00:002025 was only a small sample size, but if healthy and used correctly, I think the Giants running back room
00:07and run game could be an absolute problem for defenses in 2026.
00:11Just think about it. It's that one room on this football team that I think, even though they're coming off
00:17a pretty damn good year in 2025, they still have the highest ceiling to grow.
00:22Let me break it down for you. That room or that group combined for over 1,500 rushing yards last
00:28season despite injuries and some inconsistent play within the offensive line.
00:32Three capable backs with three different styles, all healthy and all going into training camp.
00:39They've added a head coach and an offensive coordinator that both have that pound the rock mentality and an offensive
00:45line that returned four of its five starters.
00:47And then they went upgraded the interior of that line with the 10th overall pick, C.C. Maunoah out of
00:53Miami.
00:54So let's break down how and why the Giants running back room will take an even bigger leap and be
01:00the backbone of this offense again in 2026.
01:05129.1 yards rushing per game during the season, which ranked them ninth overall in the league.
01:11And that entire core is coming back healthy, like I mentioned earlier, especially the duo that everybody has been waiting
01:20to see play on the field consistently.
01:23And that's Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Scadaboo.
01:26But let's break down Tyrone Tracy Jr. first.
01:29He's the big play weapon and he's that dual threat bat.
01:32He got off to a slow start at the beginning of the season, but he did finish strong with 740
01:38rushing yards, 36 catches and nearly 300 receiving yards.
01:42That's back to back seasons with over 1000 yards per scrimmage.
01:47So I see offense coordinator Matt Nagy taking full advantage of having a former wide receiver in the backfield.
01:53And that can run routes and that can catch the rock.
01:57And on top of that, he can hit a defense with big plays in the run game.
02:00He can do everything from running the ball off the tackles to catching screens, swing passes, option routes.
02:07We saw his versatility on full display the most in games like the Broncos and the second Cowboys game at
02:14the end of the year.
02:16He gives this offense flexibility in spread formations and mismatches against linebackers.
02:24Second, Cam Scadaboo.
02:26We all know this guy is the tone setter.
02:29I love watching this guy play.
02:31And Giants fans fell in love with everything about not only his game, but his personality.
02:36He brings the physicality, the flair.
02:39He finishes runs violently.
02:41And he's that short yardage and goal line weapon.
02:44It's also a plus because he can catch the football and stay on the field all three downs.
02:50We saw him catch the ball at Arizona in his senior year.
02:54But what sucks is we only had gotten a small sample size of exactly what this kid can do and
03:01what he's about.
03:02That first catch he had on the sideline against the Commanders week one when he broke like three or four
03:09tackles.
03:10That's where we knew this kid was going to be a guy.
03:12And once he had taken over as the lead back, he instantly added a spark to the offense and the
03:18fan base with 414 yards on 101 carries and five touchdowns before he had that devastating season ending ankle injury.
03:28When Skat got that injury and was gone for the year, I feel like the fan base and this offense
03:34lost his soul.
03:35He's both the energy and the closer.
03:38And when defenses are tired in the fourth quarter, which they should be in 2026, he's going to be that
03:45guy that nobody wants to tackle.
03:47And when he went down, they got a pretty solid and nice contribution from Devin Singletary with a buck 19
03:53carries for 430 yards.
03:55Then you throw in Jackson Dart, who as a quarterback, impressed a lot of people and showed that he was
04:02an actual threat with the rock in his hands.
04:04He added 487 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground during his 12 starts.
04:10But we can all agree we don't want to see Jackson Dart run too much in 2026.
04:162,195 total yards.
04:19The run game was the offense in 2025.
04:22That running back's room doesn't just have depth.
04:26I feel like they have a contrasting style of all three running backs and they all complement each other.
04:32Then the Giants went out and got a head coach that I feel like will get the most out of
04:38this offense and this room.
04:41John Harbaugh and the Harbaugh running back formula has been proven for almost two decades.
04:48When Harbaugh's teams have been at their best, they've rarely relied on just one running back.
04:55They rotate them.
04:56They keep everybody fresh.
04:57They use specialized roles and they wear teams down over four quarters.
05:02So let's take a look back at some of the successful duos of backs that he had in Baltimore.
05:07I'm talking Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce, Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.
05:14Multiple backs sharing touches while staying efficient.
05:18And he also had King Henry as well.
05:21Harbaugh's philosophy, keep those backs fresh.
05:24Avoid overloading one player.
05:26Attack defenses with different styles and dominate the time of possessions.
05:30All the things that Giants fans are used to seeing in the past and all the things Giants fans want
05:38in a culture or identity of their team's offense.
05:43So now it's on new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to use and to get the most out of this room
05:51and this duo.
05:52And I expect him to create some sort of thunder and lightning package to keep both Scat and Tracy fresh
05:58and be as creative as he can be with both of those guys on the field at the same time
06:04in certain downs.
06:05Maybe some sort of pony personnel.
06:07We see it in the NFL a lot.
06:09Two running backs on the field.
06:11Let's say Tyrone Tracy Jr.
06:14Motions into the slot or even out to the perimeter.
06:16Scat remains in the backfield to create some sort of confusion for linebackers and safeties.
06:23The sky is the limit when it comes to the type of creativity that Matt Nagy can use.
06:28We didn't see enough of these two guys playing together on the field last season to have any sort of
06:34idea of what the future could look like with both of these two dudes healthy and both of them playing
06:40at a high level.
06:41Final thought, you add in Patrick Ricard who, I mean, clears the lanes for all types of running backs over
06:49his time in the NFL.
06:51But the Giants have a legitimate one-two punch in the backfield in an all-around solid running back room.
06:59That is going to take pressure or should take pressure at least.
07:04And hopefully some carries away from Jackson Dart going into year two of his development to keep him fresh, healthy,
07:12and hopefully out of third and long situations while this wide receiver room gets healthy and this passing game creates
07:20its own identity.
07:22If the offensive line takes that step or that leap forward in 2026, this backfield and this room has a
07:30chance to be one of the most underrated running back duos and rooms in football.
Comments