With Giants training camp just under three weeks away, it’s time to start breaking down each position group in more detail. Let’s start with one that caused New York a significant amount of headaches in 2020: tight ends.
Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett arrived in New York last year with a fondness for tight ends after years of coaching Jason Witten. That was reflected in his playcalling: 27 percent of the Giants’ passing targets went to tight ends, eighth-highest in the league.
The results were dreadful. Only 43 percent of those targets were successful, the worst rate for tight ends in the NFL. The Giants signed veteran Kyle Rudolph to try and add some reliability, but the entire group will need to take big strides this season.
Rostered
Evan Engram, Kyle Rudolph, Kelvin Benjamin, Kaden Smith, Levine Toilolo, Cole Hikutini, Rysen John, Nakia Griffin-Stewart.
Biggest Questions
What side of Evan Engram will we see?
There was a lot of blame to go around when New York began last season with a 1-7 record. Engram, though, was the most conspicuously disappointing player. His eight drops were worst in the league among tight ends, and one particularly ill-timed mistake cost the Giants a win over the Eagles in Week 7. In all, projections indicate the Giants would have scored 35 more points without Engram’s drops.
In spite of all that, the former first-round pick was selected to his first Pro Bowl. It was a controversial choice, but it reflects NFL execs’ high opinion of Engram. His blistering speed and tough build should theoretically make him an elite deep threat — if he can cut down on the mistakes. Last year, the dropped passes left him out of New York’s aggressive playcalls. He was targeted on routes over 20 yards only nine times and had just two touchdown catches.
Perhaps another offseason with Garrett will help Engram tighten up his mechanics and return to his old form. After all, It was only two years ago that he had 467 yards in eight games during an injury-marred 2019 campaign. His ability to do so could dictate how well New York’s revamped offense pans out.
Is Kyle Rudolph still a difference maker?
By signing Rudolph to a two-year, $12 million contract, the Giants found Engram’s perfect foil.
Rudolph is less explosive than Engram but has dropped only one pass in the last three years. More importantly, he is a reliable red zone threat who has caught five or more touchdowns five times throughout his career. No Giants receiver had more than three touchdowns last year.
However, Rudolph still comes with some question marks. His offseason foot surgery is not expected to keep him out of the Week 1 lineup, but it is a reminder of how much wear and tear he has seen in his nine-year career. At 31 years old, production is less of a certainty.
Hopefully we will see Rudolph run at least a few routes during Giants training camp and get confirmation that his recovery is going well. Even if his best days are behind him, his presence and years of experience should be invaluable to Engram.
Featured image courtesy of Emily Chinn/Getty Images
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