Giants must stop Frank Gore

The Giants know what's coming. They just have to figure out how to stop it.

When they visit the 49ers (7-1) on Sunday, they understand that they'll get a heavy dose of Frank Gore, who has run for more than 100 yards in five straight games and is fifth in the NFL with 782 rushing yards. There are other players on the field for the 49ers, and the Giants will have to pay some attention to tight end Vernon Wells and receivers Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards.

But the recipe for victory is pretty simple: If you stop Gore, you can stop the 49ers.

"They run it early, they run it often," defensive tackle Chris Canty said. "You have to take away their strength. They want to run the football. We know that, they know that, and they know that we know. We're not tricking anybody here."

Last year, when the Giants had the No. 1-ranked defense at this point in the season, that would have made for a fascinating matchup. But the Giants' defense, particularly against the run, has not been up to the usual standards. The Giants (6-2) are allowing 127.1 yards a game and 4.6 per carry. Four running backs have rushed for more than 100 yards against them.

On paper, Gore would seem to have the advantage.

"That sort of plays into their hands because we just haven't stopped the run," defensive end Dave Tollefson said. "If they run the ball on us, they're going to beat us. I think everybody knows that."

The Giants haven't faced the 49ers since 2008, but they have plenty of players who have first-hand experience facing Gore.

"I was telling the guys earlier in meetings that I remember we had some long days in Seattle against Frank Gore," said defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, who played for the Seahawks. "He's one of those guys you have to gang tackle because he does a good job of keeping his feet going. We had long days."

Giants center David Baas played the first six years of his career in San Francisco blocking for Gore.

"He's an awesome running back," Baas said. "He's got great speed. He's definitely something that our defensive line has to be aware of because he's a true threat."

Canty dubbed Gore a B.Y.O.B. running back: a guy who can Bring Your Own Blocking.

"Speed, vision, power, you name it, he's got it," Canty said. "He uses the space they create for him but he can make his own space."

Perhaps the player most familiar with Gore is safety Antrel Rolle. Not only did they face each other twice a season when Rolle was with the Cardinals in the NFC West, and not only were they teammates at the University of Miami for four years, but they also grew up together playing Pop Warner football against each other in South Florida.

"I'm very familiar with his game, but it's going to take more than me," said Rolle, who clearly did not want to turn the story line into a focus on their relationship. "It's going to take all of us to focus in on our keys and make sure we are technically sound . . . I respect him as a player, I respect him as a friend, but at the end of the day we're going to play football and the game has to be played on Sunday. That's what it is."