With the high ankle sprain to star running back Saquon Barkley, do the New York Giants need to upgrade their team in his absence? Speculation had centered around Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers. That is until the Rams traded him to the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have been looking for an identity since deciding to not resign Dalvin Cook this past off-season. Both teams benefitted from the trade, the Rams getting a draft pick, and the Vikings getting a potential starting running back.
With a roster that befitted a losing team, Schoen inherited a team, that needed to be uprooted and essentially blown up. In retooling the New York Giants, General Manager Joe Schoen was in part focused on building out the depth of the 53-man roster. Two years now removed from previous GM Dave Gettleman’s squad; Schoen strives to continuously upgrade each spot. Now well into the process, the question will be; Did Schoen do enough at running back to account for any anticipated injury to Saquon Barkley?
Running Backs on the Roster
The Giants currently have three running backs on the roster: Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray. Both Breida and Brightwell have been with the Giants in previous years. It is Gray that is the enigma, the one who may have the potential to replace Barkley.
Eric Gray is a 5th round selection in this year’s past draft. He was the 11th running back taken in the draft. In twelve games last year at Oklahoma University, he rushed for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns on 213 carries. That is over 6.4 yards per carry. The recently injured Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns has had the best professional yards per carry average at 5.2 yards per carry. The question is how much of Gray’s game can translate to the NFL level. A major hurdle to overcome is that Gray runs a 4.62 40. That is slow.
With two more games before Saquon returns, I am not in any favor of bringing in some running back who is still trying to live off of yesterday. If Cam Akers would still be available, I would be against bringing him in too. Yes, he was adequate last year, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and rushing for over 750 yards. What would the Giants have to give up to get someone like Akers? A low draft pick? The Giants selected Tre Hawkins III this past year in the 6th round. Hawkins has become a starting cornerback. I do not want to give up a potentially starting cornerback for a running back to fill in for two games
I am in favor of giving Breida and Gray (Brighwell is primarily on the team to play special teams) the opportunity to carry the team over the next two weeks. Let’s see what they got.
Barry Schustermann
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