Notes, Quotes and Analysis from the NY Giants' Offseason Press Conferences
On Thursday, the New York Giants made a variety of players available to the media following their daily workouts.
Over the course of the 90-minute media session, there was much discussed, including draft choice preferences, rehab schedules, team goals, new puppies, expectations and so much more.
Here is a look at some of the most noteworthy stories to come out of that session.
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Victor Cruz Still Has His Eye on Opening Day
It’s been a long, long road of rehab for receiver Victor Cruz, but in the end, he feels it will have all been worth it.
“There is not a doubt in my mind that I will be back out there playing on the field,” he told reporters on Thursday.
“Obviously, it is just a matter of getting myself back to 100 percent. I definitely, as of right now, there is zero doubts in my mind that I will be playing in that first game and continuing to be at 100 percent playing at the level that I like to be playing at.”
Cruz said he has been running straight lines for almost a month but has not yet attempted cutting.
“Next step is cutting,” he said.
“Just figuring out when that is and listening to the training staff and listening to my body as well about figuring out the right time to start cutting and things like that. We will see how it goes, but it is all under how [the training staff] sees fit and my timing in progressing to the next steps.”
The good news is Cruz believes he is close to reaching that goal.
“I think, personally, I am close to that. It is just a matter of continuing to get stronger, get the leg stronger to be able to start cutting and things like that. I do feel like I am definitely close to that.”
Nat Berhe Welcomes the Upcoming Challenge and the New Defensive Coordinator
Sometimes change is just what the doctor ordered for a NFL team.
That’s how second-year safety Nat Berhe, one of two fifth-round draft picks last year, said he hopes to see change concerning the defensive philosophy between former defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
“Attack,” Berhe said when asked what he wanted to see done differently on defense. “Last year, I felt like we were more reactionary. We just kind of waited and then reacted instead of getting after it.”
Under Spagnuolo, young players like Berhe will certainly get a chance to get after it as far as nailing down a starting position.
The former San Diego State star will be competing with Josh Gordy and Cooper Taylor for one of the open safety spots, and Berhe wants people who are worrying about the lack of experience the Giants have at the position to stop wringing their hands.
“It’s funny how, like last year, people were calling for young guys to play; they wanted us to play, and now that we have the opportunity to play, it’s like, ‘Oh my goodness, the young guys are going to play and everyone is scared.’ It’s kind of funny to me; I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t play.”
Berhe, who like the rest of the defense, both veterans and the incoming rookie class, will all be starting from scratch to learn Spagnuolo’s defense, which in some regards eliminates any advantage one player might have over another.
Berhe believes those who will be called upon to play on defense are those who are willing to be accountable to their teammates and to the coaches.
“Know the playbook, make plays—that’s what it all boils down to,” he said. “Everyone gets caught up in seniority and stuff like that, but if you make plays, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be starting.”
There’s also the communication aspect, which Berhe hinted has improved with Spagnuolo at the helm.
“Coach Spags—I can talk to him,” he said. “I don’t know if I can say that about the last coordinator (Fewell). I mean, he was good, but Coach Spags is someone I can have a conversation with in the halls and stuff like that.”
Despite the opportunities before him, Berhe, who said he’s been able to really get into his training this offseason now that he doesn’t have all the predraft buildup of making team visits and traveling interrupting his schedule, said he’ll be keeping an eye on the draft next week to see if the Giants add anyone to compete at safety.
“I’ll watch it, be interested in it,” he said. “At the same time, there’s nothing I can really do about it. Just let the chips fall where they may.”
Odell Beckham Jr.: I Need to Better Control Myself
During the most recent Pro Bowl, former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin, whose team drafted Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., opined that he hoped last year’s No. 12 overall draft pick never changes his ways.
Per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, Irvin spoke glowingly about Beckham’s competitive fire, which he believes is going to make the young receiver a headache to face if the Giants don’t douse that fire.
"Out of all the people in the world, New York should know better. You can’t take the lion out of the man. They did it to Jeremy Shockey and he wasn’t the same player. Guys like this are a lot like me. They create these fights for themselves and then they come out on Sunday and they fight like a dog. Don’t you stop them from creating those fights.
Don’t calm them down and you’ll get something special. Calm them down and you’ll get the start of something special like we got the start of Jeremy Shockey and then it fell off toward the end. Leave ODB alone.’
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After much reflection, Beckham has concluded that he does indeed need to tone things down, if just a bit, and learn how to play with controlled emotions, eliminating what he characterized as the unnecessary stuff.
“Taking my helmet off or doing anything to draw more attention than what is necessary are definitely things I need to work on,” he told reporters.
Beckham, who has been receptive to constructive feedback from the coaching staff, said he realizes that not every call is going to be in his favor and that things are going to happen that shouldn’t happen over the course of the game.
While better controlling himself is a priority, he admitted it’s going to be a challenge.
“It’s just so hard when you are so passionate about something. It is a tough line not to cross when you care so much about something; it gets the best of you,” he said.
“The biggest thing for me is just controlling my emotions and doing whatever we need to do to win.”
If that means swallowing any frustrations to avoid drawing a penalty flag, there’s no reason to doubt the 22-year-old receiver won’t work on that aspect of his game just as hard as he works on his spectacular one-handed receptions during practice.
“I think it is just a learning process. I was still young, very young. I think it comes with age and time,” he added.
Justin Pugh Talks Dogs, Positions and His Choice for No. 9
By far, the most entertaining player to address the media during the Giants' availability was offensive tackle Justin Pugh, who shared the good news that he adopted a puppy.
“He is wheaten doodle mix, and his name is Murphy,” Pugh gushed. “Someone was trying to get rid of him and I adopted him. We are having a little trouble here with the potty training, but we are getting it down.”
Pugh smiled when someone asked him what position Murphy would prefer he play this year on the offensive line.
“He is going to love me no matter what,” he said. “He just wants me to play my hardest.”
Pugh, who revealed he spent several weeks out in Los Angeles doing some mixed martial arts training, looks notably leaner and stronger from the experience.
“My whole thing this year was wrestling, working on hand violence, working on leverage and playing lower,” he said when asked what his focus was.
“I was out there wrestling Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. There were a bunch of other guys out there. Odell [Beckham Jr.] was out there. Kevin Ogletree. It was great. It was great for me to get out there and have a different type of training. It is body-on-body work and it is working on establishing the center of gravity. It was good.”
At the end of last season, he strongly insisted to Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media that tackle was his best position moving forward.
"I have no intention of ... I really don't like that question [of moving to guard] because I came here to play tackle. If they ask me to move, they ask me to move. You guys keep asking me if I want to move to guard. I think I've done a pretty good job at right tackle, so I plan on staying there.
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Four months later, Pugh softened his stance, even going so far as to praise Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff, whom general manager Jerry Reese said could play guard or tackle, as someone he wouldn't mind lining up next to in the trenches.
“I like the kid from Iowa, just from what I have seen,” Pugh said. “He seems like a tough kid. I have watched a few games on him and that is someone I would like to play to with.”
Even if that means Pugh would probably have to move inside to guard?
“I think if you look at every single Giants offensive lineman that has been here when we won Super Bowls—the David Diehls of this world who moved from guard to tackle and won a Super Bowl playing left tackle when no one thought he could do that. I think that’s something that if you don’t have that mentality in that offensive line room, you’re not going to be successful.”
Whoever the Giants do end up drafting at No. 9, Pugh said he plans to keep watch next weekend.
“I want to see who we get; I am excited,” he said. “We are going to get a guy in here who is going to help us win games, and that is the biggest thing.”
Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.
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