New York Giants Twitter Mailbag: The “Decisions, Decisions” Edition

Oh to be a fly on the wall in those weekly meetings between New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin.

For those not aware, the general manager and head coach frequently touch base to discuss the state of the team after a game—the impact of injuries on the roster, where help is needed, where guys can be spared, etc.

Well, the Giants have some pretty interesting decisions coming up regarding defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who enters the second and final week of the two-week roster exemption period granted by the NFL that is allowing him to practice with the team. Offensive tackle Will Beatty, who is fast coming to the end of his 21-day window which allows him to practice with the team after spending the first six week of the season on PUP, and receiver Victor Cruz, who seems stuck in some sort of injury purgatory with a calf ailment that first popped up in mid-August.

Who will be back first? Who can make the biggest impact? And who among the current 53-man roster will be sent packing to make room for Pierre-Paul and Beatty if and when they’re ready.

Your questions and my answers coming right up.

Thanks for the question.  I really don’t know what to think about Cruz’s chances of playing. He’s missed so much time already and that injury is taking really, really long to heal.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Thus far they’ve been fortunate in that they haven’t needed his roster spot, but with decisions coming up on Pierre-Paul and Beatty, and the injuries at other position (linebacker and cornerback), at some point it wouldn’t surprise me if they end up needing that roster spot currently held by Cruz.

I also think it was a mistake not to put him on temporary IR a lot sooner.

I asked head coach Tom Coughlin about that during one of his press briefings and he said while the topic was discussed, the feeling was they’d have Cruz back sooner than the six weeks (plus a two-week window).

Still, given all the time he’s missed, I would think he’d need at least two, if not three, weeks to get back into the flow, so again, I really don’t understand their thinking there.

Thanks for the question, John. As I’ve said before, it’s all going to come down to how healthy they are across the board.

For example, right now they are carrying eight linebackers, same as offensive linemen, due to injuries. So they really have to see where they stand before such a decision is made.

With that said, if the decision needed to be made right now, as I write this, my guess is DT Louis Nix will be the first one lopped off the roster.

Alec, to execute a screen, you need athletic offensive linemen who can get to the second level to block. I don’t think historically that has been the case, at least not over the last few years. This year, though, I think they’re heading in the right direction.

Then there is a matter of the intended receiver actually catching the ball. Prior to acquiring Shane Vereen, I don’t think you could say they had a back out of the backfield capable of that, nor do I think you could have said they have a consistent pass-catching tight end.

As for the receiver screens, again, it all comes back to getting things blocked up front, which has probably been the biggest issue.

Thomas, that’s a tough question to answer because obviously I’m going off of the 2014 Jason Pierre-Paul, who, while okay, wasn’t great; the 2014 Beatty, who was solid; and the 2013 Cruz. 

I would say based on the last time those three played, Cruz would make the biggest impact because I could see his presence taking some of the double coverage away from Odell Beckham Jr. because let’s face it, that passing game that was supposed to be the team’s biggest strength has struggled.

If they can’t move the chains, then the defense has to be on the field. And right now, I think I’d rather see more of the offense on the field than the defense, wouldn’t you?

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

Follow me on Twitter, @Patricia_Traina.