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On the week off, wide receiver Darius Slayton was eagerly awaiting a solid finish and was looking for a specific area for improvement.
“We made explosive plays here and there,” Slayton said. “I think we could probably do a little better job in that regard. ”
The Giants aren’t an explosive team and Slayton, one of their most explosive players, has drifted out of the spotlight. After a breakthrough that opened his second season in the NFL, Slayton is going through a rough patch as the Giants win, but he rarely joins in the fun, production-wise.
“We call our offense based on what gives us the best chance of winning and there have been cases where Slayton has been open and there are other guys open as well, so we go to other guys,” said receiver coach Tyke Tolbert. said. “It’s not like we’re not trying to give him the ball. I know it looks like on the outside, but no. Slayton is a very important part of our passing attack. ”
In the first five games, Slayton averaged eight targets, 4.6 receptions and 73 yards per game. He had a first season of six catches, 102 yards, two touchdowns against the Steelers, and an eight catch, 129 yard outing in Week 5 in Dallas. Since then, the drop in production has been striking. Over the past six games, Slayton has averaged 4.3 targets, 2.5 receptions and 36.5 yards per game. He hit rock bottom in last week’s 19-17 win at Cincinnati. Slayton has only been targeted twice and failed to catch a pass, on the court for 56 of 81 offensive games.
“He rolled his ankle a bit or something, but he came home,” Tolbert said. “I took him out a few times because it seemed like it bothered him a bit, nothing upsetting. No, that does not limit it in any form, form or fashion. ”
This week, he missed time in practice with shoulder and foot issues, but he has no injury designation, which means he will play Sunday against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Asked how he treats players who are going through what Slayton is going through, Tolbert replied, “Very carefully.” This is where an assistant coach takes on the additional role of an amateur psychologist.
“All the receivers feel like they’re always open and they want all the targets and all the catches and all the touchdowns and when they don’t get it some people it affects some people more than others.” , said Tolbert.
“With most of the receivers I’ve coached, and those guys included, when you win it heals everything. When you’re not having great success it can affect some guys. It didn’t affect Slay to the point where it affected other guys I’ve coached. ”
It remains to be seen whether Colt McCoy, who is expected to start at the quarterback in place of Daniel Jones (hamstring strained), will be able to pass the ball deep to Slayton. The Seahawks are the last in the NFL in passing defense, allowing 328.8 yards per game.
Slayton last week, led by Bengals cornerback Willie Jackson, stumbled a bit after a touchdown from Jackson and was open for what should have been a 74-yard touchdown nonetheless. Jones put a lot of air under the ball and it fell inches out of Slayton’s reach.
Should Slayton have folded and dived for the ball?
“He could,” Tolbert said. “Some guys are more comfortable running through the ball, some are stretching. Slayton is obviously an avid type of guy because he has really good speed. I think the little contact he had with the turn halfway up the road bothered him a bit. ”
Slayton is thrown too often to be suitable for the Giants’ offense.
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