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New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is beginning training camp as if nothing ever happened to him last season.
The second-year stud is coming off a gruesome and complex ankle injury suffered in Week 8 last season that required surgery and an extensive rehabilitation process. On Friday at the Giants' third day of practice at camp, Skattebo told the media that's he's basically healthy and that the injury is behind him.
Skattebo was recently in the news for performing one of his patented touchdown celebratory backflips at the Fanatics Fest in New York City that opened some eyes, especially those of his bosses with the Giants. He's since come to the realization that it may not be the most prudent of moves for a player returning from a serious injury, especially since he flubbed the landing.
"Obviously I do some dumb things here and there, but I learn from it," he said. "My coach talked to me, told me how he felt, and I learned from it. And will I go do that back flip again? Probably not. We live and we learn, and we move on."
But will he? What will happen when he barrels into the end zone for the first time this season? All bets are off.
"When game time comes around, we'll see what game time comes around," he said. "But right now, we're focused on training camp, and we'll keep the back flips off the field for now."
The Giants are expected to be a run-heavy offense this season under new head coach John Harbaugh and run game coordinator Greg Roman. Skattebo will be part of a committee backfield effort this season along with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary, who will carry out that plan.
"Obviously Harbs runs the ball a lot. And (offensive coordinator Matt Nagy) is going to -- he always emphasizes to us that we're going to run the ball," Skattebo said. "And it seems that way in practice; we run the ball a lot. I think what they say is what they're going to do, and I believe that if we're going to run the ball a lot, there's got to be running backs to run the ball. I think that me and the guys in the room with me are going to have a really good year and enjoy playing the running back position."
It's not just lip service. Harbaugh's previous team, the Baltimore Ravens, ran the football 52 percent of their offensive snaps last season, the only team in the NFL to run the football more than throw it. With Nagy also in tow, fans can expect the Giants not only to run a lot, but run with a purpose, to wear opponents down. Ground and pound.
Skattebo expects the Giants' running game to be a physical one, behind last year's fifth-ranked offensive line, and the NFL's most punishing fullback, Patrick Ricard. Nagy will be demanding his backs fight and claw for every yard with Skattebo as his favorite battering ram.
"Not only me," said Skattebo, "Trace, Motor, Turbo (running back Dante Miller), all of them, he comes into our room all the time and says we're going to run the ball, so be ready," Skattebo said. "(Nagy) constantly reminds us that it's going to happen and as a running back group, I think as a total group.
"We have come together and that's how we're going to play as a group. We're going to be physical. We're going to run hard. Me and Trace have had a lot of talks in the past eight months of me being injured and coming back. I think you're going to see a little meaner side of him this year too. So, I'm super excited to get the ball on the ground and see the physicality come out of all the guys."
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Cam Skattebo excited for meaner, physical New York Giants running game
Continue reading...
The second-year stud is coming off a gruesome and complex ankle injury suffered in Week 8 last season that required surgery and an extensive rehabilitation process. On Friday at the Giants' third day of practice at camp, Skattebo told the media that's he's basically healthy and that the injury is behind him.
Skattebo was recently in the news for performing one of his patented touchdown celebratory backflips at the Fanatics Fest in New York City that opened some eyes, especially those of his bosses with the Giants. He's since come to the realization that it may not be the most prudent of moves for a player returning from a serious injury, especially since he flubbed the landing.
"Obviously I do some dumb things here and there, but I learn from it," he said. "My coach talked to me, told me how he felt, and I learned from it. And will I go do that back flip again? Probably not. We live and we learn, and we move on."
But will he? What will happen when he barrels into the end zone for the first time this season? All bets are off.
"When game time comes around, we'll see what game time comes around," he said. "But right now, we're focused on training camp, and we'll keep the back flips off the field for now."
The Giants are expected to be a run-heavy offense this season under new head coach John Harbaugh and run game coordinator Greg Roman. Skattebo will be part of a committee backfield effort this season along with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary, who will carry out that plan.
"Obviously Harbs runs the ball a lot. And (offensive coordinator Matt Nagy) is going to -- he always emphasizes to us that we're going to run the ball," Skattebo said. "And it seems that way in practice; we run the ball a lot. I think what they say is what they're going to do, and I believe that if we're going to run the ball a lot, there's got to be running backs to run the ball. I think that me and the guys in the room with me are going to have a really good year and enjoy playing the running back position."
It's not just lip service. Harbaugh's previous team, the Baltimore Ravens, ran the football 52 percent of their offensive snaps last season, the only team in the NFL to run the football more than throw it. With Nagy also in tow, fans can expect the Giants not only to run a lot, but run with a purpose, to wear opponents down. Ground and pound.
Skattebo expects the Giants' running game to be a physical one, behind last year's fifth-ranked offensive line, and the NFL's most punishing fullback, Patrick Ricard. Nagy will be demanding his backs fight and claw for every yard with Skattebo as his favorite battering ram.
"Not only me," said Skattebo, "Trace, Motor, Turbo (running back Dante Miller), all of them, he comes into our room all the time and says we're going to run the ball, so be ready," Skattebo said. "(Nagy) constantly reminds us that it's going to happen and as a running back group, I think as a total group.
"We have come together and that's how we're going to play as a group. We're going to be physical. We're going to run hard. Me and Trace have had a lot of talks in the past eight months of me being injured and coming back. I think you're going to see a little meaner side of him this year too. So, I'm super excited to get the ball on the ground and see the physicality come out of all the guys."
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Cam Skattebo excited for meaner, physical New York Giants running game
Continue reading...
