If Jernigan's emergence late in the season was a sign of more to come and Randle doesn't take the next step, I would love to see Cruz moved to the outside and Jernigan moved to the slot.
During the Q and A session after Beckham was drafted, Reese stated Cruz would be in the slot and couldn't play on the outside. I disagree. Cruz's first start vs the Eagles comes to mind where he abused Nmandi all game playing on the outside.
Cruz'S strength, shifteness, and speed make him a dangerous receiver anywhere he lines up on the field.
We could potentially have a great wr tandem on the outside with Beckham and Cruz, with speedy Jernigan working the slot, with Randle sprinkled in as well.
Under Gilbride, Cruz was so affective because of the option routes he ran in the slot. According to what we've been hearing though, the new offense will have the wrs running more defined routes, which may diminish Cruz's play making potential in the slot. Someone as fast and slippery as Jernigan may flourish when told what specific routes to run and told to just go full speed.
Cruz absolutely can play on the outside. Obviously he has shown to be a tremendous slot receiver but that doesn't mean he cannot play outside. What I expect to see is McAdoo line our players up all over the field. I think we are going to line up Cruz in the backfield on some plays, in the slot, outside, etc. We will motion to get these players freed up. I think he is going to do what is best to create the best match ups as well as make teams prepare for a bunch of different formations.
This
Nobody is saying he shouldn't be a slot receiver. Nobody is saying he should play on the outside full time. Yes, it would be nice if Randle steps up as well as Manningham but it would also be nice if Jernigan steps up. In the past we had strict roles for our WRs. In this offense I envision a lot of movement and lining up all over the field. We also almost never went to 4 WR sets in the past with Gilbride. If Randle, Beckham and Manningham step up two of them can line up wide on the line of scrimmage and Cruz and Jernigan can line up in the slot. It is possible to have two slot receivers.
Finally, the Eagles just drafted Jordan Matthews. Chip Kelly already said that Matthews will play the slot with Maclin and Cooper on the outside. Why would he have Maclin out wide and Matthews in the slot? If provides them advantages with the offense they run. The same can happen with our offense. I am not saying we are running the same offense of a similar offense. I am just saying each has benefits. There is no reason to label Cruz as strictly a slot receiver.
I don't think anyone is saying move Cruz out of the slot on every play, only move him outside occasionally.
I don't think anyone is saying move Cruz out of the slot on every play, only move him outside occasionally.
which I expect him to do..
Cruz is a beast period, lined up inside or out. I don't think Jernigan can consistently play outside though so this is more about getting all the playmakers on the field.
Robbie, definitely a great idea moving all of them around. But under my 'plan B' scenario, Cruz would be primarily lined up outside while moving in on some packages as opposed to primarily being inside and lining outside in some packages.
One last point, Jernigan was drafted the offseason that we lost Smith to fill his role. He's a slot guy and may not be fully utilized on the outside (of course projecting.)
Who knows? He did say that though which was surprising. When have you ever heard him say a player can't do something? It was just very odd.
Cruz on the outside
27-424. 9 TDs
Just saying
Simply answer to a simply question. No. Keep Cruz where he's most dynamic.
That's just what they'll expect us to do
2. Victor Cruz is not fast. Signature long catch & run TD: Cowboys last game of '11. Eli runs almost a veer left while Cruz hooks & goes on Newman, who is too slow to play press man. There's no S because the Giants correctly read Ryan's pressure. Victor takes it to the house but he's running against a slow secondary. He gets deep but he does so by deception and quickness. Outside his skill set is limited. Inside his patented change of direction, spinning off his inside ankle to uncover in the middle of the field makes him a devastating chain mover. He also needs to catch, get what he can , and then sit down under the big hits. He isn't a terribly physical guy. The sideline jump ball that Eli threw him against the Hawks, he was virtually impaled. It was his last play of the season. A true outside receiver would have been better suited. Randle hasn't shown any inclination to stick his nose in there. I don't see him as a viable solution.
3. Cruz is not an accomplished blocker. The Eagles have Maclin & Cooper, a Plaxico clone, wide because Chinless Chip wants his wide receivers to dominate DBs in their 2-man read game. Both those guys block. . Victor wide gives you none of that. Coughlin still wants to run the ball. That 3.5 average per carry must make him sick .
IF Cruz is better than any other option on the outside, and IF JJ can handle slot, it might make sense. That's where it's the coaches job to figure out if it does make sense. The notion itself is not illogical.
Besides, is Cruz all that stellar in the slot when the outside receiver is meh (such as the past two years)?
But it will be interesting to see what happens with Jernigan this year. I think we all would like to see this guy on the field more than just as an injury replacement or the occasional 3rd down.
2. Victor Cruz is not fast. Signature long catch & run TD: Cowboys last game of '11. Eli runs almost a veer left while Cruz hooks & goes on Newman, who is too slow to play press man. There's no S because the Giants correctly read Ryan's pressure. Victor takes it to the house but he's running against a slow secondary. He gets deep but he does so by deception and quickness. Outside his skill set is limited. Inside his patented change of direction, spinning off his inside ankle to uncover in the middle of the field makes him a devastating chain mover. He also needs to catch, get what he can , and then sit down under the big hits. He isn't a terribly physical guy. The sideline jump ball that Eli threw him against the Hawks, he was virtually impaled. It was his last play of the season. A true outside receiver would have been better suited. Randle hasn't shown any inclination to stick his nose in there. I don't see him as a viable solution.
3. Cruz is not an accomplished blocker. The Eagles have Maclin & Cooper, a Plaxico clone, wide because Chinless Chip wants his wide receivers to dominate DBs in their 2-man read game. Both those guys block. . Victor wide gives you none of that. Coughlin still wants to run the ball. That 3.5 average per carry must make him sick .
Gilbride was a run and shoot guy not a wco guy.
“It’s a lot less dependent on what my body language is and Eli reading that. It’s more so him reading the coverage and finding me in those open holes.”
Another difference in the offense, said Cruz, is where he’ll be lined up. Almost exclusively a slot receiver in the past, Cruz said he’ll be lined up outside at times in the new scheme.
I feel like I’m a guy who can play inside (or) outside, can play both positions very well,” Cruz said. “I think that’s where I’m going to be utilized, kind of all over the field, wherever I can get the ball the most, wherever I can help this team.”
I interpret that to mean less option routes.. not more.
Disagree with Cruz not being fast. He's not a deshan Jackson but we've seen him catch more than enough 60 and 70+ plus yard tds with no one catching him from behind to know how fast he is. He's faster then Nicks for sure at least who was o/s.
link - ( New Window )
So let's see what Cruz can and can't do now. He was a beast in the slot can he do that again in this system? How about coming off an injury? Will he be top 3 in drops again? He was prior to this offenses shit show season where he was #2 in drops. So even Cruz has things to prove. Will he be productive
again? I am very interested to see.
i hope 3 things will happen
more 4 receiver sets especially in early downs
more uptempo attack offense
get eli up to the line with 20 seconds left on the clock and let him do his magic
like Peyton does
All those IFS add up.
Maybe The Giants will make the playoffs.
Hey, Cruz is a great reciever,wherever he is ,as long as we have the other pieces he is going to make plays.