5 best Saquon Barkley plays from NY Giants training camp

Saquon Barkley burst onto the NFL stage during his rookie season in 2018, recording 2,028 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns. After that season, the Giants thought that the had found a surefire future Hall of Fame running back. The next three seasons however, have left many wondering if the Giants will be searching for a new running back next offseason.

Barkley has battled injuries and ineffectiveness during the last three campaigns, though much of his ineffectiveness can be attributed to feeble offensive line play. Barkley has played in only 28 out of the 49 games the last three season while recording just 2,391 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns.

With his contract expiring at the end of the 2022 season, Barkley will have to prove to not only the Giants but the other 31 teams that he can stay healthy and get back to his rookie year form in order to secure a big pay day next March. If training camp is any indication, he looks prime to do just that. Here are the five best Barkley plays from the summer:

5. Barkley’s sick cut

This looked like classic Barkley. After getting the handoff from Daniel Jones, Barkley makes an explosive quick cut inside and than bounces to the outside, leaving the defense in his dust as he flies into the end zone.

Barkley finishes the play with his patented leap into the air to cross the goal line, flipping the ball into the air as Adoree’ Jackson can’t catch him fast enough. One underrated aspect of this play is the elite blocking. Undrafted rookie fullback Jeremiah Hall pushes rookie star Kayvon Thibodeaux out of Barkley’s way, creating a major hole for the running back.

If Barkley can get those kind of holes this season, Barkley will be recording more of these kinds of plays. No. 26 has the potential to make opposing defenders look silly countless times this season. Let’s see how electric he can be.

4. Barkley flies past Tae Crowder

When Barkley was drafted second overall in 2018, it was because he was a complete running back. Barkley’s strengths are his speed, power, explosiveness, ability to be a three down running back and his ability to be a factor in the passing game.

In this play, Barkley shows his receiver skills. Barkley gives Giants starting inside linebacker Tae Crowder a little shimmy, and than blows right past him, hauling in the dime from Jones for a touchdown.

With the Giants offense likely to be pass heavy in 2022, Barkley will be getting plenty of 1 on 1’s with linebackers, which he will be able to exploit all season long. Daboll said Barkley was looking explosive, and he certainly did on this play.

3. Barkley’s sick back shoulder grab

Poor Crowder - Barkley has been burning him all camp. During this play, Barkley shows his insane athleticism, stopping his body at the one yard line and catching a back shoulder pass from Jones.

If Barkley is doing wide receiver like things on the regular, the Giants offense will have another explosive weapon in the passing game defenses will have to plan for. Maybe, Barkley is also the Giants best wide receiver.

2. Odell Barkley?

This play is just fifthly. Barkley decides on this play to imitate his buddy, Odell Beckham Jr., and catch the ball fully extended with just his left hand. The craziest part of this play is how effortless and easy Barkley made it look.

Though obviously not challenged by a defender on this play, no defender will stop that immaculate throw from Jones and the absurd catch from Barkley. If these two can get on the same page this season, the Giants offense will be crazy fun to watch.

1. Saquon Barkley sends Aaron Robinson back to 2021

Holy smokes! Poor Aaron Robinson! With all of the injuries Barkley has dealt with the past couple seasons, I think we forget just how special of a talent he is.

On this play Barkley goes full Madden mode, flying into the open field and absolutely truck sticking starting cornerback Robinson. One of the most underrated parts of Barkley’s game has been power. With his ability to make defenders miss in the open field, Barkley does not often get the chance to just bull defenders over, but when he does, it is incredibly special.

This was so spicy that it led to an all out brawl between the offense and defense a couple plays later. It is nice to see the Giants playing fun and physical after the last decade of struggles.