The 1956 Giants (from the Football Digest article The Six Best Rushing Backfields Of All Time)
"The first 2,000-yard backfield to capture an NFL title belonged to the 1956 New York Giants. Charlie Conerly directed the star-studded trio of Frank Gifford, Alex Webster and Mel Triplett.
'We were using both the three-man and deuce backfield back then,' Charlie stated. 'I would usually go to Alex Webster in short yardage situations as he was the heaviest of the three. Triplett was my blocker, but also a fine runner.
'I would flank either Gifford or Webster,' he went on, 'but as Frank was the faster we tended to use him more on the flank. I also would throw to my backs coming out of the backfield as is so often done today. When Vince Lombardi came in as backfield coach, he put in the option play for Gifford, who had been a tailback in college.
'I cannot say our offense was ahead of the defenses,' added Conerly, 'for we just had excellent blocking and Lombardi seemed to come up with a new play, like a double reverse, for every game. This added the element of surprise.'
The versatile Gifford was the top ground gainer with 819 yards. He caught 51 passes, threw for two touchdowns and did some place kicking. Webster had 694 yards and Triplett 515. Gifford scored more career touchdowns than any other Giant, with Webster third; Webster gained more yards than any Giant in history, with Frank second."
-Stan Grosshandler, Football Digest, June 1973
TIP FROM THE COACH
"In 1972 we got our offense to the peak we had been hoping for. Now, in 1973, we are going to be looking at rookies like Van Pelt and Glover to mix with our veterans like Jack Gregory to give our defense a stronger pass rush and cut down on the number of touchdown passes thrown against us."
-Alex Webster, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1973 Edition)
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