Victor Cruz: Jump on while there's plenty of room.

"Talk about ball skills ...
... that's a very special skill set." - ( New Window )

Let's go!

and I hope and pray he stays healthy....and No BBI Giant of the year award any more... ever..retire it

wait!!!

was a fan. Remains one today.

Possibly part of the reason the price was low to Smith?
Gotta wonder. - ( New Window )

a possession receiver to fill Smith's void, I don't think Cruz is that type of guy.

We have no tight end and no possession receiver right now. We'll have a shit load of big plays, but we'll be missing the guy to get the 7 yard catch on 3rd and 6 in the big spot in the middle of the field

meet Travis Beckum.

but I see him as the "moving the chains" guy this year. Him and Eli always seemed to have a great rapport, and I think we will see it again this year.

Meet Travis Beckum's hamstring.

We'll have quick-hitters to Cruz, who will be what we'd HOPED Sinorice would be. If Nicks, MM and Hix stay healthy, and Beckum plays his role well ... dangerous.

Travis will be fine.

He's bigger than Smith and Manningham but he look shot. It might be because he seems to have a freakishly long torso.

of men over enthusiastically trying to reassure themselves that things will be alright when in fact signs point the other way.

Nevertheless, go Cruz!

bitches.

but the best thing is to take a step back and see who steps up before getting on any wagon. Just see how this season plays out and who steps up.

First step is get the OL gelled and together. If they suck we won't be able to pass or run. So in my mind that's step 1. Then, from there just chill and see what plays out. That's pretty much how I am going to take this season.

Steve Smith, you know the only Giants WR pro bowler in like the last 100 years.

and saying Reynaud has a big year.

Jernigan will be that guy, but it's unrealistic to expect a 3rd round pick in his rookie season to be that guy. We can hope though.

Beez, quite frankly I think Beckum sucks. I have zero expectations for him

Steve Smith wasn't going to sniff practice for weeks, maybe months. Big picture, corporal.

Steve Smith had 50-ish receptions one season, then 107. Then got hurt.

Loved him as a Giant. But let's not prep a spot in Canton just yet.

limb sounds brittle ...

I disagree. I think whoever wins the 3rd WR position will know what they are there for and train for that role specifically. We need a precise route runner for those 3rd and long's but anyone of these guys could step up and I think they will.

No reason to think Cruz can only go deep.

The coaches - Pope specifically - seem to still like him and Gilbride's alluded to the guy having a role this year. Kid has good hands.

I don't think his skill set is made for the slot. Certain guys are just perfect for the slot, Smith was that guy. I think Nicks/Hixon/MM/Cruz are more outside guys

but I'm amazed at the compartmentalization on this board recently. Nicks is going to be an elite reciever. Someone who can get open consistently on third down, go deep and also rack up some yards after the catch. Some people seem to think that OK it's 3rd and 6, we have to throw to the prototypical slot guy.

Not sure if the 3rd/4th guy will be Cruz, Hixon, Jerrigan, Thomas, Barden or Beckum but I don't blame Reese for overpaying an injured Smith. I will blame him if we don't get production out of a position that we spent significant draft resources on.

but I also won't put Cruz in Hawaii either.

anyone can say a player with visible talent can succeed, I just have a feeling Reynaud steps up.

Now I ain't saying 80+ catches or anything. I just think he makes a solid impact for the Giants this year.

I'm probably the only one on the wagon but I'm going to ride the thing into the fucking ground. :)

Not that I think he's going to have a monster year.. but I think he's going to make the team and fill a lot of that potential everyone's always heard about with him.

Reese's master plan moves into its' final stages.

SLIM ... not such a miller at all.

Always hope guys step up. Just not sure where Reynaud fits, especially if Jernigan's returning punts. Maybe Hixon doesn't return KOs? He'd seem the best option there, though, assuming there's no lost step.

and right to BBI

Quote:

Forget Smith Giants Best : 2:47 pm Reese's master plan moves into its' final stages

having a security blanket like Smith is a huge deal. It's no surprise that Eli's best season came in Smith's best season. Didn't they say this week that no one knew the slot when Smith went down last year?

The big plays from MM and Nicks are great, but you need a possession receiver to go along with those guys

Hixon will be the 3 and will play it well. Regarding Cruz, he may not be a prototypical slot guy, but we can't just assume he'll run DeSean routes all game.

...no one knowing the slot responsibilities when Smith was hurt was a lot of the reason why the passing game struggled so much without him.

They did acknowledge it, though.. and they've been putting everyone in the slot in camp so far to prevent that from happening again. We will be much more prepared this year in that regard, IMO. Almost all of these guys are going to get reps there in different packages.

professional.
Link - ( New Window )

While it's true that someone beside the big two has to step up and be dependable, I do believe that Hixon has already established a rappaport with Eli based on his production when Plax when down. Plus for several contenders (Thomas, Reyaud, Cruz) for more playing time this is their second year in the system. That familiarity will be key

that and we already lost Hixon who would have otherwise stepped right in when Steve went down.

it's a myth that every offense needs a "possession guy". As if it's an advantage that your slot be a non-deep threat consistently.

Cruz will end up being the #3.

.. with Hixon on the outside opposite Nicks.

.

Cruz's demeanor.
Link - ( New Window )

just because we don't have that "possession guy" doesn't mean we are less deadly.

after last pre-season's great game vs. Jets.
Link - ( New Window )

you need a guy to control the middle of the field. Whether it be a possession receiver or a tight end, we have neither right now.

Rex Ryan "I got an idea, let's stay on three, number three"
Link - ( New Window )

from hard knocks when playing jets.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eua3adkpiZQ&feature=related - ( New Window )

but holy shit ...

No one knows that for sure. It's completely feasible to expect one of these guys can step up and fill that role. It might not be Jernigan right away but I think he'll turn into a pretty good slot guy.

But beez...he isn't 6'1". He measured a shade under 6 feet before the draft.

We saw the explosion last year. He's very quick. He's strong. And he has explosive movement. Plus it looked like he had excellent hands.

A lot to like with Cruz.

He's listed at 6-1 and 6-0.

On the flipside, Smith was listed at 5-11. I stood next to him at camp last August. Highly doubt he's 5-11.

Probably the same for a lot of guys.

he seems to have "it" plus a good skillset which is obviously a nice combo to have.

Big and fast.

If he's not the worst WR we have in camp right now, he's close.

from the Jet's point of view (from Hard Knocks).

Ryan: Hey, I don't know who number 3 is, but holy $#!+
Link - ( New Window )

haha. We'll see.

measured 5115 at proday.

Smith 5116 at combine.

The most impressive number for Cruz was his 41.5" vertical. He also ran in the high 4.4s.

He looked great in preseason last year. We all saw it. Very explosive.

I just feel pretty confident that Cruz, Jernigan. Thomas and even Reynaud would all be better options near the bottom. Obviously Nicks, Manningham and Hixon go without saying since they're locks.

Not sure what's going to happen with Barden but I would imagine they'll keep him and put him on the PUP to start the year.

is the ability to adjust to the ball when it's in the air. I think Cruz has it

makes the Giants, I will retire the allegiance. Look it took Steve Smith a few seasons (and off-seasons) to become Eli's security blanket. To prep for the role he played at USC. This guy Cruz is greener than baby crap. What you've seen of him in pre-season games comes against deep-depth defenders. Streamlined, no-frill coverages. As far as Coughlin liking him, which I think is true, Tom also liked that Jennings that showed up with the muscle cars. Where the Hell is he now? The guy that started this thread is one of my favorite message board personalities. Respect his opinions. But on this, I just don't see it. Another thing: Hixon will not be effective from the slot. Slot receivers have to be guys like Smith, Ike Hilliard, Lionel Manuel, back a ways. Guys who have what I call swivel ankles. They can do a 180 at 100 miles an hour. If any vet on the roster has that ability its Manningham, but he's not enough of a student of the game to take Smith's spot. The guys who work the middle are the scientists. Doesn't have to be a WR. It can be somebody like Clark on the Colts. Just don't see Cruz. Sorry. Great circus catch man, though.

this kid has the 'it' factor. i was really pissed when they IR'ed him.

In the MNF clip up top, Gruden mentions it, referring to Cruz, after seeing him for just a series or two. "Talk about ball skills ... that's a very special skill set."

catching balls from Eli in the preseason, rather than the backups.

Calhoun has no part of making this roster.......

From that one incredible preseason game last yeaar,I feel he could be a great receiver for us.If it's true,we'll be tough.

has been getting reps out of the slot this preseason.

no need to be nasty to Michael Jennings!

The impression of him I have that I'm enthusiastic about is what seems like a natural ability to process information quickly that many receivers and defenders simply don't have -- namely, the ability to calculate very quickly where the ball will be and when it will be there. If you can do that .2 seconds faster than everyone else, that gives you a huge advantage. And it looks like he can.

I think the simple fact that football players have to constantly adjust to what they see and process on the field often gets lost. And the ability to judge trajectories and velocity and all that jazz isn't innate in everyone.

I'm stuck on the lower 40 with Anak like the only pair of mules left on the farm hitched up to the Barden wagon.

Heh....I really wanted him to make it

of drafting Barden and am still pulling for him too, but shit, Cruz looks like one of those totally unexpected diamond-in-the-rough types who always make me jealous when the other teams find them.

Comparisons to Sean Bennett be damned. I remember that big play he made against the Vikes in preseason, and his performance in that game just wasn't as indicative of a skill set as Cruz's in my opinion.

control the middle of the field? Nicks can do just about anything he wants on the football field.

He has the ability now he has to prove he can be professional, be prepared and be healthy. We need him and all our wideouts to step up to fill the void.

First WR that both Reese and Tuck reference after the two starters was Victor Cruz...

put Cruz at #4 (behind Nicks, MM, and Hixon) and let him rip. He may actually beat out Hixon.