Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Giants' backs not run of the mill Date: Sat, 31 Oct 92 14:00:15 EST Message-ID: \SE D;SPORTS \HD Giants' backs not run of the mill \BY Thom Loverro \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The New York Giants have a 3-4 record. They have an aging defense. They have a coach under fire. They simply are not the Giants of old - except when it comes to running the ball. Through it all, they still can gain yardage on the ground and hang onto the ball, two factors that concern Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs as he prepares for tomorrow night's game at RFK Stadium. "They have one of the best rushing averages in the league, which is a tough matchup for us," Gibbs said. "It always has been. They seem to do real well against us because of their rushing." It used to be Joe Morris, then Ottis Anderson carrying the ball, with Maurice Carthon leading the way as the blocking fullback. Now the runners are Rodney Hampton and Jarrod Bunch, but the results have been the same. The Giants are averaging 4.8 yards per carry through seven games. Hampton, who gained 1,059 yards last season, is on his way to another 1,000-yard season with 558 yards and a 4.5-yard average. Bunch has improved after a disappointing rookie season and has become a punishing blocker, using his 250 pounds to pave the way for Hampton. He also has made a mark as a runner, gaining 290 yards and averaging 5.8 yards a carry. Throw in running quarterback Jeff Hostetler and dangerous Dave Meggett, and you have the NFL's third-best rushing attack. Washington's defense, ranked third in the league overall and fourth against the run, has faced mostly pass-oriented teams this season. The Redskins have not played a true grind-it-out team yet. "We've got to try to stop the run now against a team with a big back and a big line, and that's a little bit of a change for us," Gibbs said. "Playing that kind of team has given us more trouble." The Giants' offensive line - tackles Jumbo Elliott and Doug Riesenberg, guards Williams Roberts and Eric Moore and Bart Oates at center - is the same massive force that drove this team to the Super Bowl two years ago. It averages 285 pounds, and Moore and Elliott weigh in at more than 300 each. Redskins defensive tackle Eric Williams, whose strong point is run defense, hopes he and his fellow linemen can hold their own. "They have big, strong men up front and big men running the ball," he said. "Hopefully, we'll come out and match up with them." The Redskins have been able to control the ball so far this season, averaging 33:10 in time of possession. But the Giants, even with a losing record, have been able to hold the ball slightly longer than their opponents (30:10). "When you have that strong an offensive line, it's really hard to stop the ball control game," Williams said. Gibbs worries about his defense being out on the field too long Sunday night and getting tired. "I think that's what happened to us in the second half of our last game," he said. "Although the guys responded extremely well, we left them out there a long time, and eventually it cost us because Minnesota got down the field." ***** REDSKINS VS. GIANTS Tomorrow, 8 p.m., RFK Stadium, Ch. 7, TNT cable, AM-570, AM-1090, FM-103.5, Redskins favored by 10 1/2 This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM