The New York Giants are currently atop the NFC East with a 3-2-1 record. Having lost their quarterback during the second week of the season, this should be impressive; the vibes surrounding the team should be relatively good. However, that’s not the case: one running back didn’t get a carry in the team’s 34-27 loss, and another was cut after he made comments about his role in the rotation.
Let’s take a look at the Cam Skattebo situation: Skattebo has 81 carries for 294 yards and 1 touchdown this season. The 3.6 yards-per-carry average isn’t great, but what has really undermined his play is his fumbling. The second year back has fumbled in Weeks 1-3, then again in Week 5, before not getting a chance to fumble in Week 6.
I think every fan figured Skattebo was benched offensively because of his fumbling issues; heck, he said post-game that he understood why himself.
I got punished for what I did and I understand it,” Skattebo said, via Charlotte Carroll of TheAthletic.com. “I gotta be ready when coach calls my name and that wasn’t today. . . . The message was keep your head down and keep going. They understand the type of player I am and I just gotta continue to do my job and do it to the best of my abilities.”
Pretty open-and-shut case, right? Wrong. After the game, Coach John Harbaugh was asked about the lack of playing time and gave this answer.
“It was not by design,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, all those guys were taking equal reps in the first half. We were trying to see who could make something happen, who could kinda get a hot hand and earn it. Nobody’s really taking the bull by the horns… It wasn’t by design for him not to carry the ball. It was just, when he was in there, we didn’t call any runs.”
Okay… It’s weird they weren’t on the page, but that wasn’t even the weirdest situation involving a running back. Najee Harris was asked about the running back rotation for the Giants and was pretty candid about how difficult it is to play in.
“It’s hard to get in a rhythm with one or two plays. The first couple runs will be like, ‘OK, how are they playing it?’ And then the next ones will be, ‘OK, this is how you attack it.’ But if you’re getting a play here and then get taken out for a series, there’s nothing you could do. That’s why I’m saying, ‘I don’t know.’ I’ve never been through none of this before.”
Harbaugh was asked about Harris’ comments and said he understood, but he also made sure his running backs knew they haven’t earned consistent playing time.
“I do understand it, respect it. Also understand that that’s earned. I would love for us to be in that kind of a circumstance, a Derrick Henry circumstance or the Saquon Barkley circumstance … that would be great,” Harbaugh said, per Greg Johnson. “Our run game hasn’t earned that yet. None of those guys have. My advice would be to any player…’Do the most you can with the opportunities you get. Make the most of those opportunities, and you’re sure to get more opportunities.”
To make matters stranger, it was announced today that Harris was being released by the Giants. It feels like Harbaugh is blurring the line between a coach who expects a lot from his players and someone who acts like a dictator. We’ll see how this plays out as the season progresses, but if the Giants start to lose, this could become a bigger locker room issue.
