are Julius Thomas, Cornelius Ingram and Virgil Green who when drafted were all highly coveted middle round TEs with big upside. Given that this TE draft class id considered weak, I could see acquiring one of these young TEs for 6th or 7th round pick if JR and company are still high on one of the TEs.
Should Peterson be as good as the above description, he most
certainly would enhance the running game along with Bennett.
Not knowing if Jake Ballard is able to return or not this year, Deangelo Peterson sure looks as if he might fill a big need. The
running game must improve for the New York Giants to be competitive in the east. They also need a running back who is
good at pass blocking and also recieving out of the backfield.
Bengirls just signed BJGE … 3 years; $9 mil. More than he’s worth … IMHO. I had him figured for $2/year.
Who is BJGE?
Benjarvisgreenellis
To Chad Eldred, Thank you very much. As much as I would
like to, I am not a mind reader.
That signing along with Bush make me wonder what Jacobs is thinking at the moment. When backs younger and more productive than he is are getting these contracts, can he really believe he is going to near what the Giants were being paid? I’m skeptical that he will get offered much more than 1 or 1.5. If he thinks that is insulting, he can check out what they are paying at his neighborhood Applebees. I wish him the best, but I have a feeling what he thought was insulting is probably fair market value.
Jerry Reese’s middle name is “Fair Market Value”.
He really does seem to have a knack for knowing what a player is worth. The market always self-corrects and he doesn’t get caught in the rising tides that come with the first week of free agency. When the dust settles, he is usually in the neighborhood. If he weren’t in football, he would have made an awesome fund manager.
Using the term fund manager in context to what Reese does for the Giants pretty accurate.
REPOST:
One problem the Giants will have in drafting a DE is when other teams see the Giants sniffing around a pro day, they will take note, and if they happen to need a DE, you can bet they will snatch the guy they feel the Giants are following.
That said, the kid Chandler Jones from Syracuse is one to watch.
Still, it’s the Giants way to wait and see what collects at the bottom of the day one draft “well” before making any moves.
Their real work is done rounds 2-5 where doing you homework will yield the best bang for the buck AKA value. My question, if the BPA at 32 is a RB or LB would Reese take him, or trade back? Things that make you go Hmmmm.
Still, after getting Bennett, the priorities look like linebacker, running back and offensive line. Everything else is gravy.