ONE LAST TEST DRIVE
Giants wrap up preseason with suspect offense and devastating defense
Eli Manning sat. Tom Brady played. Odell Beckham Jr. sat. Victor Cruz played.
The preseason for the Giants is over, thankfully, expiring Thursday night after a 17-9 victory over the Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
“Everybody is excited,’’ Manning said. “We are excited for this year. We know we have some quality players on this team. The defense has been playing great football, so hopefully they can continue to do that and the offense, we will pick it up and score some points.’’
That is the plan as the Giants gear up for the Sept. 11 season opener with the Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. Manning and his mates have not shown much of anything offensively, but they stayed healthy, got Cruz involved and await the real thing.
On the very first play, Ryan Nassib looked deep down the right sideline for Cruz, who did not get much separation on cornerback Malcolm Butler as Nassib’s pass sailed out of bounds. Cruz, coming back after a 22-month injury hiatus, did not have any receptions in his second game back.
“Slowly but surely, I do feel like I’m getting that sudden step back and am being able to get some separation off some defenders,’’ Cruz said.
Cruz did get a step on Butler on one deep route, but Nassib did not spot him.
“He kind of got stuck there for a second and I went around him and put my hand up to no avail, at least this time,’’ Cruz said.
Coach Ben McAdoo said he was impressed with one release off the line in particular from Cruz, calling it “exciting to see.’’ McAdoo said that one release, plus other observations, gave him confidence Cruz can contribute once the real season starts.
“I see him in practice every day and I see the twinkle in his eye,’’ McAdoo said.
As promised, McAdoo sprinkled only a few starters onto the field. Manning, who was held out of the preseason opener, also sat in the finale, as did Beckham and starting center Weston Richburg. McAdoo said the plan heading into the preseason was for Manning to play in only the second and third games.
“Two games is enough,’’ McAdoo said.
The makeshift starting offense, in keeping with this summer’s theme, was dismal. The group went two series, a total of nine plays. The first series was something to behold: Three plays, loss of 10 yards. The second series was not much better, with the only positive play a 13-yard Nassib pass to rookie Sterling Shepard.
Brady, suspended the first four games of the regular season for his involvement in the Deflategate scandal, started for the Patriots at quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo, the substitute while Brady sits out his suspension, did not play. Brady — who had not taken a snap from center in a preseason finale since 2011 — played the entire first half and went 16 of 26 for 166 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Giants were glad they got to work against him.
“Playing chess with one of the best in the history of the game, they responded,’’ McAdoo said.
This was uncharted territory for Pats coach Bill Belichick, who traditionally plays none — or nextto-none — of his starters in the final preseason game.
Tavarres King, a member of the Giants’ practice squad in 2015, continued to be a summer sensation. He hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass from Nassib (16 of 29, 210 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) in the third quarter, after two TD catches last week against the Jets.
“My job is to keep playing at 110 percent and let the chips fall where they may,’’ King said of Saturday’s impending roster cutdown to the 53-player limit.
On defense, the only starters to get in the game were safety Landon Collins and linebacker Devon Kennard. The entire first-team defensive line stayed glued to the sideline. The starting cornerbacks were rookie Eli Apple and Trevin Wade.
Apple looks ready for the real thing, as he continues to show he is difficult to beat. Brady looked deep for his favorite target but Apple ran stride-forstride with Patriots receiver Julian Edelman to break up the play.