Giants' backfield not missing a beat without Barber

Oct 22, 2007 - 6:04 PM By Scott Serrano PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

The New York Giants are proving that three can be just as good - if not better - than one.

The biggest question heading into the 2007 season was how the Giants were going to replace the production of retired halfback Tiki Barber, the franchise's all-time leading rusher.

From 2002 through 2006, Barber accounted for 1,588 of the Giants' 2,221 rushing attempts and led the team in rushing for an NFL-record 80 consecutive games.

Rather than riding the traditional featured back system which Barber flourished in, the Giants instead have turned to the running backs-by-committee approach this year.

Taking turns replacing Barber is third-year player Brandon Jacobs, veteran Reuben Droughns and unheralded Derrick Ward, and the results have been shockingly similar.

Through seven games last year, the Giants were 5-2. Barber had rushed for 715 yards, but no touchdowns; Jacobs was next with 258 yards and four TDs. As a team, the Giants had 185 points after seven games.

After trouncing the San Francisco 49ers, 33-15, on Sunday, the Giants once again are 5-2 - and the rushing numbers are just as impressive.

Ward leads the way with 448 yards, followed by Jacobs with 319 and Droughns with 128. Combined, they have rushed for 895 yards and seven touchdowns. The Giants have scored 187 points.

"You could put any of the three of us in there and we will still get the same results," said Ward, who emerged as a viable option out of the backfield when Jacobs was injured in the first game. "We run the same plays. We don't have specific plays for a specific person. We all run power plays, sprint plays, draw plays, everything.

"We will still have a good rushing game. Reuben has proved that he can do it, Brandon can do it and I can do it, so it doesn't really matter who is in there as long as we can get it done."

The Giants did not plan to use the committee approach originally, tabbing the bruising Jacobs to assume the majority of Barber's carries.

But Jacobs injured his knee in the first half of the season opener with the Dallas Cowboys, and Ward stepped in and seamlessly led the team in rushing in each of the first four games.

A four-year veteran, Ward had just 35 career carries when the season began but piled up 421 yards in place of Jacobs.

Jacobs returned and led the way with a 100-yard effort against the Jets in Week Five, followed by a 90-yard effort by Droughns in a 31-10 victory in Atlanta. Droughns opened the season at fullback, but has since moved into the halfback rotation.

On Sunday, it was back to Jacobs who rushed for a career-high 107 yards on 18 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown.

It was the first time a Giants back other than Barber has twice rushed for at least 100 yards in the same season since 1998, when Gary Brown did it six times.

"You see how each one of the backs picks each other up and that going forward will be something we will have to lean on," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

Perhaps overlooked in the Giants' success on the ground has been the work of the team's offensive line.

Tackles David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie, guards Chris Snee and Rich Seubert along with center Shaun O'Hara have come together to form a solid unit that opens holes for the bruising backs.

"The guys up front are playing great," Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. "They are protecting, we are running the ball, we are really controlling the line of scrimmage right now, and that is the key to having a successful offense."

Tiki who?