Hakeem Nicks’ Healthy Return Is Major Key for Giants in 2013

Hakeem Nicks’ battle with injuries was a detriment to the New York Giants during the 2012 NFL season. Throughout the year, the receiver’s effectiveness was drastically hindered by foot and knee injuries, and he was never a dependable offensive contributor. With a full off-season to heal and get ready for another important campaign, Nicks should be an integral part of the Giants’ passing attack next season as they seek to bounce back from a disappointing 2012.

This past season was Nicks’ least productive of his four-year career. In 13 games, he caught 53 passes for career-lows of 692 yards and three touchdowns. The down year broke a streak of two consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

As a result, the Giants’ offense slipped from fifth in 2011 (295.9 passing yards per game with 29 touchdowns) to 12th (239.1 passing yards per game and 26 touchdowns) in passing offense. Their red zone offense took a major hit, ranking among the worst in red-zone-touchdown-percentage for most of the season before turning it around in the final few games to finish 13th overall.

Nicks developed into quarterback Eli Manning’s most trusted red-zone threat during his tenure with New York. He has caught 27 touchdown passes since joining the club in 2009, including a team-leading 11 in 2010.

Without this wide out playing at 100 percent, the Giants struggled down the stretch. They lost five of their last eight games, including key matchups against the Washington Redskins, the Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons. In three of those games, Manning failed to pass for more than 161 yards and had just one touchdown pass.  The defeats ultimately cost the team a playoff berth.

If the Giants wish to be contenders in 2013, they will need Nicks to return to form. Pro Bowl receiver and teammate Victor Cruz has evolved into their No. 1 threat in the passing game, but Nicks is still needed to make the team a more dynamic, lethal offensive force.

Fortunately, Nicks now has the time he didn’t have during the season to relax and heal up. By the time OTA’s (offseason team activities) and training camp roll around this summer, he should be ready to go to work. The Giants will need he and Manning to be on the same page heading into next season with their focus on one goal:  recapturing the Lombardi Trophy… at home… inside MetLife Stadium.

 

Louis Musto is a contributor to the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.