RUE-DE AWAKENING: Rookie receiver Rueben Randle hauls in a first-quarter touchdown pass in the Giants’ 38-10 victory over the Packers Sunday night. (
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Before the Giants dispersed for their bye week, Hakeem Nicks pulled Rueben Randle aside and offered some sage advice that went something like this:
Listen, kid, when you come back you’d better be ready to get down to business, because it’s crunch time and everyone — including the rookies — have to pick it up.
“He said these next couple of weeks we’re going to need all you young guys to step up, it’s that time, the beginning of the season is over and we need to pick up our game and contribute,’’ Randle recalled.
Rookies can fall by the wayside late in their first NFL go-round, overwhelmed by the length of the season and the unyielding grind, week after week. A winter spark is always helpful for a team navigating its way to the playoffs and the Giants are well-positioned to get it from one or more of their newcomers.
Randle, the second-round pick, caught his first NFL touchdown pass in the 38-10 trouncing of the Packers and acted afterward as if it was no big deal, because he expected it to come sooner. He’s part of a 2012 draft class that hasn’t exactly stormed the gates thus far, but there’s plenty of time for unproven rookies to evolve into contributing youngsters as the postseason surge continues.
David Wilson’s first season hasn’t even been much of a tease, but there’s now a clear path to the field for the first-round pick as Andre Brown’s broken leg opens a spot behind starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw. Cornerback Jayron Hosley, the third-rounder, has endured ups and downs — more downs — but the Giants are hardly giving up on him.
Of the other four draft picks, all are either too raw to even get a uniform on game day, injured or were cut before the season. Although technically not a rookie because he didn’t play in college last year, safety Will Hill is a first-year player with a huge upside and figures to be part of defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s exotic multiple-safety packages.
When it comes to judging rookie classes, the gold standard is 2007, when general manager Jerry Reese bolstered the roster with seven players who made impactful contributions to a Super Bowl-winning team. There would not have been a title run without Aaron Ross, Steve Smith, Jay Alford, Zak DeOssie, Kevin Boss, Michael Johnson (a rookie free agent) and Bradshaw.
This was hardly the case last season as the Giants put together another Super Bowl surge despite the 2011 draft class being a flop. The first three picks — Prince Amukamara, Marvin Austin and Jerrel Jernigan — were either hurt or non-contributors. The only rookie to add much of anything was linebacker Jacquian Williams, a sixth-round pick.
Wilson could recreate the role Bradshaw played in 2007 and Randle can easily be compared with Smith, who did little (eight receptions) in the regular season before establishing himself in the playoffs and making a key catch for a first down in Super Bowl XLII preceding Plaxico Burress’ game-winner.
“I’m getting more comfortable with the offense, have a better grasp for it … coaches getting more and more trust in me so I’m looking forward to making more plays,’’ said Randle, who has been the No. 3 receiver in the absence of injured Domenik Hixon. “I’m fresh. Just looking forward to these next couple of weeks to get more playing time and get more plays so I can contribute more.’’
As for hitting the so-called rookie wall, Randle said there’s no sign of it. “We’re feeling pretty good right now, I don’t think we hit it quite yet,’’ he said. “We’re just looking to push forward, don’t let anything get in our way.’’
Rolle adds defensive riches in secondary as nickel
Did you catch that newcomer making plays all over the field against the Packers as the Giants’ new third cornerback? Look familiar? He should: It was Antrel Rolle serving as the nickel back for the first time this season.
“Although I love playing safety, one thing I like more than playing safety is winning games,’’ Rolle said. “So whatever it takes to win at this point in time our coaches are going to put us in the best position possible.’’
Last season, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, short on cornerbacks, moved Rolle from safety to the nickel back role and, after some growing pains, the coverage on the back end was strengthened. Fewell wanted to get away from that this season, hoping Rolle could play his natural free safety spot, roaming and hitting. Several nickel back candidates were auditioned — most recently rookie Jayron Hosley — and, needing to fortify the secondary to withstand the passing game of the Packers, Fewell made the move again with Rolle.
Fewell couldn’t have pulled the trigger unless Kenny Phillips was back on the field after missing the previous six games with a knee injury. Phillips aggravated the injury, though, and if he misses more time it will be difficult, if not impossible, for Rolle to stay at the nickel, as he will be needed along with Stevie Brown back at safety.
“Nickel is something that I’m used to playing, it’s something I’ve played my whole career,’’ Rolle said. “It’s kind of a natural fit for myself.’’
It’s only a fit for the Giants if Phillips is available. He said yesterday on ESPN 98.7 “I can absolutely play Monday’’ and he is feeling “a whole lot better.’’ If that’s the case, it’s the nickel back role for Rolle.
* The Giants needed to add a running back with the loss of Andre Brown to a broken leg and yesterday they signed not one, but two of them: Ryan Torain and Kregg Lumpkin.
To make room on the roster, offensive lineman Selvish Capers was waived and is expected to sign back to the practice squad. Capers last week was signed off the practice squad.