New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, who was still sidelined nursing a calf injury, did not like what he saw during last Saturday's match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He told NJ.com that he believed the Jaguars secondary were 'gunning' for Odell Beckham Jr., the second year pro from LSU.
"I was a little unhappy last week," Cruz said on Tuesday. "I felt some of those [defensive backs] were gunning for him. It was sad to see that go down because I couldn't help him. I couldn't go out there on the field and run routes with him. I couldn't take some of the pressure off him and things like that."
During Saturday's match-up against the Jaguars, Odell Beckham Jr. was targeted five times, but he did not have a single reception for the entire game.
The way Cruz saw it was that the Jaguars safeties were trying to give big hits on Beckham, even though he does not specifically call the players out, which were both of the Jaguars starting safeties in the game, free safety Sergio Brown and strong safety Craig Loston.
"From the line you could see it right when you're running the route and you're running a vertical route," Cruz said. "You take a peek at the safety and see where he is before you look at the ball and you just see him head down trying to spear you. You can see that from a mile away."
However, the veteran receiver also seemed to get the backing of Beckham Jr. himself.
"This year, that's just what the case is going to be," Beckham said of being targeted while speaking to ESPN Radio's The Michael Kay Show on Tuesday afternoon. "So, protect yourself. I know that, by the time the season comes, on those plays I'm going to have to sit there and take the hit, because I want to catch the ball and I want [quarterback] Eli [Manning] to keep throwing those balls and him giving me opportunities."
Odell Beckham also did acknowledge the Jaguars safeties coming toward him on deep throws attempted his way on last Saturday's match-up, as well.
"Even towards the back end of the season, I know there were plays just like in this preseason that guys have an opportunity to make a play on the ball and they're not making a play on the ball," Beckham said. "Instead they're going towards me. I know it's part of the game and I'm not going to be the one to sit there and complain about it. But it's just like, man to man, if you have a chance to make a play, make a play. Don't make the play on me or try to blow me up."
People had criticism of Odell Beckham trying to control his temper on a few occasions last season, as on one play from last Saturday's game, he got into the face of Sergio Brown after a pass went flying over his head.
Beckham has spoken several times this offseason about his need to control his temper and emotions during games when opponents are trying to needle or attack him.
"I talked a lot last year about just having mental strength and being able to control your emotions," Beckham said in an interview with ESPN earlier this summer. "I feel like I've been a lot better about it, maybe because we haven't been in a game or playing against another team. I don't know. I just genuinely love playing football, have such a passion for it, that it's hard sometimes not to be frustrated with something not going right. But it comes with the game, and you just take it and learn from it."
Some of the Jaguars secondary also responded to the comments made by both receivers, as Sergio Brown responded, "No. That's just football. It's a preseason game. That's how you play football in the NFL. It's not practice. It's live, so if they throw the ball up, you've got to be prepared to catch it or protect yourself. No gunning."
Cornerback Davon House also had some words on the situation on Tuesday.
"I don't know if he was frustrated from what Sergio did or what he thinks Sergio might have done, or if he was just frustrated because he wasn't getting enough balls," House said. "I don't know. It's a better question for Odell to answer and their offense."
It should be a good sign for the young Jaguars secondary that they seem to be getting into the head of one of the most prominent, young receivers in the game. The first-team defense came out to play defense for the Jags, and they seemed to deliver big time by shutting Beckham down. All-in-all it sure has been an interesting preseason for both teams, both looking to improve from two respectively disappointing seasons in 2014.
