They’re excited
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- April
- 28
We’re waiting to get back into the locker room to talk to Eli Manning about the new receiver draftees. But while we wait, here’s a few tidbits from current wideouts Steve Smith, David Tyree, and Domenik Hixon on the impending arrivals of first-rounder Hakeem Nicks and third-rounder Ramses Barden.
The mixture of different body types and physical attributes means the Giants will try to replace the head-up threats of Burress and Toomer with sets of mismatches. Isolate a Barden against a shorter corner. Find the slower defensive back and run Nicks past him. Continue to get Smith in there on third down and let him find the first-down marker for the sideline throw.
It kind of looks like the football equivalent of bullpen by committee. Half the time those things don’t work. It’ll take a lot of finesse work by Tom Coughlin to make this arrangement effective, especially because the Giants can’t rightly expect to have that one special receiver to carry the team. Not at this point, anyway.
Still, Nicks and Barden are looked upon as viable and valuable talents. Smith, for one, said he’ll be just delighted to have them around.
“I was just excited to get new teammates and good players,” Smith said. “I’ve seen Hakeem play. He’s a big, physical receiver and he’s got good size.”
As for Barden, Smith loved the idea that he and his 6-foot-6 frame can leap in the end zone on those Plaxico Burress-like fades.
“He’s someone who can keep Eli happy in the red zone,” Smith said. “We’ve got a lot of options now. Maybe we’ll go more three-wide, four-wide, or five-wide sets now. We’ve got a lot of guys for Eli to have fun with.”
That they do. Smith, Hixon, Sinorice Moss, Tyree, Mario Manningham, plus whatever free agents and first-year players come down the pike. The problem is, the whole corps is basically untested now. Now that Burress and Amani Toomer are gone, Tyree is the old man of the group, and he’s always been used as a fourth or fifth receiver at best. And he’s recovering from knee surgery, though he says he’s back and ready to go.
If he’s ever had an opportunity to rise on the depth chart, this would be the year.
“I love doing what I’m doing,” said Tyree, the kick coverage specialist. “Just don’t tell me I can’t play this position and catch 45 balls a year while I make 20 tackles a year.”
Hixon was once rumored to be part of the Braylon Edwards trade talks with the Browns, but he didn’t seem too concerned about the addition of two supposedly dynamic receivers to the mix. It is conceivable, however, that if Nicks develops quickly, Hixon’s current spot as the No. 1 target could vanish.
That doesn’t mean he won’t welcome his new teammates, however.
“With what Plaxico and Tooms did for us, getting us through different situations, we can pass that along,” Hixon said. “We’ve got a lot of guys with different talents. It’ll be nice to see how everything pans out.”
EP
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 at 10:11 am by Ernie Palladino. 
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Ernie Palladino
Ernie!!!!
I told Mike and the guys about Ramese Barden months ago!!! maybe someone else was reading this blog and said : hey why not take a shot with a small town guy!!! When you see him tell him I pushed for him!!Trust me he’ll be OK with Eli!! big fast and hands like a basketball player!!! I’m real hyped about this!! Can’t wait to see him at the workouts!!!
I was in the city that weekend and the Sheraton tower 53 st. was packed with players and ESPN guys all weekend! I was staying there myself on business as well at the Javis ctr. but never found Ramese there???? Was able to watch some of it at a great lil place in Hells kitchen called Mr.Biggs!! The place was packed when I would get there after my show at 6pm.
Keep me posted on his progress! Where’s Mike?? out duffing balls???LOL!!! Thanks Ernie!!