It feels like the New York Giants built a time machine that's sending them right back to the peak Tom Coughlin era. Now that John Harbaugh is at the helm, the philosophy feels eerily similar to what they did in the early-to-mid 2010s, which worked out when Coughlin led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories.
Those Giants teams were predicated on a stout defense, a tough run game, and a QB as reliable as they come, so I see the parallels. By the looks of it, Harbaugh is not yet satisfied with the state of this run game despite boasting the strong two-headed backfield of Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Due to Harbaugh's desire to make Big Blue a run-heavier offense, ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported that there have been rumblings at the combine that the G-Men could be key players in the running back market this offseason, naming Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne, and Notre Dame star RB Jeremiyah Love as potential options.
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Raanan's report backs up a rumor that the Giants are seriously considering drafting Love with their fifth overall pick. But beyond the Saquon Barkley flashbacks he triggered, it confirmed the 63-year-old's desire to rehash the Coughlin days by making this offense more physical than it's been in some time.
John Harbaugh is hoping to take a page out of Tom Coughlin's playbook with the Giants
Skattebo is the running back who will run through a defender's face, while Tracy is the more elusive third-down back. On paper, the results should be foolproof, and they were, as New York finished fifth in rushing offense despite Skattebo's season ending prematurely due to a gruesome ankle injury.
However, we have no idea how the Arizona State product will respond to such an injury, while his backfield-mate is not suited to lead a backfield on his own. He is best suited as a situational running back, while someone like Love or Walker could spearhead a dangerous rushing attack from the jump.
In my eyes, the reigning Doak Walker Award winner is the best RB prospect since Bijan Robinson, but using such a premium draft pick on him when this roster has so many holes would be a mistake. The best course of action would be to sign a bell cow and draft an impact defender like Caleb Downs.
The offense is still set to undergo sweeping changes with Harbaugh coming in. He has his old friend Greg Roman leading the run game (where Jaxson Dart's mobility will also play a factor), while Matt Nagy and Brian Callahan will be playing an active role in Dart's development in a foolproof plan.
His offensive approach emulates what Coughlin did with Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs (and briefly David Wilson), so adding a true home-run hitter out of the backfield will only make an emerging offense more dangerous.