Eager to return to form, Saquon Barkley getting confidence back
The viral video clip lasted just four seconds but delivered a powerful message. New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, slicing through a hole in the trenches at an August preseason camp practice, burst into the second level of the defense.
Corner Aaron Robinson, pulling up for a tag-off during the thud period, patiently awaited light contact and a whistle from the running back, but Barkley had other plans. Lowering his helmet and shoulders straight into Robinson’s chest, Barkley popped his teammate to the disapproval of other Giant defenders. And, just a few plays later at the practice, it set off an intrasquad melee.
Saquon Barkley’s big blow
The blow from Barkley, by most accounts, crossed a line. But it also offered another glimpse into the preseason determination of the former NFL Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl selection.
Sidelined by a season-ending ACL injury just two games into the Giants’ 2020 campaign, Barkley has been eager to get back on track in the time since. In 2021, that wasn’t to be as Barkley played in 13 games but finished with just 162 carries for 593 yards and a pair of touchdowns, plus 41 catches for 263 yards and a couple of other scores.
Now, entering his fifth season in the league, the 2,000-plus all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns of his rookie season are squarely in the sights of the former Nittany Lion All-American. Barkley just needs to fully move past the injury that derailed his career’s progress in the first place.
“Trusting yourself when you are making that cut and how athletic you can be in and out of your cuts,” Barkley said told reporters. “It’s something I probably lacked last year.
“But that’s the way I train, to be strong, to be explosive, and I feel like that I’m getting that confidence back.”
Next steps for Saquon Barkley
As the start of the 2022 NFL season draws near, Barkley appears to be well on his way toward reaching those goals.
According to ESPN NFL insider Jordan Raanan, Barkley’s summer “is going well” as he continues to take strides back to becoming one of the league’s most explosive and dynamic ball carriers. Surveying coaches and teammates, many of whom have been enamored with Barkley’s performances thus far, the result is a preseason that “looks much different” as the 25-year-old enters the last year of his rookie contract.
Saying that he feels “a lot better” this year than last at the same point, the next step is to translate that progress into on-field success.
“When you can trust your body, your confidence just grows,” Barkley said. “I would say the difference [from college to now] is I was a way more confident player in college and early in my career than I was prior to last year. Now I’m starting to get that swagger back.”
For a Giants franchise without a winning record since 2016, and a hungry Barkley ready to return to his career’s initial promise, all are counting on it.
