New York Giants: Beckham, Shepard May Develop Into NFL’s Best Duo
By John Laird
The New York Giants already had a deadly aerial attack with Odell Beckham Jr. running routes for Eli Manning, but with rookie Sterling Shepard in the fold, we take a look at just why the young wide receiver combination may develop into one of the league’s best.
When the Giants selected LSU pass catcher Odell Beckham Jr. in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, not many fans knew what to expect. He started his professional football career with a hamstring injury that kept him out of training camp, preseason, and a few regular season games. Little did New York fans know what was to come when ‘OBJ’ was set to step onto the field.
Related Story: Prediction for the 2016 DPOY
In his debut NFL season, the 5’11” route runner put up insane numbers despite missing the first four games, catching 91 balls for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was the first rookie in NFL history with four consecutive games with at least 130 yards receiving. On top of that he broke multiple Giants’ franchise rookie receiving records, to go along with being the only player in NFL history to eclipse 1,000 yards while missing at least the first three games.
Beckham followed his astonishing rookie year up with a just-as-impressive sophomore campaign, racking up 96 catches for 1,400 yards and 13 scores. By now, Giants fans know what to expect out of Beckham, which is to be one of the best in the game. What they don’t know is what Shepard is capable of bringing to this already deadly passing attack.
During his last season catching passes for the Sooners, Sterling Shepard was able to reel in 86 balls for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns. The production is there, and so is the work ethic, as the 5’10” receiver won ‘Practice Player of the Week’ during Senior Bowl practices in Alabama.
Shepard, who was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, runs the best routes in this draft class, with silky-smooth athletic ability and a solid pair of hands, you can’t help but compare the Oklahoma product to Odell, and now they’re teammates. Playing next to one of the best receivers in the game with a similar skill set has the arrow pointing up for the incoming rookie.
With ‘OBJ’ gaining most of the defense’s attention, it will only open the game up for Sterling Sherpard, who as the skill set to win one on one match-ups with ease. Shepard’s the kind of player you can throw a slant, hitch, or drag to and get a jaw dropping play out of, just like his pass catching counter-part.
A new, explosive weapon is exactly what this team needed, and it’s been delivered.
With Ben McAdoo now calling the shots for the Big Blue, I expect him to fully let Eli Manning play to his abilities, instead of forcing him into uncomfortable situations that produced multiple 20 interception seasons that we’ve seen from the two time Super Bowl winning signal caller. A change like that could be huge for Manning, and can finally get this offense to lead this team back into the deep stages of the play-offs.
More nfl spin zone: Predicting the Top Rookie Pass Catchers
Although Victor Cruz is retuning from injury, I still expect to see Shepard earn the No.2 job, pushing Cruz into the slot. Those three wide receivers could form into the league’s most efficient passing attack, with established veteran Eli Manning running the show. In the end, don’t be surprised within a few years you hear discussions about the ‘OBJ’ and Shepard duo being the most prolific in the NFL.