Considering the obvious problems the Giants are having in the red zone, is it possible the remedy is to simply put their two tallest targets in the end zone and throw the ball up to one of them?
“I’m all for it,” tight end Kevin Boss said.
Boss and rookie receiver Ramses Barden stand 6-foot-6, and they could be part of the solution. The Giants, heading into today’s game in Tampa, are 0 for 8 in the red zone when it comes to scoring touchdowns.
“It is definitely an area we need to improve on, something we struggled with last year, too,” said Boss, who had six touchdowns included in his 33 receptions last season.
Barden has yet to be involved in the offense. In 46 games at Cal Poly, Barden had 50 touchdowns, including 36 his last two years.
“It’s a tremendous advantage,” Barden said of his height. “When you’re able to have kind of have a natural advantage over the opponent, it helps a lot. There’s a comfort zone there that you can give to the quarterback that they might not otherwise have or they have to find other ways with other receivers.”
Steve Smith and Mario Manningham are off to sizzling starts, but both are just 5-foot-11. Boss, Barden and — in time — 6-foot-3 rookie tight end Travis Beckum, are more physically imposing options.
“I always feel comfortable down there. When we get the ball down in that area, I kind of get excited,” Boss said. “It’s just a matter of being able to feel comfortable and being able to read the defense and know what to do to react and get open.”
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How the mighty have fallen. The Bucs after two games are 31st in the league in total defense. Quarterbacks Tony Romo and Trent Edwards have compiled a passer rating of an astronomical 118.7 in the two games against Tampa. . . . The main problem with the run defense in Dallas (251 rushing yards allowed) was twofold. “There were some cracks in the front seven and the ball got out into the secondary,” defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said, “and even when it did, the ball escaped the leverage from the secondary guys, which is why they had some exceptionally long runs.”
The Giants defense has been hit hardest by injury but the offense hasn’t escaped unscathed. Starting WR Domenik Hixon (knee) didn’t practice all week and is not likely to play and rookie WR Hakeem Nicks (foot) is out. That means Manningham makes his first NFL start. It certainly is possible Derek Hagan will line up as the No. 3 receiver, ahead of Sinorice Moss.