LAND OF THE 3
Giants’ dynamic receiving trio knows offense needs balance
Why not? If this is indeed a Big Three receiver corps, why not feed them the ball more often? Dare opponents to stop the go-go-go of Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Sterling Shepard and Victor Cruz. Go into the brand new U.S. Bank Stadium cauldron of noise in Minneapolis on Monday night and instruct Eli Manning to force-feed his threeheaded monster, daring that formidable Vikings defense to stop them. Well, why not? “No,’’ Cruz told The Post. “Everybody’s a playmaker, no matter who it is. If it’s us three or whoever it is, everybody can make plays on this team and it’s just about finding them and making the right play.’’
There it is: a synopsis of the Giants’ offense under Manning’s direction. The right play is his goal — series after series, game after game, season after season. Do not expect that to change as the Giants, coming off their first loss, without their most versatile running back (Shane Vereen) and most likely without starter Rashad Jennings, attempt to put a dent in a surging Vikings defense.
It likely will come to pass that the pass will be the best way for the Giants to move the ball, but that is not expected to trigger the opening of the Beckham-Shepard-Cruz three-ring circus. Getting the ball in the hands of those three cropped up as a topic after the 29-27 loss to the Redskins.
Manning threw 16 passes in the fourth quarter in that game. He was 8-for-10 for 137 yards when throwing to Beckham, Shepard or Cruz and 2-of-6 for 22 yards and two interceptions when throwing to anyone else.
Beckham was on a roll when Manning spotted single coverage on tight end Will Tye, but the two were not on the same page and Tye gave up on the route, resulting in an interception at the goal line. Cruz had just made a game-saving 18-yard reception on third-and-14 before Manning tried to fit one in to Vereen with a defender on his back, resulting in a game-sealing interception.
Why not stick with what was clicking with the three receivers?
“Everybody has a skill set to win and a skill set to be great, it’s just a matter of putting us in position to get the ball, Eli finding us, whether that’s me or whether that’s Will Tye or whether that’s Bobby Rainey, it doesn’t matter, as long as they’re open and can make the play,’’ Cruz said.
“We’re a team, we’re a family. I think [Manning] understands his job is to always make the right play. I believe my years here, I’ve always seen no matter what the coverage is, no matter what’s happening he’s gonna read it out and get to the right play and get to the right throw. He’s always done that.
“We’ve seen guys like Larry Donnell make great plays. We’ve seen Will Tye make touchdowns. We’ve seen those guys make plays for us. We have tremendous confidence they’ll continue to do so.’’
In the season opener, Manning, on 57 percent of his passes, targeted Beckham, Shepard or Cruz. In Game 2, the Big Three was targeted on 66 percent of passes. In Game 3, it was 55 percent. For the season, Beckham, Shepard and Cruz are getting targeted 60 percent of the time.
“For me, it’s about getting every- one involved and going through progressions,’’ Manning said. “Certain teams might have plays where you might try and get it to certain guys and put guys in a position to get the ball. Depending on the defense, the ball could go a different way. You have to check it down. Maybe someone else is getting single coverage. It’s just about going through my progressions and reads. Not forcing the ball to one person. It’s just about playing the game and not trying to overthink it.’’
Momentum and emotion play a part in this, but they are rarely, if ever, the overriding factors with Manning.
“Obviously as a receiver and you’re passionate about it and you’ll come back and let him know ‘Hey, this guy can’t cover me on this route’ or whatever the case may be,’’ Cruz said. “But you just want to remain diligent and understand you tell him those things that you’re thinking about and then he’ll process them and he’ll go about his business that way.’’
So do not expect Beckham, Shepard and Cruz to come together and commission the writing of a “Give Us The Damn Ball’’ treatise.
“Not at all,’’ Cruz said, smiling. “Unless it becomes a best-seller, then we might have to.’’