The New York Giants’ rushing attack remained stalled in a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and starting running back Najee Harris voiced clear frustration with the team’s rotational plan at the position.
Harris was elevated to the starting role after Cam Skattebo’s ongoing ball-security concerns. He finished with just four carries for two yards. In Skattebo’s absence, the Giants’ other backs combined for 14 carries and 34 yards.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. led the group with six carries for 18 yards and a touchdown, while Devin Singletary added four carries for 14 yards. Skattebo himself was limited to six snaps, all in the first half, and recorded zero touches after averaging 18.2 per game previously.
Harris was puzzled by the limited volume
despite being told he would start.
“That’s a good question,” he said of his expectations heading in, via NJ Advance Media. “That’s all I’ve got to say. I don’t know.”
Asked whether starting should have produced more than four carries, Harris replied, “Correct.”
He was especially direct about the difficulty of finding any rhythm in a multi-back rotation.
“Of course not,” Harris said when asked if a running back can get into a groove under those conditions. “I don’t think anybody can. This is not anything against the coaching staff. This is just that running backs, like a quarterback, get in a rhythm. It’s hard to get into a rhythm with one or two runs. The first couple runs you’ll be like: OK, how are they playing me? And then the next ones will be like: This is how you attack it. But if you’re getting a play here and you get taken out for a series, there’s nothing you can do. That’s why I’m saying I don’t know. I’ve never been through this before.”
Harris described the results as “extremely frustrating” and pointed to blocking issues, saying the Giants have often been “just one block away.” He added that he feels physically ready after returning from a torn Achilles.
Head coach John Harbaugh called the ground game “not very good, not very good.” He said the backs received equal early-game opportunities as the staff searched for someone to seize the workload.
“All those guys were taking equal reps in the first half. We were trying to see who could make something happen, who could get a hot hand and earn it. Nobody has really taken the bull by the horns,” Harbaugh said. “One of those guys needs to step up. Somebody needs to step up and be the back. And none of those guys have done that yet. And when one of those guys steps up to be the back, then they’ll be the back.”
Skattebo said he understood a reduced role tied to four fumbles in five games but did not anticipate zero touches.
The Giants (3-2-1) next face the Houston Texans and their strong run defense.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Miffed Najee Harris: Giants' multi-back approach 'extremely frustrating'
