New York Giants: Rueben Randle Earning Praise in Absence of Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks

New York Giants wide receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks have been absent from minicamps and OTAs this spring, so last year’s second-round pick Rueben Randle had a perfect opportunity to take the spotlight and impress his coaches. Being quite the opportunist, Randle has done just that and he has earned the praise of his coaching staff.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has been so impressed with Randle that he says to get familiar with the second-year pro because he will be playing a lot come this fall.

“Rueben you saw emerge from a guy that showed flashes at times and always caught the ball well, but maybe didn’t always run the routes as precisely, as crisply as you wanted, didn’t have quite the understanding you wanted,” Gilbride said, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com. “[Over the past month] he looked like a guy that’s been here for five or six years. He really benefited from the opportunity.”

While Gilbride praised his top wide receiver that has been in camp, he didn’t have as kind of words for the two who have been skipping the workouts.

“They haven’t been working, listening or growing,” Gilbride said. “They haven’t been developing. They haven’t been receiving the coaching that they need to get better. To be quite frank, both of them need it.”

If Cruz and Nicks can return as the players we have expected them to be, along with Randle’s emergence, the Giants passing attack could be more potent than ever.

However, if Cruz and Nicks come out rusty and look like they needed that offseason work, Randle will be prepared to shine.