Having a running back like Saquon Barkley that can carry the load when the offense goes cold is something that’s underrated in the NFL, and something the New York Giants have ignored for years. The Giants’ offense has been a hit or miss depending on the ever rotating wheel of fortune with the offensive line and ever-lasting injury bug, but this season they will have balance.
Drafting Saquon Barkley in the first-round was arguably the best decision the Giants could have made, in my opinion, of course. Acquiring a back that has the ability to block, catch, and run at an extremely high level is difficult to come by; putting him alongside Eli Manning will intimidate even the strongest defenses.
What did defenses do to stop the Giants’ offense?
It was simple…Opposing defenses would drop their safeties back and keep the ball infront of them at all times. Ensuring that Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t run free behind the secondary was the key to stopping the offense, since their only other weapons were forced to run short crossing routes…Thanks Ben McAdoo.
With the hiring of coach Pat Shurmur, we should expect to see a diversified play-calling portfolio. One that adheres to the usage of Barkley, Beckham, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram appropriately. Playing to their strengths and using one of the league’s most experienced quarterbacks to a carve a path for the youngsters on the team.
How Barkley will help:
“I think teams that have that running back who can catch the ball out of the backfield, it’s such an advantage,” Manning told NJ Advance Media. “When teams are playing zone, and they’re dropping back or double-teaming your wide receivers, that guy can not only just get four or five yards, he can turn that into a 10 or 12-yard gain and first downs.
“Also, when you get man-to-man, and get him matched up on linebackers or get him catching routes out of the backfield, those are throws where the ball gets out of your hand quickly. It kind of turns a short-pass into big plays. I’ve been really impressed with his route-running, his catching, and it’s just kind of that option and that check-down that won’t just get you four yards but he’ll get you first downs.”
Running backs like Orleans Darkwa would get you three or four yards on an given check-down, but Barkely will take a simple dump-off to the house. His vision and lateral movement is world class, making him a threat in every facet of the game. Manning has never had a weapon like Barkley before, and we can only assume he will be even more dangerous in games than in practice.