Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

Here is my analysis of Brandon Jacobs, running back of the New York Giants: 1) Speed: B+ While casual fans often don’t think of Brandon as fast due to his massive size, he does run a 4...

Brandon Jacobs: An Analysis Of The New York Giants' RB

by Jeremy Kaufman (Columnist)

10

1,893 reads

Opinion

May 25, 2008


Here is my analysis of Brandon Jacobs, running back of the New York Giants:

1)     Speed: B+

While casual fans often don’t think of Brandon as fast due to his massive size, he does run a 4.5 40, which is incredibly fast for any power running back. Although many skeptics have argued otherwise, Brandon does have the speed to be a home run threat when asked to do so.

 

2)     Run Power: A+

Brandon just may be the most powerful runner in football. At 6’4, 264 pounds, he certainly is the largest. Brandon has learned to run low and punishes defenders with his shoulder pads. In this respect, Brandon Jacobs may be the scariest running back in football.

 

3)     Agility: B-

Ok, he may not have the same moves as a Tomlinson or a Willie Parker, but with his size, who needs moves? However, Brandon has shown the ability to juke defenders out, so I feel a B- is a fair rating.

 

4)     Vision: B+

Brandon runs with good vision of the field, as he shows the ability to cut back and find the open lane. And if there are no lanes to run through, he makes them.

 

5)     Receiving: B-

Brandon Jacobs is an adequate receiver, but there’s still improvement to be made in the area. However, I expect this facet of his game to improve in time.

 

6)     Pass Protection: B

Currently, Brandon is pretty good in pass protection. However, with his size he certainly has the potential to be better. Within a couple of years, I can see Brandon becoming a monster in pass protection.

 

Overall: B+

Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

10 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

    I love Jacobs. He gave me a good finishing back in the last weeks of fantasy football.

    And the most powerful back in the NFL? That's quite a statement.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Jeremy Kaufman about 1 year ago

      It is quite a strong statement, although I definitely believe its a truthful one. Personally, Brandon Jacobs is my favorite player currently in the NFL, and I think he's all ready an All- Star caliber back.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  2. Michael Schlossberg about 1 year ago

    Jacobs is about as powerful a tailback in the NFL he lead the league last year in percentage of carries for 5 yards+.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  3. Osi Umenyiora about 1 year ago

    He is perhaps the most powerful back in the NFL, which makes it very frustrating to me that the Giants used Reuben Droughns in most of the short yardage situations last year. Droughns wasn't bad but Jacobs is better.

    I generally agree with those ratings, though I would give a lower grade for receiving. Maybe a C or even C-.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    1
    )

    • Jeremy Kaufman about 1 year ago

      Yea, it was really frustrating to me to see Droughns getting all of the goal line carries last year, although I know that was only because Coughlin wanted to make Rueben feel involved in the offense. As far as the recieving, I guess a C+ or C could have been fair, although I gave him some extra credit for his tendency to catch the short pass, and then bowl over defenders for the extra yards. Either grade would have been fair though. Thanks for reading.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Osi Umenyiora about 1 year ago

      I'm not sure Coughling cares about anyone feeling involved in the offense. I think he just has a scheme and mindset where the feature #1 back should be different from the goal line guy. That was fine when Tiki was the #1 back, but when you have Brandon you should use him for what he does best.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  4. Steve DiBona about 1 year ago

    Jacobs is an absolute beast. Every time a DB is forced to make an openfield tackle on him, they are not the same player for the rest of the game. Bradshaw-Jacobs is the potentially the best one-two punchy in the league right now; talk about complementing eachother. P.S. Who better to uphold Rodney Hampton's legacy than a guy like Bandon? 27 baby!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  5. Jon H about 1 year ago

    He's there on blocking at an A. Ask ELI his ranking. See SB touchdown pass to Plax. See who Eli hugged first.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Jeremy Kaufman about 1 year ago

      I know Brandon's a big guy, and he IS my favorite player in the NFL, but his blocking simply isn't at that level yet. I think he will get there in time, but right now, his blocking isn't at the same level as Clinton Portis, Ladanian Tomlinson, and Brian Leonard. However, Brandon's blocking was very good in the Super Bowl, and it is definitely possible for him to be an A in that category someday.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  6. John Fennelly about 1 year ago

    I agree he's still got a ways to go

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.