It has taken nearly half a season, but New York Giants fans are finally going to get a larger dose of the team’s most dynamic player — rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt.
Hyatt, a third-round pick out of Tennessee who once scored five touchdowns against Nick Saban’s Alabama defense and ran an unheard of 24 miles per hour in training camp, is about to be sprung loose by Giants’ offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.
Hyatt was an integral part of the Giants’ Week 2 comeback victory against the Arizona Cardinals, catching two passes for 89 yards in the game but then receded back to the bench and was targeted just twice in three lopsided losses to San Francisco, Seattle and Miami.
But then starting quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) was sidelined and backup Tyrod Taylor has taken over the past two weeks. He and Hyatt have formed a bit of a bond as Hyatt has been targeted nine times, catching five for a total of 96 yards.
The Giants have always believed they had something special in Hyatt as a deep threat. Their only concern was his readiness to play more snaps.
“I’d say he’s right on schedule, working every single day, looking to improve on all the little things that we talk about in our individual meetings, all the fundamentals, the techniques and getting more accustomed to the offense each week,” Kafka said this week. “You can see that growth.”
“Jalin’s doing a great job in his role, every week’s different. I’d say, Jalin’s had some good production downfield a little bit, so I think he’s finding a role. I think as the weeks go on and the season goes on, maybe it grows a little bit more from there, but he’s right on schedule.”
Hyatt is expected to pair with last year’s second-round pick, Wan’Dale Robinson, to form a duo that will have NFL defenses on high alert. Kafka would not speak to the turning of the page in the Giants’ wide receiver room, taking the high road as most coaches do.
“That whole receiver room is really pretty close, and they do a great job together bouncing ideas off each other and studying and prepping,” said Kakfa. “I think those two are really no different, they’re young guys trying to learn and grow together so I think if they form a nice little friendship — it’s a great leadership that we have in that room with some of those veteran guys, too, that kind of bring them together.”
Let’s face it. Speed kills and Hyatt and Robinson have it. The Giants’ offense is dead in the water right now. They are averaging 3.7 yards per rush and 9.3 yards per reception. It’s time to let the speed loose.
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