Giants rookie RB David Wilson received a text from his former coach at George Washington High School in Danville, Va. last week.
After fumbling on his second rushing attempt in the Giants’ Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Wednesday, Wilson didn't touch the ball again. That's why Chanston Rodgers picked up his phone in Virginia and sent a message to his former pupil.
"You know you have OBs," Rodgers' text read.
“We called it ‘OB,’ odd ball,” Wilson said of his high school team’s punishment for fumbling.
The drill involved sprinting 100 yards with two footballs curled high and tight under the arms. The only hitch is every five yards the runner has to kneel down without untucking either football from under his chin.
Wilson never had to do it in high school. But there he was at the Giants’ practice facility on his day off Tuesday, running in the field house with two footballs curled under his arms high and tight.
Although Giants coach Tom Coughlin didn't see Wilson in the field house, he knows Wilson is serious about proving he can hold on to the ball.
“He’s anxious and wants to do right,” Coughlin said. “He’s a little bit out of the doghouse.”
To get all the way out, Coughlin said, Wilson will need to prove he can secure the ball. Sounds simple, but it's a detailed process that requires dedication and hardwork. And Coughlin has experience helping players overcome fumbling problems.
Former Giants RB Tiki Barber was a fumbling maching until Coughlin arrived. Barber averaged 6.13 fumbles per season until his final two years in the league, when he he had just one fumble in 2005 and three in 2006. The Giants current starter, Ahmad Bradshaw, had seven in 2010 before cutting that figure to just one in 2011. Bradshaw understands how Wilson feels.
“I've been in the same situation as a rookie,” he said Wednesday. “Same play, same exact situation. I just told him to keep his head up. Little things happen, you should just work on the small things, which is ball security, having the ball in the right hand at the right time.”
The Giants did ball security drills on Wednesday and Wilson appeared to do fine. Bradshaw noted the football has been “high and tight” when Wilson has practiced. Obviously things won’t be as easy this Sunday against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers' defense caused two fumbles in their Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers.
For Wilson to get all the way out of Coughlin’s dog house, he’ll need to erase any doubt he is a fumbler and “raise eyebrows” when he gets the ball in kick return situations. He didn’t have any big returns in Week 1, but he felt he was close to breaking two of them.
“Watch out for me on kick returns,” Wilson said. “It's coming.”
Something else you can watch for, check him out when he's got the ball in his hands. Guarantee you it will be “high and tight.”
Follow the Giants and Alex Raskin @CBSGiants and @AlexRaskinNYC.
