Undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito has led the New York Giants to two consecutive wins, but his developing connection with fellow rookie Jalin Hyatt has been something of note.
Hyatt has struggled to get involved this season at times, but he showed up in a big way against the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon. DeVito tossed 25 passing attempts and collected 191 yards and a touchdown. Impressively, Hyatt accounted for 109 of those yards and five of DeVito’s 17 completions, averaging 21.8 yards per reception.
The Giants Need to Continue Feeding Jalin Hyatt
After the game, Hyatt indicated that he was so used to big games during his time with Tennessee that adjusting to the NFL had been a difficult process. He referenced Brian Daboll and an important lesson he learned from the Giants’ second-year head coach.
“I used to average 100 yards at [the University of] Tennessee, and being up here was kind of tough for me at first,” Hyatt told The Post. “I went to coach and asked, ‘Is it me? Is it something I need to do better?’ Dabes had a great talk with me one-on-one about how this is how the NFL is: One game, you can have the best game of your life, the next game, you can have nothing. It goes to Dabes and how much respect I have for him. He’s been teaching me about the league.”
This season, Hyatt has 330 yards on 17 receptions and 19.4 yards per reception. His upside is undoubtedly there, and the Giants are still trying to crack the surface of what he can do on a weekly basis. They expanded his route tree significantly against the Patriots, utilizing crossing concepts and pushing him downfield with speed. One play stands out specifically: a 41-yard dime from DeVito along the right boundary, putting the ball in the only place that Hyatt could grab it.
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Given the fact the Giants’ offensive line failed to protect the quarterback position this season and a revolving door under center, once the team finally figures out their passing game and provides some sort of consistency, Hyatt should be a direct benefactor. Despite scoring only 10 points against New England, Hyatt managed to make a big difference, and that is what he is capable of in the NFL, changing the course of the game with his elite speed.