Credit:NY Giants
If you are a Giants fan chances are you’ve probably heard of Andre Williams. The Giant’s fourth round pick out of Boston College is 230 pounds of pure football physique. The running back is currently listed #3 on the Giants latest depth chart behind Reshad Jennings and Peyton Hillis, but has flashed signs of being a starter for this team sooner rather than later.
“I feel like I’m built to run the ball, to play football and carry the ball,” Williams said. “Once I tuck it away, I do feel comfortable. I feel like I’m doing what I was built to do. It’s fun out there and I’m just having fun.”
That’s what Williams did when he was given a shot with the starting team in this past Sunday’s first pre-season and NFL Hall of Fame Game vs Buffalo.Williams ran for 48 yards on seven carries, including the 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that gave the Giants the lead in a 17-13 win over the Bills. The rookie showed signs of power in his runs and already has the body to block for QB Eli Manning. That’s something the Giant’s are going to need out of their backs this year considering that their offensive line has been switched around after a terrible season last year.
“He ran with speed and power, seemed to hit the hole well and got the ball outside,” Tom Coughlin said.
Current Giants starter coming to the team this offseason from Oakland, Reshad Jennings had confidence in the young RB going into the game. “He did exactly what we thought,” Jennings said. “He’s a physical guy, a downhill runner. He’s a talented guy who wants to play, wants to learn and wants to be great.”
Williams couldn’t even process what was happening once he had crossed that goal line for the first time with an NFL team. It could be a position that he could become accustomed to though come Sundays as a goal-line back. “Once I got in the end zone, my mind kind of went blank, and it was a great feeling,” Williams said. “I feel like I’m supposed to be here. I’m part of a team now.”
Williams seems to be a guy the Giants can look to on the goal-line and for gaining those hard to get yards in a Giant’s rushing attack that already seems to be the stronger part of this offense going into the season.The Giants had a 12-play, 80-yard drive in their game on Sunday. The only drive out of their starters that flashed optimism in to Giants fans everywhere. However, seventy-two of those yards came on the ground. Rushing should be a vital part of the scoring for this team and Williams might just be their new Brandon Jacobs. One thing the Giants are looking for Andre to improve in is pass-catching and protection. Like stated earlier he seems to have the body to become a nice pass protector for the QB and will need to improve on catching the ball to find another way onto the field come time for the regular season.
“I have the pass protection down to a good degree,” Williams said. “I think the thing they look for, first and foremost, is just making sure the running back knows who he has in protection. The technique can always be worked on.”
There is always something to work on in an athletes world and training camp is the place to get better. As far as Andre Williams goes, he is definitely making a place for himself amongst this roster and that is all he needs to do right now. Anything else is extra and he is a nice player to have after David Wilson sadly was forced to retire from the game on Monday.
Bobby O’Hara: PureSportsNY