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Roster Prediction Question - # of RBs

GiantsFan84 : 8/4/2014 2:17 pm
Do you now keep 3 RBs (Jennings, Williams, and Hillis) as opposed to 4?

Note: I'm not considering a FB to be an RB in this post.
Cut Hillis. He looks useless every time I watch him  
Giants Fan in Steelers Land : 8/4/2014 2:23 pm : link
They can always grab him off the couch if we need him midseason do to injury

Keep:

Jennings
Williams
Cox
Hyno
Connor

The idea of abandoning the FB to keep useless TEs doesnt make sense to me
Hillis looks slow with no power to me  
Bold Ruler : Mod : 8/4/2014 2:25 pm : link
I know Eric said he was solid not spectacular but I don't think he's even solid. Meh.
No, I think they'll keep 4  
BillT : 8/4/2014 2:26 pm : link
That's been their roster number for a while. And RBs get nicked a lot. Jennings, Williams, Hillis and Cox. Cox showed last night he has the talent to be on the team. I like him better than Hillis. More speed and athleticism.
due*  
Giants Fan in Steelers Land : 8/4/2014 2:27 pm : link
.

And Gaskins is an unknown to me not sure if he will warrant a roster spot but Hyno can be the 4th RB
Jennings  
beatrixkiddo : 8/4/2014 2:32 pm : link
Williams
Hillis
Cox

Hyno at FB
No  
sjnyfan : 8/4/2014 2:34 pm : link
Jennings has never gone into the season as the #1. Career back up whose career high in carries is 163 from last year. He also has an injury history ending both 2011 and '12 on IR.

Hillis is slow and was considering retirement last year. It's hard to believe that he's actually younger than Jennings.

Williams is a rookie.

I think you carry four minimum and it wouldn't surprise me if that fourth back on opening day is a player that's currently on another roster at the moment.
cox is horrible...  
ct.fatboy1080 : 8/4/2014 2:38 pm : link
I hope this injury doesn't end up getting him a roster spot
I'd like to see Cox get some playing time  
beatrixkiddo : 8/4/2014 2:39 pm : link
behind 2nd and even 1st team OL.

He's the one back we have that provides something completely different and that is speed. He seems to have up'd his game from last year, I like what i saw from him last night.

Keep Jennings and Williams healthy through the pre-season, they will be the bell-cows in this stable. Maybe someone comes up after first cuts to bring in, butI don't see anyone else competing for anything beyond the 4th RB slot.
Hillis is a smart football player  
steve in ky : 8/4/2014 2:43 pm : link
I think with a group so inexperienced they will keep him precisely because they will value his experience. He also has good hands which should be an asset in this offense.
I hope not Steve. In fact, I really wish they  
Jimmy Googs : 8/4/2014 2:49 pm : link
would give more carries/attention to Cox and Gaskins going forward to see if they can handle being the backups all by themselves.

Hillis is a straight line only runner that isn't not going to move the chains with this average O-line. The other guys have more speed and some lateral movements.



Jimmy  
steve in ky : 8/4/2014 2:53 pm : link
Going into the season I think Coughlin will want to keep him for that one guy he can better trust not to put the ball on the ground or miss a blitz in key moments of given games.
Hillis looks one dememsional  
COLT46 : 8/4/2014 3:04 pm : link
1. Jennings
2. Williams
3. Cox
my vote would be  
uncledave : 8/4/2014 3:06 pm : link
keep jennings, williams, cox, then cut hillis and ride the waiver wire after cuts for another guy to potentially bring in
Let's not forget that HIllis  
PeterS : 8/4/2014 3:07 pm : link
is 6'-2" and about 250 lbs. so don't confuse him with a Tiki Barber-type back.
Keep Hillis  
Ron From NYC : 8/4/2014 3:12 pm : link
Keeping Jennings and Williams for sure. I think Hillis is the next guy, experience + he can block/catch passes (somethings Williams cannot do, at least not yet). Cox needs to beat Hillis out or make it via special teams. He doesn't have Hillis' versatility, I think.

That said, it is likely that they will keep four RB's. As good as Williams looks, let's not enshrine him in Canton after one preseason game. If you are Coughlin, do you want Williams as the starter with only Cox behind him if Jennings gets hurt? And, Williams hasn't proven he can block and catch yet either. No. You have to go with 4, at least for now.
There are probably eight roster spots for RB, FB and TE.  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/4/2014 3:14 pm : link
Three go to the top three RBs; three go to the top three TEs. One probably goes to the best fullback. The eighth goes to the best remaining player at one of those three positions, unless the slot is desperately needed elsewhere.
If they cut down to three RBs (which I doubt)...  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/4/2014 3:18 pm : link
...expect to see Gaskins on the practice squad.
Hillis ran behind a 3rd or 4th string line.  
Big Blue '56 : 8/4/2014 3:21 pm : link
He is who he is, but certainly when he plays has a bearing on things
that's the second worst part of Wilson retiring  
Greg from LI : 8/4/2014 3:28 pm : link
It means the functionally useless Peyton Hillis will definitely remain on the roster.
Jennings/Williams/Hillis/Cox  
TheMick7 : 8/4/2014 3:29 pm : link
.
They will keep 4  
ZogZerg : 8/4/2014 3:31 pm : link
Jennings/Williams/Hillis/Cox

Steve in Ky  
Jimmy Googs : 8/4/2014 3:34 pm : link
In comment 11793664 steve in ky said:
Quote:
Going into the season I think Coughlin will want to keep him for that one guy he can better trust not to put the ball on the ground or miss a blitz in key moments of given games.


That does sound like a TC thing to do. I just am wishing the other guys are reliable enough to handle those types of things enough b/c they are more valuable runners and special team players. Cox may very well be the fastest RB we have now.

Jennings, Williams, Hillis, Cox, Hyno  
mfsd : 8/4/2014 3:46 pm : link
Remember Hillis is a good blocker on blitz pick-up (hopefully the other guys are too, but having a guy like Hillis to lean on can be valuable)

IMO
all we have are bruisers  
SHO'NUFF : 8/4/2014 3:47 pm : link
we need to trade for a speedster
Steve/Jimmy: One problem with Hillis in the 'Old Reliable' role...  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/4/2014 3:51 pm : link
...is that he fumbles. Ball security was an issue for him even in his Madden Cover Boy days. Still is. He ain't Ottis Anderson.
Yeah, Hillis seems likely to be  
Enoch : 8/4/2014 3:52 pm : link
the 2007 Reuben Droughns of the 2014 roster. Hopefully they won't have to cut another Ryan Grant to keep him.

(Which is to say, I don't mind him sticking around if the alternative is an undistinguished camp body, but I don't want the team losing somebody with real potential.)
Hillis isn't slow  
Gman11 : 8/4/2014 4:03 pm : link
He's slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.

Why not Jennings, Williams, Cox and have Gaskins on the practice squad.

If that doesn't work there will be plenty of out-of-work RBs after cuts are made.
SHO'NUFF: Probably no need to trade, at least not yet.  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/4/2014 4:07 pm : link
Keep an eye on the waiver wire. Rookies like Henry Josey in Philly and LaDarius Perkins in Green Bay face uphill roster battles. Veterans will shake loose too. Complementary running backs are cheap.
BBB  
bc4life : 8/4/2014 4:10 pm : link
You really think they'd keep two FBs?
bc4life: Sorry, I meant the next best RB or TE.  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/4/2014 4:19 pm : link
Can't see two FBs, since neither Conner nor Hynoski is very versatile.

Another speedster who's already on the street is Chris Rainey. I could imagine the Giants giving him a tryout, though he doesn't exactly fit the team's current Character Initiative.
Conner looked pretty good on  
bc4life : 8/4/2014 4:22 pm : link
that run late in the game, though. Two FBs seems virtually impossible.
Hyno at fullback.  
Ira : 8/4/2014 4:37 pm : link
Jennings, Williams and Cox at rb. Try to pick up an athletic back who's a good receiver to be the last rb.
BBB - i don't disagree with you that Hillis does put  
Jimmy Googs : 8/4/2014 4:58 pm : link
the ball on the ground from time to time. I just don't think Hillis offers enough talent to be the #3 RB, even if he is the experienced veteran.

Cox and Gaskins need to start moving up the depth chart this preseason.

Hillis was available last October, and imo he will be available again if we need him again this season. So in the meanwhile go with the younger, albeit unproven, talent.
Hillis has always  
RetroJint : 8/4/2014 5:15 pm : link
been slow. He is however a torpedo in short yardage and he knocked about 3 Bills on their asses on one dive up the middle last night. For the first time ever Cox impressed me. He made a couple of great runs. The 4 RBs & Hyno. Connor moves on.
RE: Hillis has always  
HomerJones45 : 8/4/2014 5:40 pm : link
In comment 11793950 RetroJint said:
Quote:
been slow. He is however a torpedo in short yardage and he knocked about 3 Bills on their asses on one dive up the middle last night. For the first time ever Cox impressed me. He made a couple of great runs. The 4 RBs & Hyno. Connor moves on.
Right on the money. And let's not forget that Hillis can catch and is an excellent blocker.
RE: Conner looked pretty good on  
Klaatu : 8/4/2014 5:44 pm : link
In comment 11793841 bc4life said:
Quote:
that run late in the game, though. Two FBs seems virtually impossible.


And that's why it will work, because no one will expect it!!!
With Wilson done and 2/4 of the current top 4  
BlueLou : 8/4/2014 6:33 pm : link
(Williams & Cox) so inexperienced I'm almost sure they'll keep 4.

If Williams is right that Cox "has the best feet" of them all then the roster battle is between Hillis and Gaskins. Gaskins may be the better athlete at this point but doed he have enough sense of the game to supplant Hillis?

Can't see a 2nd FB retained over a 4th RB.
I thought I saw Hillis line up at FB  
eclipz928 : 8/4/2014 8:19 pm : link
on a play last night. I could be wrong though (dont have DVR) but I think if theyre practicing him at that position then he'll have a lot of value.

Think they keep 4 RB's: Jennings, Williams, Cox, Hillis. Hillis may serve as a nice alternative at fullback, especially in McAdoo's system where he already demonstrated last season that he has great hands receiving out of the backfield.
Our #3 back,  
Doomster : 8/5/2014 9:13 am : link
may not be on the team yet...
RE: With Wilson done and 2/4 of the current top 4  
Jimmy Googs : 8/5/2014 9:40 am : link
In comment 11794021 BlueLou said:
Quote:
(Williams & Cox) so inexperienced I'm almost sure they'll keep 4.

If Williams is right that Cox "has the best feet" of them all then the roster battle is between Hillis and Gaskins. Gaskins may be the better athlete at this point but doed he have enough sense of the game to supplant Hillis?


Lou - wouldn't it make sense to keep the better athlete, albeit inexperienced, since he would only be the #4 RB anyway?
Googs: There are at least three ways to approach the #4 RB slot.  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/5/2014 10:07 am : link
1) A developmental player whom you don't want to expose to waivers;
2) An experienced player who can step in and start if the #1 guy goes down;
3) A significant contributor on special teams.

Of the three, only the third option is likely to dress regularly if the other RBs are all healthy.

Hillis would fit option #2, though I personally think he needs to be at least third on the depth chart to make the team. I'm not sure where Gaskins fits: not option 1, really, because he would probably clear waivers and reach the practice squad; maybe option 3, if Quinn likes him.
Agree BBB. I actually have no idea  
Jimmy Googs : 8/5/2014 10:18 am : link
whether Gaskins would clear waivers, but if Giants believe he would then keeping Hillis has merit.

However, if all the other guys we have at RB are healthy at end of preseason AND Gaskins has shown to be a decent ST player (i don't think Hillis plays ST but could be wrong), then I still would go Gaskins.

Do you think that another team jumps on Hillis if we cut him?
I think the market for a year-to-year vet like Hillis...  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/5/2014 10:42 am : link
...is as much a function of injuries and other mishaps around the NFL as it is a reflection of his own inherent value. So it's impossible to predict whether he would find a job until much later in pre-season. Plus, as a vested vet, he would be more likely to get picked up after Week 1.

In that respect, Hillis is hardly unique. A lot of other vets will be in the same boat if they lose roster battles here: Manningham, Davis, Fells, Bowman, McBride, Demps, Conner, Jerry, Painter and both Browns are examples (Patterson too, though he seems very likely to make the team); not to mention non-vested players like Herzlich, Adkins, Cox, Kuhn and Hosley who are subject to waivers but ineligible for the practice squad.
I don't think Hillis is given much attention by other teams  
Jimmy Googs : 8/5/2014 3:22 pm : link
if we cut him. At least until they become \desperate.

Look what it took for the Giants to even give him a tryout in late October...we had to lose Brown, Wilson, Scott and Jacobs all to injuries. The only RB we had left was rookie Michael Cox.

Now every year in the NFL is different, and maybe Hillis' career got somewhat resurrected by the Giants but that doesn't make him a better player this year.
Hillis can catch passes out of the backfield.  
Bobby Epps : 8/5/2014 3:29 pm : link
We don't know yet if Gaskins can.

We know that Jennings, Williams and Cox can run. So, Gaskins doesn't add anything to the roster as a running back.

IMO unless Gaskins can show that he's as good as, or better than, Hillis as a pass receiver, then Hillis stays and Gaskins goes.
Fair point Bobby  
Jimmy Googs : 8/5/2014 3:42 pm : link
.
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