Letters to the Editor: November 18, 2012
I am getting a bit weary of the rhetoric offered by writers and columnists on David Wilson. One of three things is true:
1. The Giants made a poor choice in selecting him number one.
If they knew so clearly that he was a small, one-dimensional back, it was a terrible decision to use a top pick on him. Usually, competent running backs ( who can block and catch ) are available in much lower slots. Only exceptional talents at running back should demand a number one pick.
2. The coaches are not inventive enough to know how to use him.
Running back kick-offs is bound to get him injured, for starters. Also, what has he shown except an ability to get to the 23 yard line? Everyone says, ” he is one step away from taking it all the way.” So am I. He isn’t close.
If all he can do is run, why don’t the Giants try what the old Green Bay Packers used to do; “Student body right,” and see if you can stop us. They had Jim Taylor blocking for Paul Hornung (not nearly as fast as Wilson) and no one could stop them. Once in a while, Bart Starr would go play action off of that success and the receiver would be wide open.
The Giants bring in Wilson for one run, usually without Hynoski, and then remove him after that fails. Why not try a constant pounding mano vs. mano like that. My guess is that Wilson will spot creases and break off big runs. But he won’t do it on a telegraphed, “bubble screen,” or any of the one and done plays they are giving him.
3. Wilson is limited and will never be anything more than a third down back. If we are lucky, reminds maybe Wilson can be a bit like Dave Meggett. We missed out on so many impact Offensive linemen and first rate defenders that it seems idiotic to have drafted a known,” limited and long-term project,” in round one ( not to mention round 4 ).
Ted, this reminds me of all the crying people were doing when Eli Manning was a rookie, or when Tom Coughlin was hired and the naysayers were out in full force saying the Giants wouldn’t be successful with him.
It all wears thin after a while, and as I said back then about Eli and TC – and proved to be correct, I might add – I’m going to say the same thing about Wilson: HAVE PATIENCE.
My responses to your points, in order:
1. I think you need to STOP comparing Wilson to Doug Martin, who came from a Pro-Style offense that asked him to pass block where Wilson came from an offense where all he had to do was run the ball, and look at all the facts here. Pass blocking takes time to develop – it took Tiki, Jacobs, Bradshaw, and Ward WEEKS before they learned to pass block. Why does the fact that it’s taking Wilson as long to pass block surprise you given the type of college offense he played in? Pass blocking is not as easy as you think – I’ve asked about the complexities invovled and I have a pretty good idea where Wilson is having his issues. Do you really want to put a kid back there who will get no help pass blocking and put Manning at risk?
2. If you put Wilson on the field now when it’s widely known he can’t pass block, you might as well broadcast on the scoreboard what you’re doing as it’s one of two options – he either runs or he’s a decoy. And if he’s a decoy, it’s like having 10 guys out there on offense.
3. Wilson is not limited for the long-term, and for anyone to make that conclusion after just one season, well, it’s a head scratcher.
You want to harp on what appears to be a missed draft pick, look at Jerrel Jernigan. He’s so deep on the depth chart that he can’t even get a game day uniform. Rueben Randle appears to be the future both at returner and at third receiver, both roles that Jernigan was believed to be eyed for. So there’s an example of a wasted pick after just two years.
At least Wilson is contributing in his rookie year (and to say putting him on kickoffs is a recipe for getting him hurt is foolish – anytime a player steps on the field, no ,matter what his role, he’s at risk of getting hurt – just look at all the guys the team has right now who have knees, feet, concussions, etc., who were NOT kickoff returners).
One last point about Doug Martin, since I know he’s at the root of all this. Martin is a rookie playing for a rookie head coach. Coming into this season, there was absolutely NO NFL LEVEL FILM on him or the Bucs’ tendencies as far as how they use him.
Give opposing teams a full off-season to scout and draw up plans to stop him and I’d be surprised if he posts similar numbers next year. So again PATIENCE is the word of the day.
I know the losing stinks, I know the Giants run game has been inconsistent, but sunny skies are ahead. And to sit here and say “woulda, coulda, shoulda” is pointless, Ted. Instead of wondering “what if?” wonder “what next?”
