Giants going with youth movement at wide receiver

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — The game was on the line last Sunday and the New York Giants had receivers Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson grouped together on the near side of the field. In total, they have 16 career matches under their belt.

This did not prevent coach Brian Daboll from placing the two youngsters under high pressure. Hyatt rewarded that confidence by leaping forward for a first down while getting hit in the numbers by Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard on fourth-and-5 with 22 seconds left.

It was certainly the biggest play of Hyatt’s professional career, even though his team ultimately lost a yard. Biletnikoff’s winner was the Tennessee Giants’ third-round pick in April.

“Those are the moments where you gain confidence,” Hyatt said this week. “Those are the moments when your coaches gain confidence in you. I made the most of them.”

That’s what he was in the game for. It’s clear the Giants are turning to their young receivers after bringing them in slowly early in the season. The youth movement is in full force.

Hyatt played a game-high 55 snaps in the 14-9 loss to the Bills. Sophomore receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who suffered a torn ACL in his right knee as a rookie, played more than 40 snaps for the third straight game.

That’s unlikely to change this Sunday against the Washington Commanders — or at any time.

“Yeah, they’re young. They’re young, so you have to play them to develop them too,” Daboll said. “I would say Hyatt made a heck of a catch in the fourth quarter on that cut, keeping the ball. … Again, the more reps they have, the more experience they’ll get, more developed they’ll get. Wan ‘Dale is obviously still working his way back.

“But there are two very young players in this league. At this position, you have to play some to gain experience and develop.”

Robinson had eight catches on eight targets for 62 yards against the Bills. Hyatt had three catches on four targets for 21 yards. It would have been even better if his 43-yard reception hadn’t been negated by a very questionable illegal man penalty on the field.

With the offense falling apart early in the season, the wide receiver rotation the Giants used in Buffalo is likely to continue. These were Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins in two-wide receiver sets and Slayton-Hyatt-Robinson in most formations with three wides on the field.

That leaves veterans Parris Campbell and Sterling Shepard on the outside looking in. After playing at least 15 offensive snaps in the first five weeks of the season, Campbell did not take the field for an offensive play on Sunday. Shepard, the longest-tenured Giant, got a play where he was used as a run blocker.

“It’s out of my control,” Shepard said of how he’s handling his new role. “So why waste my energy [worrying]”.

The Giants could rely on a youth movement, even though they are only seven weeks into their long season. Or try to instill in young people a latent offense.

Shepard, who has started 72 games in his career, understands the concept of getting young receivers on the field.

“The only way to take your game to a whole new level is to get that experience,” he said.

It’s not like Robinson and Hyatt haven’t produced when given the chance this season. They have two of the highest catch rates on the team this season: Robinson 88.0%, Hyatt 77.8%.

The problem for Hyatt has been getting targets. He has only been targeted on 7.5% of his 120 routes taken this season. He didn’t even have a ball thrown his way in losses to the Dolphins or 49ers.

This is part of the learning curve. Hyatt needs to find ways to get involved more and the Giants need to find ways to get him the ball.

“I mean, you’re a rookie. It’s a tough position to play, receiver,” Daboll said. “I coached him for six years. Not many rookie receivers played right away. [Ex-Patriots wide receiver] Deion Branch comes to mind as one of them. But it’s a learning experience when you’re a young receiver. There’s a lot of different things going on that maybe didn’t happen to him in college, whether it’s media coverage, some adjustments, things like that, and that happens for the most part.

“The position, when I was coaching receivers, it takes a little time for the younger players. Again, he’s a kid that’s still learning and he’ll have opportunities.”

The modified rotation is not something Daboll has specifically addressed with the wide receiver room. Instead, change happened organically.

Hyatt and Robinson know it’s their time.

“It doesn’t change anything for me,” Hyatt said. “I’m going to continue to do what I do throughout the week, make plays, be consistent. You know, whenever the opportunity presents itself, take advantage of it. That’s how you succeed in this league, so that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

Hyatt’s big-play ability could come in handy against Washington.

The Giants will take anything that helps them get into the end zone. They haven’t been able to do that on offense in over three games, a total of 205 minutes. This is the first time since 1976 that they have gone this long without a touchdown.

“[205] minutes? Dang,” running back Saquon Barkley said.

“It’s simple. It’s simple. I didn’t know that was the case. [205] minutes, but it’s simple,” Barkley said. “We’re not executing, we’re not doing what we need to do.”

The idea is that Hyatt and Robinson can help you.