The running back question

by Ed Valentine on Jan 16, 2009 7:00 AM EST in New York Giants News

Next up in my series on off-season questions facing the dethroned New York Giants is the running back situation.

In reality, I don't think this is a question at all. I think it is obvious what the Giants must do.

Brandon Jacobs stays. Derrick Ward goes, unfortunately. Ahmad Bradshaw becomes the No. 2 back.

Brandon Jacobs

Yes, there are questions about his durability. Big backs like Jacobs take a pounding and tend to have shortened careers (see Earl Campbell, Christian Okoye). But, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound Jacobs is the guy who gives the Giants offense its personality, its swagger. Whether offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride recognizes it or not, Jacobs is the one guy on the Giants who is feared by opposing defenses.

He has two straight 1,000-yard seasons, and probably at least a couple more in him before the pounding begins to take its toll.

Jacobs is a free agent and I say pay the man. Forget the durability issues. He is a difference maker, and the Giants have lost too many of those in the last 12 months. They can't let another one walk away.

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Brandon Jacobs	13	219	1089	83.8	5.0	44	15	6	36	2.8	6.0	9	0

Derrick Ward

He's a quality back, but we all know the salary cap won't allow the Giants to keep both him and Jacobs. He has earned his chance to go out and see if someone will pay him the big money to be their featured back -- which is a chance he won't get with the Giants.

If someone will pay him, good for him. If not, maybe he comes back to the Giants at a bargain price. I doubt that, though.

You can be almost certain we have seen the last of DW in New York. I, for one, wish him well.

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Derrick Ward	16	182	1025	64.1	5.6	51	2	41	384	24.0	9.4	48	0

Ahmad Bradshaw

Bradshaw boosters have been clamoring for him to get the ball more for most of the last two seasons. Well, the 2009 season should bring those fans, sometimes called 'Bradshawlics,' much happiness.

Bradshaw should get the 15 or so touches per game that Ward was getting this season. He isn't as big or as fast as Ward, but I have no doubt he can put up similar numbers given the playing time. That, of course, is another reason not to spend money on Ward.

'Earth, Wind & Fire' might be breaking up, but the Giants should still have a dominant running game.

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Ahmad Bradshaw	15	67	355	23.7	5.3	77	1	5	42	2.8	8.4	18	1

Danny Ware

I don't know much about this guy, other than the fact that he was very impressive during the 2008 exhibition season. He has size and speed, and could be a real find for the Giants if they need him.

-- Next week we will look at some of the questions surrounding the Giants' defensive personnel.

The coordinator question
The wide receiver question

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Comments

As you said, Ed,

it’s obvious what the Giants must (and should) do. The Giants can’t afford to pay Ward what he’ll be worth as an FA. Bradshaw and Ware will take up the slack.

by blue gonz on Jan 16, 2009 8:14 AM EST reply actions

I honestly don't think

Ward can be an effective every down back. His success is directly tied to being the change of pace back. I think the Giants will fill his role very easily. This is not meant to diminish Ward’s ability, or his achievments this year, I just don’t think he is irreplaceable by any means.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 16, 2009 8:24 AM EST reply actions

Agreed.

Ward wasn’t particularly effective running on defenses that hadn’t already been softened up by Jacobs.

by django48 on Jan 16, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

Thank you, Jerry Reese

Thanks to JR there is a stable of backs ready to pick up the slack. So, losing DW should not be a big thing.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 16, 2009 8:37 AM EST reply actions

Replace one with the other

Goodbye Ward, hello Danny Ware.

Honestly though, I think the team is fine; so long as they retain Big B.Jake.

by Cody K on Jan 16, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with your analysis, so tell me

if Jacobs is injured, who starts? Bradshaw’s success, like Ward’s, hinges on the pounding Jacobs dishes out.

by TerraByte on Jan 16, 2009 9:02 AM EST reply actions

whoever the number 2 guy is

I think it depends on if Ware is more like Jacobs or more like the others.

If Jacobs is out, we’ll have an average running game instead of an awesome one.

Games he didn’t play with they averaged 3.8ish which is pretty league average.

by Woogie526 on Jan 16, 2009 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

I never get tired of that clip!

by NYcON on Jan 16, 2009 9:41 AM EST reply actions

Haha, Laron Landry.

by squid92 on Jan 16, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

Yes

It allowed us to add ’Laron’ed’ to the English language. LOL!!

by Ed Valentine on Jan 16, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

Bradshaw

Moving him up to the #2 back position would seem to be the logical step, but if’s contingent upon resolving the WR issue and moving Hixon back to return specialist.

by django48 on Jan 16, 2009 9:44 AM EST reply actions

Hixon

could turn sour if he feels coming out of the receiving corps is an undeserved demotion

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Jan 16, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Danny Ware

Ware played at Georgia where his best year was his Freshman year.

by John W on Jan 16, 2009 9:59 AM EST reply actions

Goodbye DW

hello, DW. I think Ware is gonna be good, he showed a lot in the preseason, and had a few good carries in the second half of the Vikings game. I think he can pretty much do what Ward did, if given the chance.

by cjmulrain on Jan 16, 2009 10:18 AM EST reply actions

But Bradshaw should get carries over Ware.

by squid92 on Jan 16, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

right

I’m just saying I think if given the chance, Ware could be a similar back to Ward. Doesn’t mean he’ll get that chance. I don’t think he’ll be the homerun threat Bradshaw is, but I think he could actually be more consistent than AB.

by cjmulrain on Jan 16, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

"Whether offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride recognizes it or not, Jacobs is the one guy on the Giants who is feared by opposing defenses."

He doesn’t.

by squid92 on Jan 16, 2009 11:34 AM EST reply actions

Bradshaw

I’m excited to see his touches increase. The fact that he had no touches in the finale says all you need to know about Gilbride’s inability to gameplan, if you ask me.

Seriously, though – I’m excited to see what this guy can do in the open field on screens, etc. I think he’s a home-run hitter. Maybe next year Gilbride can WAKE THE F* UP and get him in the game.

by Cody K on Jan 16, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions

Bradshaw

I know everyone kills Gilbride over his lack of use of Bradshaw. But, can you point to one team in the league that distributes carries evenly among three backs? I can’t — at least not one with any backs who are any good. It’s virtually impossible to do. Somebody has to get the short straw.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 16, 2009 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

Fair enough....

But my criticism is really about the guy getting the short straw, you know? It would be one thing if Bradshaw wasn’t such a threat. But we all know what the guy is capable of. Bradshaw is INSTANT OFFENSE! So I think I’m just slightly miffed that he didn’t get more of an opportunity.

by Cody K on Jan 16, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

Cody

I understand the Bradshaw thing. But, tell me this. As well as Ward played all year, how do you tell him he has to sit? Either way, a really good back was going to get screwed. Bradshaw’s turn will cme.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 16, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

In the end

it wouldn’t surprise me if Ware had more in his tank than we think.

by giant fan since 57 on Jan 16, 2009 2:09 PM EST reply actions

Me either, 57

What little I saw of him during pre season impressed me, even though he was playing vs other teams’ scrubs.

by blue gonz on Jan 16, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

Jacobs-Bradshaw-Random Late Round Draft Pick will be our trio

And that is just fine, the change b/t Jacobs and Bradshaw is as glaring as any RB combo in the league, so they’ll just need to find a middle guy from the draft or undrafted free agents.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 16, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions

Ware would probably do it over late round draft pick

But I wouldn’t be surprised if we used our last pick to pick someone up.

by squid92 on Jan 16, 2009 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

I know we have to but...

When Jacobs doesn’t have a great back like Ward to back him up, the opposing defences can adjust to his style and stop him much more easily. Neither Bradshaw nor Ware will be able to replace Ward. So if Jacobs is playing most of the game due to lack of any else, the beating will increase and inevitably, he will be injured. Then we will have to rely on Eli’s passing. GOD HELP US.

by ChuckyofNorris on Jan 17, 2009 7:08 PM EST reply actions