New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is not treating the early lack of explosives in the run game as a crisis. He tied it to an offensive line still learning a new system, and he is comfortable lowering his shoulder until that work shows up.
Asked on Friday why the ground game has not produced many big plays, Skattebo pointed to the men in front of him.
"I think we haven't fully come into our own yet. I think up front we're in a new scheme, new system, and these guys are learning," Skattebo told reporters. "Sisi coming in, this is going into game five of his career. The guys up front are learning the system. B-Hud's the center now. At times, going on, we've just got to continue to work and get better at what we're doing. I think as time goes
on, it's going to get better and better. These guys are going to really find the flow in the system and things are going to be just fine."
Francis Mauigoa is still early in his career, and Bryan Hudson is now the center. Skattebo's answer was patience, not alarm.
He was harder on his own decisions. The early-season plan, he said, is to punish defenders and save the extra cuts for later.
"I think early in the year, I kind of like to punish my opponents. When game seven, eight, nine comes around, they're not going to want to do that. That's when you kind of just get to run past them. When they lower their shoulder and close their eyes," Skattebo said. "Right now, I'm just doing me. I obviously could probably make a move here and there, but sometimes it's better for the team, beating up on the other team, is lowering the shoulder. I've got to be better, obviously, in the run game. I could definitely make a couple different cuts a game and completely change the outcome. I'm going to continue to work on that and continue to grow."
Sunday may suit that approach. The forecast points toward a messy game against the Washington Commanders, and Skattebo has already made his request to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
"I already told Coach (Matt Nagy), 'Just give me the ball, we'll be fine,'" Skattebo said.
Skatt does not expect a soft afternoon even if the carries come. Washington, he said, is better than its record.
"I think the film shows you that they're better than what their record says. They play hard. They play fast. They're athletic up front. Their linebackers are really good," he said. "We're going to have a challenge in front of us, especially with the weather. It's going to be a slugfest, and I think it's going to be a fun game for us."
The Giants will find out Sunday whether the line's learning curve and Skattebo's preferred brand of contact are enough to grind one out.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Cam Skattebo wants ball in what he expects will be a slugfest
