Cruz won't be an unknown this time

The last time Victor Cruz took the field against the Jets, Rex Ryan and his crew knew so little about him, they thought he might be a quarterback lined up wide in a Wildcat formation. He wound up burning them for three touchdowns in that preseason game last summer, eliciting raves from the Jets' staff and a spot on the Giants' roster.

Cruz is ready to play against his favorite opponent again, but this time, the Jets will know who he is. Another difference: he's not competing for a roster spot as an undrafted free agent but for a place in the wide receiver rotation. "I was a little bit on eggshells last year," Cruz said. "Obviously, being a free agent, you don't know if you're going to make the team and every day is a struggle for you. Last year was a much harder year, emotionally, than this year."

Cruz, who caught a 22-yard pass to convert a fourth down against the Bears but also got chewed out by offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride on national television, said he is working on refining himself as an NFL receiver. That's stressful, too.

"I always approach it that I have to make the 53," he said. "This year is a little more attention to detail. It's a different kind of eggshells. They don't crack as hard."

Great Scott

If there is a Victor Cruz of 2011 who comes out of nowhere and dazzles, it might be Da'Rel Scott. The seventh-round pick has had one official touch of the football in two games, and he made it count with a spectacular 97-yard touchdown run against the Bears. Scott nearly fell down but regained his balance, broke through the line behind a block from Ikechuku Ndukwe and was off to the races.

"It's just one play, and I definitely have to do a whole lot more than that," he said. "The coaches knew I had speed, but for them to see it in person, I think that helped me out a lot."

Making it even more special was running into the end zone near where his mother and sister were sitting watching the game.

"I saw them," Scott said. "It was good to score my first TD with them in that end zone. It was nice. It felt really good."

Giant steps

Scott kept the ball after his big play. So did Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich, who made an interception a few snaps earlier. But at first, the undrafted Herzlich left the ball on the field; cornerback Michael Coe had to pick it up and give it to him as he came off. Herzlich said he gave the ball to his father . . . This isn't the first time a hurricane delayed a Giants-Jets preseason game. A storm in 1976 postponed the clash for two days before it was played at refurbished Yankee Stadium (the only Giants game ever played at the refurbished park). The Giants won, 16-14.