Giants' favorite play: Cruz control

Victor Cruz has become an indispensable part of the Giants' offense this season, going from an undrafted free-agent who barely made the team in 2010 to a player who set the team's single-season receiving record with 1,536 yards on 82 catches, adding nine touchdown in the process.

So his presence in the lineup in Super Bowl XVLI will be a key element of the Giants' attack, especially if he's covered by converted wide receiver Julian Edelman, who is now doubling as a defensive back. Edelman often covers the opposing team's slot receiver, and there's a good chance he'll be lined up on Cruz, who will have a clear advantage because of his superior speed and route-running ability.

A play the Giants can use to take advantage of the mismatch is one they used in their NFC Championship Game win over the 49ers.

The Giants line up in a three receiver set, with Hakeem Nicks and Cruz to the right and Mario Manningham to the left. Nicks is lined up to the far outside, while Cruz is lined up in the slot. The Giants use this formation for a variety of plays, and defenses are usually expecting Cruz to stay in the middle of the field for his pattern, since he is lined up inside of Nicks.

But on this particular play, it's Nicks who will work the middle of the field and Cruz who will go to the outside. The trick is to fool the defense into thinking that it will be Nicks going to the outside and Cruz working the middle. So as the ball is snapped, Nicks runs straight ahead, as if he's going on an outside route. But instead of running upfield, too, Cruz loops behind Nicks and he's the one going to the outside. The maneuver is intended to momentarily freeze the defensive back covering Cruz. Not only that, but Nicks can in essence run interference for Cruz by occupying his lane and allowing Cruz to swoop in from behind.

Nicks has to be careful not to set an illegal pick by bumping into the defensive back covering Cruz. On the play, Nicks races upfield about 15 yards, fakes to the outside and cuts over the middle. Cruz then darts toward the right sideline and in essence runs a "go'' route straight up the field. He is wide open for Eli Manning's pass. Against the 49ers, he gained 36 yards on the play; had Manning led him just a little more, Cruz might have scored a touchdown.