As the Giants take stock of the team over the bye week, now’s a good time for Giants.com to do the same. Here is a breakdown of the rookies’ performances so far, beginning with the 2016 Draft Class:
CB ELI APPLE
Draft Rd 1 (10)
At the bye: 5 GP, 1 GS, 15 TACK, 1 FF, 3 PD
Drafted 10th overall out of Ohio State, Apple immediately stepped into a prominent role alongside veteran cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins. But after having 11 tackles and a pass breakup in back-to-back wins to start the season, the rookie suffered a hamstring against Washington in Week 3 and went on to miss the next game at Minnesota. He returned only to leave with a groin injury at Green Bay and again missed the following week against Baltimore. The former Buckeye hopes that’s all behind him as he not only traveled to London, but also got the start. On a four-interception day for the defense, Apple recorded three tackles, broke up a pass and forced a fumble in the victory over the Rams.
“We certainly don't want to set him back like with what happened last time,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said before the London trip. “He came off the hamstring, and then it set him back with the groin, so we don't want that to happen. We'll have to be smart about it.”
WR STERLING SHEPARD
Draft Rd 2 (40)
At the bye: 7 GP, 7 GS, 31 REC, 334 YDS (10.8 AVG), 2 TD
The second-round pick raced out to 16 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games, including a nine-yard score in his debut at Dallas. Meanwhile, Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, and Shepard became the most productive wide receiver trio in the NFL through the first month of the season. Since then, the passing game has struggled to find consistency while Shepard has 15 receptions for 101 yards in the last four games. But the veteran Cruz still believes this could be the best receiving corps he’s ever been around.
“I was part of one that won a Super Bowl, but I think that right now we definitely have the talent to do so,” Cruz said. “Sterling Shepard is a tremendously talented wide receiver, as well as Odell Beckham and I think obviously on paper right now we definitely have all the intangibles to make it there, but we just have to take it one week at a time. But I do believe that this receiving corps is a pretty good bunch.”
SAFETY DARIAN THOMPSON
Draft Rd 3 (71)
At the bye: 2 GP, 1 GS, 7 TACK
Thompson was the talk of spring workouts as well as training camp after impressing coaches with his ability to bark out orders in the secondary. The third-round pick out of Boise State started opposite Landon Collins from Day 1, but a foot injury stalled his progress and sidelined him for the last five weeks. The safety depth took another hit as Nat Berhe has dealt with a concussion, forcing undrafted rookie Andrew Adams to step up. More on him later.
“I'm looking forward to getting everybody back [after the bye],” coach Ben McAdoo said. “I'd love to hit the practice field and have the full team practicing. I think that's certainly a possibility.”
LB B.J. GOODSON
Draft Rd 4 (109)
At the bye: 6 GP
Like he did at Clemson, Goodson is waiting his turn behind a veteran group of linebackers that includes defensive captain Jonathan Casillas (eight years in the NFL), Kelvin Sheppard (six), Keenan Robinson (five), Devon Kennard (three), and Mark Herzlich (six). Once he does get his shot, the Giants hope he can replicate what he did with the Tigers. In his first season as a full-time starter, Goodson led Clemson in tackles as the team went on to an undefeated regular season.
“You see B.J. getting better each week,” linebackers coach Bill McGovern said earlier in the season. “He's gaining confidence. Obviously, like any rookie coming in, when you get out on the field and you start playing with these guys, at first it could be a little bit intimidating, which he never backed away from and has always been good with. But, also now getting out on the field in actual game time where he's been playing on special teams and everything else, I think it's only helping his confidence that he is getting better with practice, with time.”
RB PAUL PERKINS
Draft Rd 5 (149)
At the bye: 5 GP, 10 ATT, 39 YDS (3.9 AVG); 6 REC, 105 YDS (17.5 AVG)
The fifth-rounder out of UCLA will be an intriguing player to watch in the second half of the season as the Giants evaluate their rushing woes over the bye week. Before the break, McAdoo was asked if he would like to get Perkins more involved in the mix at running back. He responded, “Paul is a young player. He's turned into a good special teamer for us. We look forward to him growing as a runner as well.” And don’t forget about his playmaking ability as a receiver out of the backfield. In Week 4 at Minnesota, Perkins had a catch-and-run for 67 yards, the Giants’ longest reception until Beckham’s 75-yard touchdown against Baltimore.
TE JERELL ADAMS
Draft Rd 6 (184)
At the bye: 5 GP, 3 REC, 32 YDS (10.7 AVG)
Similar to Perkins, Adams could be in line for more action down the stretch while fellow tight ends Larry Donnell and Will Tye have combined for 33 receptions and 241 yards through seven weeks.
“We are confident in the players that we have at that spot,” McAdoo said. “We are going roll Jerell and Tye in there some more with Larry and let those guys compete and whoever is playing the best is who we will go with.”
WR ROGER LEWIS
Undrafted
At the bye: 4 GP, 2 REC, 31 YDS (15.5 AVG), 1 TD
The Bowling Green product’s biggest moment came against Baltimore in Week 6 when he was forced into action after Beckham temporarily went down with a hip pointer. With the two-time Pro Bowler getting medical attention in the locker room, Lewis sparked the Giants with a 24-yard touchdown late in the first half.
“Good to get Roger [involved],” Manning said. “He’s been doing a good job; he did some good things at training camp and early on. He’s kind of waited for his opportunity to get in there.”
SAFETY ANDREW ADAMS
Undrafted
At the bye: 5 GP, 4 GS, 20 TACK, 2 PD, 1 QBH
With Thompson and Berhe out, the undrafted free agent from the University of Connecticut has started the last four weeks. In that span, the Giants have allowed an average of 20 points per game while opposing quarterbacks have a completion percentage of 58.8 and a passer rating of 70.3.
“Andrew's been solid,” Spagnuolo said. “He has made some normal rookie mistakes. They show up in the game, but if those mistakes as a safety can be ones that don't kill us in the football game, we can survive them. He had to step in there going from practice squad, not getting a lot of reps, having to be thrown in the fire right away. I think he's done an admirable job, really.”
DE ROMEO OKWARA
Undrafted
At the bye: 7 GP, 3 TACK, 1 QBH
As the Giants look for more in their rotation behind Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon, Okwara has seen his snap counts increase. The Notre Dame product has also made an impact on special teams and blocked a punt in Week 3 against Washington. However, it was nullified by a personal foul on Andrew Adams.
“I think that since we got him, in the spring, he has been working really hard to get the playbook down and he has been out there almost every day,” defensive line coach Patrick Graham said. “And he has just been steadily improving his technique both against the run and the pass and any playing time he got on Sunday, he earned it and he was productive in his role. So as long as he keeps doing that, we will be OK."
via Giants.com.
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