New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley had a change of heart when the team made him available for trade.
Instead of potentially missing OTAs, he was an active participant and a willing student under head coach Brian Daboll.
He has a lot to prove coming into the 2022 season, especially because he has been counted out after his ACL injury.
For good reason, his numbers went down from consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019.
Barkley did play 13 games in 2021, but only had 593 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Those figures are a far cry from the 1,307 yards and 11 scores in his rookie year.
Now, he gets to play with a brilliant offensive mind in Daboll who has engineered the successful Buffalo Bills’ unit.
He must enjoy the feeling of having a mentor that wants the best for him.
Meanwhile, Daboll has nothing but praise for the one-time Pro Bowler.
Asked #Giants coach Brian Daboll how Saquon Barkley has looked physically this spring.
“It’s all looked good,” he said of Barkley’s quickness, ability to get in and out of breaks and his long speed. pic.twitter.com/rfDlmIl8jv
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) June 8, 2022
ESPN NFL Nation reporter Jordan Raanan tweeted, “Asked #Giants coach Brian Daboll how Saquon Barkley has looked physically this spring. ‘It’s all looked good,’ he said of Barkley’s quickness, ability to get in and out of breaks, and his long speed.”
That’s a positive sign that Barkley is ready to bounce back after two down years.
However, he must put everything together to perform during the moments that matter.
Barkley Hoping To Stay On Par With NFC East Counterparts
Barkley’s success will help the Giants improve on the 4-13 record they had last season.
It was a messy campaign marked by questionable play-calling and an epic rant by former head coach Joe Judge.
This time, the Giants hope to give their division rivals a run for their money.
For Barkley, it means having comparable performances to Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Miles Sanders, and Antonio Gibson.
Daboll will also use him on passing plays to keep defenses on their toes.
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