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There is no doubt that New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is a special running back but even he is having to make some big adjustments coming into the NFL. There are a lot of things different between the college and pro game it hasn't taken Barkley long to figure that out.
The biggest thing he has had to adjust to so far is the offense the Giants run compared to the one he was in at Penn State. With the Nittany Lions the quarterback always lined up in the shotgun and Barkley never ran behind a fullback.
With the Giants Barkley is lining up behind Shane Smith who is a tight end that also plays fullback. Although it is new for Barkley it's something he really is enjoying.
“I think it’s great to have a fullback,” Barkley told Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. “Honestly, I’ve never done that in college, but [I’ve been] watching film and seeing the great backs set up their blocks, and how key the fullback is. I think Shane has done a tremendous job of not only knowing what a fullback’s role is, but you can put him at any position in the offense with any route, and he’s going to know how to run it or he’s going to know how to block it. So, I continue to grow in that role, and build that relationship on the field with a fullback. I really feel like that can help take my game to that next level.”
Smith has also liked what he has seen from Barkley and thinks that he is catching on pretty quickly with the new change in style. It's still early but it will be a thing to watch through the preseason how Barkley's running style changes with a fullback in front of him.
