Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants face the Cowboys on Sunday
WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. The reigning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year's life changed the last time he played on "Sunday Night Football" against the Dallas Cowboys. He made a catch that you may have seen once or twice before and proved he was much more en route to 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games. For the time being, the wide receiver corps will have to fill the void of Victor Cruz, who is dealing with a calf issue after missing the last 10 games of 2014 with a knee injury. "All we can do is go out there and make him proud," Beckham said. "Play to the best of our ability, and when he's back with us and back going, I'm definitely looking forward to it and excited."
![LT ERECK FLOWERS
For the third year in a row, a rookie is in line to start on the Giants' offensive line. After Justin Pugh did so in 2013, Weston Richburg followed last year, and now Flowers, the ninth overall pick out of the University of Miami who will be playing one of the most important positions in football: left tackle. "You know, I started my first game ever [against the] Cowboys, Sunday Night Football, so I told him it's going to be an electric atmosphere," Pugh said. "It's definitely going to be something that he'll never forget. But just to go out there and calm his nerves down and go out there on that first play and just hit somebody, kind of shake off all those jitters, and just settle in and get ready to play one hell of a game."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/sshntjeoavzvtmyclhh8.jpg)
LT ERECK FLOWERS For the third year in a row, a rookie is in line to start on the Giants' offensive line. After Justin Pugh did so in 2013, Weston Richburg followed last year, and now Flowers, the ninth overall pick out of the University of Miami who will be playing one of the most important positions in football: left tackle. "You know, I started my first game ever [against the] Cowboys, Sunday Night Football, so I told him it's going to be an electric atmosphere," Pugh said. "It's definitely going to be something that he'll never forget. But just to go out there and calm his nerves down and go out there on that first play and just hit somebody, kind of shake off all those jitters, and just settle in and get ready to play one hell of a game."
SAFETY LANDON COLLINSThe Giants' second-round pick will make his NFL debut at AT&T Stadium, where three years ago, he began his All-American career at Alabama with a victory over Michigan. Primarily a freshman backup in 2012, he made his first start a season later against Tennessee and returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown. But the NFL is a whole different ball game. He's going up against Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo out of the gates. >> COLLINS READY TO MAKE IMPACT "I mean, Tony Romo said he's looking for key matchups," Collins said of being tested as a rookie. "If he's going to look for key matchups, he's going to pick on me. He's going to get what he wants. He's not going to get what he wants, but he's going to get what he wants."
![RB SHANE VEREEN
After watching his former team and defending champion New England Patriots kick off the 2015 season on Thursday night, Vereen will make his debut as a member of the Giants. While Vereen, who set the Super Bowl record for most receptions by a running back, is a safety valve for Eli Manning in the passing game, he is one of four running backs on the Giants' roster after the team kept only three last year. "Rashad [Jennings] is healthy and running well; Andre [Williams], another year under his belt running a variety of schemes that we like to do, he's improved there with his reads," McAdoo said. "Add Shane to the mix and Orleans [Darkwa], as well, I feel like we'll be more consistent there and have a chance to be a pretty good running team."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/zpvvqtn01upftctqfp2s.jpg)
RB SHANE VEREEN After watching his former team and defending champion New England Patriots kick off the 2015 season on Thursday night, Vereen will make his debut as a member of the Giants. While Vereen, who set the Super Bowl record for most receptions by a running back, is a safety valve for Eli Manning in the passing game, he is one of four running backs on the Giants' roster after the team kept only three last year. "Rashad [Jennings] is healthy and running well; Andre [Williams], another year under his belt running a variety of schemes that we like to do, he's improved there with his reads," McAdoo said. "Add Shane to the mix and Orleans [Darkwa], as well, I feel like we'll be more consistent there and have a chance to be a pretty good running team."
WR DWAYNE HARRIS Kickoff return, punt return, and gunner, Dwayne Harris can do it all on special teams. While he tries to bring a spark to the third phase of the game, the former Cowboy came to the Giants to be more involved in the offense. Now the new member of Big Blue will go against his old teammates in Big D. "I know in Dallas, we definitely take that first game against the Giants very seriously," Harris said. "I'm pretty sure we're doing the same thing here. I think that rivalry is definitely a builder for the first game."
Uani 'Unga put his family in a rough spot.
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He had a wife and three kids, but no job. After tearing his ACL in the final game of his senior season at BYU in 2013, the linebacker went undrafted, only to land a short gig on the Giants' practice squad five days before the 2014 season ended.
However, the franchise signed him to an aptly named reserve/future contract. Starting middle linebacker Jon Beason was ruled out of Sunday's opener against Dallas, making 'Unga the next man up.
"We've prepared for that," said coach Tom Coughlin, who did not name an official starter for the Cowboys game.
"We've had a preseason and a good full day yesterday with 'Unga in that position. So, I think a young guy, obviously who has not had that much experience in there, but he'll give great effort."
'Unga kicked his campaign for a roster spot into gear in mid-August. On the day of his first preseason game, he tweeted: "Time for this job interview!"
'Unga recorded three tackles against the Bengals in his debut, going on to lead the Giants in stops for the next three games against the Jaguars, Jets and Patriots.
But in between the final two games, 'Unga had to sweat out the first round of roster cuts. He, as always, was cautious. His wife, Lachelle, needed to prop him up.
"She believes in me more than I do myself," 'Unga said at the time.
As it turns out, the Giants do, too.
Unlike draft day, a player doesn't want to hear his phone ring on cut-down days. For 'Unga, there was silence on Sept. 1 when the roster went to 75 players. The same went for last Saturday when the 53-man roster was set.
Less than a week later, Beason's knee injury opened the door for 'Unga in Week 1. After leading the Giants with 24 tackles in the preseason, he built up confidence in his ability to handle the role.
"All throughout college, I always had butterflies," 'Unga said. "But lately, I was almost worried that I wasn't getting butterflies. I think I'm more ready, I guess. That's why I'm not getting [as many] butterflies as I usually have."
But football isn't about just one individual. 'Unga had to prove himself to the other 10 men he'll be lining up with on Sunday.
"It's kind of hard to play when you're not sure what other guys are thinking of you," he said. "I'm the new guy and considered like a rookie. But the guys, they seem like they respond well to me in the huddle, and so then [I'm] a lot more comfortable in the spot."
That included the player whose spot he could be holding.
"First off, I think he's tough," Beason said. "I think he's an extremely intelligent football player, and that's what makes him, him. He takes coaching extremely well and when you see a guy who wants it, you want to help him out. The game is bigger than all of us, we're all just trying to do the best we can for the time that we have, and if you can pass something on to somebody who cares as much as he does, it makes you feel good inside.
"I love to see him go out there and make plays, to get guys lined up, make checks, and be confident because he is kind of a mild-mannered person. To get him out there, making checks, and screaming, it's good to see. I was happy when he made the team and now he's here and he's going to help us out tremendously."
