Andre Brown is 227 pounds and runs at you rather than around you. Brandon Jacobs is 264 pounds and runs through you rather than around you. The bulky duo has never before shared the load in the backfield for the Giants. Sunday against the Packers could be the first time, and Jacobs can’t wait.
“One thing about it, teams are gonna be sore, definitely gonna be a little bit more sore than they would be playing again other people,’’ Jacobs said Thursday after practice. “No fair dodging. If you’re there, you get hit. It’s simple as that. One-yard gain, 2-yard gain, whatever, you’re there from 350-pound D-tackle to a 240 pound linebacker, you’re gonna get hit. That’s just what we stand for.’’
The Giants have started six different running backs this season. Jacobs (106 yards vs. the Bears) and Brown (115 yards last week vs. the Raiders) are the only two to surpass 100 yards in a game. Jacobs hasn’t played since that Oct. 10 game in Chicago, bothered by a strained hamstring and more recently by a balky knee. He finally returned to practice (on a limited basis) on Thursday and says he is ready to roll.
“It’s good. If you ask me, it’s ready to go,’’ Jacobs said of his knee. “But, of course, we’re going to see about five hours from right now and see how it reacts to the pounding it just took.
“It’s just a wear-and-tear thing. I’m 31 years old, 6-4, 250-plus-pound running back. It’s just about what it is. The average football player can catch it.’’
In his first game of the season coming off a broken left leg, Brown carried the ball a career-high 30 times and admitted his whole body was sore. He hasn’t missed any practice time this week and said, “After a couple of massages and cold tub, I’m fine. Ready to go out there and get beat up again, I guess.’’
While Jacobs was hurt and Brown was still on short-term injured reserve, veteran Peyton Hillis was signed and contributed in victories over the Vikings and Eagles. He lost a fumble against the Raiders, though, and might get phased out if Jacobs is healthy and ready to handle a share of the work alongside Brown.
“Andre has a little bit more finesse than I am, which is supposed to be that way,’’ Jacobs said. “For us, physically, ‘Dre gonna hit you, too. We’re hitting people. In pass protection, we’re hitting people. Running the ball, we’re hitting people. It don’t matter.’’
Jacobs says he will have to deal with lingering knee issues for the remainder of the season.
“I’ve had it basically the whole season,’’ Jacobs said. “When I hurt the hamstring, I stopped giving it the attention that it needed. When I was dealing with the hamstring, I was like, ‘Wait, my knee is puffing up.’ But I’m back to managing it and doing what I’ve got to do every day, so it’s going to be fine. I honestly believe that with just me managing and paying more attention to it, it’s not going to come back.’’
Notes
CB Trumaine McBride was thrust into a starting job after injuries to Aaron Ross and Corey Webster and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said McBride has played well enough to stay in the lineup. McBride is barely 5-foot-9 but Fewell said “When he comes into the ballgame he plays big.’’ … When Jerrel Jernigan fumbled away the opening kickoff against the Raiders, special teams coordinator Tom Quinn said “I’m wondering if my name is Murphy. It’s mind-boggling.’’ As for Steve Weatherford’s terrible punting into the wind, Quinn said “He overthought it and tried to make too many adjustments instead of just doing what we do in practice. He was frustrated with it and we are because he’s got to perform.’’
CB Terrell Thomas (knee) and TE Bear Pascoe (ankle) practiced on a limited basis. Webster (groin/ankle) remains out and is set to miss his sixth game in the past eight.