Loading ...Since the Giants drafted him in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Cal Poly, there have often been reports of amazing catches being made routinely by Ramses Barden on the practice field. The 6’6 227lb receiver has an imposing combination of size and speed, and could be a huge asset to the Giants offense during the 2010 season, if he can get on the field.
As a rookie, Barden only saw the field in three games, and made just one reception for 16 yards. His one catch was tied for 12th on the Giants roster statistically. By all accounts, Barden has greatly improved between his rookie and second year, and the Giants should be using him a lot more this season. During the OTAs, he looked quicker and ran more accurate routes than in 2009 by all accounts, while continuing to haul in highlight receptions daily.
Eli Manning has his most impressive set of weapons entering 2010, with receivers (Pro Bowler) Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Domenik Hixon, and Barden, not to mention tight ends Kevin Boss and Travis Beckum. The Giants have potentially the most dangerous set of young receivers in the league, and I expect Manningham, Nicks, Beckum and Barden to all make huge strides as playmakers in 2010. There is one advantage that Barden has over Smith, Manninghan and Nicks and that his height. One issue that Eli Manning has had over the course of his career is the tendency to overthrow receivers, which can lead to costly turnovers. When Plaxico Burress was the Giants leading receiver in 2007, he often bailed out Manning by using his height (6’5) to reach up and grab high throws for receptions, which made him Mannning’s favorite target. Manning has taken a step forward and become a better quarterback since then, but having a receiver with the height of Barden on the field again could really help bail Manning out of some dicey situations. Smith and Manningham are each 5’11, while Nicks is 6′ and Hixon is 6’2. Having a weapon with the height of Barden (6’6) who is a nightmare match up for opposing defenses on the field should draw a lot of defensive attention and will work wonders for Manning and the passing game.
I have said this before, but I think it bears repeating, I expect Barden’s career to closely mirror that of San Diego’s Vincent Jackson. Like Barden, Jackson is a big (6’5 230) receiver from a non-division one school (Northern Colorado). As a rookie Jackson just caught three balls for 59 yards. Jackson’s numbers jumped in each of his next four seasons, and now he is a perrenial Pro Bowl receiver who has had over 1000 receiving yards in each of the last two years.
Ralph Vacchiano of The Daily News predicted that Barden will open the season behind Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Domenik Hixon as the Giants fifth wideout at best. It could be said that Barden will have to fight off competition from Derek Hagan and Sinorice Moss for that spot. I hope he is wrong, and I think Hagan is more deep roster depth, while I expect Moss to be released. With none of those receivers standing taller than 6’2, I could see the 6’6 Barden beating out Giants primary return man Domenik Hixon for the fourth receiver spot handily, and would expect to see him on the field often as the Giants get inside the Red Zone. Head Coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants staff are notoriously slow at getting young players on the field, however, and I have been wrong before about them utilizing talented young players in the past. How much Ramses Barden is actually being featured and his progress on the field will be something to keep our eyes on throughout training camp and the preseason. If the Giants work him into the game plan he could be a huge boost for the offense and Eli Manning’s play on Sundays this fall, and hopefully we will get a chance to see some of these leaping one handed receptions that have only been made on the practice field during his brief career.
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Damn, Rich. Thanks for posting this like 2 hours after I posted mine…
Haha. Just playin’. Good stuff.
Thanks man,
Great post by you…I had the PM update today, so I had to get it done now. It was the only time today I could do it.
Impressive debut though!
Just playin, dude. I just wrote all that s*** and didn’t want it to just sit on my computer.
Rames will definately see the field. From the sidelines…
LOL…I hear the view from the bikes on the sidelines is lovely in both the summer AND fall.
I hope Ramses avoids the bikes, I’ll be so pissed if he is racing in place against Gerris!
This got me thinking about mario. . . while I like what he brings to the offense, I see him as very similiar to smith in that he’s smaller and pretty quick. Nicks balances that out but Barden could push into the lineup if he can steal some time from mario. The main thought I had was what would mario look like fielding punts?? In my opinion, he has the quickness and elusiveness to make people miss. He doesnt go down at the thought of contact (seems pretty wiggly) and has some speed. Can he catch the ball seems to be his downfall. Well, not as much catching a ball as concentration. Just a thought, TC would never let it happen. Probally a better chance of RW being brought back.
Hands : Smith >Manningham
Speed : Manningham>Smith
PR/KR : I bet Manningham is the most elusive/exciting, I just don’t trust he can catch 100% of the balls he fields…
ROC, love the piece but thread-jumping? Give kujo his place in the sun my good man. And people should go back and see rlhjr’s comment on the last thread too. An excellent one.
As for the comment about our great young receiving corps, all I have to say is “I told you so”. LOL.
And I feel the same as do you. These coaches had better give Barden the chance to beat out Hixon for that fourth spot on the depth chart. I think he’d be a valuable addition and I’m not sure what Hixon brings to the table that is really needed given the abilities of Smith, Nicks and Manningham, whereas Barden brings height that cannot be reproduced. Let Hixon become the elite returner that he shows signs of becoming and the #5 receiver.
IF these coaches give Barden and Beckum the chance to use their talent then all this passing game needs to be absolutely elite is someone coming out of the backfield who can be relied upon to read the defense, run good patterns and catch the ball. I know we have one in Andre Brown. I think we have another in DJ Ware. We might even have another in Ahmad Bradshaw. Put all those weapons together and create play calls that actually make best use of them and while the Giants will continue to set the tone with smashmouth football, they will also be able to compete quite effectively when a defense stacks the box to stop the running game.
Of course I say this while holding my nose when contemplating the offensive “brain trust” of Coughlin, Gilbride & Gilbride (“Have problems with too much success on offense? Find that you move the ball in bad weather by using short passes and staying inside the hash marks? Call us for immediate consultation. Our staff can help you. You may be entitled to remedies ranging from third-and-long draws from a single-back formation all the way to deep out patterns in 35 mph winds. We have already helped many clients eliminate the need to make so many kickoffs during a game that it tires out their special teams. Let us help you too.”).
This does not take away from Kujo’s piece at all. Great Piece sir, you are indeed a gentleman and a scholar. But I think it is about the time of year to shed light on the annual Tim Carter/Michael Jennings/Anthony Mix type. However this may have a completely different ending. This guy is a higher round draft pick, and has more physical tools that are absent in his respective group of colleagues than any other giant in any other position group. This may finally be worth a little hype. Of course the national hype might come in the preseason, but if this guy can be as advertised there is no reason to think he will not be the third best wide receiver on this team by year end. Unfortunately that opportunity may only come because of injury, because we all know that we will be screaming “PUT BARDEN IN!” at our TV sets up until Manningham pulls a hammy (I knocked on wood).
There should be a support group for Giants fans who have issues with our numbskull offensive plan. I know, I know, Gilbride is in the top blah blah blah of OC’s, still doesnt matter when you see those long out patterns on a windy day when we needed 3-4 yards; repetitive misuse of the shotgun draw, literally, back to back repetitive. Sign me up
G101: A place for Gilbride’s enemies
I like the comparison to Vincent Jackson. I loved the Barden pick at the time and still do. I think if he is given a chance he will make plays. But we will see. Killdrive doesn’t always makes sense. 2 and 10 draw. Short receivers in the redzone. Etc.
You guys think Texas really stays in the Big 12? (or what’s left of it). They’ve either got to be eyeing off the SEC or think that there’s an easier path to being the division champs each year and see the $$ in that direction…
Also, you think Logan Mankins is worth more than $7M for 5 years?
Mankins is a beast…top 5 guard in the league.
I think he is worth it, but the Pats usually think differently for sure.
GMen won’t do it…but I could see someone jumping all over this.
Also, I am glad for the Big 12 (or 10 now…the big 12 had 10 and the big 10 has 12, strange) did you see Texas will get their own TV Network…$25 million per year?
I saw that yeah, so either way they’ll make their money, I guess it’s an easier path to the bigger bowl games too with 2 less teams. I have to think that we’ve only seen the beginning though of this re-alignment.
I thought the rap on Barden coming out of Cal Poly (aside from coming out of Cal Poly) was that he was NOT fast. Didn’t the critics say “yeah, he has size, but only average speed, blah, blah blah”?
And his 40 time at the combine was????
Come on Samardzija, dont make us look it up!
My guess would be 4.60 Only a guess.