A 9-7 season that ended without a playoff berth is disappointing for the Giants and their fans, but the 2012 season wasn’t without its highlights.
For a brief period of time, Tom Coughlin appeared to be coaching New York back to the Super Bowl, but while dreams of a repeat fizzled, there were several outstanding individual performances over the course of the last 17 weeks.
Here are CBSSports.com’s picks for the Giants’ MVPs:
Offense -- WR Victor Cruz: QB Eli Mannng (3,948 passing yards) and RB Ahmad Bradshaw (1,015 rushing yards) have strong arguments, but Cruz’s season was simply too much. The third-year receiver followed his breakout second season with 1,092 receiving yards, 86 catches, 10 touchdowns and his first Pro Bowl selection. What was most impressive was the way Cruz handled the added defensive attention. WR Hakeem Nicks was slowed by injuries, so Cruz saw plenty of double coverage this year.
Defense -- MLB Chase Blackburn: Blackburn wasn’t re-signed following the 2010 season, but when the Giants needed depth at linebacker in Week 13 of 2011, he returned and hasn’t relinquished the starting middle linebacker job since. Blackburn led the team with 98 combined tackles but also forced four fumbles, defended seven passes, registered three sacks and had an interception. And anyone who saw Blackburn run knows the man had his best season while dealing with a barrage of injuries.
Special teams -- KR David Wilson: K Lawrence Tynes made 33 field goals and definitely deserves some consideration, but Wilson was a revelation as a rookie. In addition to setting the franchise record for all-purpose yards in the win over the Saints, Wilson forced opponents to dramatically shift their strategies on kickoffs. The Giants haven’t been known for great kick returners over the years, but Wilson (57 returns, 1,533 yards, TD) gives the team a touchdown threat.
Newcomer -- TE Martellus Bennett: Fans may miss departed tight ends Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard, but Bennett was a bigger part of the offense than either of them. He was second on the team with 55 catches, third with 626 receiving yards and second with five touchdown receptions. Whereas Boss and Ballard were big, reliable targets, Bennett is a big, reliable target who is athletic enough to stretch the defense, and that was the major asset for offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.
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