Empire Writes Back
Fansided

New York Giants: Rashad Jennings Finally Producing

By Kenneth Teape

facebooktwitterreddit

The New York Giants have struggled to find consistent production on the ground all season in the run game, but Rashad Jennings has finally started producing the last two games.

The New York Giants have had a lot of what ifs this season. Their playoff hopes are on life support with a 6-8 and fans find themselves asking well what if this had happened, or what is this went a certain way.

Fans will agonize over that for weeks as the Giants look like they will fall short of the playoffs for a fourth straight season. One of the biggest problems they have had to overcome this season has been the lack of a running game. Tom Coughlin and the coaching staff has been stubborn with the backfield, using a four-man rotation and giving touches to Andre Williams despite repeatedly doing nothing with them.

More from Empire Writes Back

But, in the last two games we have finally see Rashad Jennings take control of the backfield and monopolize touches. This is probably the biggest what if for the Giants this season, because if they had Jennings running like this earlier in the season they would probably be starting down a NFC East division title in the coming days. Instead, we are left asking ourselves what if as fans, as Jennings has finally broken from the running back committee and produced on his own.

Jenning was strong against the Miami Dolphins in Week 14, as he rushed 22 times for 81 yards. While the yards per carry wasn’t strong at 3.7, Jennings picked up yards when they mattered most, like the final drive when the Giants were trying to kill the clock. All season the Giants have left wins on the field, losing five games that they were leading in the final minute of the game.

That is what made the performance against the Dolphins so promising, as the Giants successfully killed the last 4:39 of the game to hold on for the victory. In addition to the 81 rushing yards, Jennings added two receptions for 21 yards, going over 100 total yards for the first time this season.

That performance earned him the right to lead the Giants backfield in touches, and it carried over against the Carolina Panthers. In an important game the Giants needed to win, Jennings stepped up big time. The team may have fallen short, but Jennings cannot be blamed as he brought his A game.

More from New York Giants

Jennings had a tough fumble that turned the tide in the game in the first half, but didn’t let that get him down. Jennings responded by running hard with every touch he got, which is needed when going up against a defense as strong as the one the Panthers have. Jennings did his part in the game, rushing for a season high 107 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown.

Jennings picked a great time to have his best game on the ground of the season, as the 107 yards are the most he has had since he ran for 176 yards against the Houston Texans in Week 3 last season, also the last time he went over 100 yards.

It was encouraging to see Jennings put on a performance like that against the Panthers, who entered the game giving up only 84.6 yards per game. He showed that he has not given up on the season yet, and will be playing hard until the final whistle of the season.

Next: Osi Umenyiora's Top 5 Moments With Giants

While it brings up more what if scenarios for the Giants, and is a case of too little too late, it is nice to see Jennings still coming to the stadium ready to play week in and week out. There is still a chance the Giants can sneak into the postseason, and if they are going to do it they will need Jennings to have two more games like this to finish out the regular season with.

Home/New York Giants