Brown earns himself more playing time
EAST RUTHERFORD — Ahmad Bradshaw was back on the practice field yesterday, his neck problem almost totally healed, and proclaiming himself ready to take back the No. 1 running back duties in the Giants offense.
So where does that put Andre Brown, who stepped in for Bradshaw last Thursday in Carolina and had the best game of his career with 113 rushing yards, and two touchdowns on 20 carries in a Giants runaway win?
Before that game the oftinjured Brown looked like he had no role in the Giants run game. Now he’s climbed the depth chart and looks to have earned himself more playing time. Maybe almost as Bradshaw had the last two years when he shared the workload with Brandon Jacobs.
When coach Tom Coughlin if Brown’s last performance earned him more time on the field he had an immediate positive response.
“Yeah, definitely,” said the coach as the 2-1 Giants began preparation for Sunday night’s game at The Linc against the 2-1 Eagles.
“By our experience, and I’ll explain it again,” said Coughlin, “one year (2008), we had three guys. You know, there’s a long, long way to go, and we’re just happy that we’ve had an opportunity to develop some players and they will all have the chance to contribute.”
Coughlin was referring to the year when Jacobs ran for 1,089 and 15 TDs, Derick Ward 1,048 and Bradshaw 355.
Coughlin says there’s no reason it can’t happen again with Bradshaw, Brown and No. 1 draft pick David Wilson sharing the running load this season.
“Right now it’s better for me than it was last year,” said Brown, who missed the 2011 season with injury. “I’m enjoying every moment of it. I’m just going to go out and continue to work as hard as I can.
“I feel I’m a bigger back than Derick was. I know as quickly as they build you up you can come right down. I’m not going to come out here and be a cocky guy.
“I’m just going to continue to be humble and work as hard as I can.”
Brown believes the old adage about staying with the hot hand, and as long as he’shot he hopes Coughlin contnues to use him in the run game.
“It’s all about the flow of the game, and who is doing well, whether it’s Ahmad, David or myself. Whoever is hot let him run,” said Brown. “If you are running the ball effectively and can help your team win that’s all that matters.”
Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field the Giants take on the Eagles in an early showdown of 2-1 teams expected to stay at the top of the NFC East race through the entire season.
Coughlin knows winning in Philly will be as difficult as it’s ever been, especially since Andy Reid’s team looked so pitiful last week in a loss at Arizona.
“They’re pretty good against everything. They dress nine defensive linemen and they play them all. It’s all about getting after the quarterback,” said Coughlin.
That’s why a balanced run game can be so effecticve for the Giants this week.