The Giants running game has cratered since Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury in the opening drive of Week 2, and John Harbaugh is calling out his running back group to step up and help an offense that was stuck in neutral with Jameis Winston under center in Sunday's loss to the Saints.
"It was not very good," Harbaugh said bluntly when asked about the Giants rushing attack, which is averaging less than three yards per carry since Dart went down.
Cam Skattebo, after his costly fumble in overtime in last week's tie against the Commanders, did not get a single carry on Sunday, and the rest of the running backs managed next to nothing on the ground, as Tyrone Tracy Jr. has six carries for 18 yards, Devin Singletary has four for 14, and Najee Harris had four carries and managed just two yards.
With New York looking to hold onto first place in the NFC East, Harbaugh publicly challenged his group to rise to the occasion and help save a stagnant offense.
"Nobody's really taken the bull by the horns...One of those guys needs to step up," Harbaugh said. "Somebody needs to step up and be the back. None of those guys have done that yet. When one of those guys steps up to be the back, then they'll be the back."
Harbaugh mentioned multiple times that Skattebo wasn't benched, noting that the narrative of the game became one that needed passing and big chunk plays to get back into the game after allowing 34 straight points. He pointed to a four-back committee where there are not as many carries to go around because none of his backs have separated himself from the back to be the lead ball carrier.
Asked again about Skattebo's playing time, a defiant Harbaugh pushed back while supporting his answer that his young running back was not benched, rather a victim of a crowded depth chart, a struggling run game, and a large second half deficit.
"I think it's been pretty clear the whole story. I don't even know what else to say," Harbaugh said. "That's the best answer you could ever get on that in 1,000 years. There's not a coach in the world that would give you a better answer than that. If you're not thrilled with that answer, I got nothing else for you, honestly."
The Giants head coach also called out his running back group to step up.
The Giants head coach also called out his running back group to step up.
