Despite drops, Sharp states case in return game with TD
EAST RUTHERFORD » Knowing that he needed to make a play during what has been an up-and-down preseason, Hunter Sharp provided the biggest highlight of the Giants’ 22-16 preseason win Friday night against the Jets.
With four minutes left in the first quarter, Sharp sparked the Giants with a 55-yard punt return — the team’s only touchdown of the game.
“Really smart play, an explosive play that got us going,” head coach Pat Shurmur said.
Sharp, a third-year pro vying to make the 53-man roster as a return specialist, made a sharp cut to his right, juked to his left and angled down the right sideline before stiff-arming linebacker Neville Hewitt at the 18-yard line. He capped it off by leaping over the pylon into the end zone.
“That’s like my little signature right there,” Sharp said with a laugh of his stiff-arm. “You don’t really practice it. You don’t get the chance to because we never get to go full in practice. But when you get a chance, you just got to be angry with it.”
Janoris Jenkins set the first block on the play. RayRay Armstrong and Roger Lewis also set key blocks along the sideline.
“I kind of got a jump on it and then my return team set up a great wall. I had great blocks the whole way and it kind of just convoyed me into the end zone,” Sharp said. “I feel like I’m a playmaker, so I feel like I can bring a lot to the team if I just get the opportunity. And I have to take advantage of every opportunity I get.”
The flip side for Sharp on Friday night was that he dropped two key thirddown passes that would have extended drives. The first was a tad overthrown by Eli Manning over Sharp’s shoulder going across midfield, but it still grazed Sharp’s fingertips. The second was on a crossing route inside the Jets’ 30-yard line, and the ball hit him square in the chest.
“It’s honestly hard for me even to be happy about the touchdown because I have high expectations for myself,” Sharp said. “It’s been a concentration thing. Got to keep my head in the game and just keep working. The more work I get, the easier it gets.”
Sharp also dropped a pass in the preseason opener, then bobbled two balls on special teams last week in Detroit including a fumbled kickoff return that teammate Wayne Gallman recovered.
Sharp admitted he might be “thinking too much” but isn’t sure why his ball security hasn’t translated from practice to preseason games yet.
Still, Shurmur said he has “really liked what he’s done through training camp,” and drops in the receiving game should have little bearing as Sharp would see few targets in the regular season.
Odell Beckham Jr. has not played yet, Cody Latimer is the third receiver and Russell Shepard appears next in line if injuries strike. Sharp and Kalif Raymond are likely competing for one roster spot as a returner.
As the preseason starter, Sharp is averaging 25.3 yards on three kick returns (long of 42) and 15.5 yards on six punt returns. Raymond, by comparison, has returned three kicks for an average of 13.3 yards and seven punts for an average of 12.6 yards.
“I don’t want to say anything, but I think I’ve put my best foot forward, and I’m just going to keep working,” said Sharp, whom was signed off the Broncos’ practice squad last December.