Coach's Big Decision: Splitting carries
October, 21, 2012
10/21/12
8:00
AM ET
By
Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
Ahmad Bradshaw is questionable for Sunday's game, having missed Wednesday's and Friday's practice with a foot injury, but he should play against the Redskins. While the running back is coming off back-to-back 100-yard games and has played great, the big decision will be how to use him and the other backs.
While you want to ride a back when he's playing as well as Bradshaw is, if the Giants continue to use him like this, they will wear him down and possibly open him up to further injuries. Bradshaw has rushed the ball 57 times the last two weeks, and has struggled to stay healthy during his career. Continuing to give him the ball 25-plus times might not be what the Giants want to do to keep him running smooth.
If the Giants decide to cut back on Bradshaw's carries, they will then have to choose how to split them between Andre Brown and David Wilson. Brown played really well before his concussion, and this will be his first game back. In the past two games, though, Wilson has played his best football, scoring a touchdown and showing why the Giants invested a first-round pick in him.
If Brown hadn't missed time with a concussion, it might be an easy decision to just go with him and let him get the majority of the complementary carries. With this being his first game back, the Giants might not be as quick to just insert him back in there. Wilson's play also gives the Giants something to think about, since he has the type of big-play ability the other backs don't have.
The Giants' running game has looked as good the past two weeks as it has all season. Bradshaw is running with authority, and the offensive line is blocking like it's 2008. The Giants might focus on passing the ball against the Redskins, but they're certainly going to run the ball a fair share. How they divide up those carries will be something worth keeping an eye on.
While you want to ride a back when he's playing as well as Bradshaw is, if the Giants continue to use him like this, they will wear him down and possibly open him up to further injuries. Bradshaw has rushed the ball 57 times the last two weeks, and has struggled to stay healthy during his career. Continuing to give him the ball 25-plus times might not be what the Giants want to do to keep him running smooth.
If the Giants decide to cut back on Bradshaw's carries, they will then have to choose how to split them between Andre Brown and David Wilson. Brown played really well before his concussion, and this will be his first game back. In the past two games, though, Wilson has played his best football, scoring a touchdown and showing why the Giants invested a first-round pick in him.
If Brown hadn't missed time with a concussion, it might be an easy decision to just go with him and let him get the majority of the complementary carries. With this being his first game back, the Giants might not be as quick to just insert him back in there. Wilson's play also gives the Giants something to think about, since he has the type of big-play ability the other backs don't have.
The Giants' running game has looked as good the past two weeks as it has all season. Bradshaw is running with authority, and the offensive line is blocking like it's 2008. The Giants might focus on passing the ball against the Redskins, but they're certainly going to run the ball a fair share. How they divide up those carries will be something worth keeping an eye on.

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