Wednesday Media Transcript: WR Victor Cruz

WR Victor Cruz

November 30, 2016

Q: How much are you looking forward to this game?

A: We are excited about it. Obviously it is our next contest, so we know we need to put our best foot forward, but we are excited about this challenge. It is going to be a playoff-like atmosphere there, so we want to put our best abilities and best game to date, each and every Sunday that we step out on that field and this Sunday is just another opportunity to do so.

Q: Do you feel like the best is yet to come for this offense?

A: I believe so. I think that we can definitely put some things together this week to create that high-powered offense. We have got a good game plan in so far to kind of spread the rock around and get everyone involved and we will see what happens. But obviously our goal is to score as many points as possible and we will take it from there.

Q: You guys have won six in a row, have a better record than them, but you are close to a touchdown underdog. Do you pay attention to that at all?

A: Not at all. I just go out there on Sunday and play the game. That is all we can control and hopefully we come out victorious.

Q: What do you see on film when you watch them?

A: Just an aggressive bunch. They are coached well under Mike Tomlin, obviously, and every time you see them, you know they are going to bring that aggression and they are going to bring that hardnosed style of football and we just have to be ready to combat that and put our best foot forward.

Q: Do you feel confident that the level of play can and will go up and do you think it needs to?

A: I definitely feel confident. As long as we win games, I don’t care about anything else. As long as we finish the game with more points than the other team, that is the only thing that matters. So obviously do we want to score more points and be that balanced offense like we know we can be? Absolutely. But as long as we have more points than the other team when that clock hits zero, we will take it.

Q: What is the biggest thing a team gains from having those last-second victories?

A: Just confidence. Confidence in our ability to close these games out. Understanding that we have been in these games before and have lost them or haven’t won them. Winning those close, tight games gives us confidence that we can be in those games and obviously down the stretch here and God willing into the playoffs, we are going to be in these types of games, so we need to understand how to train our minds throughout that process and it is good practice for us going into the end of the season.

Q: When you are on the sideline and the defense has to get a stop to win the game, what is that feeling like, knowing how your defense has played so far this season?

A: It feels good. Obviously we have a ton of confidence in our defense and they have played great thus far and they really come together in the way they have performed and the way that they have closed some of these games out. Obviously as an offense, we want to close those games out and leave our defense on the sideline, but they have done a good job of closing these games out and we just want them to continue that trend.

Q: What would getting Shane Vereen back mean for this offense?

A: Just another weapon. Just another extremely talented individual that when the ball is in his hands he can create and make things happen and as you know, in this offense we need as much of that as possible, so we will see how it goes, see how it turns out, but I am happy to at least have him back out at practice and we will see how it goes.

Q: What do you see from the Steelers on tape?

A: Just kind of hardnosed football. They really come after you. They are not pulling any punches or anything like that. They are coming after that quarterback and they are an ‘In your face’ style defense, so we have to be ready for that. We have to know that going into the game and be ready to go.

Q: Do you need to be mindful of not taking all the compliments too seriously that come your way when you win six in a row in New York?

A: Yeah, we understand that. We understand that you guys love us when we are up and when we are down, you love to put us down, so we understand that and we can’t get too big-headed about it. We just have to be 1-0 every week and take it how it comes and be humble in victory and take each week as it comes because each week is different, it is a different game, but we understand that.

Q: It has been a while since you guys have been in this type of position. What has this been like for you?

A: It is great. It is fantastic. I don’t think that in my tenure here we have ever had a six-game winning streak, so it feels good. We definitely want to bask in it a little bit and understand that this doesn’t happen all the time, so we want to enjoy the moment, but understand that there is a lot more work to be done and there is a lot more that we want to accomplish and we just want to take it one week at a time.

Q: What is it going to be like seeing another elite wide receiver on the other side (Antonio Brown)?

A: It is fantastic, man. Obviously I am a huge fan of his and the things he does on the field and he is just an extreme talent and when you see him play, being on the sideline you hope that he doesn’t do too much against us, but you are obviously a fan of his ability and you know that he can break a game open with one route, one catch or one punt return, for that matter. It will be an honor to see him play, but hopefully his team has one less point than us.

Q: Does it get you a little jacked up?

A: Absolutely. It is all competition. We want to be the last team standing and as a receiver, do more than they do and they have a good corps as well and so do we, so we want to prove who is the best corps out there and as receivers, that is what we want to do, compete at a high level.