Big Blue Huddle

Bobby and Justin discussed this about TE Daniel Bellinger, who currently is TE 1, but may be in no man's land with the roster soon.

Manhertz is the better blocker in short yardage, Theo Johnson working his way up in the passing game and FB Johnson better at it than him.

Don't think he's in danger of being cut, but maybe staring at limited use. Dabes maybe siding with Bricillo?

 


 

You may be right. Add Jack Stoll to the mix and Bellinger has a problem

It's nice to have positional depth. Could provide some interesting short yardage combinations. With a bunch of guys who can block or catch.

I am still high on Bellinger but I think I'm in the minority on that

In modern parlance Bellinger is a JAG, short for just another guy.

When we drafted him our tight ends room was really bad, so when he played moderately well as a rookie some here got pretty high on him. I think that had more to do with the fact that he didn't stink. On most other rosters he's tight end 2 or 3, so the fact that he's dropping on our roster tells me that we've finally improved the roster to the point that his position on the depth chart accurately reflects his ability amongst his peers.

He doesn't have great hands, doesn't have great size, he isn't overly athletic and he isn't a load blocking. He's meh, at best, across the board. The sooner our meh starters become third string, I'm looking at you too Hodgins, the better off we are as fans.

Bellinger has great hands. He's not going anywhere. Over his college career, he had a total of 3 drops in 4 years...and gained a reputation as a very hard guy to bring down

He had that bad eye injury that set him back and then had to suck hind tit to Waller. He's a keeper and ain't going nowhere

Quote from: Jolly Blue Giant on August 18, 2024, 04:03:32 PMBellinger has great hands. He's not going anywhere. Over his college career, he had a total of 3 drops in 4 years...and gained a reputation as a very hard guy to bring down

He had that bad eye injury that set him back and then had to suck hind tit to Waller. He's a keeper and ain't going nowhere

You make a good point.  Waller is the poster boy for bringing in an older vet and thereby preventing young talent from developing.  He was never going to be part of a resurgent Giants

Quote from: madbadger on August 18, 2024, 02:34:17 PMIn modern parlance Bellinger is a JAG, short for just another guy.

When we drafted him our tight ends room was really bad, so when he played moderately well as a rookie some here got pretty high on him. I think that had more to do with the fact that he didn't stink. On most other rosters he's tight end 2 or 3, so the fact that he's dropping on our roster tells me that we've finally improved the roster to the point that his position on the depth chart accurately reflects his ability amongst his peers.

He doesn't have great hands, doesn't have great size, he isn't overly athletic and he isn't a load blocking. He's meh, at best, across the board. The sooner our meh starters become third string, I'm looking at you too Hodgins, the better off we are as fans.

Quote from: madbadger on August 18, 2024, 02:34:17 PMIn modern parlance Bellinger is a JAG, short for just another guy.

When we drafted him our tight ends room was really bad, so when he played moderately well as a rookie some here got pretty high on him. I think that had more to do with the fact that he didn't stink. On most other rosters he's tight end 2 or 3, so the fact that he's dropping on our roster tells me that we've finally improved the roster to the point that his position on the depth chart accurately reflects his ability amongst his peers.

He doesn't have great hands, doesn't have great size, he isn't overly athletic and he isn't a load blocking. He's meh, at best, across the board. The sooner our meh starters become third string, I'm looking at you too Hodgins, the better off we are as fans.

Extremely well said! Couldn't agree more.

And for the record, I like both Bellinger and Hodgins. They're solid depth guys to have. But just like MB said, if you have a strong roster and are looking to compete, Bellinger should be a #3 and Hodgins a #5. Which is exactly where I see them.

I think it's clear Manhertz is a trusted blocker, and with the desire to keep DJ upright I have to think he'll be used often as a 6th OL. And then I see Theo getting phased in throughout the season, but I think he steps up and is getting solid reps late in the year.

And as for Hodgins, I'm loving the depth of Nabers, Wan'dale, Hyatt, and Slayton. Only way Hodgins sees the field is via injury.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on August 18, 2024, 04:11:12 PMYou make a good point.  Waller is the poster boy for bringing in an older vet and thereby preventing young talent from developing.  He was never going to be part of a resurgent Giants

And yet in less than three weeks Johnson has comfortably leap frogged him on the depth chart. I don't have anything against Bellinger but if in year three of a guys career you're forced to come up with reasons why he hasn't developed it's probably because he isn't that good. Last year Waller missed six games and was limited in a handful more. Bellinger had opportunities.

Quote from: madbadger on August 18, 2024, 07:01:17 PMAnd yet in less than three weeks Johnson has comfortably leap frogged him on the depth chart. I don't have anything against Bellinger but if in year three of a guys career you're forced to come up with reasons why he hasn't developed it's probably because he isn't that good. Last year Waller missed six games and was limited in a handful more. Bellinger had opportunities.

Up to this point Jones hasn't utilized the TE position with the seam throw (nearly enough). Perhaps that would help Bellinger

Quote from: Jolly Blue Giant on August 18, 2024, 04:03:32 PMBellinger has great hands. He's not going anywhere. Over his college career, he had a total of 3 drops in 4 years...and gained a reputation as a very hard guy to bring down

He had that bad eye injury that set him back and then had to suck hind tit to Waller. He's a keeper and ain't going nowhere

Jolly: That's what the coaches see. I agree, but the point others are making (IMO) is that this year could be "make-or-break" because he does everything ok but (so far in his career) nothing really well. Bob

They brought in Waller who took a bunch of snaps away and now we're ready to give up on him for a 33 year old who is near the end of his career.

I do not buy it personally, Theo may end up being better in the long run but I would take him over everyone else they have, he is pretty versatile and has solid hands.

Quote from: Trench on August 18, 2024, 11:19:24 PMUp to this point Jones hasn't utilized the TE position with the seam throw (nearly enough). Perhaps that would help Bellinger

DJ wasn't the QB for nearly half of Bellinger's games.

From an old article in 2022..."the Giants were fed up with Evan Engram dropping passes, which was his calling card. Bellinger was chosen because he had the lowest drop rate of any TE in college, and because he brought size that Engram didn't have, which might translate to better blocking than Engram offered. Bellinger was seen as a future pass catcher though, not a blocking TE"

He started out very well, then got his eye poked by Devin Lloyd in the game against the Jaguars. The injury required surgery to repair his septum, as well as repair fractures on the lower part of his left eye socket. By the time he was back, he had been replaced by one-time great offensive TE, Waller

He's the same person he was when he was drafted...a reliable pass catcher who's hard to bring down. He's never going to better than Manhertz or Jakob Johnson who are proven specialists as "blocking ONLY TEs". Bellinger's a 6'5"/256 lb pass catching TE who suffered a major eye injury and has been basically misused since that horrific injury. His real competition on the team is Theo Johnson who has potential to be TE1, simply because of his size and athleticism, but Theo is a rookie who will have a lot of work ahead of him to have hands as reliable as Bellinger

If we consider Bellinger's play last season and this pre-season, it's hard to say he's earned a roster spot.

49.1 PFF grade for 2023
55.8 PFF grade for 2024 preseason

So if Bellinger makes the roster it will be by default and/or reputation/draft status