Giants tell Droughns he'll split time with Jacobs

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:14 am

Giants tell Droughns he'll split time with Jacobs

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New York Giants plan to replace the retired Tiki Barber with two running backs.

At least that's what they have told newcomer Reuben Droughns, who was acquired last week in a trade with Cleveland for receiver Tim Carter.

"They said it's definitely going to be a 1-2 punch," Droughns said in a conference call on Monday, shortly after he passed a physical and officially joined the Giants, where he will pair up with Brandon Jacobs.

"Brandon and me will be kind of a pound-it-out running style, so we'll try to wear down the defenses and work together," Droughns said.

The two Super Bowl teams both alternated halfbacks last season. Indianapolis used Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai, while Chicago used Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.

With Jacobs and Droughns, coach Tom Coughlin is going to have a pair of big bodies to run behind fullback Jim Finn. Droughns is 5-foot-11 and 220, small compared to Jacobs, 6-4 and 264.

The two met for the first time on Monday and Droughns, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards in both 2004 and 2005 and 750 last season, was impressed.

"Oh, yeah. He's a big young fella," the seven-year veteran said.

Droughns took the blame for his drop in production last season, but he noted that the Browns' offensive line was ravaged by injuries. Coming to the Giants, he said was a fresh start.

It's so new, it was obvious that he did not want to create waves with Jacobs, the third-year running back who rushed 96 times for 423 yards (4.4 yard average) and nine touchdowns.

"It's not my job," Droughns said when asked if he considered the starting halfback job open. "It's Brandon's, because he was the guy who's here. Brandon's next in line. It's his job to lose, but I'm sure he doesn't want to lose it. It's going to be a good competition in training camp."

There wasn't going to be a competition for the Browns' starting job this season. Droughns realized that last week after former Baltimore Raven Jamal Lewis to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Browns.

"I knew my role was slimming down," Droughns said. "Our union had basically fallen apart. They were either going to release me or trade me."

brad7686 · Post by **brad7686** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:54 am

I just want to say that this is very good news. The fact that Droughns will be stifling Jacobs like Dillon was stifling Maroney last year will mean alot in terms of stopping the Giants.

SeanTaylorJr. · Post by **SeanTaylorJr.** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:30 pm

I thik this is a great deal for the giants, even though now they have 2 power backs, thats better than 1 risky one and Tim Carter

andyjens89 · Post by **andyjens89** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:11 pm

as long as tiki is gone im ok with it

HailSkins94 · Post by **HailSkins94** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:05 am

Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:43 pm

Jacobs will be a nightmare if we don't get that hole in our defense plugged.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:13 pm

HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

They signed Vonta Leach to a offer sheet today...

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:05 am

1niksder wrote:
HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

They signed Vonta Leach to a offer sheet today...

He of the zero rushing attempts in his career...

Backup to Jim Finn, or 8 mill over 4 years to replace him? Even though Finn is a pretty decent FB?

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:48 am

HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

I disagree, Jacobs has the potential to be a very solid back

gibbs4president · Post by **gibbs4president** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:31 am

Fios wrote:
HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

I disagree, Jacobs has the potential to be a very solid back

I think so too, but I'd like to see what he does when he receives the bulk of the carries.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:03 pm

Fios wrote:
HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

I disagree, Jacobs has the potential to be a very solid back

LaVar Arrington had Hall of Fame potential, too...

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:17 pm

PulpExposure wrote:
Fios wrote:
HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

I disagree, Jacobs has the potential to be a very solid back

LaVar Arrington had Hall of Fame potential, too...

How is that relevant to this discussion?

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:30 pm

Fios wrote:
PulpExposure wrote:
Fios wrote:
HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

I disagree, Jacobs has the potential to be a very solid back

LaVar Arrington had Hall of Fame potential, too...

How is that relevant to this discussion?

I guess I should spell more out instead of addressing it obliquely.

Yes, Jacobs has potential to be a solid back. But imho he's been protected playing behind a superior running back. Tiki Barber was a threat to throw up 200 yards against any defense. Brandon Jacobs is not a threat to break a game open. He's a plodder, running behind a seriously mediocre offensive line.

Back to the original point of your quoted text.

HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:41 pm

PulpExposure wrote:
Fios wrote:
PulpExposure wrote:
Fios wrote:
HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

I disagree, Jacobs has the potential to be a very solid back

LaVar Arrington had Hall of Fame potential, too...

How is that relevant to this discussion?

I guess I should spell more out instead of addressing it obliquely.

Yes, Jacobs has potential to be a solid back. But imho he's been protected playing behind a superior running back. Tiki Barber was a threat to throw up 200 yards against any defense. Brandon Jacobs is not a threat to break a game open. He's a plodder, running behind a seriously mediocre offensive line.

Back to the original point of your quoted text.

HailSkins94 wrote:Those 2 don't scare me one bit. I'm so glad they settled for Droughns

And that line won't improve?
JAcobs won't improve?

It's crazy to think they are sitting stagnant while we improve.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:10 pm

Chris Luva Luva wrote:And that line won't improve?
JAcobs won't improve?

It's crazy to think they are sitting stagnant while we improve.

They DID get Droughns...and that Texans FB, right? Oh and gave Eli 5 more million in a bonus to keep him locked up for 2 more years, with his stellar career 73.7 QB rating.

I mean...I don't know if Jacobs is going to improve. He won't get faster, that I know. I'm not sure I understand what his upside really is; he's a big guy who runs hard. I guess he can get bigger?

And their line, well, I suppose they will look for help in the draft. I know they didn't like Petitgout a lot, but he still was their LT. That's not exactly an easy position to fill competently.