With the New York Giants trading away star wideout Odell Beckham Jr., the wide receiver unit was shaken up and has been left a bit uncertain as we head towards the 2019 regular season.
Options like Cody Latimer and Russell Shepard present value on the field going into their second-year with Big Blue, but former first-round pick Corey Coleman might be the player to win the No. 3 job. Coleman, coming off a quiet season of just 71 yards on five receptions, will compete for the staring role alongside Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard.
His ambition and work ethic has been elevated lately, as he seeks to perform at the level expected of him coming out of college. After breaking his right hand in Cleveland, Coleman never returned to form, struggling to stick with the starting unit and landing with the Giants in a reserve role.
However, the way he’s been practicing and preparing has presented a clear indication of his goals for the season ahead.
“We are going to see the best of [Coleman],” head coach Pat Shurmur said. “He’s the first one to tell you when he came in the league, he had a lot to learn. Now he’s got an opportunity to maybe be a front-line player.”
Corey asked Shurmur how he managed to develop both Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen into such effective pass-catchers, and that he wants to reach that type of success. His motivation is intoxicating, and something that will hopefully allow him to reach his potential.
Corey Coleman had 5 catches for 104 and 2 TD’s in his second game in the NFL for the 1-15 Browns. He was the 15th overall pick in the 2016 draft. There’s talent there waiting to be unleashed. Rooting for him to figure out for Big Blue! pic.twitter.com/BdI3is0AS2
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) May 24, 2019
What makes Corey Coleman special for the New York Giants?
The one attribute that separates Coleman from his counterparts is his elite speed. Coming out of Baylor he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash, and he has shown that quickness in the NFL at times.
“I don’t think anyone’s ever questioned my speed,” Coleman said. “Being fast is great, but being able to play fast, that’s what it has to be about.”
His top utilization is the deep ball — Coleman is a capable route runner as well with solid hands. I feel as though his primary issue is more mental than physical. The tangible traits are present for Coleman, he just has to learn how to harness them. If he can build upon success early on in the season, we could see his production increase quickly.