Positional Breakdown: RB's

As ballyhooed as Eli Manning’s performance was at the end of last season, the running game was actually the most consistent part of the Giants offensive attack. All season long, and especially in the last twelve games, the Giants offense started with the running game to set up the pass.

The Giants ranked 4th in the league in rushing yards per game with 134.2 and were tied for 3rd in yards per carry at 4.6. Conversely, they ranked 21st in passing yards per game (197.1), and 27th in yards per pass play (6.2). The rushing attack made winning the games in Buffalo, Chicago, and London possible, where the weather and/or field conditions were so bad it made passing nearly impossible.

Out of the final twelve games of the regular season, the Giants rushed for 100 yards in nine of them, had at least one rushing touchdown in seven of them and averaged more than four yards a carry in an amazing ten of them. That type of consistency is hard to come by, and it provides any team a good chance to win, no matter the opponent or conditions. More importantly, it also makes the opposing defensive line and linebackers stay honest on the pass rush, having to stay at home longer to protect the run. Eli Manning’s success on play-action passes should come as no surprise. The backs also did a good job of blitz pick-up, the most improvement coming from Ahmad Bradshaw, who struggled with it in training camp and early in the season.

Perhaps the most impressive part of all these numbers is that the Giants did it with three different starting running backs, and a 4th getting a significant amount of carries late in the season and in the playoffs. To say the team is set at running back would be an understatement. They’re stacked with a good combination of young players, guys in their prime and savvy veterans who all have very different styles and skill sets.

Brandon Jacobs is the primary horse, rushing for more than 1,000 yards on just over two hundred carries to a 5.0 rushing average. The numbers are even more impressive considering he missed five full games and most of a sixth because of knee and hamstring injuries. The 6-4, 264-pound back has the size to run over defenders and found a lot of his success this year running off-tackle where he could square up smaller linebackers and defensive backs. The Giants would like to see him stay healthy for an entire season and cut down on his five fumbles so he can be their true workhorse next season.

2007 was Derrick Ward’s breakout year, but like many of his others, it was cut short by injury. The Giants re-signed him despite an ankle injury that forced him to miss the month of November, and then the broken leg that ended his season against the Bears on December 2. Ward played a key role starting four games early in the season when Jacobs went down, rushing for 80 or more yards four times in the first five weeks. He finished the season with 600 yards and a very impressive 4.8 yards per carry. Despite playing only eight games, he led Giants running backs in catches with 26. A slashing, cutback runner, Ward will compete with Ahmad Bradshaw to fill that change of pace role next season. The biggest key for him is to stay healthy, something he has never been able to do.

Bradshaw was the Giants 7th round pick this season out of Marshall. He was only available that late in the draft because of some off the field issues that dropped his stock. In training camp his speed and quickness were quite apparent, but it wasn’t until the next-to-last game of the regular season that he was able to show his stuff in the backfield. Bradshaw went for 151 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo in Week 15 and went on to lead the Giants in rushing during the playoffs with 208 yards. Ahmad Bradshaw was kept off the field early in the year because of ball control and other fundamental issues, but once he got the playing time he took advantage of it. Bradshaw also had the chance to contribute on special teams, returning 40 kicks to a 23.0 yard average. The Giants expect him to continue to improve and carry his postseason success into next year.

Finally, Reuben Droughns quietly put together a solid season for Big Blue, starting a game and playing a big role in short yardage situations. He finished the season with six touchdowns and was used as the finisher on drives for much of the season. Droughns was also an unexpected contributor on special teams, returning 20 kicks. His locker room presence might have been even more important, providing veteran leadership and savvy to a young crop of running backs. He’s what NFL people call a high character guy.

Don’t forget Madison Hedgecock, the Giants only true fullback. He doesn’t have any individual numbers that can really quantify his effectiveness, other than the success of the backs he blocks for. The mere fact the Giants were able to continue to be effective with any of their four running backs tells the story of their lead blocker. Getting Hedgecock after the Rams cut him has turned out to be a steal for Big Blue. His bruising lead blocks will be opening holes for a long time with the contract extension he signed during the year.

The NFL is now a league where more than one running back is needed to survive. The Giants have four that can all start if needed, and compliment one another if they are all healthy. All four have different strengths, but at the same time, can start. There’s probably no position group the Giants have fewer questions about than running back. There will be a battle for playing time in 2008 from all the backs, but if injuries strike again, all of them will have a chance to contribute like they did in 2007.

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