NEW YORK GIANTS: 10 DAYS, TEN QUESTIONS

[RoanokeFan]

NEW YORK GIANTS: 10 DAYS, TEN QUESTIONS (http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/7/16/3162089/new-york-giants-10-days-10-questions-training-camp-2012-nfl-season#storyjump)



"There are just 10 days remaining until the New York Giants (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/new-york-giants)
report for 2012 training camp at UAlbany, as Mike pointed out (http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/7/16/3162021/new-york-giants-news-and-notes-ten-days-away-from-camp-edition)earlier on Monday. So, appropriately I think,
here are 10 questions to ponder about the defending Super Bowl champions as
football season approaches again.
<div class="entry-body">
<p class="extend-divide"><a name="storyjump"></a>http://cdn0.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v59c7267.jpg</p>


1. Will Hakeem Nicks (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/71294/hakeem-nicks)
Be Healthy When The Season Opens? Victor Cruz (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/109584/victor-cruz)
swears Nicks will be ready, and Nicks has also been adamant his broken foot will
heal in time. But, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/16768/ahmad-bradshaw">Ahmad
Bradshaw</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/130895/prince-amukamara">Prince
Amukamara</a> serve as examples that foot injuries are tricky. So, we shall
see.</p>


2. Can Cruz Do It Again? After salsa-dancing his way into the hearts
of Giants fans, and catching and running his way into the team's record books,
what kind of follow-up season will Cruz have? The wide receiver spent the
offseason making what seemed like a gazillion appearances and writing a book.
Can he focus completely on playing football once camp starts?</p>


3. What Can Marvin Austin Do? The Giants drafted the big, talented
defensive tackle from North Carolina in the second round a season ago. But,
after spending last season in injured reserver with a torn pectoral muscle
Austin has not played in two years.</p>


4. Who Will Be The Middle Linebacker? <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/2207/chase-blackburn">Chase
Blackburn</a> will be listed as No. 1 when camp starts, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/131182/mark-herzlich">Mark
Herzlich</a> and Keith Rivers (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/34370/keith-rivers)
will be banging on the door trying to take some -- or all -- of the playing time
at that spot.</p>


5. Will Will Beatty Be Healthy? Beatty's eye is fine after he suffered
a detached retina. Beatty, though, did not practice during OTAs or mini-camp due
to a back injury suffered while working out. Offensive coordinator Kevin
Gilbride has expressed concern about his starting left tackle, so Beatty's
health will be a major focus in Albany.</p>


6. Who Will Be The Third Wide Receiver? We have talked about this at
great length. Your candidates are <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/71289/ramses-barden">Ramses
Barden</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/154892/reuben-randle">Reuben
Randle</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/131123/jerrel-jernigan">Jerrel
Jernigan</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/2934/domenik-hixon">Domenik
Hixon</a>.</p>


7. Which Undrafted Free Agents Will Make The Team? There are plenty of
candidates here. Safety Will Hill, safety/cornerback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/155782/janzen-jackson">Janzen
Jackson</a>, wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/156482/brandon-collins">Brandon
Collins</a>, running back Joe Martinek (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/155783/joe-martinek)
and middle linebacker Jake Muasau (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/155784/jake-muasau)
are the most likely possibilities.</p>


8. Can The Giants Run The Ball Better? They have first-round draft
choice David Wilson (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/152687/david-wilson),
and they have made some changes to the offensive line after their league-worst
rushing effort a season ago. Will it help?</p>


9. Which Running Backs Make The Team? Behind Ahmad Bradshaw and
Wilson, that is anybody's guess. Martinek, D.J. Ware (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1283/d-j-ware), Da'Rel Scott (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/131043/da-rel-scott)
and Andre Brown (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/71293/andre-brown) are
likely in a dogfight for two spots. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes
to who will end up on the 53-man roster from that group.</p>


10. What Will Martellus Bennett Do? The Giants signed Bennett in hopes
that he would fill their tight end void this season. There are plenty of
doubters, so watching how Bennett progresses will be interesting."</p></div>

[giantsfan420]

(all of this is my opinion)
1-yes nicks will be healthy
2-Cruz will have a successful season, but I think its unfair to expect as good a statistical season as last one. he'll be a viable, legitimate option who can make big plays. thats really all u ask for from a wr.
3-hopefully austin can give us depth and show us glimpses of the future. 2 yrs out of football is gonna be tough, and the only flashes we may see could just be his athleticism or something until he learns the techniques to be successful at this level.
4- I'm comfortable with whoever PF and TC decide to play MLB although I am hoping for Rivers to earn the job, with Chase getting plenty of reps still.
5- I believe Betty will have a breakout type season.
6- my moneys on (in this order) Randle, Hixon, Barden/JJ
7- I hope Martinek can make the team somehow, his versatility is intriguing.
8- they'd better run the ball better. its kinda unfair placing the success of the offense solely on eli's shoulders.
9- No offense to Ware, i am thankful for what he has contributed. but i hope we can get more talent at that spot behind bradshaw and wilson. hopeful for scott and brown to make noise.
10- Bennett is gonna tear it up and have a huge season. could be the nfls most improved player.

[GMENAGAIN]

How about -- Who will be our RT?

[RoanokeFan]

How about -- Who will be our RT?

I think Locklear has a chance to beat Diehl out.

[Toadofsteel]

Here's my take:
1) Nicks will be playing by week 1. It may take him a couple games to get up to 100%, but he will be healthy later on in the season and especially into the playoffs.

2) Cruz may not put up the numbers that he did last season, but I believe that will be mostly due to drawing a lot more double teams, exposing the defense to a pass to a wide open 3rd WR, TE, or RB. You simply cannot fully lock down both Nicks and Cruz without having some serious holes in your defense for the other 3 eligible receivers to run wild in. That tandem is like the Gronk/Hernandez of wideouts.

3) I believe Austin makes the team, but he will be starting behind Canty and Bernard. If he can successfully show his stuff, however, he may be able to take a starting position away from Bernard, especially if he can prove himself as a run stuffer DT, which is mostly what we use our DT's for (on obvious passing situations, we pull out the DT's and go with the Nascar package).

4) I'm thinking Blackburn will be the starter Week 1, but both Rivers and Herzlich have great potential too. I don't think Herz will be starting any time soon, but he will be our starter in future seasons; he will spend most of this season learning our defense so that he can have good experience. Blackburn will probably be re-retired after the 2012 season, but he will retire a true Giants great this time around.

5) Beatty will be ready to go. And he will be a HUGE upgrade over a declining DD at the position. DD will most likely move to RT (if he even starts at all, Locklear looks like he could challenge DD for that position).

6) My money is on either Jernigan or Hixon right now. Those two have the experience. It's going to largely depend on Hixon's health and how well he can move after tearing the same ACL twice. Cruz is good lining up in any of the wideout positions, but best in the slot. It's largely going to depend on whether lining Nicks-Cruz-Hixon across is better, or Nicks-Jernigan-Cruz. Alternatively, Randle may claim a starting position if Hixon has trouble but the team wants to keep Cruz in the slot. Overall, the depth is great, since either way we have good backups both outside and in the slot. Finally, Barden is terrible and doesn't make the team.

7) Janzen and Martinek most likely make it, Collins is good but unfortunately behind a really good wideout group with what are essentially two #1-level receivers in Nicks and Cruz, and a bunch of #2-level receivers in Hixon, Jernigan, and Randle. Muasau is behind Blackburn, Rivers, and Herzlich, not to mention Boley can play middle as well. I think Muasau and Collins will get looks for practice squad though.

8) The running game will definitely improve with Wilson. The big question is can Wilson learn ball security and pass protection. If he can do that, he will see significant playing time. Most of the film i saw of him had him cutting outside for his gains, which helps offset the o-line play somewhat. It won't be a dual 1000-yard rusher season, but it wont be dead last in the league either.

9) Martinek and Brown will round out our squad. Brown is the closest thing we have to a power back now that Jacobs is gone, while Martinek can at least block fairly well. Alternatively, Scott may have a chance if Brown doesn't show any signs of having worked on ball security and pass protection. Ware is terrible and should be cut.

10)Bennett's performance will depend on how well he dedicates himself to improving. He is noted for being a little lazy, but it's hard to tell if that was really him or just being a product of the Dallas system. He's under a "show me" contract now, and if he doesn't show, then eventually we can groom Robinson or Hopkins for the position...

[GMENAGAIN]

How about -- Who will be our RT?

I think Locklear has a chance to beat Diehl out.
</P>


Me too. I'd love to see something from Brewer though . . . . .</P>

[RoanokeFan]

How about -- Who will be our RT?

I think Locklear has a chance to beat Diehl out.
</p>


Me too. I'd love to see something from Brewer though . . . . .</p>

Locklear, it's been reported, ranked # 11 in pass defense for tackles. With Diehl coming in last... Brewer may be the man next season if Locklear pans out.

[JesseJames]

I'm thinking that if Bennett does nothing for us this year but be a very good blocking TE and doesn't catch many balls then thats just fine. The reason I say this is because I believe strongly that one of the reasons for our terrible performance running the ball last year was because of bad blocking at the TE position. I know we still sucked at run blocking on the O line but defenses knew we couldn't block at the TE spot...So if Bennett is able to turn into decent receiver too then thats a bonus....

[miked1958]

Most interested to see what happens with numbers 2,3,6 & 8. Exciting times