New York Giants: 5 Veterans Poised for Bounce-Back Season
While the New York Giants, as a whole, are looking to rebound from another down season in 2014, several veteran contributors are also aiming for bounce-back performances. In fact, these individual comebacks will help determine the team's overall success this season.
Each veteran in this article failed to live up to expectations last year. Most of them are recovering from at least one injury. With the 2014 season now in the past, these Giants have an opportunity to hit the reset button by being healthy and productive this fall.
This slideshow will highlight five veterans entering the 2015 season in perfect position to bounce back from a bad year.
Victor Cruz, WR
1 of 5
Age: 28
NFL Experience: Five seasons (One Pro Bowl)
2014 Review: Cruz caught just 23 passes for 337 yards and a touchdown before going down with a season-ending knee injury (torn patellar tendon) in Week 6.
2015 Outlook: The injury that ended Cruz's 2014 season is a serious one. Ex-players who have sustained the injury have warned of its severity. For Cruz to make a full recovery, it'll take two parts hard work to one part good fortune.
Cruz has been documenting his return on Instagram (h/t FOX Sports). He seems to have regained much of his strength and straight-line speed, based on the handful of videos he has shared. The normally shifty wide receiver has yet to share any videos of workouts requiring lateral movement.
At the end of May, Cruz estimated his knee to be about "80 percent" healed, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, and said he is "itching" to get back on the field.
"I can’t lie. I am itching," Cruz told the New York Post. "I am running routes and feeling good, but I know there is still a process, and I am still a little ways away in terms of strength-wise and things like that. It feels good and watching those guys run routes and catch balls. I am definitely itching to get back out there."
Cruz, who's aiming to be fully healthy for Week 1, can be a menace in the slot with Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle drawing the defense to the sidelines.
Jon Beason, LB
2 of 5
Age: 30
NFL Experience: Eight seasons (three Pro Bowls)
2014 Review: Beason tried to play on a broken foot but opted for season-ending toe surgery after only four games on the field.
2015 Outlook: The Giants saw what their defense looked like without a run-stuffing middle linebacker last year and decided to restructure Beason's contract this offseason. Originally in danger of becoming a cap casualty, Beason instead returns to New York for $3.7 million (previously $5.825 million), according to Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media.
The decision to keep Beason during a defensive rebuild is a testament to his impact. He was named one of five team captains last season, so defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could be leaning on the linebacker to be a leader in his return to the Giants. After all, in Beason, Spagnuolo could have an Antonio Pierce-esque field general.
Beason claims to be fully healthy but is still taking it slow during early offseason workouts, according to Nick Powell of NJ Advance Media.
"I'm able to run around, feels great, change direction, feels good," Beason told NJ Advance Media. "It's really a non-issue, just being smart. I'm still limited, just based on the time of year."
While much of New York's linebacker situation remains in flux, Beason is a rare cornerstone.
Geoff Schwartz, G
3 of 5
Age: 28
NFL Experience: Six seasons
2014 Review: Schwartz played less than two full games in between stints on injured reserve for toe and ankle injuries.
2015 Outlook: There has barely been a chance to meet Schwartz since the Giants signed him to a four-year, $16.8 million deal last offseason. This spring, Schwartz agreed to a restructure his contract, costing him $2 million of his salary in 2015, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. One injury-plagued season will do that.
Schwartz was supposed to play left guard but ended up filling in for Justin Pugh at right tackle in his two appearances last season. Now, heading into the 2015 season, Schwartz appears to have finally found a home with the Giants at right guard. He has manned that position with the first team throughout early offseason workouts.
Although Schwartz has started all 16 games only once in his career and has spent the last four seasons with four NFL teams, there's reason to believe he has Pro Bowl-caliber staying power with the Giants. He is one of the team's largest offensive linemen at 6'4", 340 pounds, and his last healthy season saw him overtake Jon Asamoah for a starting job with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Schwartz still has some potential, but New York is running out of time to tap it.
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Cullen Jenkins, DT
4 of 5
Age: 34
NFL Experience: 11 seasons
2014 Review: Jenkins fought through a calf injury to play 12 games but recorded only 15 tackles and one sack.
2015 Outlook: Although he's the oldest player on this list, Jenkins can't be counted out for a comeback. Last season certainly wasn't pretty, but it's still too soon to conclude that it was sure sign of slow down for the former Green Bay Packer/Philadelphia Eagle.
Jenkins had to take a $1.2 million pay cut to stay with the team this offseason, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. In addition to money, he may also have to give up his usual position. Since joining the Giants before the 2013 season, Jenkins has played defensive tackle almost exclusively. Now, the Giants are giving him a long look at defensive end, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media.
The depth-chart builders at Ourlads have penciled Jenkins in as a starting defensive end, as Mathias Kiwanuka's replacement opposite Jason Pierre-Paul. While Jenkins is unlikely to provide much of a speed rush off the edge, the Giants are likely more concerned about their ends' run defense after ranking fourth in team sacks (49) and 32nd in yards per carry allowed (4.9) in 2014.
Jenkins can seal the edge with ease at 305 pounds. But the big man plays with unexpected finesse, too, so he can still be a factor in the pass rush. He has plenty of experience playing defensive end in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, with 44.5 career sacks to his name.
Jenkins could add a few more QB-takedowns to that total in 2015.
Marshall Newhouse, T
5 of 5
Age: 26
NFL Experience: Four seasons
2014 Review: Newhouse started five games and struggled as Cincinnati's top reserve tackle.
2015 Outlook: Since Newhouse played for another team last season, he is different from the rest of the veterans on this list. As a Giant, Newhouse has an opportunity to redefine his still-young NFL career.
Newhouse, a fifth-round pick out of TCU in 2010, was once the starting left tackle for the Green Bay Packers. It was a demanding job he just couldn't nail down, so Newhouse ended up signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. There, he was a reserve tackle who played in 15 games, starting five.
Although not exceptional with the Bengals, the Giants saw enough in Newhouse to sign him as their swing tackle for the 2015 season. The team, however, wasn't planning on the tackle to be swung into the starting lineup so soon. Rookie Ereck Flowers is currently filling in for an injured Will Beatty at left tackle, which leaves Newhouse as New York's starter at right tackle.
This configuration is far from set in stone. Giants general manager Jerry Reese hasn't ruled out a late addition to the O-line, according to Dom Cosentino of NJ Advance Media. If no outside options present themselves, though, the Giants will be counting on Newhouse to make a comeback.
With a lot of New York's success hinging on the cohesion of a shuffled front five, Newhouse has presumably one last chance to prove himself as starting caliber.
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report
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