The New York Giants are 5-0, No. 2 in the SB Nation Week 6 Power Rankings, the fourth-highest scoring offense in the league and straight rollin' into a big matchup this weekend with the undefeated New Orleans Saints. The only negative is that Brandon Jacobs is having somewhat of a down year, having only found the endzone once while averaging just 3.6 yards a carry. But hey -- team's 5-0, so it's all good, right? Not quite.
Why Is Brandon Jacobs So Frustrated?
Jacobs is frustrated with himself, and his lack of production, something head coach Tom Coughlin thinks is, well, a bit silly.
I don’t know what people keep talking about turning around ... I don’t think there is anything for Brandon to be down on. This keeps coming up. I don’t know what the expectations are. He is a power runner and that is what he does ... And he continues to be a vital part of our offensive team.
Unfortunately, that answer wasn’t good enough for Jacobs, because he’s still frustrated, and ready to tell anyone that’s willing to listen.
“Me, I am 6-4, 265 pounds,” Jacobs said. “I am supposed to run into people. I am supposed to take somebody on. That’s me. If I don’t do that, I am terrible.”
Then in no uncertain terms, Jacobs instructed the cluster of reporters around his locker that he would keep talking only if they wanted to discuss the Giants’ success or their matchup Sunday against the 4-0 New Orleans Saints. If not, he added sharply, they should get away from his locker.
No one did. Instead, he was asked whether he saw himself as a player who could set the tone for the team. After initially dismissing the question, Jacobs answered it, although he seemed upset, then ended the interview.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “I am going out and just running into people. I’m 6-4 and 265 pounds, doing what I am supposed to do, running into people to get a 2-yard loss. Happy?”
Is this another example of a millionaire athlete putting his own goals ahead of the team's? It certainly seems that way. It's great that Jacobs is passionate about wanting to do well, but Jacobs' complaints just sound selfish, especially when you read that these frustrations may all be coming from jealously he feels toward fellow RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who's averaging 6.5 yards a touch. On Thursday, he finally responded to the constant comparisons made by the media between the two running backs.
“This year, people know what we like to do,” Jacobs said. “And Ahmad is more … he can bounce around in those little creases and cracks and make a lot of big plays. Do I have the ability to do that? Yes. If I try to make plays like that, because I’m 265, 275 pounds, I’m not supposed to be doing that. Get it up there, hit into somebody, that’s what people want to see me do. If I don’t do it, I get criticized, if I do do it, I get criticized. I can’t win.
“Right now my stats aren’t very good, and people want to know why. That’s why,” Jacobs added. “Because I have the ability to make plays with my feet, but when I try to, it’s the worst thing. I’m scum of the earth when I do that.”
Not exactly a “team player” kind of answer, and that’s upsetting the boys at Big Blue View.
[T]o be honest I don’t like Jacobs’ answer. I don’t want to hear him talk about patience any more. I don’t want to hear him talk about bouncing around. I don’t want to see him stutter-step at the line of scrimmage any more and look for a place to go.
I do not think his health is an issue at all. I want to see him hit the line of scrimmage with authority. If there isn’t a hole I want to see him lower his shoulder and push the pile for a couple of yards. I want to see him punish defenses, not acquiesce to them.
In other words, I want to see him stop messing around and start running like Brandon Jacobs.
The Giants are at the Saints on Sunday. New Orleans allows just 83.2 yards per game on the ground, seventh-best in the NFL. It could be another frustrating week for Jacobs.
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