New York Giants running backs are embracing the opportunity to establish a physical, run-heavy offense under head coach John Harbaugh, with the run game taking center stage as players donned pads for the first time in training camp on a rain-soaked field. The team's focus on the ground game is a cornerstone of Harbaugh's coaching philosophy, often characterized by the physicality of its blockers and rushers.
“We don’t see it as a lot of weight on our shoulders, we see it as opportunity,” said running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who is coming off back-to-back seasons with more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage. “Opportunity to show ourselves, opportunity to really show the NFL who we are and what we can be. I think we can be a premier running back group.”
Cam Skattebo, another running back, noted the emphasis on the run game during practice. “In practice, we run the ball a lot,” Skattebo said. “I think what they say is what they’re going to do … and me and the guys in the room with me are going to have a really good year.”
The Giants' offensive line, returning four starters and adding Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard, is also geared towards supporting the run. Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor highlighted the team's intended identity. “We’re not going to shy away from contact on any level — the offensive line, running backs, receivers,” Eluemunor said. “We’re going to be a team that wears you out, and by the fourth quarter you probably don’t want to be in the game because we’re just going to keep going and keep going and keep going, taking those body shots. And then, when the fourth quarter comes, go for that knockout punch. That’s the type of team that we want to be, the team that Harbs is preaching.”
This approach is familiar territory for the Giants' run game coordinator, Greg Roman, who served as an assistant head coach with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. Under Harbaugh in Baltimore, the Ravens consistently ranked among the NFL leaders in rushing attempts and yards, even with a less heralded corps of running backs.
Tracy also noted the clarity of the offensive scheme under Roman. “There’s really no gray area, and it’s not just one way to run the ball,” Tracy said. “He’s calling the same run, but out of different formations, different motions, different pullers. There’s a whole bunch of different stuff going on, but he’s making it very simple and easy for us to learn.”
The team's commitment to the run game was evident in its installation before full contact drills. Eluemunor commented on the ability to work on the run game even without full pads. “I think in prior years, obviously, you don’t want to practice the run without full pads on,” Eluemunor said. “But this year, I think that we really opened up some of the run game. And you can’t wait until the pads come on to really dig into that. You can work on your footwork, your technique, making sure your head is in the right place. Then you just focus on the big things like shedding the block, hitting, moving throughout the line of scrimmage. So, I think that the practice we put in is going to help us in the long run.”
Both Tracy and Skattebo expressed a desire to be more physical and aggressive, aligning with the team's intended identity. “As a running back, we want to be more physical, we want to be more aggressive,” Tracy said. “And that’s really our motto, that’s really one of our pillars going into this year.”