Andre Brown has been doing more than just studying film of the Giants’ season-opening loss to the Cowboys, when Big Blue committed six turnovers.
He also has been paying attention to the wintry forecast for Sunday’s game against Dallas, when it’s expected to be in the 20s with high winds at MetLife Stadium.
“They said it’s supposed to snow,” the running back said after practice Friday. “I’ve never played in the snow, so that would be fun.”
Snow or not, it will likely be hard for Eli Manning and the passing game, which should make Brown’s role even more vital than it has been the last few weeks during the Giants’ four-game winning streak.
“The run game, the physical aspect of the game does come to the front when weather is like that,” coach Tom Coughlin said.
The coach is confident Brown will be up to the task and his teammates will feed off of him.
“He’s got that ability,” Coughlin said. “He’s a big man with outstanding speed and if he gets a crack, he can go. That’s what we’re hoping for, but he’s [also] done a good job in pass protection and we’ve always counted on him coming out of the backfield because he does have good hands.”
That could be his most important trait of all on Sunday, since Brown will have to do a better job of holding onto the ball than David Wilson did, when his two fumbles helped lead to six turnovers in a 36-31 loss in Dallas.
Brown hasn’t put up any fancy numbers since joining the Giants backfield, but he hasn’t fumbled in 48 carries this season.
After the Giants’ nightmarish performance in Arlington, Texas, the team is paying even closer attention to ball security preparing for Sunday’s game.
“It’s more than usual because we’re watching film from that game,” Brown said.
One thing still stands out.
“The amount of emphasis the [Cowboys] defense puts on stripping the ball,” Brown said. “So we emphasize holding [the ball] high and tight; being cautious when you’re in the open field of protecting the ball.”
For a guy who regularly gains extra yards by dragging defenders, the chances of being stripped would seem to increase.
“I’m not gonna say I’m gonna go down quicker, but when I’m in traffic, with two hands holding on to the ball, you really don’t want to go down, but if I feel something that’s not right, I might just do that,” Brown said. “But as long as I’m holding onto the ball with two hands, I feel it should be secure enough where I can play my game.”
Kevin Boothe is among those relying on that being the case.
“Andre seems to get positive yardage regardless of how we block things,” the guard said. “That’s a good sign. He’s somebody we’ve relied on heavily since he’s been back. He’s accepted the challenge and done a great job.”
Working in the Giants’ favor should be the absence of Dallas linebacker Sean Lee, who will miss the game with a hamstring injury.
“That’s the quarterback of their defense,” Brown said. “But they still have good linebackers there.”
Regardless of who is on the field for the Cowboys, Brown is enjoying the fact he’s healthy enough to play instead of being forced to watch while recovering from a fractured leg.
“It was devastating,” Brown said. “Especially not playing and hoping I was out there. With the way we lost, the amount of fumbles that we had, it was heartbreaking.”
A loss Sunday would almost certainly end any playoff chances for the Giants and Brown believes the team has something to prove against their divisional foes.
“I would hope so,” Brown said. “We have to have an attitude where we’re gonna go out there and get this ‘W.’ This is another opportunity, with different guys.”