Victor Cruz – 100 Yard Game

Sep 25, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) runs with the ball as Washington Redskins strong safety Brandon Meriweather (31) attempts the tackle in the third quarter at FedEx Field. The Giants won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Lost amid the TD’s of Larry Donnell and Eli Manning was the performance of the Giants offensive star and weapon of choice, Victor Cruz.
 
The Salsa dancing New York Giants receiver had six receptions for 108 yards with a long of 36. Sure, it wasn’t the best game in the annals of Cruz play, but it was a step in the right direction. Also, it can be directly correlated to the Giants getting Larry Donnell and Rashad Jennings going the last couple games.

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In the West Coast Offense, it’s about options, and the more legitimate progressions Eli has to go through per play, the more likely Victor Cruz will see coverage he can exploit. As a brilliant slot receiver, Victor Cruz is incredible against single coverage. However, if a team focuses on chipping Cruz at the line and throwing him off his game and routes, he becomes less effective.

With Eli Manning learning the WCO and how to blast through his progressions finding the open man, it allows guy like Victor Cruz to face a few more manageable scenarios which helps everyone on the Giants offense. That’s the beauty of Bill Walsh’s system as the more productive it becomes, the more the plays build off one another’s success — opening up the play action and the built-in screen game off every successful formation. Basically, the WCO becomes like a car that runs on nothing but initially turning on. As it becomes self-sustaining through its’ success and runs longer and better do to the options it creates for itself.

At the same time, if Eli and Larry never get going, Victor’s Cruise control fails to “Cruz” and the Giants are in a stalled vehicle. For now however, the Giants are Cruz’in.