Over the past decade, the NFL has seen the role of receiving tight ends expand into something special. The successful teams usually have a go-to tight end that they can call on to both bail them out in the short passing game or even lead the charge in the passing game.
The New York Giants lost Darren Waller to retirement this past offseason but believe they had a productive tandem in Daniel Bellinger and rookie Theo Johnson.
Through two games, however, neither has distinguished themself and it may not be their fault. The offensive game plan is simply bypassing them in favor of the wide receivers and running backs.
Johnson, who many have earmarked for stardom, has been targeted just four times, catching one pass for 18 yards. Bellinger caught his only target for a three-yard gain.
“The tight ends are doing a great job,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said on Thursday. “Coach (Tim) Kelly, (Angela Baker), they do an awesome job getting those guys prepared. And of course, we have them involved in the run game. We have them involved in the pass game. Just as the game, the flow of the game goes, it goes in a direction or not. And if we have to transition that, then we will.”
Head coach Brian Daboll is the one actually calling the plays, though. Earlier this week he was asked about the tight end usage in Sunday’s loss in Washington.
“I think the tight ends were involved,” he said. “They were involved in protection and allowing us to throw the ball 20, 25 yards down the field or deep comebacks or go’s or posts. So, everybody has a role to do. That depends on the game and the team we’re playing. And when their number is called, I expect them to go out there and make it. Whatever that may be, whether it’s blocking, pass blocking, run blocking. It takes all 11.”
The addition of rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has put a dent in everyone’s targets. Of the Giants’ 65 passing targets so far, 25 of them have gone Nabers’ way.
Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson is next with 16 and no other player has more than eight targets this season. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who many experts predicted a huge breakout season from, has had just one pass thrown his way, which fell incomplete.
