Giants facing tough run defense in 49ers

Brandon Jacobs gushed over the 49ers' run defense, which allows a league-low 70.8 yards per game and has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season.

"Right now they're hanging in there," Jacobs said yesterday. "They have a good front, disciplined linebackers, they hold their gaps very well. Game in and game out that we've seen, guys are holding their gaps and doing a good job.

"But," Jacobs added, "anything is possible."

That doesn't sound like the world's greatest rallying cry -- about as promising and optimistic as the old "Hey, you never know" Lottery campaign -- but against the 49ers, that may be all the Giants can muster.

When you think of blocking and the running game, it's usually offensive linemen who come to mind. But the 49ers turn that around. Their defensive linemen in the 3-4 scheme essentially are blockers for their two playmaking linebackers. Perennial Pro Bowler Patrick Willis has 85 tackles and NaVorro Bowman, who lines up next to him, leads the team with 87.

"Obviously, those linebackers can't get free if that D-line is not holding their gaps and taking on double-teams, which they do a very good job of," Giants guard Chris Snee said. "They're good. It won't be easy. It hasn't been for us all year, but we're not going to be discouraged."

Against the 49ers, not getting discouraged can be just as difficult as carving out yardage. No running back has run for more than the 64 yards the Bengals' Cedric Benson managed (although Michael Vick ran for 75). The last running back to run for at least 100 yards against them was the Packers' Ryan Grant on Nov. 22, 2009.

"It's such a different approach than some people that we've faced who are very complex," offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said of the 49ers' simplicity. "They are just hard-nosed, almost old-fashioned. Line up and you're going to have to prove that you can knock around and hold your own with them. They're good. They're really good."

Said guard David Diehl, "Those [linebackers] are playing tremendously well, but in order for them to do what they want to do, they have to have their up front be able to eat up blocks and push the line of scrimmage."

The Giants saw a little improvement in their running game against the Patriots on Sunday, and Jacobs had his most productive game of the season with 72 yards on 18 carries.

"I felt I got into some kind of a rhythm," he said of his first start of the season and playing without injured Ahmad Bradshaw, who has a stress fracture in his foot and could miss at least two more games. "I can't get into a rhythm being in, out, in, out, in another play here, next play, next two series, whatever. I have to keep going and be able to get some continuous plays."

It was a step forward, but not exactly a leap.

"I think we could have went a little further," Jacobs said. "We did not do as well as we wanted to do last week. We haven't done as well as we've needed to do all year long."

The Giants might not need to run much. They have become much more of a passing team, thanks to the play of Eli Manning. Gilbride kept his game plan buttoned up but did say once again that he's not as focused on being balanced as Tom Coughlin often is.

Jacobs said he is aware of the 49ers' prowess, particularly when it comes to protecting the end zone. Every other team in the NFL has allowed at least three rushing touchdowns, but the 49ers have kept every running back scoreless in their first eight games.

"It would be great to score a touchdown against anybody, but to do it against a team that hasn't given up any would be even bigger," Jacobs said.

To paraphrase the Giants' optimism this week: Stranger things have happened.