New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo likes to run into — and over — things. That’s fun and stuff, but moms worry about their boys. Which is why Skattebo’s mom loves full Patrick Ricard, Skattebo’s personal bodyguard on many of his runs.
“I feel safe,” Skattebo said of running behind 300-pound ’Pancake Pat’. “When he hits the first linebacker and I don’t have to take them both on, it’s really nice.
“My mom – when we first signed Pat, my mom didn’t really know who he was at first. And then I kind
of showed her some videos and kind of taught her what he was going to be doing. And she goes, ‘I want to meet that guy.’ So, my mom says it’s safer, and me, 300 pounds in front of me as a lead blocker on top of the o-line is awesome. It feels awesome.”
Tyrone Tracy, kickoff returner
When Deonte Banks was in and out of the Giants’ lineup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, the Giants turned to Tyrone Tracy to join Braxton Berrios as one of the two kickoff returners.
It is a job Tracy has done before, with eight kickoff returns over the past two seasons for an average 24.1 yards per return.
Perhaps the only surprising part of Tracy getting that call is that he had fumbled the ball away on his second — and last — carry of the game against Dallas. He also had a fumble in a preseason game.
Banks is questionable to play vs. the Rams with a calf injury. Even if he does play, the Giants might not want to risk using him on kickoff returns. So, we could see Tracy regularly in that role.
“Just gives us the running back, the vision. A guy, again, that can run returns downhill. They’re downhill plays. And a guy that can bounce off tackles,” said special teams coordinator Chris Horton. “We just want guys that have a lot of skill, guys that can make plays on their own, and guys that can make people miss in the hole. Because a lot of times it’s going to be one guy that you might have to make miss.”
But, the fumbles?
“Not concerned at all,” Horton said. “Just things that we talk about. Just from a fundamentals standpoint, you’re going through traffic, let’s make sure we protect the ball.”
Is Malik ready for more?
Malik Nabers led the Giants with nine targets in Week 1, his first game back from last season’s torn ACL. Nabers, though, played only 36 of 68 snaps, 52%.
Is Nabers ready for more?
“It’s a question we’re asking ourselves, in all honesty,” said head coach John Harbaugh. “I think it comes back to what he’s capable of handling. He had a good workload today again, so as he’s ramping up his volume in practice, which would be bringing him closer to that kind of mindset in the games, we’ll see as we get through the games. He looks strong. He does.”
Nikko’s adventures
New Giants cornerback Nikko Reed was signed off the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad on Thursday.
Reed hopped on a flight from Los Angeles to New Jersey, practiced with the Giants on Friday and Saturday, then got on a flight back to LA on Saturday afternoon for the team’s trip to LA to face the Rams.
I wonder if Reed is still on West Coast time.
Harbaugh seemed happy to acquire Reed.
“It’s good to be aggressive, especially at that position,” Harbaugh said. “There’s still guys on the practice squad who won’t last on the practice squad probably too much longer, so it was a good get for us.”
Numbers to know
- The Giants’ offensive linemen gave up 10 pressures across 192 combined pass-blocking snaps, third-lowest in the NFL in Week 1.
- The Giants surrendered the third-lowest quarterback pressure precentage, 5.2.
- The Giants have a 10-game streak of gaining at least 100 yards rushing, longest in the NFL.
- The Giants’ 81.82% third-down conversion rate against the Dallas Cowboys led the NFL and was the team’s best since 1991.
- The Giants were fifth in the NFL in total yards allowed (244) and rushing yards allowed (69) in Week 1.
