It seems that two things separate David Wilson from being the complete package the New York Giants are hoping to see at running back, as he battles for the starting spot with Andre Brown: His tendency to fumble the ball, which was a huge problem in college, and being an unproven blocker.

But Wilson has taken care of one of those: After fumbling the ball on his first position as a pro in the opening game last season against the Dallas Cowboys, Wilson never dropped the ball again. He carried it 70 more times for 358 yards last season, showing some promise with his 5 yards per carry average, but as the Giants are looking to find a winner in their two-horse race for the starting spot, Wilson needs to prove he can do something else.

Once we put the pads on, we’ll see who is physical, who’s determined to make plays out there. I think when we go to camp, he knows what his goals are right now and what he has to accomplish to be a complete running back and contribute on our team. I think we’ll get that out of him. 

Andre Brown had similar numbers to Wilson last season: 385 yards on 73 carries, averaging 5.3. And yet the Giants and their running back coach Jerald Ingram, who keeps talking about rotation and a fair competition, are giving more first team snaps to Wilson at this points of the OTAs, which means it is his job to lose.

In short, unless Wilson is injured or shows a complete incompatibility in the blocking schemes that keep leaving Eli Manning vulnerable because of his running back, the Virginia Tech product is going to be the one getting more touches on the ball, although it is fair to assume the Giants will use both him and Brown quite extensively next season, without leaving one of them high and dry on the bench.

Image: Source