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The Giants are about to see what a real unicorn looks like.
Nine years ago, the Giants had Martellus Bennett, a tight end who likened himself to a “Black Unicorn.”
But Falcons rookie tight end Kyle Pitts? He is often called a “unicorn” by NFL talent evaluators because of his one-of-a-kind package of speed, strength, jumping and other receiver skills in a tight end’s body.
“If you go back and watch his college tape it becomes really scary,” Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said, “because all those cornerbacks that get drafted in the first round, that’s who all those teams in the SEC had covering him.”
Five of the first 44 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft were SEC cornerbacks.
So, what can the Giants do? Put struggling Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry on the 6-foot-6, 246-pound Pitts instead of on top receiver Calvin Ridley? Give up a huge size advantage with No. 2 cornerback Adoree’ Jackson? Ask safety Jabrill Peppers or slot cornerback Darnay Holmes — both of whom have been benched in the past for blown coverages — to try it? The best bet might be altering the usual responsibilities given to safeties Logan Ryan or Xavier McKinney.
“He was like the most highly touted draft pick I ever heard of coming out in a long time,” said Ryan, who battled against Falcons coach Arthur Smith when they were with the Titans as defensive back and offensive coordinator. “Art knows how to scheme up his guys to get him the ball.”
Tight ends never seem to have a difficult time getting the ball against the Giants. It’s a tale as old as time — or at least as old as a 7-year-old.
An Antrel Rolle-led secondary finished No. 25 defending tight ends, per Football Outsiders, in 2014. A Landon Collins-led secondary allowed 1,062 yards to tight ends in 2016 and 13 touchdowns to tight ends in 2017, including a stretch of 10 straight games with a touchdown catch by a tight end.
Now, in Year 2 under Graham, a familiar problem is rearing its head at the worst possible time.
“A big-body tight end is always good for an offense,” Peppers said. “Quarterback’s security blanket, a big target in the red zone.”
The Giants allowed 80 catches for 866 yards and four touchdowns to tight ends last season, but the early 2021 numbers are alarming. The Denver and Washington tight ends have a combined 16 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns through two games.
That’s the Pitts.
The Giants listed WR Kenny Golladay (hip), TE Evan Engram (calf) and special teams ace Nate Ebner (quad) as questionable on the injury report.
Golladay missed the final nine games of last season with a hip injury.
“We went through the whole hip thing [before signing him] in free agency,” head coach Joe Judge said. “I don’t think it’s anything tied to that.”
Peppers, the emotional leader of the Giants defense, was solemn Friday as he addressed reporters.
Read into it what you will about the mood of the team after an 0-2 start feeding into a 18-48 five-year run.
His message boiled down to this: The Giants need to get better every week. It’s the truth, at least.
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