Giants RB Barkley: No challenge too daunting
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Saquon Barkley did not blink. And maybe that’s why the rookie running back continues to impress the New York Giants with the way he is accepting everything thrown in his direction.
When, in a team drill during training camp practice last week, Barkley motioned out of the backfield and wound up split out wide at the left sideline as a receiver.
As Eli Manning called out signals, Giants Pro Bowl cornerback Janoris Jenkins pressed the line of scrimmage and adjusted his coverage to guard Barkley man to man. The ball was snapped, Barkley ran a quick in-cut and beat Jenkins, Manning hit him in stride, and the Giants’ first-round pick sprinted to the end zone for the touchdown.
“I feel very comfortable running routes against anybody, and I think that’s where I can also help this offense by being an all-around, every single down back,” Barkley said Monday. “That’s also something I have to improve on, and I hope, during camp and throughout the years here, to continue to get better at that.”
Barkley, 21, is prepping for Thursday’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns as if he will make his professional debut at MetLife Stadium. Giants coach Pat Shurmur was non-committal Monday morning as to who will play in the game and for how long, but certainly it makes sense that Barkley will suit up and be on opposite sidelines from Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield with the rookies selected 1-2 in the NFL Draft threeplus months ago garnering plenty of the spotlight.
Either way, Barkley said he was looking forward to getting hit at game speed for the first time.
“It knocks everything out, whether you are nervous or over-thinking stuff,” he said.
Barkley has been asking a lot of questions of his teammates, and on both sides of the ball. He has spent time building a relationship with each of the five offensive linemen projected to start individually, and the group has already discussed dinners once a week during the season.
The former Penn State star sits next to fullback Shane Smith in meetings, repeatedly trying to capitalize on their rapport off the field, knowing a bond between them can lead to good things between the lines. They have watched video of former Vikings All-Pro Adrian Peterson together, studying how he set up blocks for his linemen and his fullback – considering Barkley rarely played with one on the field in State College.
“He’s doing that kind of stuff, watching Adrian Peterson and other guys to get a feel for how to run at this level with linemen and a fullback, that’s something you notice,” Smith said Monday. “That can make a huge difference.”