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GFB Fan Feedback: Analyzing the Running Game

by J. Williams on June 17th, 2010 at 10:56 am

One of the things that surprised me about the Giants 2010 draft was that they neglected to get a RB prospect. It’s not that a team has to walk away from every draft with a back (though they should at least take a viable UDFA every season), but considering both the lack of production in the 2009 season run game and the fact that every giant RB was coming off of a major injury in 2010, it would have been prudent to walk away with something. I’m big into the prospects that make a name for themselves with production in college and I was hoping especially for Joique Bell out of Wayne State.

At any rate, let’s take a look at some of the reasons that the running game fell apart in the 2009 season:

When the Giants drafted a 6’4”, 264 lb running back, I certainly had my doubts about his ability to be successful in the NFL. Primarily, not having much game tape available of Brandon Jacobs, I thought he would be too slow, too lanky, and too heavy to produce consistently. I didn’t even think of the concept that such a huge back with such a punishing style would, in turn, take a lot of extra punishment. I did wonder if he would take too many blows to the legs. He certainly proved me wrong in respect to being too slow, lanky, or heavy. Jacobs has been good for at least 800 yards the past 3 seasons.

The problem with Jacobs, I’ve come to realize in watching the Giants offense last season, is that featuring a back of his size ties you to the power running game and an offense built around said power running game. And that’s fine. That’s my favorite kind of football and it is among the biggest reasons for the Giants success in 2007 and 2008. However the Giants franchise QB is Peyton Manning’s little brother and the offensive planners, which I’m sure include Eli, want to spread it out and they want to air it out. What you and I witnessed last season was an offense that ran out of single back and shotgun formations more than in the past two seasons.

Being able to run out of those formations is important for the element of subterfuge, which is of growing importance in today’s NFL, but how well does it serve the Giant’s overall game? Jacobs doesn’t get the running start that a guy his size needs to push the pile or break tackles. And he’s a liability in the passing game to boot. Madison Hedgecock, who is built like a textbook linebacker spends way too much time on the sidelines. And the offensive line isn’t run blocking as much. We all know run blocking makes offensive linemen happy. We also know that the Giants line is exceptionally good at it.

Then we have to be aware of how that affected a defense that was already a liability, due to injuries. I thought the 2009 defense took way too much flak coming out of the season. Injuries are injuries. You can’t do anything about guys getting hurt. But you can do something about keeping a hobbled defense off the field. And you do that with the power running game.

Ahmad Bradshaw is my personal favorite RB on the team. He has a great running style. One of the habits that great backs have is that they keep their feet moving. Well Bradshaw keeps both his upper and lower body moving at all times and it gives him incredible balance and tackle breaking ability. He’s also a better passing option than Jacobs. That being, I don’t think Bradshaw is a starter. I think he needs a sizeable contribution from another back to be at his best. Think of how effective Marion Barber when he doesn’t have to be a full-time back.

DJ Ware? Phooey. Has this guy ever not been hurt? Would any team give a player this many chances?

Gartrell who???

Andre Brown has the potential to be a feature back. But at this point that’s all he has, potential. He wasn’t very productive at N.C. State – partly due to injury – and he was hurt coming into his rookie season. He has flashed some good rushing and good receiving skills, but how will a year off affect him and will he ever be able to play a full season?

A major key for the Giants in 2010 will be figuring out the identity of their running game, and transversally, their offense overall. Then they will need to bring in personnel that fit that offensive mode. If they can move in that direction,  an X receiver really emerges as a dominant weapon, and the Giants line gels again like it did in 2007, then the offense will be, as they say, good money.

What do you think? Do you see the Giant rushing attack having a bounce back season? Do you trust in the health of the players? Should the Giants have drafted a RB in 2010?

Keep an eye on – Dominik Hixon is out for the season. That was the Giants’ most developed split end. It’s all about Super Mario Manningham now.