Of course, Victor Cruz isn’t telling the truth when he says, “It just so happens a lot of success has come my way. I’ve been catching the ball and making plays and doing things like that.’’
Of course, when Cruz on Wednesday said, “I don’t know why that is, I’m just doing my job,’’ he is not portraying an accurate picture of what he has done in relation to all the Giants have not done in this sorry first month of the season.
Rising above the muck and mire, a lone beacon of light in the darkness of all the offensive ineptitude, Cruz has shown he is worth the financial investment the Giants put into him, shown he’s worth the emotional outpouring all those fans chanting “Cruuuuuuzzz’’ give to him and worth the extra attention opposing defenses send at him.
“I think Victor’s playing great,’’ said Eli Manning, who is not. “He’s making a lot of plays and winning his one-on-one battles. He’s done a great job of coming in and continuing to play at a high level. Hopefully everybody else can catch up to that level.’’
Through four games, no one suiting up for the Giants on offense is close to performing at the level Cruz has maintained. In a sea of statistical slop, Cruz has come to the surface, putting up numbers in defiance of an attack that has been historically bad or hysterically bad, depending on your perspective.
On Sunday, the two worst defenses in the NFL meet at MetLife Stadium. The Giants are dead last, allowing 36.5 points a game. The Eagles are 31st, giving up 34.5 points a game. Cruz will be on the prowl, looking to exploit the league’s 31st-ranked passing defense.
Highly interested and involved in many off-the-field endeavors, there was, if not concern, certainly interest how Cruz would deal with the fortune that came his way when he signed a six-year deal worth $45.9 million. Thus far, he has been even better than advertised, and no one is wondering if the multi-faceted Cruz, now that he’s got his money, will allow his concentration to stray from football.
“He’s playing as well as we’ve seen him play,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said Wednesday, before quickly adding, “and thank God for that.’’
Cruz has 26 receptions, tied for 10th in the NFL. Despite defenses geared to prevent him from running free, Cruz has been a big-play marvel — his 425 receiving yards is fourth in the league and he’s averaging 16.3 yards per catch. He started with a flourish, hauling in three touchdown passes in the season-opening loss in Dallas, including a 70-yard scoring play. He ravaged the Chiefs last week for 10 catches and 164 yards, including a 69-yard scoring reception.
With a quarter of the season in the books, Cruz is on pace for 104 catches for 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns. All would be career highs.
“I guess I’m just getting open, catching the balls that are thrown to me and making something happen,’’ Cruz said. “It’s not just about me, it’s about this team getting on the same page and us clicking on all accords and getting this offense back on track.’’
Noise circulated around Cruz after the 31-7 loss to the Chiefs when he said the Giants should have gone for a first down on fourth-and-1 from their own 30-yard line in the third quarter. Some characterized the quote as Cruz second-guessing Coughlin rather than the standard “Let’s go for it’’ response offered up by most offensive players, and Coughlin had some fun with it, saying he challenged Cruz to a fight.
Cruz didn’t want to rehash any of that, twice reciting, almost verbatim, “I’m moving forward. I’m not talking about that any more. We got the Philadelphia Eagles coming up, and I’m excited about this challenge.’’
Asked to critique himself, Cruz said he is happy with how he is catching the ball and “creating the big play for my team, catching the ball downfield. I’m reading blitzes. I’m seeing everything from a big-picture standpoint. I’m really understanding this offense and how to play this game.
“Negatively, I think just blocking. I’ve gotten better in the blocking area, but I can do more. I can get better. I can continue to go down and get those safeties and continue to block the nickel all the way through the play and things like that. There’s still some areas I can improve on.’’
Some, but not many.