NFL

Hynoski hoping Giants give him more carries

No, Henry Hynoski did not ask to keep the football.

“Hopefully,’’ he said with a smile, “I’ll have many opportunities to keep a football.’’

Noting that Hynoski’s words are accompanied by a smile is a bit of a redundancy, considering he’s grinning more often than he’s not — a sharp contrast to the temperament required in his job description. There’s little glory for a 266-pound fullback asked to collide with a defensive lineman or linebacker on virtually every play. Blocking fullbacks may be born with long necks, but they don’t stay that way.

Hynoski is so pleasant, it is difficult to juxtapose his personality with his profession. It is easy, though, to pick apart all the Giants did right and the scant moments where they went wrong Saturday night in a fairly thorough 26-3 preseason thrashing of the Jets and completely skim over Hynoski’s contribution. After all, he’s often a lead blocker in the running game and that aspect of the offense struggled, averaging a paltry 1.8 yards per attempt.

But if you look closely, there he is and there it is, the singular instance where Hynoski did something he had never done before while wearing a Giants uniform. Late in the first quarter, third-and-1 on the Jets 27-yard line after two runs by D.J. Ware gained 9 yards, it figured Ware would get the call again, as he was in the backfield with Hynoski lined up in front of him to pave the way.

What happened next had to surprise the Jets, because it surprised the Giants.

“There was no evidence of that ever on film or anything so I think they were just really shocked when I got it,’’ Hynoski said. “It was a play design just to get the first down and we got a yard extra.’’

Eli Manning pivoted and gave the ball to Hynoski as the up-back, and he ran straight ahead, keeping his feet churning for 2 yards and the first down.

“That’s my first one … start it off on a good note,’’ Hynoski said. “It’s something we’re slowly working into. I knew if I didn’t get the first down I probably wouldn’t get a carry again. I made sure I did, just put my head down and moved forward and got it done.’’

Coach Tom Coughlin took notice that Hynoski moved the chains.

“It was a plus for us because we’ve not always the last couple of years been very good in that area,’’ Coughlin said. “Gave us one more form of weapon to be utilized in that circumstance. That was a good thing.’’

In high school in rural Pennsylvania, Hynoski was a prolific running back, rushing 206 times (for 2,407 yards and 42 touchdowns) as a senior. In college at Pittsburgh, he was converted to a blocking fullback and in three years carried the ball only 37 times. He made the Giants’ roster last year as an undrafted free agent, caught 12 passes but had no rushing attempts — not even in the preseason.

“We hope he can help us in the run game one day in short-yardage situations,’’ running backs coach Jerald Ingram said. “He hasn’t been able to get to that level yet, but we like to think that we can do that.’’

Hynoski running with the ball is never going to be a high-volume option, but if his short-yardage potential can be developed it will enhance a ground attack that has some deficiencies. After all, the Giants finished dead last in the league in rushing in 2011 and haven’t lit anything up this summer.

Bruising Brandon Jacobs is gone, but even he wasn’t a pile-mover in the latter stages of his Giants tenure. Ahmad Bradshaw is as tough as they come, but he’s only 214 pounds. Rookie David Wilson is a speedster and more likely to lose 3 yards than gain a rugged 1. Ware couldn’t get any traction against the Jets and Da’Rel Scott and Andre Brown are unproven.

So why not the youngster they call the Hynocerous?

“Hopefully, eventually evolve into a goal-line guy too,’’ Hynoski said. “It’s one step at a time.’’