Saquon Barkley

New York Giants: Saquon Barkley Underrated In Top 100 Players?

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley is probably the best player on the New York Giants. That title was more disputed during his rookie season but with other star players gone such as wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive tackle Damon Harrison, the latter of whom could arguably have been considered the best at filling his position’s role because of his great skills against the run, it looks like Barkley is the last man standing when it comes to the team’s elite talents.

But where does Barkley rank when considering players from across the league? According to CBS, the result is lower than you might think. CBS Sports recently released their list of the top 100 players in the NFL, and Barkley only comes in at 21st despite being one of the contenders for MVP this season, and possibly the best contender outside of the position that’s typically the favorite for the award: quarterback. Here’s what they had to say about the Giants running back:

Our top-ranked running back, Barkley is a truly rare player archetype. Last season, Barkley became just the seventh player in NFL history to run for at least 1,000 yards and catch at least 90 passes in the same season — and the first to do so as a rookie. His 2,028 yards from scrimmage led the NFL. He’s not the most efficient back on an every-snap basis, but he makes up for it with an incredible volume of explosive plays, and an improved offensive line should help with the efficiency.

The list seems to discount the running back position in general as Barkley’s spot at number 21 is the highest for any running back, placing him above rivals such as Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliot.

What do you think? Is the best running back in the league only the 21st best player across all positions? Can the Giants win despite looking like a running team this year, with uncertainty at receiver and Barkley as their obvious main weapon on offense?

Those questions will need to be answered this season, and some of the answers will determine whether Barkley truly is an MVP contender.

New York Giants: BJ Hill Preparing to take major leap in 2019

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New York Giants, BJ Hill

After an inconsistent but impressive rookie campaign, New York Giants defensive lineman BJ Hill is preparing to take his game to the next level in year two.

Tallying 48 combined tackles with 5.5 sacks and 6 tackles for a loss, Hill showed his versatility and ability to get after the quarterback from a down lineman position. Featuring on the three-man line in the 3-4 system defensive coordinator James Bettcher prefers, Hill is developing into a quality run-stopper and pass-rusher.

While Saquon Barkley and Will Hernandez collected most of the headlines being the Giants’ first and second-round picks, Hill quietly made an impact on the defense. His influence was quiet but influential, ranking third in the NFC East in run stops with 22. His partner, Dalvin Tomlinson, finished with 26, ranking first in the division.

The chemistry they inevitably built will prove to be beneficial in 2019, and the addition of Dexter Lawrence on the line will also give the unit a nice boost.

The New York Giants are headed in the right direction:

Hill was an effective run defender last season, but his 5.5 sacks set a franchise record for rookie pass rushers. That not only attests to his array of skills but foreshadows what’s to come in his sophomore season. With the Giants passing on an elite pass rusher in the 2019 NFL Draft, they’re relying heavily on their interior lineman to make an impact and get after the passer.

They truly believe that Hill, Tomlinson, and Lawrence can play in all facets of the defense and leave their mark in different ways. Hopefully, that prayer is answered — the unit seems to be in good shape moving forward considering their youth and skill-sets.

Extracting the most value out of them and ensuring they remain healthy will be difficult. Utilizing them on an every-down role will be difficult given their size and ask. I expect there to be a minimal rotation occurring – look for the Giants to bring in a veteran lineman to help in the trenches.

However, the tandem of Hill, Lawrence, and Tomlinson should have fans excited for the future!

New York Giants News, 7/16 – Saquon Barkley earns an unfair Madden rating

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

It was unfortunate to see that Giants players were a rarity in the top 20 players for any position in the newest Madden addition. Star running back Saquon Barkley was the only frequent flies, and the grading system still managed to leave him with ungodly deficiencies.

While Barkley was the highest rated Giants player at 91, he ranked as only the fifth-highest running back behind Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, Le’Veon Bell, and Melvin Gordon. Let’s not forget Bell missed all of 2018 and is still higher than Saquon. Not to mention we recently went over Barkley’s statistical output compared to Elliott’s and it wasn’t even close in favor of the Giants’ back.

Elliott’s six fumbles to Barkley zero tells the story, but just for sh**s and giggles, he did have more all-purpose yards last season. Where things get interesting, though, is the specific ratings that makeup Barkley 91 overall. For example, his 81 strength — Barkley put up 29 reps, more than most offensive lineman.

Did I mention his awareness was graded a 79…how? Did whoever give these ratings watch any of Barkley’s 2018 highlights? Every year the Madden ratings get more and more sketchy, but Barkley’s really confuses me to a point that’s too confusing to comprehend. Maybe, they just want to see consistency, which is the only logical answer from my perspective.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day!

Dan Schneier (247 Sports) – Saquon Barkley feels disrespected by his Madden 20 rating

Patrick Redford (Deadspin) – Report: Giants safety Kamrin Moore arrested for stepping on woman’s neck, punching her unconscious

Dan Benton (Giants Wire) – Is Julian Love the Giants’ biggest training camp sleeper?
Patricia Traina (Forbes) – Bold predictions ahead of the Giant’s 2019 training camp

Alexander Wilson (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants: 3 keys to a successful season in 2019
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New York Giants: Saquon Barkley is better than Ezekiel Elliott in every way

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

From pulling down the top of a girl at a parade to getting in a confrontation with a security worker at a music festival, the negative publicity doesn’t end for Dallas Cowboys running back, Ezekiel Elliott. The New York Giants have the opposite problem, or rather the solution in Saquon Barkley.

The second-year player and 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year has shown more positive traits than Ghandi…too far! In all seriousness, the 2nd overall pick from last year’s draft has proven himself in more than on-the-field play. His likeness off the field and with the fans has catapulted him into international stardom.

Barkley didn’t need “the catch” to make him an overnight sensation, he just simply is one. The positivity he brings to the game and leadership he bleeds from his teammates to young fans is inspiring.

Just take a look at the video from his latest football camp:

Being a part of the community and enjoying it is something a lot of players struggle with, but there are a ton that do the right thing and give back. Barkley is one of them, and as we inch closer to training camp, we can reflect on just how much better he is that Elliott.

Why New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley trumps Elliott:

To start, in his first season, Barkley amassed more yards from scrimmage than Elliott in his entire career. Throw in his intangibles and you have a player that has the potential to be a Hall of Famer in just three years. Factor in how much better Elliott’s offensive line is and you can really see the golden gates start to open in Saquon’s favor.

The Giants’ line ranked 21st in the league last season while the Cowboys’ ranked 14th (PFF), a significant difference. Did we mention the fumbles yet? I guess not.

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Elliott fumbled six times in 2018, while Barkley didn’t fumble once. Turnovers can be the difference between winning and losing, and Barkley did his part in keeping the ball off the turf. If that hasn’t convinced you of the Giants’ running backs’ dominance just yet, refer back to my opening statement.

Barkley hasn’t gotten into legal trouble or acted like an immature child at any point in his NFL career. I imagine it will stay like that for the foreseeable future.

New York Giants News, 7/13 – Where does the offense rank in fire power?

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

The Giants trading away superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr. should have hurt their offensive firepower ranking, but it seems as if it has actually bolstered their number.

According to ESPN:

8. New York Giants

2018 rank: No. 2 | 2017: No. 20

“It’s strangely impressive that the Giants managed to be so uninspiring on offense a year ago with one of the best arsenals in football. Obviously, trading away Odell Beckham Jr. is going to make any team’s weaponry worse, but the Giants at least have a short-term solution in Golden Tate, who should help soften the blow of willingly trading away a franchise wideout for … reasons. Both Tate and Sterling Shepard rank in the top eight for receiving yards out of the slot over the past three years, so Pat Shurmur will need to find a way to get both of his starting wideouts time on the inside.”

“The Giants are the first team on this list to rate out as above-average at running back, wide receiver and tight end, though other teams (notably the Packers and Steelers) come close. Evan Engram struggled to stay healthy last season but averaged 9.0 yards per target, which was just ahead of guys like Travis Kelce and Jared Cook. And though Saquon Barkley’s rookie season was less impressive under a microscope, it’s fair to say that the offense was almost entirely dependent upon Barkley for stretches in 2018. With a better offensive line, Barkley could be the most productive back in football in 2019.”

Having Saquon Barkley will help the offense succeed no matter the consequences of losing Beckham. Gaining Tate will also supplement his production to a certain degree.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day!

John Fennelly (GMEN HQ) – New York Giants in line for two compensatory draft picks in 2020

Ed Valentine (Big Blue View) – Giants’ 90-man roster: Nate Solder solid, unspectacular at left tackle

Dan Benton (Giants Wire) – Drew Brees thanks Saquon Barkley for setting good example for children

Pat Leonard (New York Daily News) – Giants 2018 film review, week 3: What we learned from Big Blue’s best game of the year

Anthony Rivardo (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants: Which position suits Julian Love best
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New York Giants: Can Eli Manning improve during the 2019 season?

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New York Giants, Eli Manning

There’s a simple truth when it comes to New York Giants veteran quarterback Eli Manning — he can only be so successful. Why? Because in the modern day NFL having mobility is a necessity.

Unless you’re Tom Brady and have the league figured out to a “T” – running a scheme that seems to always be effective, it’s difficult to succeed without running ability. Even Drew Brees ran for an impressive spin-move touchdown in 2018. The reality for Eli is, he needs his offensive line to perform at a high level to operate the offense successfully.

He might just get his dying wish in the season ahead. So the answer to the question stated – can Eli Manning improve during the 2019 season? Is a resounding “yes!”

Here’s where we break down how he will and what needs to happen for him to really improve upon his struggles in recent seasons.

From a statistical standpoint, Manning had one of his most efficient seasons last year, thanks to the influence of rookie sensation Saquon Barkley. A career-high 66.0 completion rate, a career-low in interceptions with 11, and his best QB rating (92.4) since 2015, Manning showed he can still play at the level needed to win games in the NFL.

New York Giants: The defense hurt Eli Manning more than anything

If it wasn’t for a faltering defense, the Giants might have had a far better record. They lost several games by one possession, killing their momentum and hurting the probability of a playoff berth with every loss. However, GM Date Gettleman has injected resources into the improvement of the offense line, defensive line, and secondary with plenty of talented youth.

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That fact alone should give Manning the confidence to finally succeed and reach the post-season once more. This could be his final season to do so, but he has all the weapons and defensive support to keep possession of the ball and make the most of his 15th campaign as a professional.

The question is — can he break the bad habits of missing progressions due to incoming pressure? Hopefully, the newly build offensive front will give him his confidence back.

My primary concern, though, is his touchdown totals, throwing only 40 over the past two seasons. His scoring production simply isn’t enough to reach the post-season in the modern-day NFL, and those numbers will have to increase if he wishes to succeed in 2019. A nice chunk of his statistical output last season came in garbage-time or at the hands of Barkley and his efficiency on screen plays.

Manning will need to use his receivers in a more effective manner and hold onto the ball for longer to allow routes to develop. Head coach Pat Shurmur had to ax a fair portion of his playbook due to a lack of time in the pocket.  Minimizing his turnover rate through good offensive line play should be the key to success, but Manning is facing mental issues that will require him to keep his eyes downfield after years of subsequent punishment.

New York Giants Have Top 22 Year Old In NFL According To ESPN

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New York Giants running back, Saquon Barkley.

The opinions on the New York Giants going into this season have been cautious rather than optimistic by most parts of the media in the buildup to the 2019 season and for good reason – Hyping the team up for the past couple of seasons has only resulted in disappointment, and it would be a good idea to not repeat the mistakes of the past and set unrealistic expectations for the team at this point in the year.

However, one player with high expectations that can be considered realistic is Saquon Barkley, the NFL’s second leading rusher from last year and likely the best player on the Giants roster this year. Barkley is undoubtedly going to be one of the major leaders for the Giants this year if not the big leader on offense, and according to ESPN, Barkley is the best player of his age in the entire league.

There’s plenty of good young players in the NFL right now, but ESPN placed Barkley as the top 22 year old in the league recently. Here’s some of what they had to say:

The Giants’ decision to move on from wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the looming quarterback transition from Eli Manning to Daniel Jones leave Barkley as the every-down anchor of their offense. He touched the ball 352 times last season. Is there any doubt he’ll surpass 400 in 2019? (To answer the inevitable question: The NFL’s post-merger record for touches in a 16-game season is 492, by the Buccaneers’ James Wilder in 1984, as a 26-year-old.)

Barkley won’t just be competing for the title of best young player this season, but will potentially compete for the title of best offensive player period. It looks like only the league’s top quarterbacks are going to compete with Barkley in the MVP race, which tends to be stacked in the favor of the quarterback position due to the fact that the NFL has very much become a passing league.

But the Giants, despite adding Golden Tate this year and having a number of receivers ready to break out, aren’t quite a passing team. We’ll see if their unconventional team building style is enough to boost their star running back to the status of MVP at the end of the year.

New York Giants offensive is about to take a major step forward

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New York Giants, Eli Manning, Saquon Barkley

After New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman traded away star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. it immediately changed the entire dynamic of the offense led by head coach Pat Shurmur.

Beckham was no longer considered the best player on the unit and his influence against opposing defenses instantly disappeared. However, the Giants have played an entire season without Beckham over the past two seasons, which only attests to their ability to succeed without him.

Running back Saquon Barkley will now be the leader and featured playmaker on the team, and that is a good thing. Focusing on a running back over a wideout allows the offense to not only be more diverse, but more efficient.

Utilizing the run game, play action, and screens will all be a part of the plan for the Giants as they look to succeed post-OBJ era. There’s no question they can achieve even more after his departure, as the offensive line has received reinforcements and they have several capable pass-catchers in Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate.

The New York Giants can trust their star player:

Barkley’s ability to make the right decision on the field and off it instantly makes him the best player and most significant threat. He will draw more defenders to the box which will open up the field for Tate and Shep – both are great in open space and create separation.

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It will take constant efforts to stop the three options. Add in Evan Engram running up the seam and you have a very unpredictable offense that’s capable of dominating in all facets of the game. Again, though, it comes down to Eli Manning and if he’s capable of performing at a high level.

This will be his final opportunity to show he can be the player he once was. The offensive line receiving help should give him more time in the pocket, allowing him to move through his progressions. It will be interesting to see how the offense changes and progresses in its second year under Shurmur.

 

New York Giants News, 7/11 – Saqoun Barkley wins prestigious award

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

If 2,000 All-Purpose yards in his rookie season wasn’t enough, I don’t know what would have earned sensational running back Saquon Barkley to breakout player of the year for 2018.

Barkley, the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the NFL, won the prestigious award mentioned above at the ESPYs on Wednesday night. Securing the honor of Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, Tennis player Naomi Osaka, and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich, Barkley proved his worth once again.

Beyond his physical gifts, Saqoon’s class was on full display the award ceremony — check out the video of his speech below.

Becoming the third NFL rookie to amass over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, Barkley joined a group with legends Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James. He’s primed to continue improving upon his success last season, especially with Giants GM Dave Gettleman appropriating even more resources towards the development of the offensive line.

With the departure of Odell Beckham Jr., I anticipate Barkley becoming an even more influential player on the offense. Head coach Pat Shurmur will surely utilize him early and often, which will subsequently force opposing defenses to stack the box and take players out of coverage. The wide receivers corps will also benefit from Saquon’s sheer dominance.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day!

John Fennelly (GMEN HQ) – New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley wins Breakthrough Athlete award at ESPYs

Chris Pflum (Big Blue View) – Pro Football Focus ranks the Giants’ offensive line 18th in the league

Dan Schneier (247 Sports) – The 10 biggest 2019 salary cap bargains on the Giants roster

Alexander Wilson (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants: Tight end unit may take an interesting turn this offseason

Anthony Rivardo (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants: Three Potential Veteran Cut Candidates

Check out the best news for yesterday!

New York Giants News, 7/10 – Saquon Barkley now the offensive leader

New York Giants News, 7/10 – Saquon Barkley now the offensive leader

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

With the departure of Odell Beckham Jr., star running back Saquon Barkley is the catalyst on the offense and will demand even more defensive resources.

There are many similarities to Beckham and Barkley, but the biggest difference is their method of leadership. The receiver was very active and vocal in ways that sometimes weren’t ideal, but Barkley always says the right things and is prepared to lead by example in addition to his fiery competitive spirit.

The 2019 season potentially holds great things for the 2018 first round pick, as he earned over 2,000 All-Purpose yards and proved to be one of the best players at his position in the NFL. With a better offensive line and more holes to run through, he has the potential to be an even more effective player in his sophomore season.

The offense will now be his to run and utilize — I anticipate head coach Pat Shurmur game planning around Barkley and keeping the opposing defense on their toes. Diverse wide receivers like Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard will only help the future success of the unit alongside Saquon and his playmaking abilities.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day!

Paul Schwartz (New York Post) – The Giants’ offense is now Saquon Barkley’s

Jordan Raanan (ESPN) – New York Giants go way outside the box to find guard Austin Droogsma

Connor McJunkin (GMEN HQ) – Top-5 Quarterbacks the New York Giants Will Face in 2019

Dan Schneier (247 Sports) – 10 questions the Giants must answer before the 2019 season

Ed Valentine (Big Blue View) – Giants’ 90-man roster: “Violent inside banger” Chris Slayton adds depth to defensive line

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Check out the best news for yesterday!

New York Giants News, 7/9 – Nate Solder is the catalyst on offensive line