New York Giants Should Utilize Rashad Jennings, Paul Perkins Tandem

How can the New York Giants improve the rushing offense to take pressure off quarterback Eli Manning? Running back Paul Perkins should carry the load.

The New York Giants must address their rushing offense, which ranks last in the league. Running back Rashad Jennings averages 2.7 yards per carry. Shane Vereen is still the team’s leading ball-carrier, and he hasn’t played since Week 3.

According to ESPN reporter Jordan Raanan, the Giants will turn to rookie tailback Paul Perkins to boost the ground attack starting this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles:

"Paul Perkins’ role will increase significantly, beginning this week. He may not start or dominate the snaps, but he’ll be further integrated into the Giants’ offense as they move away from their power-run game in hopes of creating more plus-plays on the edges."

Despite a small sample, Perkins logs a higher advance rate than the veterans on the roster. He’s averaging 3.9 yards per carry on 10 totes. Typically, four yards per carry passes the litmus test as a decent clip. Nonetheless, the UCLA product brings the most upside within the Giants’ backfield.

Furthermore, why not turn to the running back who logged 2,915 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in his last two years on the collegiate level? New York desperately needs improvement to balance its offensive attack.

Nonetheless, the Giants shouldn’t throw their veterans on the scrap heap. Perkins provides more juice as a ball-carrier with potential as a receiver in the short passing game. However, he still needs work in pass protection—that’s where Rashad Jennings carries value along with goal-line rush attempts.

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According to Pro Football Focus, Jennings grades as the second-best pass-protecting running back in the NFL. With a shaky offensive line, it’s important to have an extra barrier between salivating defensive linemen and the quarterback.

The Giants could also continue to use fifth-year veteran Bobby Rainey as the primary pass-catching back. His involvement on obvious passing downs allows Perkins to focus on his strong suit, running the ball. The coaching staff shouldn’t dramatically increase the rookie’s workload in all facets. It’s still a learning process for him in a tight division race.

By all accounts, the Giants should ditch the committee approach with three different running backs handling attempts. The game plan should employ a two-man approach featuring Perkins as the primary option and Jennings as the short-yardage and goal-line alternative. Like most teams in the league, it takes two backs to get the job done. Head coach Ben McAdoo and offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan have to put their personnel assets in the right spots to excel.

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It’s important for the Giants to jump-start the ground attack because it forces opposing linebackers to play the run as opposed to standing back on their heels and interfering with pass routes, particularly on slants routes where wide receivers Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard gash defenses on yards after the catch.

The Giants hope the experiement with the backfiled produces positive results against the Philadelphia Eagles No. 20 ranked run defense.

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