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Where Giants RB Saquon Barkley's Game Took Biggest Leap Last Season

Giants running back Saquon Barkley looked like a new man in the Giants modernized offense, but there was one particular area where he took a big step forward.
Patricia Traina|
Where Giants RB Saquon Barkley's Game Took Biggest Leap Last Season
Where Giants RB Saquon Barkley's Game Took Biggest Leap Last Season

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New York Giants

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley made numerous strides in 2022, his first fully healthy season since his 2018 campaign. Barkley set new personal bests in rushing yards (1,312), first downs gained (62), and average rushing yards per game (82.0), but there was also another critical yet underrated part of Barkley's game that improved.

According to Pro Football Focus, Barkley finished as the best pass-blocking running back with a grade of 75.5. Within that grade, Barkley only allowed six pressures in 83 pass-blocking snaps (7.2 percent).

For reference, Barkley allowed six pressures in 2021 but in just 43 pass-blocking snaps. He has never allowed more than seven pressures, those coming in his rookie campaign, in his career.

Then again, he isn't asked to pass-block all that often, seeing the most pass-blocking action in his injury-shortened 2020 season when he pass-blocked on 25 percent of his snaps.

Running backs are more renowned for rushing the ball, but pass protection is also a big part of their game, and why some running backs transitioning from college don't immediately get on the field.

Barkley is set to hit free agency without receiving the franchise tag (which hinges on what happens with quarterback Daniel Jones) or a new deal before March 15, the start of the NFL free agency period. In five seasons, Barkley has accumulated 4,249 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on 954 carries and has three 1,000-yard rushing campaigns (2018, 2019, and 2022).

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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