Loading ...Over the last two offseason's, the New York Giants have been hit hard by serious knee and ankle injuries to some key skill position players. While these injuries have opened the door for some of the team's younger players to gain some valuable playing time, this is a trend that Big Blue would surely like to curtail moving forward.
Sixth-year veteran running back Ahmad Bradshaw has been a key asset to the Giants' rushing attack ever since 2007, when the team won the Super Bowl. Although Bradshaw has had his own injury concerns over the years, on Friday, he revealed that he plans to mentor rookie first-round pick David Wilson on how to keep his body healthy and capable of staying on the field.
“He’s great. He’s still young. He kind of does his own thing, juking and doing a lot of things, putting a lot of torque on his ankles and knees and different things. We’re trying to teach him how to be a professional and just hold back on some of those things.” Bradshaw said.
David Wilson is amazingly quick and fast. He seems to be a LeSean McCoy prototype in terms of his ability to change directions and regain his top speed in the blink of an eye. However, Bradshaw is right in the sense that from a young age, Wilson is putting an immense amount of stress on his body in order move that fast. While this may be effective for Wilson at least right now, his skill-set greatly increases his risk of injury later on in his career. Bradshaw thinks that Wilson can cut down on some of those movements, while will remaining elusive.
“Just with the fresh legs, you feel good and you want to show your talents out there. But everybody knows he’s fast and he can make moves,” Bradshaw said Friday. “It’s just the way he does it. At times, it’s not even needed.”
In typical Giants fashion, Ahmad Bradshaw has embraced the role of mentoring the player that was brought in to potentially take his job in the near future. Perhaps he does it because he received the same treatment from veterans Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward in his rookie season, or maybe its just out the kindness of hit heart. Whatever the reason, Ahmad Bradshaw has used this situation to prove he is a team oriented player who is only interested on thing: winning.
Regardless, both backs have looked good in camp so far. After missing significant time last season with a foot injury, Ahmad Bradshaw think that this is the healthiest he's been in a while. For Wilson, head coach Tom Coughlin has repeatedly commented on his speed and quickness out of the backfield. Although D.J. Ware seems to have a strangle hold on the number two running back position so far, the only thing holding Wilson back is his inexperience. After he learns the play book thoroughly, he will quickly ascend to the top of the running back depth chart.
However, no matter how much Wilson contributes as a rookie, it's still encouraging that the veterans are willing to bring the younger players along. In a league that has become fairly business oriented and focused on money, it shows that the word "team" still holds a significant meaning. With individuals like Ahmad Bradshaw on the roster, its no wonder that the Giants have won two Super Bowls in the last five seasons.
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GOAT56 says:
August 4, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Herzlich right now is much more than an undrafted free agent that will make the roster 2 years in a row. He’s a possibly starter this year and possibly long time MLB solution. In looking at what Herzlich is now he is a decent athlete and very good football player, that’s all AP was in his prime.
The concern about LB position is overblown IMO. A real SLB is only needed probably only 30-40% of the time. Jones playing that position now does give him an advantage in making the roster. But Rivers, Herzlich, Blackburn could all pinch in at SLB if something happened to Kiwi and Jones is cut.
It seems that from practice reports it will be hard to cut Jones or Paysinger. Muasau’s can still knock either or both players off the roster but he really has to show a lot being he can be put on PS and neither Jones nor Paysinger can. I’m begining to think we will keep 8 LBs and 8 DLs, I though previously it would be 7LBs and 9DL. But we still have Kiwi and if JJP, Osi and Tuck are all healthy then a 5th DE is not necessary. And with the apparent talent at LB with every backup a quality help on specials, 8 LBs are very possble. Plus with the Witherspoon and possible TT injury carrying 9 DBs looks most likely.
Reply
kujo says:
August 4, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Who is concerned about the LB corps?
It’s 2012, dude. We’ve got a roster replete with young hungry talent, ostensibly fighting for 1 semi-open starting position–I think Blackburn’s tenure as a starter lasts no longer than 5 games, with Herzlich supplanting him and never looking back. Jaicquan, Rivers, Paysinger, Mussau, Jones…these guys are all fighting for a spot on a jam-packed corps, and for the first time in ages, concerns has given way to hope and optimism about this seemingly perpetual weakness in our defense.
I was only responding to a poster (I don’t recall who) a few threads back who stated concerns about the SLB depth.
I agree with you on almost everything except I think Herzlich will win the starting MLB role in preseason. I think it’s the first time I can remember when our second string of rivers, herzlich and williams is a actually more talented than our first group.
Part of the reason Grant is still unsigned is our ability to cover at the LBer position. Of course we have boley and williams but we also have rivers, paysinger and muasau. The 3 safety look to help us cover versus 2 TE looks or even base looks won’t be as necessary if at all this year.
It was more an observation than concern. Too many WILS, not enough SAM’s.
Your point about SAM is spot on. That’s why I think 8 LB’s is one two many for this team. IMHO:
7 LB’s
8 DL’s
4 Safeties
6 Corners
Those are more similar numbers to the ones I had during OTAs. But you also have to look at what’s the strength of the team. Players like Paysinger and Jones our bottom LBers appear to be really strong players. Whereas I don’t think as many CBs have stepped up for us to carry 6 – assuming no TT. We can also have a player like Bing or Jackson on PS. Plus is a player like molden or johnson really better than an emergence option like Rolle at CB? I think Rolle is good enough at CB in a pinch that you only keep 6 CBs when you have 6 quality players which I think could be the case if TT is part of the mix.
Just wanted to weigh in on the CJ/JPP debate.
I’d take JPP.
But, a) CJ makes a QB, he doesn’t need a QB to make him; Stafford just came within 44 yards of Marino’s record last year; I refuse to believe Stafford is an elite passer, and b) Jaren Allen has (slightly) better per-game stats in tackles, sacks and FFs over his career than JPP. Of course, JPP hasn’t been a full time starter, so one could argue that he’d crush Allen if he got as many reps – time will tell. But, certainly JPP hasn’t yet outperformed the “next best guy” – he’s close, just like CJ is close.
On a related note, the Giants just won a Super Bowl with Osi and an allegedly horrible left tackle. My man kujo would rather trade Osi for an elite tackle. Money/contract/cap aside, I might agree, only if he’s a prodigy and young. But for me, I’d rather have the guy who can take your franchise quarterback down even when they’re scheming against you (JPP, Osi) than a guy who can catch (so many can) or block (you can figure it out even with lesser talent).
Side note: The Giants were 7th best in sacks allowed in the regular season last year, not bad. In the playoffs, on a per game basis, they gave up 3.25/g, only the Steelers (immobile injured Ben) and Bengals were worse. They gave up 7.25 qb hits/g, worse than all but NO. A lot of 6-7/gs though.
Tells me Beatty played well, Diehl sucked. Hopefully Beatty’s aight.
I should also point out to kujo that no flame suit is required you use reason and logic!
I think you bring up a good point with our LT play. While I agree Beatty will be an upgrade he really is probably not as key as it seems. Eli like his brother is going to get rid of the ball and keep sack numbers low. Eli played with Diehl all these years and Peyton played with Tony ugoh and Charlie Johnson for a number of years. I didn’t see Peyton’s play change any from an upper tier LT in Tarik Gleen to below average LT. I think you what’s pobably more important is some balance in the offense.
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2011/1/19/1943956/the-happy-football-life-of-will-hill
This is how Will Hill got all them kids. Pretty funny read
This is great!
I wish I didn’t read this
lol…looking forward to regular Will Hill reports.
Has this kid ever been in any legal trouble? I suppose it’s possible going undrafted could be a wake up call. We’ll see.