Trading away Odell Beckham Jr. was certainly the biggest headline of the offseason for the New York Giants, but the most important thing of the entire scenario is how they responded to his departure.
The Giants went out and signed veteran pass-catcher Golden Tate, a player known for his yards-after-catch abilities. The new acquisition and weapon for Eli Manning has led the NFL in forced missed tackles in five of the last six seasons, finishing second in the only season he didn’t come in first, according to Pro Football Focus.
If you can remember the electrifying plays Beckham made and the number of tackles he avoided, it’s hard to imagine Tate breaking even more tackles and picking up more yards. I’m not saying that Tate is anywhere close to as talented as Beckham, but in specific areas, he’s more refined.
“He is nifty,†Giants coach Pat Shurmur said. “Obviously, before the ball is thrown and then once he catches it, he has a way of breaking tackles or making them miss. I can see that is going to be a part of his game already.â€
One of the best attributes Tate holds is his health. Beckham has missed a total of 16 games in two seasons, so essentially missing an entire year. Tate, on the other hand, has missed just one game in six years. The best way to make a difference is to actually be on the field, something OBJ couldn’t consistently do on a regular basis.
Manning will benefit greatly from a clean bill of health for his receivers moving forward.
How will the New York Giants utilize Tate and Shepard in 2019?
One of the major positive in regards to Tate and Shepard is their ability to play inside and outside. Head coach Pat Shurmur will be able to create an unpredictable offense with two diverse receivers. Additionally, they are possession receivers that will help keep the ball with the offense and the defense on the sidelines.
Running down the clock and holding onto possession should help the overall efficiency of the team. Ultimately, it comes down to Manning and his ability to get the ball to Tate and Shep quickly in space. Speedy receivers are better when the ball is in their hands with room around them.
Tate averaged 10.7 yards per reception in 2018 and Shepard 13.2. Both will be impactful players on a rebuilt Giants offense.