How much of this season's lack of production in the running game is the OL? After watching the Giants' fail repeatedly to establish the run with any consistency, it seems that RB may be a priority this off-season. I know they invested in Jennings, but he is older and may now be an injury risk. As for Williams, well who knows. He seemed great in preseason but has not seemed instinctive enough in his numerous opportunities to give much confidence going forward. I think that this team needs the type of back that was envisioned with Wilson-- a Sproles type to compliment the two other poewr runners. Problem is how early in the draft or free agency do they go for an RB with many other glaring needs.
Instead, we should go out and get a Gale Sayers/Jim Brown/Barry Sanders type of guy.
Williams is a tough SOB to tackle once he gets moving. It's no wonder he was the leading college rusher in 2013. He will also get better at receiving. Right now, he can make the catch but it looks like me out there. He will get more fluid.
The Giants need to put their $ elsewhere.
You bet your ass they need help at RB. Hillis will be gone, possibly Cox as well. Another 3rd through 5th round selection would make sense. Or a well rounded FA veteran.
This. Other more important priorities, although I do agree we need a speed back. The lack of speed on this team at so many positions is alarming.
Agree on OL. I think Williams could be a # 1 back. He is improving as a receiver and blocker. But they will nedd more quality depth there
Giants have decent RBs now. Guys that can at least play but they need one big time RB. A guy that gets mentioned along with the greats. A prime McCoy, Charles, Peterson, Foster, Murray....whoever...we need that kind of player.
RB is not the weakest position on this team but it's the one position that can help ELi take this team to 11 wins next year if a stud was handed the keys.
Want to win 11 games? Get a RB in here worthy of NYG power football.
No idea how we get that guy...I doubt a FA springs free so it may have to come via the draft.
Yes, the running back position needs to be addressed. Yes, the LB position needs to be addressed. Yes, the DL position needs to be addressed. Yes, the cornerback position needs to be addressed. Yes, the safety position needs to be addressed. Yes, the OL position needs to be addressed. Yes, the TE position needs to be addressed. And, yes, the WR position needs to be addressed.
I think that about covers it.
Williams might be that guy but I don't see it.
I'd kill for a star RB on this team. We make the playoffs in 2012 with one. We don't lose 9 games in 2013 with one and we just might be in the postseason mix this year with one.
Wilson was a failure. Move on and try again. Don't be afraid to draft another HR hitting RB high just because Wilson didn't work out. Reese's head was in the right place in April 2012 even if the pick turned out to be a huge failure.
the giants took a chance on christian peter who was a far worse character than rice, only he played in the pre-smartphone/social media age; they also rehabilitated the career of kerry collins and did everything they could to reform will hill.
RB is a need given the number of question marks about durability/ability, but not as big of a need as the OL/DL and secondary.
WTF does that even mean?
On second thought, I agree. I think the Giants should draft 6 LBs and sign 4 FA LBs. Fuck the rest of the team.
When the RB runs into a brick wall at the LOS, that typicaly means a better RB finds the hole or breaks a tackle and gains 5 yards.
Great RBs make average OLs look great. Average RBs make average OLs look bad.
We see how a Beckum can change the game with speed......our back now are solid, but we need another guy to make it dynamic.
The thing is, you can get a guy like this in the lower rounds, because size usually is an issue with guys as I am describing.
We need richburg at center and another FA guard. And add an OL talent in the draft for depth and added competition.
Star RB takes this offense to the next level.
Giants have decent RBs now. Guys that can at least play but they need one big time RB. A guy that gets mentioned along with the greats. A prime McCoy, Charles, Peterson, Foster, Murray....whoever...we need that kind of player.
RB is not the weakest position on this team but it's the one position that can help ELi take this team to 11 wins next year if a stud was handed the keys.
Want to win 11 games? Get a RB in here worthy of NYG power football.
No idea how we get that guy...I doubt a FA springs free so it may have to come via the draft.
Agreed.
The "explosion" in the running game is something that is sorely needed.
Jennings and Williams at their peak are nice "grinders," but neither put a fear into a defense.
Get a guy who can go either 6 yards or 60 on any given play puts incredible fear into the defense.
And now that we see what Odell can do and become in the future, you can really change how teams are forced to defend you.
You want to double Odell? You want to commit to stopping the "explosive, breakaway RB?"
Pick your poison. You can't cover everyone.
It opens up all possibilities. Add in a second WR with size who can go over the top of the defense and you are cooking with some gas.
Keep adding talent all over the roster including OL. But don't act like the rb position is fine and dandy. It's not.
This roster has holes everywhere, you fill as many as you can via UFA, firstly.
In the draft, if a RB is BPA at any pick and there's one you want, grab him. There's no doubt the roster needs pop and playmaking ability at RB. Just don't reach for a position.
We can do a lot better at RB.
Short, to the point and correct ...
The stud RB isn't as important as it once was ...
If he were given 200 carries and 50 catches, he would be a valuable player. But making him a #1 RB, he becomes overexposed and miscast.
If he were given 200 carries and 50 catches, he would be a valuable player. But making him a #1 RB, he becomes overexposed and miscast.
Exactly. He's a ward clone. Not a knock...you need guys like Jennings(ward) but you also need impact players. We have one guy on offense that scares people. I'd be fine with adding a solid at WR and Guard and looking to add star power to the RB position. I think that element takes this offense to another level. Nothing covers up warts better than a star RB.
So basically in his career he has shown he is not durable and has shown no ability to be a consistent workhorse-type back. This was either (1) bad planning by Reese, (2) bad usage by Coughlin, or both.
He would have been a no doubt top 10-12 pick had he simply not played the rest of the season at Georgia after that suspension for the autographs.
Instead, in his first game back, he ran the ball 29 or 30 times and unfortunately tore his ACL.
He's is still likely to go in the 2nd round or even the 3rd unless he blows his pro days and workouts out of the water.
If he returns and is the same player he was at Georgia pre-injury, he is the game changer.
Not sure how teams will look at him.
He would have been a no doubt top 10-12 pick had he simply not played the rest of the season at Georgia after that suspension for the autographs.
Instead, in his first game back, he ran the ball 29 or 30 times and unfortunately tore his ACL.
He's is still likely to go in the 2nd round or even the 3rd unless he blows his pro days and workouts out of the water.
If he returns and is the same player he was at Georgia pre-injury, he is the game changer.
Not sure how teams will look at him.
Word is a lot of teams think he will go 15-20. Apparently there was no other damage to his knee than the ACL tear. Unlike Marcus Lattimore. Someone could get a steal since I think he's probably the best RB to come out since Adrian Peterson.
Shane Vereen might be a good fit. you get get one of these on a one- two year contract
Jennings is a very useful back but he misses time every season. Williams is a very raw prospect who need to develop blocking skills and learn to pick the right holes. Right now he's not much of an asset. Hillis gets the yardage that's there to get and that's all. He's better than some of the garbage they've had in the past but that's about all. Darkwa is an interesting prospect, but the emphasis is on prospect. Cox shows enough to bring him to camp again but he needs to step up this summer.
They need to sign a quality veteran to compliment Jennings and let the rest of them fight it out for the two backup spots.
We have guys that could really feast off decent blocking. You don't need to dream for a high-end RB.
If the O-line isn't opening holes, then even if you upgrade at RB you won't get the full benefit of that upgrade.
Another back who gets injured?
They need a dynamic threat to help out Odell, whether it is a RB, TE, or another WR. It doesn't quite matter to be truthful.
Jennings isn't a bad FA pickup. It is unfortunate they haven't been able to run because of the weakness on the interior and at TE blocking. It also stinks that Wilson's career was cut short so suddenly because I feel McAdoo's offense would have suited him better.
If the O-line isn't opening holes, then even if you upgrade at RB you won't get the full benefit of that upgrade.
I've always wondered about that but would have to go through the history books.
Is there actual proof in the modern age of football of just an "average RB" who became a greater star because of his o-line that didn't himself have special natural talent?
Also, I think there are two different arguments behind had here...
One side is talking about making the running game simply productive as opposed to what we have seen the last 2 years. Taking 4 yard gains to grind out and consistently move the chains.
The other side (I'm in this camp) is talking about the running game in terms of explosion. Having a player in the backfield that stresses the hell out of defenses and completely change how the offense is defended on every snap. One play it can be 7 yards. The next play it can be 70 for a TD.
Coughlin (assuming he stays) will likely opt for the power game with the 2 backs and grind it out. So it probably eliminates the grand idea.
I like Williams, but it seems amidst the big, power-back hype from both media, and early on, Coughlin, I see a RB who is often either indecisive or soft at the POA, and who SOMETIMES gets taken down surprisingly easy. He sometimes stops, and stops moving his feet. Compare him to Jenkins, or other good RB's who always finish runs. He often doesn't do this.
Before Jenkins got injured, I saw the coaches beginning to give more of the short yardage work to him, so I don't think I'm the only who saw this.
And Williams is a poor receiver. Can he be better? Probably, but if the Giants want a really good RB receiver, they need to go out and get one.
Yeah, we need a better RB.
I would submit junking said Draft board and re-thinking things completely.
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Is there actual proof in the modern age of football of just an "average RB" who became a greater star because of his o-line that didn't himself have special natural talent?
Derrick Ward, I'd say. Just a journeyman back who shined behind a high level offensive line, and made some decent money off it too.
DL is #2 priority
Take the best available in round 1 or trade down. After that focus on the lines ... especially the OL.
Argument is that the holes to run through are not there. This OL doesn't block for anybody.
Short of spending a 1st round pick on an Adrian Peterson, who might have the ability to make something out of nothing, you'll never get to where you want to be unless you get some blocking.
If Andre Williams gets a block, he can break a play. this OL made one run play all year, Andre's long TD against Tennessee.
Argument is that the holes to run through are not there. This OL doesn't block for anybody.
Fair enough. I think it's definitely a priority, a top priority is another question. I'm a trenches guy so I agree, build up both lines before losing cap space or picks on a RB. However, I wouldn't be upset if the front office paid or drafted a RB as I see the need for an upgrade.
I bigger priority will be to look for a dominant blocking tight end and a #2 receiver who could play the outside when cruz goes into the slot.
Makes no sense to find FA running backs though b/c the draft is filled with youthful talent waiting to be run into the ground.
However, we always pick the guys that can't learn how to catch and pass block so...
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Can the position be upgraded? Yes.
Short, to the point and correct ...
The stud RB isn't as important as it once was ...
Agreed- look at a team like Denver or New England for how an O-line can make average RBs look great.