Training camp preview: The RBs
July, 20, 2010
7/20/10
11:03
AM ET
By
Ohm Youngmisuk | ESPNNewYork.com
Our training camp preview of each unit continues with the running backs.
Unit: Running backs
Depth Chart: (RBs) Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, D.J. Ware, Andre Brown, Gartrell Johnson. (FBs) Madison Hedgecock, Jerome Johnson.
On the Bubble: G. Johnson, J. Johnson.
Player to Watch: Bradshaw. He’s feeling new again with surgically-repaired feet and ankles. If the explosion returns, Bradshaw is a big-play waiting to happen again. And if Bradshaw is productive and Jacobs struggles, could No. 44 steal more carries?
Wild Card: Brown. Last year’s fourth-round pick suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during training camp. Now Brown hopes to be healthy and ready to battle Ware for the third running back job in training camp. He can catch out of the backfield and can run with power. The Giants can use another Derrick Ward.
Analysis: The Giants running game stalled big time last season. For the first time since 2001, a Giants rusher failed to crack 1,000 yards rushing. Jacobs (knee) and Bradshaw played hurt last season and are both coming off offseason surgeries. They have declared themselves ready to redeem themselves this season.
If the Giants are to return to form, Jacobs and Bradshaw must re-establish the running game with a one-two punch again. Jacobs averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season after rushing for 5.0 yards per carry the previous two seasons. Head coach Tom Coughlin could also use a third running back and Ware and Brown will battle for that spot with Gartrell Johnson as an outside possibility. The third running back must be able to catch out of the backfield and protect Eli Manning. Brown is still making his way back from a serious Achilles injury but he has shown flashes during offseason practices.
Unit: Running backs
Depth Chart: (RBs) Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, D.J. Ware, Andre Brown, Gartrell Johnson. (FBs) Madison Hedgecock, Jerome Johnson.
On the Bubble: G. Johnson, J. Johnson.
Player to Watch: Bradshaw. He’s feeling new again with surgically-repaired feet and ankles. If the explosion returns, Bradshaw is a big-play waiting to happen again. And if Bradshaw is productive and Jacobs struggles, could No. 44 steal more carries?
Wild Card: Brown. Last year’s fourth-round pick suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during training camp. Now Brown hopes to be healthy and ready to battle Ware for the third running back job in training camp. He can catch out of the backfield and can run with power. The Giants can use another Derrick Ward.
Analysis: The Giants running game stalled big time last season. For the first time since 2001, a Giants rusher failed to crack 1,000 yards rushing. Jacobs (knee) and Bradshaw played hurt last season and are both coming off offseason surgeries. They have declared themselves ready to redeem themselves this season.
If the Giants are to return to form, Jacobs and Bradshaw must re-establish the running game with a one-two punch again. Jacobs averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season after rushing for 5.0 yards per carry the previous two seasons. Head coach Tom Coughlin could also use a third running back and Ware and Brown will battle for that spot with Gartrell Johnson as an outside possibility. The third running back must be able to catch out of the backfield and protect Eli Manning. Brown is still making his way back from a serious Achilles injury but he has shown flashes during offseason practices.
Ohm Youngmisuk
ESPNNewYork.comOhm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ohm Youngmisuk
Ohm Youngmisuk has covered New York sports since 1997. He has covered the NFL, Giants and Jets since 2006. He joins ESPNNewYork after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
Jane McManus
Jane McManus has covered sports in the New York area since 1998, and began covering football just before Brett Favre's stint with the Jets. Her work has also appeared in Newsday, USA Today, The Journal News, The Cincinnati Enquirer and The New York Times.
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TEAM LEADERS
| PASSING | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Eli Manning
|
|||||||||||
| RUSHING | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | ||||||||
| A. Bradshaw | 171 | 659 | 3.9 | 9 | ||||||||
| B. Jacobs | 152 | 571 | 3.8 | 7 | ||||||||
| RECEIVING | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | ||||||||
| V. Cruz | 82 | 1536 | 18.7 | 9 | ||||||||
| H. Nicks | 76 | 1192 | 15.7 | 7 | ||||||||
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