GIANTS 101

An injury-filled 2009 campaign for Andre Brown and Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs (and DJ Ware!) made some folks nervous heading into camp, and has often been cited as a reason for meager prognostications. Fortunately, early reports from training camp have marveled at the healthy appearance of Bradshaw, Jacobs and Brown.

At the risk of jumping the gun or being a jinx, and bearing in mind that there is a long August ahead, the fact that these guys have come out of the gate healthy, cutting and running hard with few limitations is great news for Big Blue and their fans.

The fact that Bradshaw, perhaps the most important back of the bunch, is already cutting with usual violence on his surgically repaired feet/ankle allow one to dream of what he can do with all his health, and 10 or 15 carries per game. Jacobs, who by all accounts is also healthy, will be Bradshaw’s main help shouldering the load, but knowing that neither is limping into the season nursing last year’s injuries is a great way to get things started.

Brown is an interesting quantity: most doubted that he would ever even regain the form he has apparently already displayed in camp, after last year’s achilles injury. Reputed to be a good pass-catcher, Brown has a chance to earn some field time as a third-down back and as the cleanup man behind Jacobs and Bradshaw. That said, he’s basically in his first preseason, and is going to need to show more than some quickness (comprehension; ball security; blitz pickup) to earn the trust of this coaching staff.

The good thing for Brown is that there’s not a lot behind him. Ware runs well, but Mike Garafolo reiterated (yesterday on SNY) whispers from last year that the coaches aren’t enamored with his mentality and focus, and Gartrell Johnson hasn’t s done anything but take a firm hold of the last spot on the depth chart.

This is nothing but good news for what was perhaps the only concern on the offensive side of the ball for the Giants. With your 1-2 punch looking healthy, Andre Brown perhaps stepping into a reserve but contributory role, and Ware rounding out the depth chart and bringing back kicks, you’d have to be pretty satisfied with what Big Blue’s working with in the backfield headed into the season. Granted that it still looks the same when we’re headed into the season…

{Speaking of health, just as this was posted news that Hakeem Nicks was carted off the practice field with a knee injury reached the desk. We’ll await further info and let you guys know…}

Update:

Though it has since been removed from ESPN.com (NY), Rotoworld still claims that Hakeem Nicks has sustained a hyperextended right knee. No other details are available at the moment.

Tags: Ahmad Bradshaw, Andre Brown, Brandon Jacobs, D.J. Ware, Gartrell Johnson, Hakeem Nicks

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