Giants RB's

by Madhops on Nov 22, 2011 3:39 PM EST

A couple of musings on the Giants running game. Not anything prolific, some feelings I haven't read in a lot of other places. It is easy to blame the line which is terrible. But what role (if any) have the backs had?

Our current stable of healthy RB's is not very good. A couple of observations. A great running back has tremendous vision, balance, speed and strength plus good hands and awareness.

Ahmad Bradshaw: Great Vision, Great Balance, Good Strength, Good Hands, Average Straight Line Speed. He can make a 5-25 yard gainer out of very little. His only weakness that I see in his game (besides injuries) is he does not have elite straight line speed. That said he is a top flight RB. Unfortunately he is hurt.
Brandon Jacobs: Average Vision, Great Strength, Poor Hands, Below Average Straight Line Speed (he seems to have lost a step), Disappointing Balance (How does he get stood up and tripped up so easily so often?). Jacobs at this stage of his career is a nice change of pace back. (See Marion Barber in Chicago.) He is great for some niche plays, but doesn't seem to have a consistent burst throughout the game. He also has an annoying habit of tiptoeing into the hole which with our line will last a mili-second. He also has zero chance of busting a run from scrimmage for more than 20 yards. Rocky Bernard could run him down from behind.
DJ Ware: Average Vision, Average Strength, Above Average Hands, Average Straight Line Speed, Average Balance. Ware seems to me to be... well... average. He is a nice #3 back on a team with a good line. His problem is he is on a team with a bad line. He can pull off a long run here and there, but he is no threat to take it to the house. Again I see him as a nice #3 back with no skills that stand out as exceptional.
Darell Scott: Poor Vision was his knock coming out of college. Of course we haven't seen enough of him to be sure but it seems like his vision is not elite. Strength Average (?) I haven't seen enough to make a fair rating. Hands (All I know is they are better than Devin Thomas'), Straight Line Speed, elite. Probably one of the 10 fastest straight line backs in the NFL. Balance (?) Seems at least average but the jury is still out.

One of the things that strikes me about our backs is that Scott is the only one who has the speed to take an 80 yard run to the house. With Bradshaw hurt our backs are not going to scare anyone when we line up at our own 20. Chances are if we run it they will stuff us at the line. But, even if it is blocked well, our backs aren't much of a threat to take it past the 30. The lack of fear is hurting out pass game. Teams can drop extra guys into coverage double team Nicks with safeties deep and look to choke the passing game.
Few of my suggestions.

Keep working Scott in more. He is the only healthy back right now who I believe has big play potential. I would like to see him isolated on an LB in coverage (kinda like the Eagles did with Shady on Kiwi). See if you can hit him deep out of the backfield.
Make Jacobs run straight inside the tackles. I'm so sick of him tiptoeing around the edges. Tell him to get three yards and a cloud of dust ala Rodney Hampton.
Pray for Ahmad Bradshaw. He is by far our best back. Remember how the running game was coming around (relatively speaking) before he got hurt?

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Soctt had one nice carry sunday

and fumbled. Didnt see another snap all game. Kid has to learn to hold onto the ball before he gets more playing time.

by Plaxico Burress on Nov 22, 2011 3:50 PM EST reply actions

He caught a pass after that play.

The greatest player ever!!!

by terellchewy on Nov 22, 2011 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Correction

It wasn’t a fumble… Ground can’t cause a fumble and that was the ruling on the field… Our coaching staff r asses for not leaving him in…

by nyfinest314 on Nov 23, 2011 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

it was a fumble.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Nov 23, 2011 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, our running backs are kind of a problem

BUT that being said, they have no O-Line. Even with a good O-Line, AB is too injury prone to last a whole season. BJ goes down via arm tackles, which even though I know he won’t break a tackle I get amazed at how easy it is to take down such a big guy. Ware is exactly what you said, average. Scott, well I’d like to see more of him but we really don’t know what he can or can’t do yet.

by #56 4life on Nov 22, 2011 4:39 PM EST reply actions

i have been saying this for a few yers about Jacobs

He’s the best at what he does. Unfortunately, what he does means he needs a decent hole. If he can get that hole, he’ll make anyone from a LB-er to a DB PAY for getting in his way

on the other hand

no hole — no cut back ability, not shifty, not overaly fast…can’t catch… If you can clog up the holes he turns into Ron Dayne.

I have gotten KILLED for saying that here, but..that’s the god’s hoenst truth about b jac

The only back that can do damage with the current blocoking is bradshaw…cut back ability, speed, shiftiness, and can catch….all things that can mask poor blocking

JoeD AKA The Voice Of Reason

by Joe_D on Nov 22, 2011 8:32 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

braadshaw

unfortunately, are blocking has been so horrendous, Bradshaw wouldn’t really do “damage”… Maybe more positive gains, but not damage. This is the worst line in yearssss for the g-men

by nyfinest314 on Nov 23, 2011 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

2nd and 7 would be a heck of s lot better than

2nd and 11 which is what we get now

It could be worse. I could be a Jets fan.

by Madhops on Nov 23, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

and..

And are running game would still be shitty with the 3 yard difference…. Lets be serious, we have even heard Bradshaw complain before he got hurt, and fans say, shut up and make a play….LOL Its laughable for fans to say that when there is nowhere to run… We need to get Scott more touches!!! Deactivate Devin Thomas and move Andre brown onto the active roster , because going in to a game with only two healthy running backs is a great cause for concern,

by nyfinest314 on Nov 23, 2011 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

Agree 100%

It could be worse. I could be a Jets fan.

by Madhops on Nov 22, 2011 11:30 PM EST reply actions

Exactly how I feel about Ware

completely average back

Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.
-John Madden
[Jake Ballard] has 4 speeds actually:
Stop→Slow→Truck (he shifts into that when its time to carry 4 defenders for another 4 yards)→LEAP!
-Raptor 22

by Willgfass on Nov 23, 2011 1:05 AM EST reply actions

3 yards and a cloud of dust

nice post

Details of the operations of an interstate dog fighting ring were revealed, with some portions involving drugs and gambling. Gruesome details involving abuse, torture and execution of under-performing dogs ... He admitted to being involved in the destruction of 6–8 dogs, by hanging or drowning...

by Simms-McConkey on Nov 23, 2011 11:57 AM EST reply actions

RBs

Bradshaw-chronically injured. Absolutely love the way he runs but ultimately his toughness will severely limit his career. His speed through the hole, vision and cutback ability are top notch. At times, defenders seem unable to tackle him simply because of his sheer determination. In a one game, two or three game stretch, I would take Bradshaw but over a season the odds are against him.
Scott-great burst. I, and many others, were surprised he wasn’t used more in the Philly game. Give the kid a chance. At times, we seem to make a conscience effort to keep explosive players off the field. Let him spin!!!
Jacobs/Ware-ineffective. Why bother writing any more about them, one word sums it up.
We need an RB with balance: size, speed and durability. A bell cow RB. AB needs to supplement the run game not carry the load. Injuries, size, durability prevent AB from being that guy. History has proven it. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Consider the opportunities when defenses have been pounded by a physical and powerful straight-line runner for 2 1/2 quarters then have to deal with AB’s shiftiness.
A few RBs in the draft should be available day 2 and beyond: Montee Ball Wisconsin, Lamar Miller Miami, Chris Polk Washington, David Wilson VTech…out of the bunch I like Polk the best. All of these RBs are heavier than 210 with a good top end speed. YouTube their highlights. I like the way we draft (BPA). If one of these players falls to us in Round 2, I think Reese has to consider them. Thoughts?
I miss Joe Morris

by Ghamilton05 on Nov 23, 2011 3:08 PM EST reply actions

Bradshaw needs a reliable compliment

Which Jacobs has not been (due to injury and our line). Ideally, would like to see Bradshaw fight for the tough yards early, limited to ~15 carries or so. The tough yards early on is what helps get the passing game going, momentum building. That opens things up for a change-up back (this is what Scott will hopefully develop into down the road). He gets 8-10 carries in the ideal 1-2.

Bradshaw is also one of the best blocking running backs in the league. Unless he falls apart completely, he won’t be going anywhere for a long time.

by Max Schwager on Nov 26, 2011 2:22 AM EST up reply actions