Dropping two of your first four targets on your first day of rookie minicamp surely isn’t the best way to convince coaches you have what it takes to succeed at the NFL level. However, if your New York Giants rookie Darius Slayton, that doesn’t stop you from bouncing back.
Slayton elevated his game after two early drops, securing several impressive catches, one of which was a full-body extension grab over the middle.
What did Shurmur think of the New York Giants rookie receiver?
“He ran good routes,” Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said. “He Had a couple of drops early. By the end of it, he made a couple of nice contested catches. That’s why you practice. There are a lot of new things to get used to. New routes. New ways of doing things. New places to line up. That’s just why you practice. I thought he finished the day real well.â€
Darius Slayton with three catches in a row. ?
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) May 3, 2019
If you’re wondering what Slayton is capable of, check out this clip where he completely outmatches Greedy Williams for an impressive reception along the sideline.
Wow!! Darius Slayton matched up v. Greedy Williams makes the already tough catch while getting his face mask yanked! pic.twitter.com/5EuAVuRAlB
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) May 3, 2019
Twisting and turning Slayton managed to hang on to the ball to pick up 20 yards. With Greedy’s hand on Slayton’s face-mask, he manages to adapt and find the ball in the air for the completion.
Slayton’s gritty nature and 4.39 speed make him an all-around threat at the next level. While he’s not the most refined route runner and struggled in man-coverage at times, he has the tools to develop into a starting-caliber player.
2. Fifth-round pick Darius Slayton had a rough day. I counted five drops. That was a knock on him at Auburn. He did redeem himself by making a few tough catches late in practice.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) May 3, 2019
Slayton’s drops seemed to be a consequence of poor technique. If he can refine that part of his game, he has the potential to be a quality target for Eli Manning and Daniel Jones in the future.
Overall, Slayton had a rocky start in his first day of practice, but he bounced back in a big way. “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Pat Shurmur states all too often.