Former NFL coach Bruce Arians knows a lot about what skills make a running back successful in the NFL. Arians coached one of the best backs in the league in David Johnson during his time with the Arizona Cardinals. Arians thinks Saquon Barkley has the same tools to dominate in the NFL.
According to Matt Lombardo of NJ.com, Arians had this to say about the Giants' rookie back:
“He reminds me a lot of David Johnson, who I had. Man, that's special stuff, because, he's truly a mismatch. If teams want to go double-team Odell, then Saquon's going to kill it inside.”
Arians isn't the first ex-Cardinals coach to point out the similarities between Johnson and Barkley. His old defensive coordinator in Arizona, James Bettcher, who is now with the Giants, has also seen the connection.
Johnson's versatility has made him a dangerous threat to score as a running back and receiver in his short time in the NFL. He almost became a member of the exclusive 1,000-1,000 club in 2016 as he had 1,239 rushing yards and 879 receiving yards, not to mention 20 total touchdowns. After missing virtually all of last year with a broken wrist, Johnson is expected to reach that sort of elite level once again this year.
Arians believes Barkley's skillset will allow him to produce similar numbers. He showed in college that apart from his electric rushing ability, he is well-suited to the modern NFL with his ability to catch passes. It's that versatility which helped convince the Giants to make him the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft.
Barkley's explosiveness from the backfield and steady hands paired with Odell Beckham Jr.'s electrifying downfield playmaking could give the New York Giants one of the most dynamic offensive duos in the league this season.
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