Every offensive lineman wants the team to run the ball, the vast majority prefer run blocking to pass blocking and many of them get frustrated when the offensive coordinator goes away from the ground attack.
These feelings reside in the minds of the Giants offensive linemen, but they know they have no credibility when it comes to stating their case. Kevin Gilbride calls the offensive plays and, based on what’s transpired in the first two games, could anyone blame him if he ditched the running game altogether and instructed Eli Manning to sling it 65 times on Sunday against the Panthers?
“The running game is a lot about confidence,’’ right guard Chris Snee said. “I think the key for us is to get some runs early and have confidence ourselves and also give confidence to coach Gilbride that we’re able to run — not from [the] shotgun — we’re able to run from under center.’’
Gilbride in the past has enlivened a slumbering rushing attack by spreading things out and getting the ball to his running backs on inside handoffs out of a shotgun formation. It’s a strategy that can work but not as a steady diet. At some point, the Giants are going to have to line up with Manning under center and get something positive accomplished on the ground.
“We’re just not as in synch right now as we need to be between all the different positions up front,’’ Gilbride said. “And you have a new running back who’s struggling on some of his reads as well. It’s a combination, as it always is. It’s never just one thing, but it’s not good enough obviously.’’
The little progress on the ground by each Giants running back is an indictment of the offensive line. David Wilson (2.6 yards per carry) and Da’Rel Scott (2.5) haven’t proven themselves, and Brandon Jacobs (0.6) undoubtedly is shaking off the rust, but that all three have found no room to run means there hasn’t been much to work with.
Coach Tom Coughlin did not laud his backs when he suggested they make someone miss.
“You have to break an arm tackle, which very few have,’’ he said. But his harshest words were directed at the guys up front. In the past, the identity of the offensive line was that of a cohesive, tough-guy group that busted on each other, kept Manning clean and paved the way for 1,000-yard rushers.
The identity now?
“That would be one of those you go anonymous until you make a statement,’’ Coughlin said. “We need a statement.’’
Snee is part of a unit that is going to have to improve from within, as there aren’t any reinforcements waiting ’round the bend, unless you count David Diehl, who remains out at least another month recovering from thumb surgery. With Will Beatty, Kevin Boothe and David Baas, it is a bunch of veterans, other than rookie right tackle Justin Pugh.
“That’s why I’m not panicked,’’ Snee said. “I like the guys we have, I trust in them and I trust in myself and we’ll just continue to keep working.’’
This weekend is the first instance since the first preseason game the same five players will start in back-to-back weeks; perhaps a hint of continuity will help.
For Pugh to improve, he says he needs to be more aggressive in finishing off his run blocks.
“That little extra can get the back some extra yardage,’’ he said. “What I’m doing now is what I’ve always done, it’s just going against these guys, it’s relentless.’’
Getting in a groove with Snee is also a process. “He’s played next to guys, Diehl, Kareem McKenzie for years,’’ Pugh said. “We’ve been playing together for four weeks. Obviously there’s some things we got to keep working on.’’
Boothe, a starter on the 2011 Super Bowl team, admits, “It’s shocking to us when we don’t play well. You can’t have zero and negative yard rushing plays and expect your offensive coordinator to continue to call running plays. If we can get positive yards [Gilbride will have] more incentive to call it, will be more likely to call it. We’re anxious to get out there and give it another shot.’’