New York Giants: Addition of Shane Vereen a big positive
By Ryan Disdier
The New York Giants entered the start of free agency in dire need of a versatile, change-of-pace running back, and they found their guy.
According to numerous outlets, Shane Vereen has officially signed with the Giants. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News writes that Vereen’s deal is for four years and “could be worth more than $16 million total.”
It was reported Monday by many outlets that the Giants had ‘significant interest’ in the all-purpose back. And after losing out on Devin McCourty, Ndamukong Suh and even Brandon Graham, the Giants have finally made a splash in free agency.
I had mentioned Vereen as a free-agent target this offseason and he adds another dimension to the Giants offense. Vereen should thrive in the West Coast system, and the man who’s been called this generation’s Kevin Faulk is now part of an offense that already boasts a plethora of talent.
It’s hard to dislike this move. The Giants needed a versatile back and they landed one of the best on the open market.
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Last June, the Giants had Rashad Jennings, David Wilson and Andre Williams and thought they had a great, versatile group. Wilson would end up having to leave the game of football, so the Giants started the year with two bruising running backs.
While sufficient on the ground, the dyad wasn’t much of a threat in the passing game. Jennings – when healthy – isn’t a great receiver, and neither is Williams – who had zero receptions during his senior year at Boston College. While he caught the ball better than most people expected with the Giants, he was a complete liability in the passing game.
The team started using Orleans Darkwa on passing downs when Jennings was hurt, but Darkwa likely wasn’t going to be a huge part of the rotation once the season started, with or without Vereen.
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen (34) makes a one handed catch in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Vereen (5’10”, 205 pounds) is not exactly as big as a Jennings or Williams but he’s faster than both players and his pass-catching ability has been well documented.
Throughout his career with the Patriots, Vereen was sprinkled in and made often made a big impact in the passing game. New England utilized Vereen all over the field, as he played in the backfield, outside and in the slot.
What makes him so unique and so dangerous is that when he lines up outside or in the slot, he’s essentially another receiver because of his crisp route running and soft hands. He’s usually faster than the linebackers covering him, so when he runs to the flat out of the backfield, it’s almost always a completion.
In Super Bowl XLIX, Vereen was a huge part of the offense, catching numerous third-down passes to keep drives alive. In fact, Bobby Wagner –one of the most athletic linebackers in the NFL – struggled while covering Vereen.
On New England’s final drive of the night, Vereen had four receptions – including a beautiful one-handed snag — and one rush for seven yards. Vereen finished the game with 11 receptions for 64 yards and four rushes for 13 yards.
One stat that won’t show up in a box score is Vereen’s pass-blocking ability, something head coach Tom Coughlin loves to see from his backs.
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Against the Buffalo Bills in Week 17, it looked like Vereen was going to help Nate Solder double-team Spencer Johnson. But Vereen saw a Buffalo linebacker rushing through the B-gap, changed his direction and put a cut block on the rusher. It wasn’t the prettiest block, but it prevented Tom Brady from getting sacked, and it showed how intelligent of a player Vereen is.
Similar to New England, the Giants operate a lot out of the shotgun. Vereen will likely be targeted a lot. However, unlike dealing with Jennings and Williams as receivers, teams will have to seriously account for Vereen as a receiver.
Another huge positive about this signing is the long-term effects. Vereen, 26, will be an excellent compliment to Williams’ bulldozer-like running style for years to come. Furthermore, with running back seemingly addressed with the addition of Vereen, the Giants can target other positions in the draft.
The trio of Jennings, Williams and Vereen isn’t quite the same as “Earth, Wind and Fire,” but the unit should be ready to play once the season begins.