Skattebo Hints at Calculated Strategy Behind Lack of Long Runs

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo suggested that his team's struggles with breaking off long runs might be part of a strategic, long-term plan.

"Yeah, for sure," Skattebo said when asked if his approach was deliberate. "I think early in the year, I kind of like to punish my opponents. When game seven, eight, nine comes around, they’re not going to want to do that. That’s when you kind of just get to run past them. When they lower their shoulder and close their eyes."

Skattebo acknowledged that he could potentially make more evasive cuts during games, but stated that his current approach of lowering his shoulder is sometimes better for the team. "I’ve got to be better, obviously, in the run game. I could definitely make a couple different cuts a game and completely change the outcome. I’m going to continue to work on that and continue to grow."

This season, Skattebo's longest run is 13 yards. He leads the NFL in rushing attempts with 68 without a single gain of 15 or more yards. Quinshon Judkins of the Browns is second in the league with 59 carries without a long run. Following Skattebo, Najee Harris of the Giants has a longest run of 11 yards.

The Giants' rushing offense as a whole is averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. Quarterbacks Jaxson Dart, with a 22-yard gain, and Jameis Winston, with a 15-yard gain, have recorded the longest rushes for the team in the first four games.

Coach John Harbaugh commented on the team's rushing performance, stating, "Yeah, I mean, we’re just not good enough yet. Defenses are playing us pretty well. As we get better, we’ll probably have more longer runs. Also, if we make them pay a little more with play action, I think that’ll loosen them up a little bit, probably."

The Commanders, the Giants' upcoming opponent, rank sixth in the NFL in run defense, allowing an average of 93.9 yards per game. However, they are 25th in pass defense.

With a forecast of heavy rain for Sunday's game, the importance of the running game may be amplified for both teams. "Linemen, we like to run the ball," guard Jon Runyan Jr. told The Post. "We’ll throw the ball if we have to, but we like to establish the run as much as we can. It makes our jobs a little bit easier, it makes it a lot more fun."

In other team news, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Malik Nabers, former LSU teammates, are noted for their past injury struggles. First-year Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones has implemented a blitz-heavy scheme, similar to the Vikings' approach, which may pose a challenge for Winston, who has the second-lowest passer rating against the blitz this season.