The Giants may just have found something in Peyton Hillis. The stats don’t leap off the page – 38 rushes, 106 yards, 2.8 yards per carry – but he’s brought a stabilizing force to the Giants backfield.
The combination of Hillis and John “Turbo Man” Conner has given Big Blue a powerful run game and competent pass protection – two things the team lacked the first six games.
Hillis’ 20-rush, 70-yard performance Sunday against the Eagles showed that the Giants are showing a new commitment to the run game in order to keep defenses honest, and open up the field for passing.
It’s worked – kind of – to the extent of the Giants have won two games. I’d be lying if I said that they weren’t two of the ugliest games I’ve ever watched – and this coming from a guy whose first live NFL game was the Kurt Kittner game in 2003 against the Atlanta Falcons.
The fact that Hillis is already the Giants’ third leading rusher says far more about how bad everyone else has been rather than how good Hillis has been.
But the Giants will be getting a savior of sorts next week in the form of Andre Brown. Now I wrote last week that Brown might find himself as the odd-man out if he comes back and doesn’t produce, especially with the inevitable returns of Brandon Jacobs and David Wilson. But let’s face it – Brown is probably better than anyone else the Giants have in the backfield.
For anyone who wants to argue otherwise, let me please point you in the direction of Sunday’s game against the Eagles. You know, the one where the team kicked five field goals. Five! Field goals might cut it against a bad team like the Eagles, but it won’t against any other team that doesn’t play in Jacksonville, Florida.
Point is, while Hillis has been nice as far as providing some stability and a certain level of consistent play, the problems are far from being solved.
Check back here on Tuesday for my review of all of those problems and what I think can be done to fix them!
Joe’s Prediction in Review:
Predicted: 16 carries, 50 yards, 1 touchdown, 4 catches, 37 yards, 0 touchdowns
Actual: 20 carries, 70 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 catches, 15 yards, 0 touchdowns
Verdict: Low expectations were exceeded in terms of yardage, but getting into the endzone just once would’ve been nice.
Joe Vasile | Featured Columnist
Joe Vasile is the play-by-play announcer for Widener Pride football and the host of “Ball Four” on WTSR in Trenton. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeVasilePBP.