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New York Giants: Is it Time for Tom Coughlin to Change His Philosophy?

By Nikhil Potpally

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Does Tom Coughlin Need to Modernize His Approach?

Throughout the years, New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin has made it well known that in order for an unheralded offensive player to earn playing time, he has to first perform on special teams. This seems to be an outdated and stubborn approach to coaching young players, and sometimes, doesn’t seem to make sense in today’s NFL.

Nov 3, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Corey Washington (88) makes touchdown reception during the second half against Indianapolis Colts free safety Josh Gordy (27) at MetLife Stadium. Indianapolis Colts defeat the New York Giants 40-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

Corey Washington dazzled in the preseason last year, and looked to have a high ceiling as a wide receiver. However, even after Victor Cruz‘s season-ending injury, he did not see much of an increase in playing time on offense. Odell Beckham Jr.’s dominance played a role in this, but still, the Giants went out and signed Kevin Ogletree. Even veteran Preston Parker saw more playing time. Both Ogletree and Parker brought experience, but what exactly had either done over the past few years, in terms of production? As a fan, I would have liked to see a young receiver make a name for himself (similar to what Cruz did) rather than see an average veteran play.

More on Empire Writes Back: Training Camp Wide Receiver Preview

What’s the difference between Victor Cruz in 2010 and Corey Washington in 2014?

Cruz burst out on the scene in 2010 with a stellar preseason, but so did Washington last year. Finishing up with four key touchdowns, Washington was clearly the Giants’ best offensive weapon during the preseason. However, if he wanted playing time in the regular season, Washington was asked to contribute more on special teams first. I don’t recall Cruz being asked to do that.

Preseasons usually showcase the backup and reserve units of teams, so success there may not translate to NFL gameday success. It worked out well for Cruz though, as he played in five regular season games during his breakout 2010 before getting injured. In 2011, other wide receiver injuries forced Cruz into a bigger role, and he shined in the spotlight. A key cog in the Super Bowl run that year, Cruz took the opportunity and never looked back.

Jun 8, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) and New York Giants wide receiver Corey Washington (88) during organized team activities at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY

Opportunities are hard to come by nowadays for undrafted players, and usually result from significant injuries or urgent needs. Last season, their receiving corps struggled early on. Prior to Beckham’s emergence, Cruz was not really performing at a Pro-Bowl level, and Rueben Randle was too inconsistent.  Washington was on the depth chart, but was “snubbed” when Cruz tore his patellar tendon in Week 6.  This thrust Beckham into the primary receiver role where he excelled, but Washington did not receive his fair opportunity to compete. Preston Parker also became one of Eli Manning‘s go-to guys before he got injured. Certainly from a fan’s perspective, Washington looked like a more potent receiver than Parker.

Washington was occasionally called upon during the regular season, but only for a handful of plays on offense. In a Week 9 blowout, he totaled four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown. The game was already out of hand when he came in, but he still contributed against a (weak) Colts’ secondary.

At 6’4″, Washington has height similar to Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall. Utilizing this height could present a serious red zone threat for opposing defenses, especially with his ability to go up and get the ball. As we saw from Week 11’s Giants-49ers game, red zone touchdowns were a problem for this team. Teams will now double-team Beckham in goal-line scenarios, so it would be unrealistic to see him open every time the Giants are inside the 20-yard line.

Special teams is not designed for every pro football player. Blocking and returning require certain types of guys, and you can’t just stick any rookie out there, expecting production.

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The Giants still kept Washington on the active roster, and didn’t waive him. Had he been able to sign with another team, he probably would have seen more time on the field. However, the Giants were aware of his potential and kept him around. This year, I hope he sees more playing time on offense. Having a tall receiver to complement Beckham and Cruz could cause serious problems for opposing defenses, and the undrafted-to-superstar story always is great to watch.

Now that training camp is officially underway, Giants fans hope that Washington earns his fair shot in contributing to the offense. In what already looks like a dynamic receiving corps, the emergence of yet another playmaker would be icing on the cake.

We’re not there out on the practice field, so we can’t see what the coaches see daily. What we do see, however, is the reigning NFL.com Preseason MVP. 10 catches for 155 yards and 4 TDs should carry some weight, even if it was during preseason games.

I’m not saying that Washington should automatically be the No. 3 receiver on the depth chart based solely on last year’s preseason. I’m only saying that he deserves an opportunity to show us his talent, without having to perform on special teams. Now that the Giants signed both Dwayne Harris and James Jones, Washington will have even more competition to remain on the roster. Personally, I’d much rather see Harris and Jones impacting the specials while Washington catches touchdowns, as opposed to the other way around.

Once September hits and the games matter, we’ll see whether coach Coughlin has modernized his long-standing philosophy. Will he give Washington his chance on offense? Will we see another unknown player emerge?

Stay tuned.

Next: 5 things that could keep the Giants out of the playoffs

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