Giants' Randle: 'They're expecting big things from me'

Rueben Randle already has replaced Mario Manningham, at least on the roster. The second-round receiver from LSU was issued jersey No. 82, the same number Manningham wore during his four years with the Giants. Now his new team hopes he can replace Manningham on the field.

After his first day of work at rookie minicamp Friday, hopes are high.

"You need that third component so that when people start skewing over and clamping down on [Victor] Cruz and [Hakeem] Nicks, you have a guy who, if it's one-on-one, has the ability to get over the top and hurt people like Manningham did," offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. "He looks, between his size and what looks like the speed he has on film, that he has the potential to do that. I have my fingers crossed."

When the Giants drafted Randle, they called him an "NFL-ready" receiver. He showed that potential in the morning session when he sprinted down the right sideline and caught a deep pass from Ryan Perrilloux over his shoulder, just past third-round pick Jayron Hosley.

"He looks smooth," Gilbride said. "He's obviously thinking, so you don't see the explosiveness we hope to see down the road. But in terms of going deep and going down the field, he looked pretty good."

Perrilloux thought so, too. The backup quarterback, a practice-squadder last year, went to LSU ahead of Randle and was one of the first to call Randle when he was drafted. Perrilloux and Randle connected several times during the two workouts and seemed to have good chemistry.

When it counts, though, it won't be Perrilloux throwing to Randle. It'll be Eli Manning, who obviously is not at the rookie camp. Perrilloux said one of his jobs this week is to give Manning a full report on the new players, Randle in particular.

"I'll let him know that Rueben is out there, he's running fast, he's coming in and out of breaks, and he's definitely going to be a guy you're going to like throwing to," Perrilloux said.

The Giants have always been impressed. They considered him with their first-round pick before going with running back David Wilson.

After losing Manningham to the 49ers in free agency, the Giants needed to find someone to fill his role. They have some other possibilities such as Jerrel Jernigan, Ramses Barden and maybe even Domenik Hixon, but Randle seems to have the size (6-2, 208) and speed combination that those players don't.

"They're expecting big things from me," Randle said. "I have to live up to it."

About the only one who doesn't seem to think Randle is ready is Randle himself. He was more indecisive in answering that question than he was on any routes he ran.

But Randle doesn't have to be NFL-ready in May. The Giants need him to be there in September when the season starts. It's a long route -- just the kind Randle likes.

"I think I can get there," he said. "I'm still young. I'm still learning on the fly, but I think with the right time and the right opportunities, I can be there."