ST. LOUIS – While I was sitting in the stands at the Edward Jones Dome and watching the Giants running with reckless abandon at the porous St. Louis Rams defense, I began to ask myself a question:
“Can I play running back for the Giants?”
It is a question that many people are beginning to ask themselves ask right with each weekly performance but the performances of the Giants new three headed monster of running backs.
They have even given themselves a moniker:
“Earth, Wind and Fire.”
Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward provide the power in the Giants running attack. Both backs are able to pound away at defenses behind one of the best offensive lines in football.
Through the first two weeks, the results have been devastating. After over 150 yards in the opener against the Redskins without one carry from Fire (Bradshaw), the trio gashed the Rams for 200 yards, with each back getting in on the fun.
Jacobs ran for 93 yards on 15 carries. His 30-yard run during the Giants 97 yard drive was the highlight of his day. Ward was steady, getting eight carries for 58 yards and taking on defenders in the process.
With the score 20-13 in the fourth quarter, the offense called upon Bradshaw, a gracious combination of power and speed to run away from the tired and pitiable Rams defense.
Bradshaw added to the Giants lead with an 18-yard catch and run to make it a 27-13 game. He later followed that up with 31-yard touchdown to finish off the eventual 41-13 rout. For the game, Bradshaw finished with five carries for 52 yards to go along with the 18-yard touchdown reception.
Each runner could likely start on any NFL team right now. However, on the Giants, who now have a plethora of riches, each of them has a niche that fits in with the offense.
Last year, Jacobs would get a slight majority of the carries, but missed several games due to injury. This opened up a spot for Ward, who found himself splitting some carries with Reuben Droughns. Ward was having his best game as a professional on a cold, rainy, damp day in Chicago last December before breaking his fibula in the fourth quarter and was forced to miss the rest of the season.
Jacobs would later return, but Droughns was proving to be ineffective in the backfield, especially on short yardage plays.
Bradshaw was still learning the offense and thus saw no time on the field until the season’s 15th week at home against Washington.
In a monsoon, followed by a winter wonderland in Buffalo the next week, each of them were unleashed on the Bills as each ran for over 100 yards as the Giants clinched a playoff spot.
As the playoffs went along, it was obvious how in sync these two backs were. Jacobs pounded away at defenses, while Bradshaw slashed and cut his way through the holes developed by the line. Teams were not prepared for what was coming.
Coming into this season, Ward would return from injury. He chose to stay with the Giants despite the now crowded backfield of Jacobs and Bradshaw and felt room could be made from him as well.
So did the Giants.
For the first seven quarters of the season, only Jacobs and Ward got the carries out of the backfield. It appeared as if the logjam would cause some problems as Bradshaw had gone without a carry.
In the fourth quarter, the Giants utilized the running of Jacobs and the pass receiving skills of Bradshaw in a touchdown drive. The ability to use his multi-dimensional talents adds another facet to this patient, but powerful offense.
At the end of the day, each back got their touches and make a significant contribution in victory. It was the best of all worlds. Each say that they are best friends off the field, socialize constantly together, and push each other to succeed for the betterment of the team. This unselfishness is a trademark of the entire Giants team.
Seeing how the self-described trio of “Earth, Wind and Fire” will evolve through the season is going to be an interesting subplot. It appears now that the Giants have a surplus of weapons on offense and are looking to find way to use them all.
It is a great problem to have.
Random Giants Thoughts
It was very apparent during the game Sunday that the Giants had zero respect for the secondary of the Rams.
By count, about five times Eli Manning chose to throw deep to either Plaxico Burress or Amani Toomer.
I know the Giants have quietly emphasized throwing the deep ball more; perhaps they should realize that this is not the 2001 version of Toomer running those deep fly patterns.
Domenik Hixon made several good catches when he entered the game as a receiver. All of those reps in training camp are paying dividends.
At this rate, Mario Manningham will likely not be seeing the field this season.
I know the tackles on the offensive get most of the recognition, but did you see the gaping holes behind created by guards Rich Seubert and Chris Snee, along with center Shaun O’Hara on Sunday?
Plaxico Burress burned O.J Atogwe so bad on that touchdown reception it is ridiculous. Atogwe was not in the same continent by the time Burress faked him out on that deep corner turned post route.
Justin Tuck may just be the best defensive lineman in football.
Mathias Kiwanuka may have been invisible on Sunday, but that is not a bad thing. The fact the Giants still got six sacks and tremendous pressure on Bulger tells you that it is not all about pressure from the ends.
By the way, Steven Jackson did find much success running to Kiwanuka’s side.
Corey Webster is turning into a shutdown corner.
Either the other receiver the Rams has had opposite Torry Holt was so bad, or Webster just completely took him out of the game.
Fred Robbins may just be the most underrated defensive player on the Giants.
A Rams receiver decided to try his luck and catch a pass over the middle with Kenny Phillips waiting for him.
The result was not pretty. Phillips decleated him.
I still stand by my position that within two years he will be as good as Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens.
AARP must be loving John Carney right now like I am. He is 5 for 5 on field goals so far and has been great in directional kicking on kickoffs.
I am curious if the Giants would keep him for the season considering his age and eventual winds and cold weather starting in the middle of October.
What were the referees looking at when they initially ruled that Burress had fumbled the ball at the ten yard line on the Giants touchdown drive in the third quarter?
I was sitting in the upper deck about 500 feet away and was able to tell that his elbow touched the ground.
The early line has the Giants as 13 point favorites over the Bengals. If what I saw on the tape is accurate, this game may be over by halftime.
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