New York Giants are Running the Right Game Plan
Defending Champs’ Ground Game May Yield Second Straight Title
Dec 22, 2008
Last season, the New York Giants shockingly won Super Bowl 42 thanks in large part to their outstanding running attack.
The Giants running game features three backs, who all complement each other so well, that it becomes very difficult for opposing defenses to control them.
The local scribes have nicknamed the trio of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw "Earth, Wind and Fire" because of what each brings to the table every game.
At 6’4" and 264 lbs, Jacobs (Earth) is the bruising back who runs over tacklers and picks up extra yards even when there’s no room to run. The four-year back from Southern Illinois wears down opponents with his size and speed.
Enter Derrick Ward, a 5’11" back who is not that fast and not that flashy, but somehow finds holes and makes positive yardage. Ward (wind) benefits from the fact that he follows "Earth" because he gets to face a defense that gets tired of trying to tackle Jacobs.
5’9" Ahmad Bradshaw (fire) is the smallest of the three and has not received a lot of work this season, however he was big part of the Super Bowl Run. "Fire" emerged late last season so he was working with fresh legs. The speedy back out of Marshall took full advantage with a break out game of 151 yards on the ground, that included an 88-yard touchdown run against the Bills in Buffalo in a game that the Giants desperately needed to make the playoffs.
Keeping with the Tradition
Throughout their glorious history, the New York Giants have had some great running back combinations.
Most times, the combination of backs features one runner and one blocking back.
Go back to the Giants first Super Bowl Championship in 1986 when they had Joe Morris and traded for Hall of Famer Otis (O.J.) Anderson. Fullback Maurice Carthon was a terrific blocking back who sprung Morris and Anderson for long gains.
In the 1990 Super Bowl year, Anderson took over the workload but he was complemented by Carthon as the blocking back and Dave Meggett, who was a speedy scat back who was dangerous catching passes out of the backfield.
What makes this trio of backs unique is that neither of them is a blocking back.
Earth, Wind and Fire
The bottom line for the Giants is that this formula works.
"Earth" starts the game with the intention of establishing a physical presence. Jacobs pounds and pounds the opposition until they begin to wear down.
Here comes "Wind" with his ability to find a hole and to take a hit, maybe not like Jacobs, but he’s just as tough. Ward goes against a defensive line that is fatigued and gets those extra yards that help make the difference between a win and a loss.
After facing those two, "Fire" brings a whole new dimension to the table. Bradshaw is left with the "scraps" of the opposing defense and he does a good job of cleaning his plate.
First Since ’85 to Have Two 1000-Yard Rushers
Having two 1000-yard rushers on the same team has happened only three times in NFL history.
The first was 1972 with Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris of the unbeaten Dolphins. The 1976 Steelers had Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, and the 1985 Cleveland Browns ran with Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner.
Jacobs has already reached the promised land for a running back. If Ward gains 52 more yards on the ground, the Giants will become the fourth team in NFL history to have a pair of one thousand yard rushers.
