NY Giants rookies made Joe Schoen look brilliant in win over Ravens
By Reese Nasser
With the NY Giants continuing to shock the world, a lot of the success has of course been thanks to Saquon Barkley, Daniel Jones, Dexter Lawrence and other key veterans on the team. Well, how about the play of the youngsters?
The Giants invested heavily in multiple areas under general manager Joe Schoen in his first draft. Several of the players that they added were expected to contribute from Day 1. Fortunately for Schoen and the Giants, that has been the case.
During their win against the Ravens, the Giants rookie class helped seal the deal. After suffering a knee injury in Week 1, Wan’Dale Robinson made his return to the field in Week 6. While he was used sparingly, he managed to be effective when on the field.
He finished the day with three receptions for 37 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown on just four total targets.
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NY Giants rookies looked amazing vs. the Ravens
With issues still present in the Giants wide receiver room, Robinson could have a large role in this unit moving forward. He’s not the only first-year player who turned heads against Baltimore.
Tight end Daniel Bellinger once again made an impact on offense. He also proved to be a reliable pass-catching option for Jones. Bellinger finished the day with five receptions for 38 receiving yards and one touchdown. The TD came in the fourth quarter, with Jones living up to his Danny Dimes nickname.
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Bellinger was a fourth-round pick and some fans questioned the decision by Schoen. There’s nothing those doubters can say now, though, as Bellinger has been fantastic. Thus far this campaign, he’s posted 15 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns, while adding another score on the ground.
On the defensive side of the ball, rookie edge-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux managed to steal the spotlight. When the game mattered, it was Thibodeaux who made the defining play.
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While recording the first sack of his career, Thibodeaux also stripped the ball from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. This marks two weeks in a row where Thibodeaux has been responsible for helping impact the outcome of the game in the final moments.
Thibodeaux, the Giants No. 5 overall pick, has quickly adapted to the NFL. He finished Week 6 with three total tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
While it is still too early to tell, it appears that Schoen has helped correct the course of this Giants franchise in just one draft. Rookie right tackle Evan Neal has strung together solid performances as well, and both Dane Belton and Micah McFadden have earned their spots on the defense. If the class as a whole can continue to improve, the Giants could be headed toward a huge campaign.
