Why Giants coaches, Cam Skattebo are good with each other after Week 6 demotion

Shortly after New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo got no touches during the club's home loss to the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 18, a story suggested that first-year Giants head coach John Harbaugh could want to acquire a new first-choice ball-carrier. 

No such trade occurred before the Giants faced the Houston Texans this past Sunday, and Skattebo ultimately rushed for a team-high 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in New York's 27-21 overtime win at Houston's Reliant Stadium. 

For an article updated on Wednesday, ESPN's Dan Graziano addressed Skattebo's relationship with his coaches following the short-lived demotion.

Cam Skattebo responded to punishment just how Giants coaches had hoped

"The vibes are really good around the Giants right now," Graziano explained. "They were strong even before Sunday's upset victory over the Texans in Houston. Giants coaches were ecstatic about the way running back Cam Skattebo had handled the situation that saw his role in the offense greatly reduced for Week 6 after a costly fumble in Week 5." 

Following the Saints game, Skattebo admitted he was "taught a lesson" after he committed four fumbles, one of which he lost, over the season's first five weeks. More recently, Harbaugh defended Skattebo after the second-year pro was flagged for unnecessary roughness after Skattebo lowered his head into Houston safety M.J. Stewart on a carry. 

Cam Skattebo "received and agreed with the message" sent by Giants coaches

Harbaugh also credited Skattebo for not pouting regarding what happened during the Saints game. Meanwhile, a piece from this week noted that Giants players like that "Harbaugh challenges everybody here and keeps [them] accountable." 

Skattebo seems to be among those players. 

"I spoke to Skattebo after Sunday's game, in which he rushed for 124 yards, including the 42-yard overtime scamper that set up Devin Singletary's game-winning touchdown," Graziano added. "He told me he felt the coaches had handled the situation 'respectfully' and hadn't put him in a position where he felt embarrassed, and that he'd received and agreed with the message."

Of course, none of this means the Giants won't have a new RB1 when they follow their Week 8 bye with a matchup at the rival Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) on Nov. 8. That said, it appears that Skattebo may have earned more than just a bulk of his team's carries against Houston with how he responded to Harbaugh's punishment.