ALBANY — If someone beamed into Giants training camp with no knowledge of what went on before, one of the absolutes based on the evidence on the field would be this:
Ahmad Bradshaw is the starting running back.
The first play of virtually every team period begins with a handoff to Bradshaw. When counting up the rushing attempts, Bradshaw probably has three times as many as Brandon Jacobs, who it is generally assumed is the No. 1 running back.
This cannot be explained away as merely keeping Jacobs fresh because he’s coming off knee surgery. Bradshaw is coming off three separate surgeries, as screws were inserted to stabilize the fifth metatarsal bones on the outside of both feet and bone spurs were removed from his right ankle.
“You guys are all hung up on that stuff,” coach Tom Coughlin said yesterday when asked about Bradshaw getting the bulk of the workload. “All I want is healthy bodies and depth. They’ll all be utilized and, as you know, there are a lot of games to play.”
After the Giants led the league in rushing in 2008, the injuries to Jacobs and Bradshaw, a wearing down of the offensive line and diminished play from banged-up fullback Madison Hedgecock all contributed to last season’s steep decline in the ground game. If Bradshaw is back to being the sparkplug runner who, as a rookie in 2007, injected dynamism into the Super Bowl run, the rushing game should be noticeably more effective.
“Me and Brandon are roommates and we talk about it every day, how hungry we are and how excited we are about running this ball and running this team,” Bradshaw said.
Jacobs a year ago was a slower, hesitant version of himself and the Giants are confident — and just a little hopeful — that the bum knee was the reason why. He has shown no lingering reminders, as in his limited work in camp he’s been quick enough.
“He looks good to me,” Coughlin said.
Bradshaw was in such pain last season that he never was able to practice. He puts great strain on the outside of his feet because he’s bow-legged and makes severe, violent cuts.
“That’s just my running style. I run on the outside of my feet and the fifth metatarsal is right under me,” Bradshaw said. “It was easy for me to injure it. I feel good now. I’m still running the same.”
It looks as if he indeed is running the same. The distinctive crisp and angled movements in the hole are there as Bradshaw each day gets stronger and more decisive. His return to health is a huge plus this summer and it sure appears as if the coaching staff wants to see as much of him as it can.
“If anything it hurts when I get off the field, it’s just a little sore,” Bradshaw said. “I feel great, 100 percent compared to last year.”
The Giants are almost always cautious with players returning from surgery, limiting them to one practice a day. Bradshaw felt he needed all the work he could get and lobbied to go full-tilt and participate in double sessions. He hasn’t missed anything at all and the Giants are entering their second week of camp.
“I worked hard this offseason just to get used to that pounding,” Bradshaw said. “I just felt coming out and practicing twice a day would help our team as much as possible.”
schwartz@nypost.com