Jon Hilliman – Syndication Server

2020 Giants training camp preview: Running backs

The New York Giants will be led by Saquon Barkley in 2020, but what does the team have as far as running back depth behind him?

The New York Giants don’t have too many questions that need answering at the running back position, but there are some new faces and a few jobs on the line as we enter training camp here in 2020.

Saquon Barkley will be featured prominently in Jason Garrett’s offense, but what can we expect to see behind him?

Here’s a quick look at the Giants’ running back situation entering camp.

Saquon Barkley

After an incredible and record-breaking rookie season, Saquon Barkley was forced back down to earth in 2019 as the result of a high ankle sprain.

While Barkley still finished the year with more than 1,000 rushing yards, he was clearly a shell of his former self, only occasionally showing flashes of the elite talent we saw in 2018.

That has obviously provided some motivation for Barkley, who has been largely silent yet very visible this offseason.

Barkley has routinely posted workout videos in recent months, showing off his impressive physique and other-worldly athleticism. It’s clear he has set out to begin the season in the best shape of his life, likely in an attempt to curb any injury issues.

“I think Saquon is going to have a huge year for you guys this year. I was really happy watching the draft, I saw you guys picked up an offensive lineman and some guys, so that’s going to help your quarterback, that’s going to help Saquon and it’s going to help the whole team and the whole organization,” Penn State head coach James Franklin told Giants.com.

Barkley is likely to see a balanced workload in 2020, which should help keep him healthy and on the field for a full 16 games.

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Giants roster outlook: Upgrades, downgrades or lateral moves on offense

Giants Wire examines the New York Giants offense and the changes made this offseason, offering a verdict on each unit.

The New York Giants are excited about their prospects on offense this season. There’s an interesting mixture of old and new faces converging within the unit.

The team used first-round draft picks on offensive players the last four years and have supplemented those players with other high round picks and select free agents.

Here’s a quick outlook of the Giants’ 2020 offense.

Coaches

Gained: Joe Judge, Jason Garrett, Marc Colombo, others

Lost: Pat Shurmur, Mike Shula, Hal Hunter, others

Jason Garrett, a former Giants backup quarterback and head coach of the Dallas Cowboys the past 10 years, is the new offensive coordinator.

Garrett will bring a balance and some semblance of structure to the offensive game plan. He is a creative, aggressive play caller who has both the experience, temperament and talent to turn the Giants into a high-powered, respectable offensive team.

The staff is full of familiar faces: Marc Colombo (offensive line), Tyke Tolbert (wide receivers), Jerry Shuplinski (quarterbacks), Burton Burns (running backs) and Freddie Kitchens (tight ends) bring a legacy of success and experience to the Giants.

Verdict: Substantial upgrade

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PFF ranks Giants’ running backs 10th-best in the NFL

Pro Football Focus believes the New York Giants have one of the best groups of running backs in the NFL.

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Over the last couple of years, the New York Giants haven’t ranked very high in a lot of categories in the NFL. Of course, three straight losing seasons will do that to a team.

But in Pro Football Focus’ rankings on each position, one area in which the Giants fared pretty well was at running back, finding themselves ranked 10th overall in the league.

Few running backs have the big-play potential of Saquon Barkley, as he can seemingly take it to the house at any time. Last season, he was unable to sustain the breakaway runs that defined his rookie season — he had seven 40-plus-yard carries that season — but such is the volatile nature of running back production. Barkley still must improve when it comes to just taking what is there, but one of these years the Giants’ run blocking will improve, and he could go off for a monster statistical season. Most importantly, though, Barkley is a weapon in the passing game, and he’s forced 42 missed tackles on only 143 career receptions so far.

The addition of veteran Dion Lewis also factored into PFF’s rankings.

The Giants also added Dion Lewis into the mix. Lewis is another elusive back who is coming off a 59.8 overall grade with the Titans, a career-low mark. He is capable of taking some of the pressure off Barkley when it comes to catching passes out of the backfield, however, as the former Patriot has two seasons in which he forced at least 15 missed tackles after the catch. Wayne Gallman then rounds out the group as the No. 3 option who is set to enter the last year of his rookie contract.

Barkley is one of the league’s best all-around running backs, so if Lewis can return to past form, this duo could give the Giants one of the most dynamic units in the league.

There was a time when the Giants’ running back situation wasn’t something to write home about, but ever since they drafted Barkley with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he’s given the team consecutive 1,000-plus yard seasons on the ground.

Barkley missed three games last season with an injury and was held to 1 yard in a game, but he still managed to rush for over 1,000 yards.

Meanwhile, Wayne Gallman, who was once a potential starting back before Barkley arrived onto the scene, and Jon Hilliman, round out the group.

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