The New York Giants are getting through their offseason workouts while heading towards mandatory minicamp later in June and although Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks have been absent from workouts, head coach Tom Coughlin has the team ready and hungry to improve in 2013 after missing the playoffs.
Cruz has dominated the headlines for the Giants during the offseason while dealing with his contract issues, but Big Blue knows it's about more than one player and in his absence other players have had the chance to step up at the wide receiver position, including Reuben Randle and Louis Murphy. Eli Manning knows how to get everyone involved in the offense and he will do the same until Cruz and Nicks return to workouts.
The Giants and Cruz have been at odds with his contract since the season last year and while the two sides are far apart, there is a good chance things will get done before the season starts. Nicks was absent from OTA workouts as well and although his agent said that it has nothing to do with his contract, many feel that is hard to believe. Despite the absences, coach Tom Coughlin is ready for 2013 and despite missing the playoffs a year after winning the Super Bowl, he feels that the team has a championship in them. The team finished with a big 42-7 win over the Eagles to head into the offseason on a good note, but unless Eli Manning leads the team to the playoffs again, fans will be mad.
Randle showed some flashes last season and he has been one of the beneficiaries with Cruz absent, as Coughlin said that he is showing strides in his development and he could be the number three guy the Giants have needed since losing Mario Manningham. Last season he had 19 receptions for 298 yards and three touchdowns last season and his best game came against the Browns when he had six receptions for 82 yards. He added four more against the Eagles and if Manning gets into a good rhythm with him, it could mean big results on offense.
Randle said he is more confident and along with Jerrel Jernigan and Louis Murphy, the receivers have been able to work with Manning on a daily basis. The quarterback said that everyone has stepped up without Cruz and Nicks in camp and that could mean big things later in the season. The running back situation will be different without Ahmad Bradshaw, but with young stars David Wilson and Andre Brown stepping up, the team could actually improve its rushing attack.
Last season the rookie Wilson started off in the dog house, but he broke out big time after having a 300-yard all purpose game and showing flashes of speed and explosiveness. Brown was looking like a starter when he broke his leg and if he can stay healthy he will have a big role on offense this season now that Bradshaw is gone.