NY Giants own Giant RB Jacobs looks to step up his game

By dchardon26  |   Wednesday, August 05, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

New York Giants
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Last season the New York Giants Brandon Jacobs was one-half of only the fourth duo in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards. Now, with former backfield teammate Derrick Ward gone to Tampa Bay, the onus is on Jacobs to go from great running back to elite back.

In the 6-4 tall, 264 pound behemoth Jacobs, the Giants have one of the most destructive offensive forces in the NFL. Jacobs rushed for 1,089 yards last season and tacked on 15 touchdowns to boot. While 1,000 yards is still a nice benchmark to achieve, ask any back in the league and they'll tell you that 1,000 isn't the standard anymore. In todays NFL, to be considered an elite running back, 1,500 yards and double-digit touchdowns is the goal.

There's no doubt that Jacobs has the ability to be an elite back in the league, but the question remains is he durable enough? In his two years as a starter he has a missed eight games. His bruising running style may also be his Achilles Heel. As much of a pounding he gives to defenders trying to tackle him, his is also dishing out that much punishment to his own body. But asking Jacobs to stop bowling over linebackers trying to stop him is like asking a zebra to change it's stripes. Don't hold your breathe.

Before the start of the 2008 season, Jacobs would practice more evasive moves, a la' Reggie Bush, to get by would be tacklers instead of trucking through them. Remember, this is a a guy who in his rookie year ran step-for-step with Tiki Barber in a foot race. That's an incredible performance for anyone, let alone someone who weighs in at 260 pounds. Last season Jacobs broke off twelve runs of 20 plus yards and one run of 40 plus yards. He ranked in the top ten in both categories. Again, that's an amazing feat considering how large he is. Add on the fact that Jacobs is money near the goal line, 14 of is 15 touchdowns came in the red zone, and Jacobs has all the tools to be an elite running back.

Jacobs has never carried the ball more than 250 times a in a season, mostly due to him never playing a full season as a starter. it's easy to believe that if Jacobs played sixteen games he could easily surpass 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. The last two seasons Jacobs has averaged five yards a carry, so he definitely makes the most of his touches considering he's gonna get the ball on a lot of third-and-one and goal line situations which doesn't help his yards per carry average much.

The Giants know that in order to return to the Superbowl, their running game needs to return to its dominant form. Jacobs is literally the big gun in the backfield and he knows he must carry the load and take the next step in becoming an elite running back. Defenses beware, Brandon Jacobs is a man on a mission.
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