New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley mustered just six yards on 15 carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, which was the second-lowest output of his career for a full game.
Adding to that misery, Barkley averaged negative 0.7 yards before contact per attempt in Week 1, which speaks volumes about how atrocious the run blocking was.
“I have to be better, I have to be better for the team. We have to find a way to get the run game going. That’s how I truly believe,” Barkley said after the game.
The performance obviously didn’t sit well with Barkley, who was repeatedly cut down by the Steelers, but he didn’t allow his emotions to get the best of him or send him into a violent rage.
“I can’t just talk off of emotions,” Barkley said. “One thing that just pops in my mind is find a way to get the run game going for this team. I know that’s going to be a key part of our success. I truly believe and I still believe in it. Keep grinding at it, keep working at it and find a way.”
While Barkley refused to attack anyone, retired NFL legend O.J. Simpson, who was released from prison in 2017 after serving nine years on weapons and assault convictions, decided to do it for him.
Using Twitter, Simpson shredded the Giants, calling the team “soft” and admitting that if he were in Barkley’s gloves, there would be some bloodletting.
Warning: Language in the video is NSFW.
@saquon deserves better!!! pic.twitter.com/VNA7Q4Lj1W
— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) September 15, 2020
“He didn’t have a chance,” Simpson said of Barkley. “Watching that game, I can tell you I, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. . . none of us could have gained any yards.
“The difference between myself, Walter and Barry is that I had Lou Saban and Jim Ringo coaching, Walter had [Mike] Ditka and Barry had Wayne Fontes. Tough guys. Guys that coached the offensive line not to do fancy blocking, but to take that [helmet] and stick that [helmet] on some [expletive].”
Simpson then took a few stabs at offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who he feels over-complicates things and gets far too conservative.
“I always thought despite the points that they scored, when they got into big games they underachieved because they didn’t play physical — it was all about the scheme,” Simpson said of Garrett’s Cowboys teams. “And that seems to be what they’re doing with the Giants.
“They need to give Saquon a fullback. They need to give a running start at the line and let him break off a fullback’s block or double-team blocks. Stop with this fancy scheme crap and start hitting people.”
Simpson added that until the Giants get violent and start attacking, they’re not going to see the results they want.
“Giants, you’re soft! Anybody who looks at that [film] can see how soft the linemen are. They’re not driving anyone, they’re just getting in the way,” Simpsons said.
When someone gets in the way, you’ve got to take them out. At least that’s what Simpson believes when it comes to the Giants’ offensive line here in 2020.
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