They are almost the worst.
For years, Kyle Rudolph has been one of the best.
Hence the marriage of Rudolph and the Giants.
Of all the statistics, analysis, and exploration of Rudolph’s efficiency for nearly a decade, compared to a decline over the past two years, one number stands out above all others with the new Giants end. Of their 48 professional touchdown recipes, 40 of them (83.3%) have reached the red zone. This strength fits perfectly into the Giants ’most glaring weakness slot.
In 2020, the Giants had the NFL’s 31st offense in the red zone conversion rate, achieving touchdowns on just 46.3 percent of their trips to the opponents ’20-yard line. Rudolph’s trajectory indicates that he will help increase the frequency the Giants reach in the end zone, working in tandem with Evan Engram.
“You just have to look at the red zone objectively,” Rudolph said Wednesday after signing his contract. “The field is condensed, there are smaller windows, tighter shots, but I think one of the things that has helped me throughout my career is to make answered catches. You won’t get a guy to open schematically in the end zone, you don’t see it very often. From time to time it is possible, but most of the time the red zone score is bang-bang and requires the confidence of a quarterback. “
Rudolph, 6 feet 6, was a three-conference basketball player in Cincinnati High School and believes his ability on the court relates to his ability to score in the NFL.
“It’s really no different than going up to retrieve the glass,” he said.
Rudolph had six touchdown catches in 2019, but only one in 12 games last season. After averaging 63 receptions in a four-year period, Rudolph has managed only 39 and 28 catches in the last two years. His instant countdown on offense declined with the arrival of Ir Smith as the ultimate goal, and declining production, insists Rudolph, 31, is not an indication of diminished capacity.
“With my role changing over the last two years, it wasn’t that I couldn’t run and catch balls, I was just doing more blocking things,” Rudolph said. “I am extremely competitive and it forced me to follow one of the two paths. I could have complained about that or I could have taken it as a challenge to improve this aspect of my game. “