There are moments when Eli Manning is on the field and isn’t exactly sure to whom he’s handing off the ball. If that’s not an indicator the Giants have an interchangeable offensive backfield, nothing is.
“A lot of times I don’t notice who’s in there, in the huddle,” Manning said this past week. “I have confidence in all of ’em, I’m focusing on what the play is and they’re kind of rotating in and out on their own.”
Six games into the season, three running backs already have made valuable contributions. When starter Brandon Jacobs went down in the opener with sprained knee ligaments, Derrick Ward stepped in and averaged nearly 90 yards a game. When Jacobs returned, he promptly came up with the first 100-yard game of his career. When Jacobs and Ward were hobbled Monday night in Atlanta, veteran Reuben Droughns received his first prolonged playing time and responded with 14 rushing attempts and 90 yards.
“You put any of the three of us in there and you’ll get the same results,” Ward said.
The plan today against the 49ers is likely to go with a steady dose of Jacobs and Ward, with Droughns used primarily in goal-line situations. There are rumblings Jacobs (neck, ankle) might not be able to play, but he remains likely to suit up. Ward has battled through a sprained ankle, and if he can’t make it through the game, Droughns will have to be called on again.
“Reuben got his opportunity on Monday night and he ran well, blocked well; if that had his confidence down beforehand, it should be sky-high now knowing that he still can do the things he used to do when he was in Cleveland and Denver,” Jacobs said. “I’m very surprised the way he’s handled it; that wouldn’t be easy for someone to come in and handle it. Guys at this level are very competitive. When you got three good backs and not enough footballs, you got to get in where you fit in.”
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WR Amani Toomer last week moved past RB Tiki Barber into the franchise lead in career receptions. Nothing at all against Barber personally, but Toomer was glad that a wide receiver and not a running back has the record.
“I mean, there were some years there that was the only thing we could do pretty much, throw the ball to the backs,” Toomer said.
The 49ers have won six of the past seven games against the Giants stretching to the 1992 season. … The secondary coach for the Niners is Johnnie Lynn, a former Giants defensive coordinator.