RoanokeFan
12-26-2012, 06:50 AM
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giant...Umnv6TXIFCIWLM (http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/hard_to_find_giant_who_had_an_up_fGWbNNzuUmnv6TXIF CIWLM)
Excerpt: "Even in bad seasons, there are good players. Even when expectations are not met, there are those who rise above the expectations. A study of the Giants’ roster, though, reveals why they are about to be on the outside looking in come playoff time, why a year after ringing in the holiday season so joyously someone spiked their eggnog with castor oil, why they have regressed to the point they aren’t merely losing, they are barely competitive.
Every team has a Most Valuable Player, but a search party is required to find that player on this team. Sure, Stevie Brown and his seven interceptions is the greatest surprise of the season but he’s not exactly a coverage monster. He probably earned himself a contract for 2013, but if he’s the player who made the most positive impact, something, in the words of former Giants coach Dan Reeves, is bad-wrong.
Find the player who rose out of the rubble. Consider it a dare. Eli Manning was being hailed in some circles as an NFL MVP candidate in the first half of the season, but even then it was a serious stretch and he’s put together some god-awful performances when it counted most. We all know Eli is worth more than his numbers, but when you’re ranked 17th among all quarterbacks in the league in passer rating, just behind Carson Palmer and just ahead of Sam Bradford, you haven’t had much of a season.
Where else can we look on offense? Victor Cruz proved his breakout 2011 season was no fluke, as he’s matched his output in terms of receptions (82) and touchdowns (nine), but his yards per catch of 12.7 yards is way down from his gaudy 18.7 yard mark. Cruz has been tough and remarkably durable, making a statement he deserves to be here for the long haul and he’s probably the closest there is to a team MVP. Still, no “wow’’ factor." Read more...
Excerpt: "Even in bad seasons, there are good players. Even when expectations are not met, there are those who rise above the expectations. A study of the Giants’ roster, though, reveals why they are about to be on the outside looking in come playoff time, why a year after ringing in the holiday season so joyously someone spiked their eggnog with castor oil, why they have regressed to the point they aren’t merely losing, they are barely competitive.
Every team has a Most Valuable Player, but a search party is required to find that player on this team. Sure, Stevie Brown and his seven interceptions is the greatest surprise of the season but he’s not exactly a coverage monster. He probably earned himself a contract for 2013, but if he’s the player who made the most positive impact, something, in the words of former Giants coach Dan Reeves, is bad-wrong.
Find the player who rose out of the rubble. Consider it a dare. Eli Manning was being hailed in some circles as an NFL MVP candidate in the first half of the season, but even then it was a serious stretch and he’s put together some god-awful performances when it counted most. We all know Eli is worth more than his numbers, but when you’re ranked 17th among all quarterbacks in the league in passer rating, just behind Carson Palmer and just ahead of Sam Bradford, you haven’t had much of a season.
Where else can we look on offense? Victor Cruz proved his breakout 2011 season was no fluke, as he’s matched his output in terms of receptions (82) and touchdowns (nine), but his yards per catch of 12.7 yards is way down from his gaudy 18.7 yard mark. Cruz has been tough and remarkably durable, making a statement he deserves to be here for the long haul and he’s probably the closest there is to a team MVP. Still, no “wow’’ factor." Read more...