With the preseason finished and the 2015 season upon us, the Giants will look to erase the disappointment of last year and build upon a new horizon. Here are 10 players, whom will have a big impact on what could be on that horizon for the Big Blue:
Owamagbe Odighizuwa - With Jason Pierre-Paul sidelined for the time being the Giants will need a defensive lineman to step up in his absence. If he puts his mind to it, Odighizuwa could be just the man for the job. Though his pass rushing abilities still need polishing, the former Bruin does have and impressive frame and skill set that could make him a formidable threat off the edge.
Shane Vereen - Under Ben McAdoo's quicker paced spread offense, Vereen should see quite a bit of time in the backfield. Look for him to act as both a runner and pass catcher to give a different dynamic to the offense. He also could be used a bait in order create matchup problems in the backfield.
Ereck Flowers - His true position isn't quite set as he will likely be flipped between left and right tackle for most of the season. His imposing size and strength will allow him to overpower many defenders and give a much needed running game a shot in the arm. His youth and rawness could be a problem to start off, but a the year progresses his talents should shine through.
Larry Donnell - Donnell burst onto the scene last season, becoming a steady target for Manning and the offense. However, dropped passes, costly fumbles, and tighter defenders pushed him out of the loop and slowed down his progression. As long as he can better secure the football and make better use of his size and strength, Donnell should get back to the form he had in the first quarter of 2014.
Brandon Meriweather - It was a nightmare preseason for Giants safeties as four were injured and placed on IR in what seemed to be one sitting. Enter Brandon Meriweather, a player whom has had his share of trouble due to his accruement of penalties for high hits. His aggressive nature is a far cry from what the Giants are used to, but with Steve Spagnuolo back in command of the defense there should be many uses for a player like him.
Rueben Randle - It's a contract year for Randle, which means he should break out for big numbers n order to earn big bucks. With that being said, things could get very interesting for the offense if that is the case. Not only would it potentially give the team three touchdown threats, Randle could also solidify his spot in the depth hart, one that many feel could be challenged by newcomers Dwayne Harris and Geremy Davis.
Victor Cruz - Coming off of a season ending injury Cruz will looks to rebound in a big way for the Giants. He did not participate in the preseason, and while that could make it tough to get back into the swing of things, seeing him healthy is already a step in the right direction. If he gets back to the Pro Bowl form he showed in 2011 and 2012, the passing game could be a force to be reckoned with.
Jason Pierre-Paul - It looked as if Pierre-Paul was ready for a stand out campaign, as the Giants were prepared to give him a $60 million extension. Then it happened, A July 4th fireworks snafu which caused the defensive end to have his right index finger amputated. If that weren't enough, the lack of communication between he and the team during the summer nearly cost him his roster spot. Despite all Paul appears to be in good spirits having finally met with team doctors and he will be resuming football activity very soon. Only time will tell if he can be an effective player this year, but he does have the added motivation of proving himself to a litany of critics whom don't believe in him at all.
Eli Manning - Having signed a 4 year $84 million extension, Eli now has the task of leading the Giants back to playoff contention. The improved numbers he showed a year ago are a great sign that he is ready to carve out a new piece of his career, one that sees higher production and fewer turnovers. He has a bevy of talent at his disposal (especially at wide receiver) and if he remains consistent throughout, Giants fans could be in a for a treat in 2015
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