Statistical oddity: Wan'dale Robinson.

[MrGap92]

Wandale is also going to be a another year removed now from that ACL tear

[Ed Vette]

Wandale is also going to be a another year removed now from that ACL tear

Good point.

[Painter]

Ed: Yes, Robinson is one of the few players we have who I believe is not being asked to do what he does best and on a different team he could be a star. I notice occasionally others here talk like he has been a disappointment. To me, it is the coaching staff that has been a disappointment. Bob

Bob,

We shall soon find out who we should blame this time around as no matter who starts and who finishes at QB1, there won't likely be any questions about deep throws. So, should we feel need to paint a bullseye on someone's back, it will be either Daboll's, or Robinson's. Of course, we hope it's neither and, indeed, no one at all.

Cheers!

[Bob In PA]

Bob,

We shall soon find out who we should blame this time around as no matter who starts and who finishes at QB1, there won't likely be any questions about deep throws. So, should we feel need to paint a bullseye on someone's back, it will be either Daboll's, or Robinson's. Of course, we hope it's neither and, indeed, no one at all.

Larry: I notice a recent (since the draft) increase in your optimism for the Giants. Is it my imagination or is there a specific reason? I can think of one possibility. IMO, our likelihood of beating the Cowboys this year seem (to me) to have improved. Bob

[Painter]

Bob,

As I'm sure you know, I am so thoroughly familiar with the Mara-owned and squeezed, and too often, strangled NY Giants team, franchise, and organization that I am not inclined to blame anyone else. And for that reason, I do frequently take exception to the whining, blaming, and second-guessing which has come to characterize, almost to define, Giants fans.

And so how do I, the second oldest on this board, feel about the team, its players and staff at the moment? I'd say a bit more encouraged than I have been in while due to what I believe is greater player talent , and while never rooting differently, secretly harboring thoughts of more than a few upset wins and a somewhat greater and more sustainable success in future. And if not, I am already fully vaccinated.

Cheers!

[Bob In PA]

Bob,

As I'm sure you know, I am so thoroughly familiar with the Mara-owned and squeezed, and too often, strangled NY Giants team, franchise, and organization that I am not inclined to blame anyone else. And for that reason, I do frequently take exception to the whining, blaming, and second-guessing which has come to characterize, almost to define, Giants fans.

And so how do I, the second oldest on this board, feel about the team, its players and staff at the moment? I'd say a bit more encouraged than I have been in while due to what I believe is greater player talent , and while never rooting differently, secretly harboring thoughts of more than a few upset wins and a somewhat greater and more sustainable success in future. And if not, I am already fully vaccinated.

Larry: I was unaware that you're second on the old man list. I'm not too far behind you. Bob

[Painter]

Larry: I was unaware that you're second on the old man list. I'm not too far behind you. Bob

That's why I can speak with such authority, Bob    Right behind Dumpster Dan who is however much more polite than I am.

Cheers!

[Jolly Blue Giant]

That's why I can speak with such authority, Bob    Right behind Dumpster Dan who is however much more polite than I am.

Cheers!

What??? You mean you're not polite all the time? 

Who would have known 

[Giantleap56]

Honestly Robinson would be great on the Eagles. Then they could do the "tush push". The routes this coach called are a joke. 

[MightyGiants]

Honestly Robinson would be great on the Eagles. Then they could do the "tush push". The routes this coach called are a joke. 

In fairness, with all the talent the Eagles have, there aren't many players who wouldn't enjoy playing for them 

[kartanoman]

That's why I can speak with such authority, Bob    Right behind Dumpster Dan who is however much more polite than I am.

Cheers!

While you claim both you and Dan stand on opposite ends of the "polite" line, which I, personally, do not agree, you both are the "shared visionaries" of the Giants fan throughout the ages. I don't know if everyone here can fully comprehend what that really means but, if you can, then you know it is a rare privilege each of us has to interface with these two fine individuals every day.

I do not want to go off-topic on this thread, so I'll be brief and say that I've been blessed to get to know Mr. Dan through the private messages we exchange, the beautiful affirmations of the good things this life has given us and, of course, what we're thinking, on a philosophical basis, how the Giants are going to turn their fortunes around. In addition, although I do not talk directly too often with you, Mr. Larry, your wisdom, near-infinite knowledge-base and distinguished mastery of written communication has earned you an inspired reader and follower for life.

Now, onto Wan'dale and his statistical anomaly of a season, the responses so far have really covered many elements which I do agree have held him back from the potential many of us believed he'd bring to the Giants after being drafted by the club.

 - Injuries: the ACL injury in his rookie campaign (2022) should now be behind him and his lower body physical ability should be rounding out to its best form since its arrival.

 - YAC and QB correlation?: Jess brings up a point that certainly begs watching going into the new season and that is whether Wan'dale and all the receivers' limitation of YAC "may" be correlated to previous quarterback performance. But even that suggestion opens the wider suggestion which all of us have engaged in, at one point or another, that it could be the quarterback, the lack of protection by the offensive line, the receiver running the route incorrectly, or a combination of all three, or maybe none of them at all.

 - Deep threat ability out of the slot: correct me if I am mistaken, but didn't Wan'Dale demonstrate this in a few games in 2023? The Packers game comes to mind. If he does make it out of the blocks at full speed this season, THIS is what I would be planning to use him for and as much as possible while the receivers stretch out the secondary.

 - Misutilized?: why is he only running five-yard routes instead of ... ? Go back to the YAC and QB correlation, decompose the QB issue to the QB performance (NOTE: you can further decompose this, but I won't for this post), offensive line performance, WR running their routes correctly, Offensive Coordinator calling the plays, etc.), and we go back to the same arguments, over and over. This coming season, with a previous Super Bowl champion under center, an offensive line with (more or less) a season of continuity under the same Offensive Line Coach in Carmen Briccilo, and a head coach who will finally get to open up his playbook and utilize plays and gadgets we've not yet seen since he's taken this Giants' job, unless this entire offense implodes, I would expect Wan'dale to be utilized far more than what he's been doing the past three seasons.

Final Analysis: when he first came to the club, I expected Wan'dale to be Shepard's eventual replacement. While he has done just that, in terms of a roster spot, he has quietly also filled his role in terms of performance. I expect he'll use season 2025 as the year to do things very differently than in season's past. I am hoping the five-yard routes will be performed by Cam Skattebo, going forward, and Robinson will be looking for holes in the secondary to exploit, in the tradition of Steve Smith (Giants' 2007 USC draft pick), or Sterling Shepard.

It's going to be a break-out season for Wan'dale, one way or another, and how well Wilson and the offensive line perform will, in part, dictate the impact he'll have in bringing the speed the Giants' offense desperately needs in order to seriously challenge its opponents in the coming season.

Peace!

[Painter]

Now, onto Wan'dale and his statistical anomaly of a season, the responses so far have really covered many elements which I do agree have held him back from the potential many of us believed he'd bring to the Giants after being drafted by the club.

 - Injuries: the ACL injury in his rookie campaign (2022) should now be behind him and his lower body physical ability should be rounding out to its best form since its arrival.

 - YAC and QB correlation?: Jess brings up a point that certainly begs watching going into the new season and that is whether Wan'dale and all the receivers' limitation of YAC "may" be correlated to previous quarterback performance. But even that suggestion opens the wider suggestion which all of us have engaged in, at one point or another, that it could be the quarterback, the lack of protection by the offensive line, the receiver running the route incorrectly, or a combination of all three, or maybe none of them at all.

 - Deep threat ability out of the slot: correct me if I am mistaken, but didn't Wan'Dale demonstrate this in a few games in 2023? The Packers game comes to mind. If he does make it out of the blocks at full speed this season, THIS is what I would be planning to use him for and as much as possible while the receivers stretch out the secondary.

 - Misutilized?: why is he only running five-yard routes instead of ... ? Go back to the YAC and QB correlation, decompose the QB issue to the QB performance (NOTE: you can further decompose this, but I won't for this post), offensive line performance, WR running their routes correctly, Offensive Coordinator calling the plays, etc.), and we go back to the same arguments, over and over. This coming season, with a previous Super Bowl champion under center, an offensive line with (more or less) a season of continuity under the same Offensive Line Coach in Carmen Briccilo, and a head coach who will finally get to open up his playbook and utilize plays and gadgets we've not yet seen since he's taken this Giants' job, unless this entire offense implodes, I would expect Wan'dale to be utilized far more than what he's been doing the past three seasons.

Final Analysis: when he first came to the club, I expected Wan'dale to be Shepard's eventual replacement. While he has done just that, in terms of a roster spot, he has quietly also filled his role in terms of performance. I expect he'll use season 2025 as the year to do things very differently than in season's past. I am hoping the five-yard routes will be performed by Cam Skattebo, going forward, and Robinson will be looking for holes in the secondary to exploit, in the tradition of Steve Smith (Giants' 2007 USC draft pick), or Sterling Shepard.

It's going to be a break-out season for Wan'dale, one way or another, and how well Wilson and the offensive line perform will, in part, dictate the impact he'll have in bringing the speed the Giants' offense desperately needs in order to seriously challenge its opponents in the coming season.

Peace!

My sincere thanks for your so generous earlier remarks, Chris. However, it is your thorough and well-considered review of the Wan'dale situation that best warrants our attention.

Cheers!   

[VanPelt]

Yes, he's the checkdown. I think he's been used as a normal TE would have been, because our TE's are so poor. Having said that he also goes down really easily, there is no YAC with him. He is just too small

[bamagiantfan]

Last season he had a shocking 93 catches. Why didn't we hear anything about it? Because those 93 catches were for only 699 yards.

On 140 attempts.

The most useless 90+ catch season in NFL history?

The only thing worse would be a #1 receiver with 170 targets and an 11.0 yard average who was 2nd in the league in drops. Oh wait.....

You can read the statistics however you want to. Like others, I don't think the receivers were the issue. Robinson and Nabers were in the top 10 in targets all year. Those two accounted for 91 of the Giants' 301 first downs and only fumbled once between them. Wan'Dale still hasn't fumbled as a pro. I like Wan'Dale alot. He was used as an extension of the running game and had the same yards per catch as Tracy. He is doing what Richie James did in this Offense. A tough cover in short areas. Now if we can just get the ball delivered on time.

[Dumpster Dan]

That's why I can speak with such authority, Bob    Right behind Dumpster Dan who is however much more polite than I am.

Cheers!

Polite????     THat's interesting since some have interpreted the demeanor as a "wuss"!!!

As far as Wandale--agree with all the remarks--just today I read that he has been working his butt off this off season.   

Bob---you asked Larry if he was a bit more optimistic so far this off season.  If I may I sense that there is a bit more optimism within the Giant organization.   So I, just as I do every year, am looking forward to OTA's and camp but I cant honestly tell you if its because the Giants may be better or if its because I am trying to will a few wins out of these old aching bones.  Aching bones by the way that are tolerable due largely to the amazing Giants fans and people on the best damn Fan site anywhere

Dumpster Dan