Brandon Jacobs knows he’s not getting fitted for any capes and not being viewed as any sort of savior charging onto the scene to breathe new life into the suffocated Giants’ running game.
Years ago, perhaps Jacobs would have offered up some bluster, some bravado, maybe even a little good-old surliness when he was asked about his fumble last week. Instead, Jacobs on Tuesday patiently explained the ball simply slipped out of his grasp when he was transferring it to his right hand.
Thursday night, the struggling Giants again will be putting the ball into the hands of Jacobs, who once was their primary running back but was supposed to be back on the scene merely as a part-time reserve. With David Wilson removed from what has shaped up to be NFL’s worst rushing attack, Jacobs gets the call against the Bears in Chicago as the 0-5 Giants attempt to gain a yard or two on the ground at Soldier Field.
“I am what I am. I am who you’re looking at,’’ Jacobs said.
No one is quite sure what Jacobs is any more, but it is clear the Giants are in trouble when it comes to easing any of the burden off turnover-prone Eli Manning. Wilson came out of Sunday’s 36-21 loss to the Eagles with an injury to his neck that caused some tingling, never a good sign. Wilson already has been declared out for the game against the Bears, and coach Tom Coughlin said he should be considered “week to week.’’ The Giants conceivably have seen the last of Wilson until after their Week 9 bye.
With Wilson, the Giants are averaging a league-low 56.8 yards per game on 3.3 yards per attempt and, without him, there’s not much there. Jacobs, a valuable member of the Giants for seven years before a wasted 2012 season on the 49ers roster, was re-signed on Sept. 10 to bring a veteran presence to a woefully inexperienced group. Da’Rel Scott was waived after the loss to the Chiefs, spent a week out of football then was re-signed when Wilson’s neck became an issue. The only other running back on the roster is rookie Michael Cox.
Jacobs filled in when Wilson went down versus the Eagles, but gained just 37 yards on his 11 rushing attempts. He is averaging 2.2 yards on his 22 carries this season.
Asked how the Giants will move the ball on the ground against the Bears (ranked 13th in the NFL in run defense) offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said, “It will be a challenge.’’
As for Jacobs, Gilbride said, “I think his competitive nature will be such that he’ll respond as best he can. He’s a big, powerful man, great physical specimen, I’m sure they’ll have to contend with him a little bit, too.’’
Jacobs, 31, admitted, “I haven’t had a ton of work over the last four, five years.’’ He was quick to recall his last start was against the Cowboys and “I ripped them for 101.’’ That was Dec. 11, 2011. “That was nice,’’ he said. “I remember that one.’’
Far removed from his days as a powerhouse 265-pound bruiser, Jacobs still looks the part but acknowledges, “You get older, things happen’’ and added, “I feel good.’’
The Giants ran the ball just 17 times against the Eagles, and their longest run was only seven yards, yet Manning said, “We had some more positive plays that got us into some second-and-6s and some manageable situations. I think we can build off of that, and Brandon does a good job of just getting those tough yards and getting positive yardage.’’
Without a rushing attack to balance out the offense, the Giants have committed a league-high 20 turnovers, and Manning has thrown an NFL-high 12 interceptions.
“I can handle a full load, there’s no question,’’ Jacobs said. “I’d be hurting the next day, but I could definitely handle a full workload if I’m needed to.’’
He admits to some rust, saying there were a few plays against the Eagles where he missed the cutback because he planted on the wrong foot.
“That’s just timing, nothing as far as I can’t make the cut,’’ Jacobs said. “That’s a lot of stuff people don’t see, they just are quick to say you [stink].
“I want to prove I can be just as effective now as I was five, six years ago. I just need the opportunity.’’