New York Giants: Paul Perkins Ready for a Bigger Opportunity

New York Giants running back Paul Perkins could be the spark the sluggish rushing attack desperately needs. He talks about his journey in an exclusive interview.

New York Giants rookie running back Paul Perkins has no idea what next week or the weeks after that hold for him and the level of contribution he’ll be asked to make to the team. He does know that whatever he’s asked to do, he’s going to be ready to deliver the good as a high level.

That shouldn’t come as any surprise to those who saw Perkins play at UCLA where, in three seasons, he averaged 5.6 yards per carry (3,488 yards on 621 touches) with 29 touchdowns while also adding 80 career receptions for 739 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver.

In limited snaps this season for the Giants, the 5-11, 210-pound Perkins has made the most of his chances. He has 10 rushes for 39 yards with a long of 10 yards.

Last week against the Rams, Perkins was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal performance by the struggling Giants running game. Perkins received four carries, the second most on the team behind starter Rashad Jennings. The rookie gained 12 yards for a three yards per carry average and had the longest run in the game, going for 10 yards with one of his touches.

Unlike some rookies, who come into the NFL itching to hit the ground running, Perkins has realized that it’s a process, one that he has diligently worked at to make sure that he’s around the NFL for years to come.

“It’s been awesome,” Perkins said Tuesday before following his teammates out the door for the Giants’ long, five-day bye week break. “I’ve been having fun, just enjoying the game and being with the guys.”

He’s also been learning about the little nuances that make the NFL game so much different from the college game by studying and asking lots and lots of questions of his veteran teammates.

“The game is definitely a lot faster in college,” he said when asked what the biggest revelation he’s had about the differences between the pro game and the college game. “But yeah, I’m definitely feeling my way through it, day in and day out, and learning from the older guys and taking things as they come.”

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His progress has been amazing. Besides being a highly intelligent young man, Perkins’ nose for the game is amazing if one considers that, after the thrill of being picked in the fifth round of this year’s draft, he was unable to participate with the Giants during the OTAs because his classes at UCLA ran through the first week of June.

Whereas such a delay might make a rookie draft pick, particularly one chosen on the third day, useless for his rookie season, Perkins has made sure not to let that stumbling block affect his goal of contributing to a winning Giants season.

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“That was definitely hard when you’re trying to juggle two things that are very important to you,” Perkins said of those days.

He’d dive head-first into his studies during the day and then hit the Giants playbook equally as hard at night while his new teammates practiced more than 3,000 miles away.

“I’m glad where I am right now, and I’m happy to be here,” he said.

The veterans have certainly embraced the inquisitive Perkins and his questions. One of the areas where Perkins has made sure to squeeze out every ounce of knowledge he can from his older teammates has been about pass protection.

“You definitely have to be able to identify defenses quicker [in the NFL],” he said. “Since the game is a lot faster, it’s a lot harder to pick it up, but definitely film study makes it easier.

“Being able to recognize defenses helps you play a lot faster,” he added.

Because of his accelerated learning, Perkins is pleased with the path in which his career is beginning to take.

“I feel good. Not making the little mistakes that’s the biggest thing,” he said. “Keeping my assignment clean and, most importantly, keeping [quarterback] Eli [Manning] clean.”

Like his teammates, he’ll take a little time off this week to rest his body. Not so much because he’s as worn down as some of his teammates who have been out there playing far more snaps than he has thus far, but because he wants to be ready for whatever the coaches decide to do.

“Whatever the coach needs me to do, I’ll do,” he said.

Could he perhaps provide the spark to the Giants’ running game, which is averaging a league-low 70.3 yards per game?

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“I don’t know,” he said. “We’re a good team, and we can run the ball, and we all know that. We just have to get back on track after the bye week.”

While the coaches try to figure out if playing Perkins more on offense has merit, the rookie will just keep doing what he’s been doing and wait until his number is called.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity in the second half,” he said.

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