Giants again can’t overcome defense’s focus on Saquon Barkley

One instance of a zero-dimensional object is a geometrical level. One other is the Giants’ offense when defenses take away Saquon Barkley’s legs. 

It’s absurd that it took opposing defenses so lengthy to determine that stopping the Giants begins with containing Barkley when the passing offense round him is ranked No. 28 within the NFL, however a all of a sudden scuffling speeding assault has introduced a once-promising season to a crossroads. 

Barkley carried 11 instances for 39 yards in a 28-20 Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys, and it marked the third time within the final 4 video games that he has been held to 53 speeding yards or fewer. It coincides with the Giants going 1-3 over that stretch. 

“When the working recreation just isn't working, it begins with the working again,” Barkley mentioned. “I’ve bought to be higher.” 

Saquon Barkley struggled in the Giants' loss to the Cowboys.
Saquon Barkley struggled within the Giants’ loss to the Cowboys.
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The Giants performed Thursday with a left sort out (Andrew Thomas) who was preventing by way of an sickness, their fourth completely different beginning left guard (Jack Anderson) and their backups at heart (Nick Gates) and proper sort out (Tyre Phillips). Barkley’s longest rush was 10 yards. 

“With the run recreation, all people must do higher,” head coach Brian Daboll mentioned. “It’s not at all times going to be clear. There are going to be some 1s, some 2s [yards gained]. We’ve been lacking some larger performs that often assist in the run recreation. We simply haven’t popped by way of there. The blocking, the working, the design, we've got to do a greater job all the best way round with the run recreation. Teaching it, executing it.” 

Darius Slayton’s 44-yard reception within the second quarter Thursday was the primary Giants’ completion of the season that traveled greater than 40 yards within the air, in response to Subsequent Gen Stats. It arrange Barkley’s 1-yard landing run. 

“We form of felt like we might get down the sphere with a few play-actions, which we did at first,” Barkley mentioned. “We felt the run recreation was going to come back afterward, and we simply didn’t get it going.” 

The Giants have gotten away from their successful system in back-to-back losses. Jones has tried a season-high 44 and 35 passes whereas enjoying from behind within the second half. Jones was a nonfactor as a runner (three carries for 14 yards) after his dual-threat means was an enormous weapon in opposition to the Cowboys in Week 3. 

“We simply need to do a greater job with communication, approach,” Thomas mentioned. “As a result of we’ve run the ball so effectively, typically we’re getting much more run pressures, and we've got to do a greater job of speaking and selecting it up.” 

Barkley has performed by way of an injured shoulder for the final six video games. It's truthful to marvel if the Giants’ overreliance on their one game-breaker — his 224 carries are second-most within the NFL and characterize a tempo that may shatter his earlier four-year profession excessive — is taking its toll. He rushed a career-high 35 instances within the Giants’ one win over the past 4 video games. 

“Saquon is on the market working exhausting, attempting to do every part he can do,” Daboll mentioned. “We simply need to do a greater job collectively.”

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