GIANTS 101

The Super Bowl champion New York Giants ranked last during the 2011 regular season in rushing yards. As the starting running back, Ahmad Bradshaw finds that embarrassing, and takes it personally.

The rushing attack for the Giants picked up in the postseason and helped the team make it through the playoffs, but despite the ring, the last place finish in rushing did and does not not sit well with Bradshaw.

“Being 32nd, that’s devastating for us," Bradshaw said. “That’s a tough thing as a running back, actually being the starter and being a big part of it. We’ve got to look forward to this year and doing a whole lot better up front, all together as an offense. I think it’ll come.”

The Giants suffered a rash of injuries between Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, and most of the offensive line that certainly hurt and resulted in the league's worst unit, who averaged 89.2 yards a game. Still, Bradshaw knows that's no excuse, and improvements need to be made.

It was eventually revealed that Bradshaw was playing on two chronically injured feet a year ago, resulting in him missing four games. He went through a stem cell injection surgery this offseason, helping him to feel confident in his health heading into the new season.

“I feel great,” Bradshaw said. “Honestly I’ve always said I felt better, but this year I feel great more than any year I’ve played in the NFL.”

The departure of Brandon Jacobs to the San Francisco 49ers forced the Giants to address the running back position in the NFL Draft. With their first-round selection, Big Blue picked running back David Wilson from Virginia Tech, who offers great speed and fresh legs. After seeing what Wilson is capable of, Bradshaw is confident he can step in and contribute quickly.

“His speed is just tremendous,” Bradshaw said. “He can open up a whole lot of things for our whole offense – outside, inside. He’s an all-around back, a quality back. I think he can execute everything.”

Quarterback Eli Manning has also been impressed with what he's seen, warranting high praise from the two time Super Bowl MVP.

"The thing about David Wilson is he’s the fastest running back we’ve ever had. I mean, this guy’s, quick, he’s explosive, so that’s kind of exciting," Manning said.

As we head into a new season, things can only get better for the Giants rushing attack. The health of Bradshaw and the addition of David Wilson will surely have a positive affect on the Giants running game, which will help the production of the entire offense.

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Tags: Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, David Wilson, Eli Manning, Football, New York, New York Giants, NFL

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