Giants look to run with attitude

Will Beatty knows what it will feel like when the Giants' running game starts to come together.

"The rhythm is basically when you're tiring them out and you get those holes in the defense when [Ahmad] Bradshaw runs it for 25 yards or a 40-yard touchdown," the starting left tackle said. "We start getting those big holes when you're hitting them in the mouth, hitting them in the mouth, and now it's starting to open up."

It's a good feeling for an offensive lineman, no doubt. But it's also one not experienced by the Giants in some time. The team has averaged a minuscule 3.3 yards per carry through the first four games, has only one run for more than 20 yards, and was limited to 54 rushing yards against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Part of that is because defenses are loading up to stop the run and daring the Giants to throw to their receivers. With Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks having back-to-back breakout weeks, that may start to change eventually. But against the Seahawks this week, a team that loves to crowd the box with safety Earl Thomas, the Giants likely will be facing plenty of eight-man fronts.

No matter, said Tom Coughlin.

"We have to display the ability to run the ball in order to maintain our balance," Coughlin said. "We have a prideful group in the room and hopefully that will be a major, major focus for us."

Making the task more challenging could be injuries. Running back Brandon Jacobs missed Wednesday's practice with a swollen knee, but he is expected to be back Thursday. Center David Baas missed the second half of the Cardinals game with a neck burner and seems unlikely to play on Sunday. Kevin Boothe would replace him.

The Giants' biggest challenge may not be on the interior of the line, though, but outside where 323-pound defensive end Red Bryant lines up.

"They have a 318-pounder that sits on the inside eye of the tight end," Coughlin said, slightly underestimating Bryant's listed weight. "The tight ends are in for an interesting week, for sure."

How key is Bryant to the Seahawks' run defense? They were ranked second in the NFL against the run in Week 8 last year when he was put on injured reserve with a knee injury. By the end of the season they had plummeted to 21st.

One way to combat the player who might be the largest 4-3 defensive end in the game would be to use Stacy Andrews as the tight end. Andrews, who played for the Seahawks last year, said he'd be up for that challenge.

"He's a load now," Andrews said, recalling his battles with Bryant in practices in Seattle. "A very powerful guy."

Even with those issues, the Giants are looking to establish their running identity.

"We're going to try to pound the ball on our home turf," Beatty said. "You want to have that dominance on the field that you're wearing a defense down when you are running the ball, when you are pounding it for four and five yards a carry and they're bringing eight or nine guys up in the box to try to stop that. It's an attitude that you want to have each game."

The Giants have the attitude. They'd like to have the yardage to match it.