Credit: BOBBY O’HARA/ PureSportsNY
With rookie receiver Odell Beckham hampered by a hamstring injury for most of Giant’s Camp some might believe there is a reason for concern. However Victor Cruz doesn’t think it is a concern at all . When asked if he thought that Beckham will fall too far behind to provide a boost for the team this season, Cruz said he doesn’t think so. Cruz mentioned that if the rookie can stay in the game mentally he will be just fine when it comes time for him to return.
“I think it’s just a matter of him getting himself healthy and getting out here. Like I said before, he’s been locked in mentally and I think that’s been the biggest key for him – being, as any rookie that comes in, locked in mentally and obviously coming out here on the field once he gets ready he’ll be behind the eight ball a little bit, having to play some catch-up. He’s the kind of guy that can get things squared away and be good to go.”
Beckham will be part of a new Giant’s offense under Ben McAdoo this season. It’s a system that has been getting some heat lately, however Beckham stated last week that he thinks it can be the best in the league. Victor Cruz believes that it might actually help Odell Beckham come back quicker considering it shouldn’t be as complicated as the past.
Credit: BOBBY O’HARA/PureSportsNY
“I think that can help him. And as far as… it’s just the confidence level too. When he gets out there and makes a couple plays and starts to do things he can build that confidence on that. I think the play sheet and the play calling, it being a lot easier and more straightforward that it was in years past, that you can kind of pick it up and flow right in.”
Cruz has also been in the same type of situation as he also spent time on the IR as a rookie and knows how hard it is when you want to be out there, but can’t go. He talked about sharing his thoughts and advice to Odell.
“Yeah, I’ve spoken to him a couple times when he’s asked me just my opinion or just asked me to kind of talk to him a little bit. I just told him to stay locked in mentally, that’s the one thing he can do at this point is to make sure if they ask you any question there should be no excuses, you should know everything that’s being asked of you at every position because that’s your craft right now, that’s all you can be locked in on. He has to understand that. So he’s been doing that in the meeting rooms and he’s been staying locked in and queued in, he’s not been drifting or anything like that, which is a good sign.”
Odell Beckham will sit out this weekend as the Giants play their annual preseason game against the Jets and although Beckham won’t be in the game, Cruz will be and hopes to have a strong outing.
“That’s the way we have to approach it as if this is our game and we have to play to win and act like this is our last chance that we get to rehearse before Week 1 so we’ve got to approach it that way for sure.”
Bobby O’Hara: PureSportsNY