Victor Cruz off to slow start in training camp
Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday, July 27, 2014. Credit: Brad Penner
Victor Cruz may never have the kind of three-touchdown breakout performance he had in his first preseason game in 2010, but Sunday's game against the Bills was about as far from that kind of start as one can get. Cruz played about 15 snaps, did not catch any passes, and was not even targeted by Eli Manning.
Told he did not do much in the game, Cruz smiled. "That's one way to put it," he said.
Another might be that the new West Coast offense won't be as receiver-friendly in application as some thought it would be in theory. Not only was Cruz blanked on Sunday, so was fellow starting receiver Rueben Randle. Wide receivers coach Sean Ryan said Tuesday that those players' absence from the stat sheet was "not intentional."
Besides being a non-factor on Sunday, Cruz has been hard to spot throughout training camp while Manning has worked on short, quick throws to running backs, tight ends and other underneath targets.
"I'm begging for more reps out here in practice, but coach is kind of pulling me back, just making sure I'm staying healthy and making sure we're good to go for the rest of preseason and into the regular season," Cruz said.
Cruz, who again had a quiet practice Wednesday, pointed out that Walter Thurmond III and the other new corners "give me fits each and every day I'm here." Thurmond had an interception Wednesday while covering Cruz.
Cruz will have another chance on Saturday against the Steelers, when more of the offense will be installed.
A broader selection of plays will be available to the team. Until then . . .
"You kind of just take what you can get," Cruz said. Giant steps
WR Jerrel Jernigan missed practice with a wrap on his right leg, allowing Marcus Harris to get first team reps. Harris made several nice catches . . . LG Geoff Schwartz (knee) did not practice . . . DT Kelcy Quarles was carted off with a left leg injury . . . Recently signed CB Chandler Fenner had an interception and batted away a pass in the end zone.
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