Saquon Barkley has found another gear this season. The running back has helped the Giants to a 4-1 start in a tough NFC East division after a big win in London against the Green Bay Packers.
Barkley already has 533 rushing yards this season in five games, which is just 60 yards shy of his total in 13 games last season. He’s also halfway to last year’s receiving yards total of 263 with 143 yards on 18 receptions thus far.
Brian Daboll has given Barkley the opportunity and the fifth-year running back has taken full advantage.
Brian Baldinger and Carl Dukes of the Audacy Original Podcast “In the Huddle” talked about how Daboll is finding success with Barkley running wild.
“He’s taking the best of what he’s got, which isn’t much,” Baldinger said (11:00 in player above). “He’s got one legitimate blue-chip player and that’s Saquon. So last week we saw Saquon in a wildcat, Saquon in a wildcat with an unbalanced line running the other way from the unbalanced line when Green Bay didn’t line up properly. We’re seeing Saquon at wide receiver in stack formation running shallow crosses.”
Last week against Green Bay, Barkley ran the ball a season-low 13 times for 70 yards and a touchdown. However, he was targeted six times – one fewer than Darius Slayton’s team-leading seven targets – and lined up all over the field.
Barkley is the straw that stirs the drink in the Giants' offense and they’re using him like the stud he is.
“The interesting thing about what you’re saying with Saquon, Baldy, he reminds me of like high school,” Dukes said. “You remember the kid that was better than everybody else and he played both sides, he would play receiver, he’d play slot, he’d play running back, and then if they really needed a touchdown, the kid would play quarterback. I played guys like that and that’s what I think about with Saquon. Daboll is using him like he’s the high school stud. Wherever I need him I’m going to put him out there and he’s going to make a play or I’m going to find a way to get him the ball… He’s touching it in so many different ways.”
Barkley has 115 touches this season on 214 snaps. He’s run the ball 97 times and added 18 receptions.
The Giants planned on relying on their running back this season and Barkley is following through on those plans.
“It’s one thing talking about it in training camp,” Baldinger said. “It’s another thing when you go to London and you’re playing a really talented team and it’s working against — they’ve got seven number one draft picks on that defense, Carl. They’re a talented defense.”
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram