WR Victor Cruz
September 30, 2016
Q: Do you think the offense has reached its full potential yet?
A: We haven’t had that game where we all click and everyone is playing and everyone is clicking and everything looks good on all cylinders. I don’t think we have had that game just yet, but I think we are close, I think we are getting there and I think we are just still learning each other, learning how to be around each other and continue to catch the football and we will get there.
Q: What is it like for you to see a guy like Sterling Shepard kind of break out right away?
A: It is great, man. It is great to see him – I know the amount of hard work that he puts into his craft and into his game and to see it come to fruition on Sundays is a beautiful thing, so I am happy for him and we are going to need a lot more of that as these weeks continue.
Q: Is this the most prolific group of receivers you have been around?
A: It is hard to say just yet. I mean, I played on a team with Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham and we did some special things together, so it is too early to tell, but obviously on paper, when you look at us, we have all the tools to be that, but we just have to continue to play each game and see where it takes us.
Q: What did you guys ever win though? I’m just kidding.
A: Just a small thing called the Lombardi Trophy, but no big deal.
Q: Do you have to be cognizant of their pass rush in running your routes quicker?
A: I think that is always our thing. As receivers, it is not a race against the DB in front of us or the safety, it is more so a race to those defensive linemen getting to the quarterback – that is the true race because we can’t get the ball unless Eli is upright and can deliver the football to us, so we understand that week in and week out. Obviously they have a very good pass rush in Minnesota, so we have to be cognizant of that and be diligent in our routes.
Q: You haven’t played in the slot much this season. What do you think the reason is for that?
A: I don’t know. That is something that you have to ask the coaching staff. I just do as I am told.
Q: Is it tougher to play inside?
A: I have been playing slot forever, so I don’t know if it is necessarily tougher, but I don’t know. I am just playing. I am happy that I am making plays on the outside as well, when I am getting the targets and the ball, so I am just happy to continue doing my job.
Q: We have heard so much about the loud noise in that stadium. As a receiver, how much does that affect you?
A: A little bit. Obviously when checks are being made and things like that, it is definitely hard to here, but we just want to be cued into the signals that we are getting from Eli and the verbiage as much as we can and it is up to us to echo the calls. As Shep gets it into the slot, he will funnel it out to me, so we are all on the same page. That is the biggest key to this week – being clear and concise with our communication.
Q: Have you guys put an emphasis on yards after the catch this season?
A: Absolutely. We want to be able to use this passing offense to the best of our ability and I think that getting down the field and putting the ball in areas where we can make the play and down the field more so than we have, that is our strength and that is where we want to excel and where we want to be at our best. I think it has definitely been a point of emphasis, so we will see how it goes.
