Training camp is drawing near and the worst time of the year is slowly coming to an end. With the New York Giants ready to embark on another hopeful run toward the Lombardi Trophy, I will analyze the team and present my top 10 players on the Giants’ roster. Rookies have been excluded as they bear no body of work yet in the NFL.
No. 4: Victor Cruz
Position: WR
Age: 25
Seasons with the Giants: Four (signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010)
2012 in Review: For the second consecutive season, Victor Cruz was the top receiver for the New York Giants. Despite an often absent Hakeem Nicks, Cruz still tallied a team-leading 86 catches for 1,092 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns — tied for sixth in the NFL.
With Nicks battling injuries throughout the year, Cruz’s big-play opportunities minimized, but he still made an impact when given the chance. His 77-yard game-winning touchdown reception with less than two minutes to go in the Giants’ Week 7 matchup against the Washington Redskins remains the highlight of his 2012 campaign.
Of course, Cruz did have some disappointing moments, such as his 10 drops, which tied for the second worst in the league behind the New Orleans Saints’ Jimmy Graham. His three-reception, 15-yard performance in a 34-0 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons was likely his lowest point of the season.
No Giants player was as consistent as the salsa-dancing superstar, however. He was a weekly standout, boasting 10 games with five or more catches.
Outlook for 2013: A big, new contract will place Cruz in the spotlight, but a healthier Hakeem Nicks should lessen the pressure a bit.
The 2012 Pro Bowler remains to be one of the top inside receivers in the game with the ability to turn any play into a touchdown. Few can match his initial burst and breakaway speed once the football is in hands, as evidenced by his spectacular 80-yard touchdown reception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 of 2012.
The Giants feature an assortment of weapons on offense. Talents like electric running back David Wilson and sure-handed tight end Brandon Myers are expected to be key contributors.
Unlike last season, Cruz will not be solely depended on to deliver for the offense. As a result, the wide out should see more opportunities to replicate his unforgettable 2011 performance, during which he shattered the franchise record for receiving yards in a single season with 1,536 yards on 82 receptions.
Louis Musto is a reporter and sports talk host for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.