They are almost the worst.
For years, Kyle Rudolph was one of the best.
Consequently, the marriage of Rodolfo and the Giants.
Of all the statistics, analysis and exploration of Rudolph’s efficiency for almost a decade, compared to the decline in the past two years, one number stands out above all others with the new Giants tight end. Of his 48 career touchdown receptions, 40 of them – 83.3% – took place in the red zone. This strength fits perfectly into the groove of the Giants’ most obvious weakness.
In 2020, the Giants ranked 31st in the NFL ranking in the red zone conversion rate, scoring touchdowns on just 46.3 percent of their trips within the opponent’s 20-yard line. Rudolph’s track record indicates that he will help increase the frequency of the Giants in the final zone, working together with Evan Engram.
“Just look at the red zone objectively,” said Rudolph on Wednesday after signing his contract. “The field is condensed, there are smaller windows, tighter bids, but I think one of the things that has helped me throughout my career has been to make contested footprints. You are not going to make a guy stay schematically open in the end zone, you don’t see that very often. From time to time you can, but most of the time the red zone score is a quick pass and requires the confidence of a defender. ”
Rudolph, six feet tall, has been a basketball player three times at all high school conferences in Cincinnati and believes his skill on the court is related to his NFL scoring feat.
“It really is no different than climbing up to grab a rebound from the glass,” he said.
Rudolph had six touchdown catches in 2019, but only one in 12 games last season. After an average of 63 receptions over a four-year period, Rudolph managed only 39 and 28 catches in the past two years. His attack snap count decreased with the arrival of Irv Smith as a tight end target, and decreased production, insists Rudolph, 31, is not an indication of diminished skill.
“With my role changing over the past two years, it wasn’t that I couldn’t run and catch balls anymore, I was just doing more of the blocking, ” said Rudolph. “I am extremely competitive and it forced me to go one of two ways. I could have complained about it or I could have considered it a challenge to improve this aspect of my game. ”