Rashad Jennings Avoiding The Proverbial RB Wall
Rashad Jennings is the Giants’ most underrated player, according to a list compiled by ESPN and Football Outsiders. However, at the tender age of 31, he appears ready to have a breakout season for Big Blue.
On the surface, Jennings appears to be your average running back because he doesn’t do any single thing exceptionally well. He lacks the power of Brandon Jacobs, the quick feet and running vision of Tiki Barber, or the situational efficiency of Ahmad Bradshaw.
He also doesn’t make many highlight reel plays. With Jennings, who will be entering his third season with the Giants, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. He is a versatile player who can do many different things.
Jennings feels as if he is going to do great things in 2016. Part of the reason for this renaissance, he maintains, is experience and preparation.
AROUND COVER32
Fantasy Football: How Goodell set up your draft
NFL: Ranking the ten scariest defensive players
2016 Preview: Which team goes from worst to first?
Twitter Tuesday: That familiar Tom Brady feeling
“Being an NFL player is a guy that comes into the league has some talent, plays a little bit,” Jennings said in an interview with NJ.com. “But a pro understands how to take care of his body, how to play the Xs and Os, play the game before it happens. I’ve just been allowing my maturity to catch up with my age at the same time. I’m excited. As I get into my latter years, I’m getting into my prime.”
Jennings’ preparation begins with what he eats. He begins each day with a smoothie consisting of oatmeal, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, almond milk, peanut butter, banana, vegan chocolate, ice, water, and protein powder.
The running back by committee formula currently employed by the Giants isn’t a recipe for individual success. Usually, a running back hits the proverbial wall once they enter their 30s. Jennings’ performance from a season ago suggest otherwise.
Jennings, who shared ball-carrying duties with Orleans Darkwa, Shane Vereen and Andre Williams, started in all 16 games in 2015. He had career highs in carries (195) and yards (863), accounting for more than half of the Giants’ 18th-ranked rushing attack.
Jennings also had career highs in receiving yards (296) and yards per catch (10.2).
Despite the Giants’ reluctance to run the ball, Jennings has confidence in the offense implemented by head coach Ben McAdoo.
“Year one we implemented a system and last year we kind of made it ours,” Jennings told the NFL Network. “Year three, it’s now completely our system and you see a calm and a poise in every single player across the board. We can get in any play at any time and adjust.”
In 2015, the Giants’ offense was ranked eighth overall and sixth in points per game with 26.2.
Entering his eighth season, Jennings has never rushed for more than 900 yards. According to John Schmeelk of Giants.com, his workload will be 15-18 carries a game in 2016. If he matches his 4.4 yards per carry average from a season ago, he will eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, which will only help one of the NFL’s most potent offenses become even more dangerous.
The post Rashad Jennings Avoiding The Proverbial RB Wall appeared first on Cover32.
