Out of the total 255 selections in the 2010 NFL draft, the name Victor Cruz would be one that is very easy to forget. This could be because he wasn’t even drafted; Cruz was picked up as an undrafted free agent. Today, if you didn’t know the name Victor Cruz, then you obviously do not follow the NFL.
Cruz could be considered one of the top 5 receivers in the NFL this season, mostly because he has broken the Giants single-season receiving record with 1,536 yards. He falls only behind Lions’ Calvin Johnson with 1,681 yards and Patriots’ Wes Welker with 1,569 yards. Cruz was best in the NFL in yards per catch with 18.7 with at least 45 receptions.
With the ability to make precision cuts in his routes, and the speed to go all the way, the Falcons have a big threat on the opposite side of the ball in Victor Cruz. Against the Jets, Cruz caught a swing pass and sped his way 99 yards for a touchdown, tying the NFL record that can’t be broken for longest reception. Last week against the Cowboys, he was able to catch a short pass and turn it into a 74-yard touchdown that gave the Giants a well needed lead.
These are surprising numbers from a player that only played three games last season before his season ended with a hamstring injury in early October.
Cruz was able to earn a spot on the Giants roster after an explosive preseason, catching six passes for 145 yards against the Jets. With the sudden departure of Steve Smith to the Eagles, and the many injuries of Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, Cruz was able to gain respect from both his own team and the defenses of all of his opponents.
In his only season as a starting wide receiver in the NFL, Cruz was only 422 yards short of his total yards playing at the University of Massachusetts. Many could say that this is due to the explosive play of star quarterback Eli Manning, but without the speed and agility that Cruz has, it is tough for any quarterback to get the opportunities at big time plays down the field.
Now that Cruz is considered a high threat at the receiver position, you can bet that the Falcons defense will put a lot of attention on him in their playoff matchup this Sunday. He is a player that can make a big time play down the field for major yards, or even a touchdown for the New York Giants if you let your eyes slip off of him for just a second.
So far no team has an answer for Victor Cruz, but just being his second season in the NFL, and his first starting, Cruz has a lot of hard work in the coming years if he would like to keep his star performance going for a long time.
