New York Giants 2008 Positional Analysis: The Backfield

He showed his ability to be a short-yardage back in his first two years, picking up a handful of touchdowns in each season while rarely ever getting stuffed at the line (unlike former “power back” Ron Dayne). This past season, Jacobs missed multiple games with a series of leg injuries that puts into question his ability to remain healthy for a full 16-game season.

What We Know

When healthy, Brandon Jacobs is a force to reckon with. He has a mixture of speed and power that very few in the league exhibit. He has been highlighted bulldozing linebackers and safeties, as well as being able to find a hole and break away from the pursuing defenders.

We also know of some of his faults as well. He has what I like to call Stone-Hand Syndrome, which means he can’t catch the football. I lost count of how many times he was wide open in the flat or in the middle of the field, and then proceeded to allow the ball to clank off of his chest plate of bounce off his fingertips.

His upright running style also leaves him susceptible to injuries and ball-security issues. While his fumbling problems are nowhere near as bad as Tiki Barber’s were, on more than one occasion this past season the ball came squirting out when it shouldn’t have.

Once he returned from his injuries, I saw him “tap dancing” rather than hitting the hole. Coming off a knee and hamstring injury would make anyone cautious; however, his normally reckless running style is severely impeded when he dances around rather than hitting holes.

What We Don’t Know

First and foremost, can he stay healthy for a full season? Can he improve as an all-around back? Will he be able to fix his pass-dropping tendencies and improve his blitz pickups so that he can be in on any down?

Will he work on his ball security and running style? Can he be productive enough to take the majority of the carries from away from Bradshaw and Ward? Will he be healthy enough to stop “tap dancing” around and start hitting the holes?

Derrick Ward

Much like Tiki Barber, Derrick Ward hung around the roster for his first few seasons as a special-teams player before getting his shot when the No. 1 RB went down. In this case, Ward took over for the injured Brandon Jacobs after his Week One injury, and he proved that he has what it takes to carry the load.

A promising breakout season was cut short by injury, an all too common theme among Giants' running backs. While having an above-average build, Ward has proved that he has the vision and burst to fill the role as a Tiki-Barber-like “slash” running back.

What We Know

Although this will be his fifth year with the team, very little is known about Derrick Ward. He had a promising stretch of games in the 2007 season before going down with injury. Promising enough to earn him a contract extension with the team. His versatility as a blocker and a pass catcher make him an ideal third-down back, yet his running prowess could also earn him a good amount of touches during the game.

What We Don’t Know

Will Ward be able to come off his injury and be back to the level he proved he could play at last season? Will there be enough room for him in the crowded backfield? Can he produce in the same manner he did last season with limited touches?

Ahmad Bradshaw

The fiery, seventh-round, PlayStation-stealing running back drew the ire of Giants fans when he was taken in the 2007 draft. Many said that he was not a character guy, and that he was not what the New York Giants were all about.

We did not get to see much of Bradshaw early on in the year, due to being in the dreaded Coughlin doghouse after fumbling a kickoff return early in the season.

Multiple injuries and the inability of Reuben Droughns to carry the load gave Bradshaw the time he needed to prove that he was more than a seventh-round hanger on. In my opinion, Bradshaw single-handedly ran the Giants into the playoffs with his 88-yard scamper through the rain and snow in Buffalo

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