<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It was a strange scene. Eli Manning, taking the snap, pivoting on his right foot, offered the football to a running back not wearing No. 21 at the New York Giants' first mandatory minicamp. Gone was veteran Tiki Barber, Manning's "security blanket," as veteran receiver Amani Toomer put it.The next morning, across the Hudson River at New York Jets minicamp in Hempstead, the snapshot was just as odd. With veteran running back Curtis Martin out of the picture, quarterback Chad Pennington handed the ball to the steal of the NFL offseason: former Chicago Bears running back Thomas Jones.The big difference? Pennington was clearly a bit more secure with the change. "He's a special player, and I think he's going to take a lot of pressure off all of us," said Pennington.This is a simple tale of two football teams in one town, both trying to replace a legend at a critical position -- at a time when they seem to be moving in opposite directions.For the Giants, who sneaked into the 2006 playoffs based largely on Barber's last-minute heroics, the task for his replacements -- Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns -- is enormous. Barber's absence has created an unprecedented situation for Manning, who more than any other player on the team will be expected to pick up the slack. The void is huge; in 2006, Barber rushed for 1,662 yards. No team in NFL history has had a player run for 1,600 or more yards and then lost that player the following season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.</div>Source (ESPN)I don't think Brandon Jacobs is any Tiki Barber, but I think he can be much more than just a short yardage back, and he's ready to take the majority of the carries. He should have a good year running the ball.And Thomas Jones will definitely take pressure off Pennington. They really had no running game to speak of last season, and Chad still managed solid numbers.
Brandon Jacobs can only be better than short yardage if he doesn't fumble,and well, when doesn't he fumble?
If Eli cut down on his mistakes and actually became somewhat of a leader, I think he still could salvage a nice career for himself. But it seems to be less and less likely each year. As for the Giants running game, I don't expect all that much. I think Jacobs could be a good guy if paired with a good complimentary option, but that's not Reuben Droughns. As for Thomas Jones, I'm excited to have a legit threat back in our Running Game. Washington is nice as a situational guy, but I don't think he's really an every down guy and our other options last year were pathetic. Just getting a respectable Running Game would be a significant improvement.
