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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And I thought Reese would go after Barden. Just because of his size, and Eli having a comfort zone with tall WR’s. He was a perfect fit. Also, he is not a bean pole. Kid is pretty cut up. He’s a physical player. The main knock was that he was a man among boy’s. Well, almost every big time player looks like that when he’s playing. However, all are not able to carry that on into the big’s.
I think it is taking him longer to adjust because he is no longer able to physically punish DB’s. The tables may well have turned. I think it’s pretty clear he will catch the ball and make plays on the outside and in the end zone.
He just had to learn how to get open without simply out musceling defenders.
He is now in effect a boy among men. Adjustment was required. I figure he get’s a long look this pre-season.
Barden ran a 4.57 I believe…that is off the top of my head though.
Pretty fast for a guy his size.
Let’s look at this logically.
First off… the top 3 WR slots are set. Nicks, Smith, Manningham. So we’re talking at best the 4th WR… at best.
Secondly… the competition for snaps at #4 WR includes not only Barden… but Hixon and Beckum too.
Thirdly… the Giants have shown absolutely no tendency to experiment with mismatches.
Conclusion… Hixon is the more pure WR… ergo he gets the bulk of the snaps. B&B scramble for scraps. And yes… it’s stupid.
Tom Coughlin and Kevin Gilbride
Abbott and Costello
Laurel and Hardy
Burns and Allen
Lewis and Martin
Hope and Crosby
such great comedy teams
slpstick at its best
Should Barden have a good year I will think to myself: Why didn’t he play last year and why aren’t the six rookies drafted to help the defense playing this year. And that perhaps is one of my biggest concerns after the effectiveness of the running game. Will Coughlin play this year’s rookies? Hopefully, Ferrell will play the best members of his team and not hold back on the new guys.
UPDATE UP TOP
Based strictly upon memory, so perhaps not to be relied upon, I believe I heard that Barden’s 40-time was about a tenth of a second slower than Plax’s when he was at the Combine. That’s enough to matter, but you have to remember that Plax is a complete physical freak. You can’t replace him. He’s simply more physically gifted than anyone his size has a right to be. But Barden could make up that gap with savvy and a work ethic. He’s also apparently far brighter and more responsible than the recently-departed Mr. Burress.
We’re not talking about a guy who will be one of our front-line receivers, at least for now. The question is whether he can get on the field, and if he does whether he should be able to make plays. I believe the answer to both questions is “yes”. I continue to say that the guy to compare Barden to is not really Burress, because frankly he’s almost incomparable, but Harold Carmichael, who had a great career with the Eagles and wasn’t, I believe, as fast as Barden.