New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has not been shy about his praise for running back Saquon Barkley. However, even he knows that physical prowess means nothing until the pads come on.
Barkley has enamored the NFL world with his freakish athletic ability. Regardless, Manning said during an appearance on The Simms and Lefkoe podcast that his true test awaits in training camp:
“He's done everything we've asked him to do,” Manning said. “I'm impressed with how quickly he's picked up the offense, but with running backs it's “hey what can you do once the pads come on.” Can you make that first defender miss, can you get that extra yard, can you break that long one and get a 60-yard run.”
It is fair for Manning to want Barkley to continue proving himself. There has been plenty of hype surrounding the young workhorse even though he has yet to register a single touch in the NFL.
There is no question that Barkley was one of the most electrifying players in college football last season. He followed it up with a historic performance at the NFL Combine this year. As a result, the notion of taking Barkley with a top-5 pick was actually seen as a solid move for any team looking to add a playmaker.
However, he will still have to prove himself worthy of being a starter just like every other player. The only way the Giants will be able to tell if they made the right choice is by seeing how he stacks up against professional defenders. Fortunately, there has been little reason to believe that Barkley is incapable of doing so which is likely why Manning is looking forward to seeing what the young stud can do.
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