The solid play of Sterling Shepard. The never-ending search for a No. 3. Those were the stories of the 2018
season for the New York Giants at the wide receiver position. Let’s assess as we
look back at the season that was and ahead to what the 2019 season might
bring.2018 reviewSeason-ending roster: Odell Beckham Jr.
Ray-Ray Armstrong Jersey , Corey Coleman, Bennie Fowler, Russell Shepard, Alonzo Russell, Cody Latimer, Sterling ShepardInjured reserve: Jawill Davis,
Quadree Henderson2018 Wide Receiver ProductionNameTargetsReceptionsPct.
CaughtYardsTouchdownsYards/ReceptionDropsPasser RatingNameTargetsReceptionsPct.
CaughtYardsTouchdownsYards/ReceptionDropsPasser RatingWe have to do this in two
sections — Beckham and Everybody Else.Odell Beckham Beckham’s numbers in the 12
games he played a year after suffering a fractured ankle are fine. They just
aren’t extraordinary. Beckham’s 2018, in fact, left me a bit troubled. Beckham
caught 77 passes in his 12 games played, 6.4 per game. That is pretty much
exactly what he has averaged every season since snagging 7.6 per game as a
rookie in 2014.He had 1,052 receiving yards, his fourth 1,000-yard season. He
averaged 13.7 yards per catch, best since 15.1 in 2015. All of those things tell
you that his comeback from a fractured ankle was largely successful.There are,
however, things that worry me:Missed games: Beckham has now missed 16 games to
injury — a full season’s worth — over five seasons. He has missed games to
injuries in three of five seasons. Injuries happen, and Beckham might be right
that the one he suffered in 2018 was “flukish.” Still, it happened. And it cost
him four games.A declining passer rating: Eli Manning has always been far more
effective throwing the ball to Beckham than any other Giants’ receiver. Not so
in 2018. Beckham’s passer rating when targeted was a career-low 95.6
Daniel Jones New York Giants Jersey , with Manning clocking in overall at 92.4. Beckham’s passer rating when targeted has declined every season of his
career, 127.6 (2014), 114.0 (2015), 101.3 (2016), 97.8 (2017) and 95.6 this
season.Missing explosive plays: Beckham’s longest play from scrimmage in 2018
was 51 yards. In every other full season of his career he has had at least one
play of 70 yards or more. By his own admission, at least early in the season,
Beckham missed a couple of opportunities to make the kind of catch-and-run magic
that has always made defenses fear him.Missed games are what they are. It’s
football, guys get hurt. Even guys who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in
the offseason on their bodies, and have video teams that post countless hours of
incredible workout videos.The declining passer rating and the missing explosive
plays, or the special “nobody else can do that” plays got my attention. Is that
about Beckham? The quarterback? The way defenses play him? Don’t know.Beckham
had 17 catches of 20 or more yards. Projected out over 16 games, that’s 23. It’s
a number that would have put him top five among receivers in that category. He
had three catches of 40 or more yards, and a projected four would have put him
just outside the top 10. Not bad at all.I just know I waited for a game-changing
catch-and-run “how did he turn that into a touchdown?” moment, and don’t recall
getting one. In other words, the kind of plays that earned him a contract as the
game’s highest-paid wide receiver.Maybe I’m whistling at the wind here. Maybe
the standards Beckham has set throughout his career are just so high they seem
impossible to duplicate. After all:Everybody elseSterling Shepard had a
productive season with 66 receptions, 4 for touchdowns, and career bests in
yards receiving (872) and yards per catch (13.4). Shepard also had the most
yards after catch of his career (316). The negative in Shepard’s numbers was a
career-worst eight dropped passes.Shepard was often lauded for blocking that
helped Saquon Barkley, even receiving a game ball against the Washington
Redskins for blocks like these:There was an anticipation heading into the season
that Pat Shurmur’s offense would rely more heavily on two-tight end sets, and
that because of that Shepard would have to play as an outside receiver more
often than he had in his first two seasons. Both of those proved
accurate.Shepard played 517 snaps in his customary slot receiver
alignment
Youth Phil McConkey Jerseys , but a career-high 393 snaps lined up outside. In his first two seasons, Shepard had played only a combined 330 snaps lined up
outside.How did that turn out?Shepard caught 26 of 44 targets (59 percent) while
lined up wide, and 40 of 58 targets (68.9 percent) from the slot. So, he did OK
outside but was obviously more efficient from the slot.The Giants used a number
of players to fill out the wide receiver rotation.Cody Latimer was signed with
the hope he would be the No. 3 receiver, but he played only six games and caught
11 passes. Corey Coleman came in midseason and had a big impact returning
kickoffs, but caught just five passes in eight games. Russell Shepard (10
catches) and Bennie Fowler (16 catches) contributed in spots. Rookies Jawill
Davis and Quadree Henderson were special teams contributors.2019 look
aheadBeckham will be 27 next season, and should be in the prime of his career.
There remains no reason not to be excited about what the Beckham-Saquon Barkley
combination can do together.Asked about the 2019 season, here is what Beckham
said:“The sky is the limit and I know that next year is going to be tough on
everybody I play. That’s just how I feel, that’s how I’m coming. I do have a
positive outlook for 2019-2020. I say this is going to be my year every year
until it is going to be my year. So, next year is going to be my year, and if
it’s not next year, the year after is going to be my year. That’s the goal every
year.”Beckham is still, obviously, a special player. Let’s hope the Giants get
him for 16 games, and that we see him split defenders a couple of times and turn
a short pass into a spectacular touchdown. For me, that second part is the last
thing I need to see to believe he is all the way back to his pre-injury form.Who
will join Beckham and Sterling Shepard?The Giants are set for 2019 with Beckham
and Shepard. There is, however, a need to find a dependable third wide receiver.
Considering what we have already learned about Shepard’s increased efficiency in
the slot
Phil McConkey Jerseys Stitched , particularly one who can be productive lined up on the outside.Latimer, Russell Shepard, Fowler and Corey Coleman can all be
free agents this offseason. Not all of them will be back, with the guess here
being Latimer and Coleman have the best chances of returning next season. Davis
and Henderson, both undrafted players, might end up competing for one roster
spot as a return man. Ball security and decision-making might give Henderson a
leg up there.The Giants will face a decision on Sterling Shepard after the 2019
season, as the 2016 second-round pick can be a free agent. With Beckham already
bringing in the most money of any wide receiver in the league, how much the
Giants would be willing to pay Shepard is a good question.As the Giants re-tool
their roster for next season I have my doubts that wide receiver will be a
position where they spend big money or use an early draft pick. It wouldn’t
surprise me at all, however, if they find a bargain free agent or mid-round
draft choice to add to the mix. On the latest episode of the Big Blue View
podcast, Dan Pizzuta and Chris Pflum pick a few young players on the New York
Giants roster as breakout candidates for the 2019 season. These players were..."
/>Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBig Blue
Viewa New York Giants communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign
UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibraryGiantsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity
GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots
Sections New York Giants NewsGiants Training Camp 2016Giants vs. Eagles 2015,
Week 17Filed under:Big Blue View Radio[Podcast] Potential and necessary breakout
candidates for 2019New,19commentsEDTShareTweetShareShare[Podcast] Potential and
necessary breakout candidates for 2019Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY SportsOn the
latest episode of the Big Blue View podcast, Dan Pizzuta and Chris Pflum pick a
few young players on the New York Giants roster as breakout candidates for the
2019 season. These players were picked for either their potential to take the
next step or a necessity for that player to take on a bigger role. Topics
discussed on the podcast include:B.J. Goodson’s role as a coverage linebackerThe
Giants need for Jabrill Peppers to be everything they’re selling him asSean
Chandler and a group of versatile defensive backsLorenzo Carter’s path to the
No. 1 edge rusher roleWhy a productive No. 3 receiver could mean more for the
run game than the pass gameYou can listen to the episode in your browser here,
with the embedded player below, or anywhere you get your podcasts.Where to
subscribeYou can find and subscribe to Big Blue View radio from the show’s home
page.You can find all the shows on our Big Blue View Radio Hub Page.You can also
find the shows and subscribe on all your favorite podcast apps:Apple Podcasts |
Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSSFinally, be sure to
check out the home page for all of the shows across the expanding Vox Media
Podcast Network.
