Rebirth of New York Giant LBs

In honor of the birth of this new Giant blogging site, I felt it was appropriate to kickoff by talking about the rebirth of the Giants Linebackers. I am 30 and still remember the likes of Carson, Banks, and most importantly Taylor. And I don’t believe that our current LBs, or any LB on any team will ever compare to the 80s unit. That being said, the team is different now…to disrupt the pass we have built a team strong on the D line and secondary. It has been a few years where it seemed like the Giants LB was a major weakness of the team. Now, I finally have a good feeling about the LBs on this team.

Boley, the one free agent on this unit, is showing us some signs of why he was given a lucrative contract. Greg Jones forced into action sooner than the Giants would of liked, but he has shown signs of being a very instinctive linebacker. And you can’t teach instincts. I think he gets better with each snap he plays. I think Kiwanuka is a rare talent and I love his size and what the giants can do with him. But the guy I am most excited about is Jacquian Williams…the guys is a great athlete and what he lacks in knowledge, he seems to make up in speed and his nonstop motor. He is a fun player to watch and has a chance to be a star of this unit.

I know it will take time for these guys to learn the ins and outs of the NFL, but I feel they will be a major factor late in the season, and beyond. It is early in Jones and Williams career, but I want to be sure that I put this prediction on ‘paper’ to be either ridiculed or praised in the upcoming years.

How do my fellow Big Blue Bloggers feel about the LBs this year?

Was Victor Just a "Cruz"?

I heard it somewhere that one of Victor Cruz' New York Giants teammates told him before the game against the Eagles that it was just a preseason game...

...That could well be the stuff of Giants folklore, tales to tell your grandchild down the road.

But it made me think, was Cruz' performance last Sunday comparable to his 3-touchdown day against the Jets in that preseason game last year?  Obviously, I understand the monumental difference in scoring 2 TDs during a crucial regular season game against a "Dream Team."  My analysis is whether it's just a flash in the pan.  As you may remember, after that Jets game, Cruz sustained a season ending injury, missing the entire 2010 season.

Let's face it, some players in the NFL are blessed with luck and some just seem to roll snake eyes.  Look at the career of Domenik Hixon.  The guy's got mucho talent, but seems to have the luck of Tony Romo.

Victor Cruz on the other hand...I see something very special.  As I turn back the clock to that 3 TD preseason game, I remember thinking, "Wow, there's something special about this kid.  Preseason or not, you score three touchdowns in a pro setting, you must have some degree of talent."

I think it's important for the Giants to understand what kind of gem they have on their hands.  This is the kind of guy the Giants need at wide-receiver...A local kid with heart.  I think Tom Coughlin will have the prudence to not rush Cruz either.  Cruz needed to step up in Manningham's absence, but if you expect this kind of performance every week, you could be setting Cruz up for a minor let-down.

That being said, the way he made the Eagles "stud," Asomugha, look like a dud, we might be seeing the rise of a career begin as quickly as Victor Cruz chugged to that 74 yard TD, the first of his career.

Dare I say it?  We may have a star on our hands at WR.  Something the Giants have rarely ever seen.

One last thing...In a age of Ocho-Plinko's and Terrell No-wen's, let's recall the play of Hakeem Nicks during Cruz's 1st TD.  Now this is the current #1 guy of the Giants WR core who stands to become #2 if Cruz rises up quickly.  He didn't pout because he wasn't thrown the ball...He ran with Cruz all the way, and provided a great block to help solidify the score.

That's the way you play the game.  It makes me proud to be a Giants fan.

Go Big Blue!