Running Back Roundup
By author
In the past week, three members of the Giants backfield sat down with their media department and talked about how their injuries are responding after several days of training camp. In a nutshell, Ahmad Bradshaw feels tremendous, Brandon Jacobs is fired up about being flexible, and Andre Brown is doing great.
Transcripts and more after the jump
Ahmad Bradshaw has taken the majority of snaps this training camp, and although the coaches have accused the media for reading into it perhaps too much – we have no choice but to take notice. When Bradshaw himself was asked about taking first team snaps, he said he expects more carries this season whether that means he takes the starting snap or not.
"Q: Has your role changed in the offense?A: It just comes that way. I’m expecting a lot more from the offense, and I’m expecting to help out a lot."
It’s no coincidence Bradshaw will see his carries go up, the coaches have been adamant all off-season that the Giants identity will return to form in terms of the ground attack. Reps on the field this training camp have certainly backed it up:
"Q: What are your thoughts about the running game so far this season?A: I think we all feel good out there about the running game. Coaches said we’re going to get back to running the ball this year, and the backs are really excited about it. I think the running game will be good.Q: What have you guys done differently in training camp that you think you’re going to run the ball more?A: We run the ball. In training camp, it takes a lot of repetition. That’s what we’ve been doing. We’ve been really running the ball a lot, a lot more than last year. The run opens up the pass, and the pass opens up the run. I think running the ball will be more effective."
Bradshaw has certainly looked effective. And concerning his injuries, Bradshaw maintains he’s feeling 100%.
"Q: Anything on the field that reminds you of your injuries?A: No. Not at all. I feel great about it. I feel 100 percent compared to last year.Q: When is the last time you felt it?A: Two months after surgery.Q: On the field?A: Last year. After my surgery, I felt tremendous."
Tremendous to hear. But Brandon Jacobs is another member of the Giants backfield that feels quite good post-surgery.
"Q: How are things feeling so far this camp?A: I feel good. My body is good. I feel fast. I’m just coming in and getting some work in, and getting a little sweat going. I’m trying to get ready for the long grind that is coming up."
Jacobs said one thing he’s done differently this off-season is change up his routine in terms of training, less power lifting and more focus on flexibility and endurance.
"Q: How much better do you feel this year?A: I feel better this year than I have felt since my third year in the league. I feel really good. I’ve done a couple things this offseason to prepare myself for the season, and doing certain core work and hip flexibilities. Things that I need to do. I don’t want to work on too much strength because I’m getting older and I don’t need strength. I’m getting older, and I want to keep my body durable and flexible to do this grind.Q: What made you make a change in your offseason workout?A: I just realized that all the strength stuff isn’t benefitting me: the dead lifts and the power lifts. I’m 28 years old, you know. I came out of the womb strong. I don’t need that. You can lift weights to a certain extent to maintain your strength, and that’s what I did. I didn’t look to build strength, I just looked to maintain strength. I just need to be more flexible. My muscles need to be more flexible so it wouldn’t be all the pulling muscles. That’s the type of stuff that I decided to work on just because it’s a long grind, and you have to last."
Jacobs’ focus on flexibility, particularly in his hips is going to benefit him numerous ways this season — we’re just starting to see some minor changes in camp. Increased flexibility leads to more control and a greater sense of balance. It lends increased focus to how your body responds to stresses, and it allows you to fine tune your technique to a much greater degree. This is something I’ve personally experienced with extensive Yoga training for both jogging and golf. I’m a firm believer in it, and I look forward to seeing Brandon Jacobs rebound in 2010. Jacobs certainly has his goals set as high as they’ve ever been.
"Q: Both you and Ahmad were banged up last season, and Ahmad said you guys are roommates and talk a lot about coming back strong together:A: No question. Every night we sit there, we play Call of Duty, and talk about us coming back and being a force that we need to be. We want to be up in the top two or three of the league, where we have always been. We built a house on the top of the hill. We need to go back and knock at that door, and New Orleans better let us in again."
Ahmad Bradshaw certainly echoes the sentiment:
"Q: You know Brandon Jacobs as well as anybody…how hungry is he this year?A: We have some hunger in our room. Me and Brandon are roommates, and we talk everyday about how hungry we are and how excited we are to be running this team."
But one player eager to make his mark and perhaps take over the third position in the rotation is Andre Brown, the second year rookie who was lost for all of last season due to a ruptured Achilles. He remains hopeful he can make it back to 100% this season as well.
"Q: Tell us about your injury and how you are progressing:A: When they told me that I ruptured my Achilles, I never heard of someone rupturing their Achilles and coming back full strength. We have good doctors out here. I feel pretty good, and I’m back out there running and having fun.Q: What are you doing right now to help facilitate your comeback?A: Basically just running. A couple months ago, I thought it wouldn’t happen. Now, I’m out there running and playing football again. I’m enjoying every minute of being out there.Q: In the spring, I think you and the coaches both said it wasn’t going to happen:A: Yes, in the spring my foot wasn’t as strong as we wanted it to be. Then, as mini-camp came, I felt stronger and I made a couple cuts. I started feeling better. When training camp got here, I made some cuts and it was great. I felt good about it.Q: Is it great like normal or is it great like great for after my injury?A: It’s just great. Let’s just use great."
But Brown isn’t the only one trying to solidify their role this season. DJ Ware will be competing with brown for the third string spot on the roster. Both Brown and Ware believe they have something to offer in the third down back role, especially when it comes to catching the ball out of the backfield.
"Q: If you and Ware are both healthy, could the screen passes become a big part of the offense?A: I’m pretty sure it will. I’m just going into this year with the coaches wanting me to be a role player, whether it’s on special teams, or third downs, or catching screens, I’m just happy to be playing football again. I’m going to take advantage of every opportunity they give me. I’m going to go out there and make it work."
One area where Brown may be able to provide a real spark to the Giants offense may come even before the offense even takes the field. Kickoff returns.
"Q: Do you like kickoffs?A: Yeah, I do. It’s another shot for me to make some plays.Q: How much have you done returning kickoffs in the past?A: I’ve done kickoff returns in college. I did it through high school. I’m comfortable back there and I’m deep, so I’m going to make a play.Q: What do you bring out there to kickoff returns?A: I’m a little faster out there. I’ll be able to make a couple moves and a couple cuts, and let’s see what happens."
I for one cannot wait to see Brown on the field during the exhibition games. It’s one of the few things I’m looking forward to about preseason games. We haven’t really seen Andre Brown in prime time yet, it may end up being that pleasant surprise for the Giants that Hakeem Nicks turned out to be for the receiving core.
As Tom Coughlin likes to say, we’ll see.
Looking forward to Monday night.
[transcripts via]