A look at David Wilson’s breakout game for the Giants
Former Hokie David Wilson hasn’t had much of an opportunity to do anything this season, stuck in Giants coach Tom Coughlin‘s doghouse after a fumble in Week 1. But the first-round pick had the game of his brief NFL career against the Saints on Sunday.
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Wilson had 227 kick return yards, 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns in New York’s 52-27 win against New Orleans. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he’s the first player in NFL history to have more than 200 kick return yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game. The 327 all-purpose yards was a franchise record.
The rookie, who has found a niche on kick returns, started his day with a 58-yard return on the opening kickoff. He followed it up with a 97-yard return for a touchdown, then added a 52-yard return, all in the first half.
With Ahmad Bradshaw sidelined for part of the game with a foot injury, Wilson had a role in the running game too. He had a tough 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, stretching the ball over the goal line. In the fourth quarter, he capped off his day with a 52-yard touchdown run, his third score of the day.
Coming into the game, he had only 111 rushing yards on 28 carries with one touchdown.
From the New York Times story:
“Now that it’s on tape, we’re going to expect that from him every game,” defensive end Justin Tuck said, presumably jokingly. He added, “I don’t know what took him so long.”
Check out the highlights here. He followed each score with his trademark backflip, but they weren’t shown on the clip.
And a few stories on him from the New York papers today: Here, here and here.
December 10, 2012 - 9:40 AM
Maybe now Tom Coughlin will stop punishing him for making a mistake in his first game as a pro. I wonder what Coughlin’s record would be now if he had gotten ‘crazy’ enough to use Wilson prior to being forced to do so against the Skins? Aren’t the Giants 8-5 now?
Wilson has a real upside if he can just find the handle on the ball.
He dropped a kickoff reception last night.
I think that might have been the up back. Not sure, though.
Andy,
It looks like AMF cut you a break and allowed you to put some distance between yourself and the basement on the FF. 18-2 is not too shabby at all!
Coughlin would not even be around if the Giants hadn’t drafted Eli Manning. I hope NY fans are asking “where has this guy been all season”.
interesting to see the referee shake his hand after that first KR highlight.
crooked, I think he was in the dog house with Coughlin for so long because in game 1, he fulfilled the legacy or reputation he had coming into the league – being a guy that can’t hold on to the ball. That was the one knock against him, and look what he did.
He has to develop ball security. He had a couple of fumbles at Tech where he just dropped it, while running – with no contact – so his reputation is warranted. He’s a dynamic player, yes, but he has to develop the ability to hold onto the pigskin better than he does.
It was great to see him do that, but there are a lot of guys that have had one huge game in their careers.
Would have been nice to have David this year, but there is no dout that he made the right choice. He is good p r for vt.
AB, you’re correct, it was the other return guy that dropped the ball.
I say good for him. 327 yards is a career for some guys. It just looked like he was getting warmed up to me. Chris Collingsworth says he is just a freak in practice.
VT can definitely use the good PR.
True Barry.
#8 eman:
Oh, I stand corrected. I had just returned from the
kitchen and only caught the end of the replay.
Good for Mr. Wilson. He needs to stop that flip stuff
though it would be a shame for him to injure himself that way.
Wilson just needs reps. I’ve heard he didn’t get many in HS and he sure didn’t get many at VT with the logjam at RB and leaving early
Barry – GT needs to find a way to beat VT so you can REALLY talk trash. Worst VT team in 20 years so I think you missed your opportunity
Good point Jerry. Already looking forward to next season, it is going to be our year.
Just shows you how inept our offensive coaching is at VT! He did that to an NFL team and never came close to doing that to these terrible ACC teams we play. Lots of Hokie NFL talent that was never used to their full potential!
He did set the single-season rushing record AND win ACC Player of the Year, so it’s not like he didn’t do anything at VT.
Its not just fumbling the ball thats been Wilson’s problem. His problem is his attitude and Coughlin doesnt like whiners. Good for Coughlin, even though I hate the Giants. No special days in the NFL, Wilson needs to fix that quick or he will be yet another punch line for Virginia TEch players that couldnt figure it out at the next level.
Best example of this would be Corey Moore. Attitude got him out of Buffalo.
Where is Macho harris?