New York Giants: Saquon Barkley can change the culture
The New York Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall. With no exaggeration, the selection of Barkley can change the culture.
When the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, mixed reactions were inevitable. Barkley is a generational talent who has the potential to be a legitimate superstar at the highest level, but he’s also a running back in a pass-heavy era.
As the Giants prepare for life with Barkley as one of the faces of the franchise, however, they’ve likely made the selection with knowledge of how he can change the culture.
New York seemed to be back on the contending track in 2016, but imploded in 2017. The defense fell from elite to borderline irrelevant, the offense couldn’t generate much of anything without Odell Beckham Jr., and the coaching staff lost its connection with the players.
As New York prepares for the first season of the Pat Shurmur era, it’s players like Barkley who could make the Giants a contender again.
The talent would be reason enough to be excited about bringing Barkley to this team. It’s the way he fits with the Giants’ offense, however, that becomes the most intriguing aspect of what makes him the newest member of Big Blue.
With no hyperbole whatsoever, Barkley can help change the culture with his impact on the field and his partnership with the current players on the roster.
First and foremost, one would be remiss to ignore the fact that New York hasn’t produced a 1,000-yard rusher since 2012. No Giants running back has eclipsed 10 touchdowns on the ground since 2008.
Barkley has the potential to eclipse those marks as soon as his rookie season, and stay in or above that range for the next decade.
The offensive line requires improvement, but Barkley isn’t just a good running back who has the talent to produce. Generational talent is an overused term, but it’s one that fits him perfectly when one considers what he brings to the table.
Whether he’s running between the tackles, bouncing outside, making tacklers miss, shedding defenders with his strength, or exploding upfield, Barkley can do it all.
With Barkley in the backfield, the Giants now have two dynamic talents to give the ball to when something needs to transpire. If New York needs to pick up yardage on the ground when the passing attack is failing, they now have a dynamic talent to hand the rock to.
If the Giants need to make a play through the air, then they have the best after-the-catch receiver in the NFL in Beckham.
It would be easy to leave it at that, but here’s where this duo reaches its most compelling point. Not only is Barkley the best runner in this draft class, but he’s also the most explosive receiving threat at his position.
Thus: If the Giants need to make a play through the air, then they have two of the best possible after-the-catch receivers in the sport.
Barkley finished the 2017 regular season with 54 receptions for 632 yards and three touchdowns. He pulled in 28 receptions for 402 yards and four scores as a sophomore, thus lending credence to the belief that he can be utilized all over the field.
That much is proven on film, as Barkley can line up and make plays from everywhere from the flat to the slot—intriguing versatility to say the least.
Furthermore, Barkley is a force to be reckoned with in the return game. In other words: New York no longer has to rely on Beckham alone to provide an impact in that regard, as Barkley can be of equal brilliance.
With Beckham fielding punts and Barkley taking kickoffs, the Giants could have two of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL making life hell for an opposition in every phase.
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For a team that’s been Odell Beckham Jr. or bust on offense, adding Saquon Barkley could change the culture of how the New York Giants play and think.