The New York Giants rebuilt their offense this offseason. Ownership cleaned house, hiring a new front office highlighted by general manager Joe Schoen. The Giants also fired head coach Joe Judge after two years with the team, bringing in Brian Daboll as the next HC. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll had a connection from their shared time with the Buffalo Bills. Daboll was hired after leading the Buffalo Bills’ offense to the top of the NFL as their offensive coordinator for three seasons. The New York Giants’ new coaching staff is looking to turn things around and help its star players, like Saquon Barkley, return to form.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was once looked at as one of the NFL’s brightest stars. After a historic AP Rookie of the Year campaign in 2018, Barkley has failed to reach those heights again. Saquon has been held back by a string of injuries in addition to some subpar coaching staffs. With a new staff stepping in, there is hope that Saquon can return to his rookie form in 2022.
How the Giants will get Saquon Barkley to return to his rookie form
Patricia Traina of Sports Illustrated recently discussed Giants running back Saquon Barkley with Michael Florio of NFL Network. Traina shared insight on the Giants’ new coaching staff’s intentions with their star running back. She says “the Giants want to use Saquon Barkley, like they did in his rookie season – which means a lot of work in the passing game.”
Getting Saquon Barkley involved in the passing game is crucial for the New York Giants. Barkley is an X-Factor as a receiver. He has the ability to put up numbers comparable to wide receivers. Saquon Barkley won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 as he led the NFL with 2,028 total yards from scrimmage. 721 of those yards were receiving yards. His 91 receptions that season were the most from a rookie in a single season in New York Giants franchise history – and he did this as a running back.
According to Ralph Vacchiano, the Giants “want to use Saquon Barkley as an offensive weapon all over the field.” This means lining him up more in the slot and as a wide receiver. According to Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com, Saquon was “lining up as a receiver — both in the slot and outside — frequently throughout drills.” The Giants also had Barkley move a lot pre-snap in motion.
This is how the New York Giants will get Saquon Barkley to return to his rookie form. Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka will construct an offense that maximizes Saquon Barkley’s potential as a receiver. Barkley will be unleashed as a truly dynamic playmaker that can make an impact in both the rushing game and the passing game. 2,000 yards from scrimmage should be the goal for Saquon Barkley in the 2022 season.