Giants Country

TE Chris Manhertz: The Good, the Great, and the Ugly

Coach Gene Clemons takes a look at TE Chris Manhertz's film.

Gene Clemons

Nov 13, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Chris Manhertz (84)
Nov 13, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Chris Manhertz (84) / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

One of the New York Giants recent signings at tight end is former Denver Broncos veteran end Chris Manhertz. He is another run-blocking tight end in New York to improve the play from that position in the run game.

Jack Stoll is another run-blocking tight end who was signed this offseason, and both of them will compete as the primary tight end to handle most of the run-blocking duties. Manhertz is a physical tight end who is effective at the point of attack and on the backside of the play.

Although he is not a receiving threat, he represents a big upgrade in run blocking, which was an issue for the team. It's not a sexy signing but an extremely practical one. Let's look at the good, the great, and the ugly of the New York signee. 

The Good: Cutoff Blocking

Manhertz has been great over the years, working on the weak side and cutting off defenders. He is good at getting his outside hand to the inside of the defender and keeping him from chasing flat down the line of scrimmage.

He climbs to the second level and chases the weak side defenders prepared for the cutback, or he can intercept a defender as they chase. When he crosses backside on the split zone, he makes defenders go around him, or he can take them out completely. In this clip, you can see him working on the backside as a cutoff blocker.

He works at the first two levels to keep defenders from pursuing the ball. You can also see how he positions himself to stay between the defender and his runner in the clip below.

The Great: Heavy Hands and Strong Punch

Heavy-handed run blockers are difficult for defenders to handle. Manhertz has a strong punch with long arms that neutralizes the initial forward movement of a defender. This is extremely useful on base blocks because, many times, all a running back needs is a second to get to and through the hole.

It is also perfect for combo blocks because he can punch one defender to help a teammate and then work with another defender. He routinely collects multiple defenders in a play. He's also good out in space as he climbs to the second level or pulls because he only needs an initial contact to stop a linebacker's or defensive back's momentum.

In this series of plays, you see that Manhertz has defenders handled on the front side of the play. You can see his base blocking and punching defenders at the second level and on double teams before transitioning to another defender. 

The Ugly: Pass Receiving

Manhertz has been in the NFL for eight years and has suited up for four teams. He played 120 games over that time, and he only had 26 receptions in those games. He's only been targeted 40 times.

Nobody believes that he's a legitimate pass receiver. He does not possess the long speed to stretch the field. He does not have the wiggle to get in and out of breaks, which makes defenders miss.

He has a limited route tree, and his hands are questionable. This clip represents all of the targets he had in 2024. You can see that he is not asked to run any complicated routes, and he does not seem to be able to make something extra happen after the catch. 

Coach’s Counsel

If Darren Waller is back for 2024, Manhertz and Jack Stoll will battle it out for the third tight-end position. If Waller decides to hang it up, both could be filled in as TE2 and TE3, with Daniel Bellinger as the new top tight end.

Manhertz should be used more on the strong side of plays, where his force can be exploited the most. He has power and a frame that allows him to operate as a primary run blocker. Signings like Manhertz go under the radar but could yield dividends. A position of need for the tight ends has a chance to improve in its most critical area: run blocking. 

Published
Gene Clemons

GENE CLEMONS

Gene "Coach" Clemons has been involved with the game of football for 30 years as a player, coach, evaluator, and journalist.  Clemons has spent time writing for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Bridgton News, Urbana Daily Citizen, Macon Telegraph and footballgameplan.com.  He has a YouTube channel called "Coach Gene Clemons" where you can find his popular "X&O The Joes" series as well as other football related content.