Will anyone in Giants' backfield step up and become a reliable lead running back?
Giants running back Cam Skattebo leaves the field after losing to the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Brad Penner
As painful as the Giants’ 34-27 loss to the Saints was on Sunday, it wasn’t as painful as Cam Skattebo mostly being a spectator for it.
He didn't start and played only six snaps, seeing action as a decoy or on quarterback sneaks. For the first time in his career, he didn’t have a carry or a catch.
It was punishment for Skattebo's overtime fumble the previous week, his fourth fumble of the season. John Harbaugh made it clear that he was not benched, but the reduced role was evident. Skattebo didn't play in the second half.
“I didn’t expect to have zero [touches], but I was expecting not to play as much,” he said. “The message was keep your head down and keep going. They understand the type of player I am and I just got to continue to do my job and do it to the best of my ability.”
Najee Harris started Sunday and he, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary rushed for a combined 34 yards on 14 carries. The Giants have rushed for fewer than 100 yards in three of their six games.
Receiver Darnell Mooney’s 20-yard run on an end-around was a longer play than any Giants running back has had all season. So was J.J. McCarthy’s 26-yard run.
If the ground game couldn’t get right against the Saints, ranked 30th in run defense, what will happen on Sunday against the Texans, who are third in rushing defense?
Harbaugh was less concerned with Skattebo’s reps than the fact that no running back has emerged to be the lead option.
“One of those guys needs to step up. Somebody needs to step up and be the back,” Harbaugh said. “And none of those guys have done that yet. And when one of those guys steps up to be the back, then they'll be the back.”
Harris, who had two yards on four carries, called it frustrating and didn’t have answers for why he or the ground game has struggled. He also said it's his first time being part of a backfield this crowded and that it’s difficult for him or anyone to get into a rhythm.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas, who left the game for a concussion evaluation and was cleared, said the offensive line feels as if it’s one block away. But that happens too often, Thomas said, and “we just to got to figure out how to be more consistent across the board.”
It didn’t help that right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was out with a calf injury. Eluemunor’s status next week remains up in the air and Thomas is playing with a groin injury, which makes the line’s issues more troubling.
Either way, the Giants again were too one-dimensional on offense. Jameis Winston paid the price, getting sacked four times, before being replaced by McCarthy.
Until the Giants run the ball better, the identity of the quarterback will matter only so much.
It’s good that the Giants held Skattebo accountable for his fumbling issues (and that he held himself accountable). It’ll be great when the Giants' rushing attack, ranked 16th in the NFL entering Sunday, fixes a problem that is getting worse by the week.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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