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Barkley's inability to break tackles,Tracy, and more thought

CMicks3110 : 5/4/2024 10:46 pm
let's break down Barkley's journey like we're dissecting game tape. Back in his rookie year, the guy was a force of nature, blazing down the field like a freight train. I'm talking 3.41 yards after contact per attempt (YCO/A), putting him up there with the big dogs at 6th in the league. And let's not forget his breakaway speed, hitting speeds that would make a cheetah jealous. But fast forward to 2023, and we're looking at a different story. Sure, he's still got some moves, but his YCO/A has dropped to 2.91, landing him at 46th in the league. And that breakaway speed? Well, let's just say it's not as impressive as it used to be.

Now, let's dissect why. Some say it's his build, wide like a brick house but lacking that compact, dense muscle you see in the real bruisers. I mean, look at guys like Nick Chubb or Tony Pollard – they're built like tanks, powering through tackles like they're paper walls. Barkley, on the other hand, looks like Tarzan and runs like Jane, he seemed more inclined to dance around defenders than bulldoze through them. And while that might have worked in college, and before his knee injury, it's not exactly a sustainable strategy when you lost that extra step. For whatever reason, his weight room leg drive didn't work in games.

So, where does that leave us? Well, if we're serious about dominating on the field in 2024 and beyond, we need to shake things up. Enter Tyrone Tracy. This guy's been tore it up in college, albeit for only 1 season, but boasting a YCO/A of 4.44, higher than some of the big names like Bijon Robinson or Jaymir Gibbs. And let's not forget his breakaway ability – he's like a runaway freight train, leaving defenders in the dust.

Now, I get it, losing Barkley might feel like a gut punch. But if we want to stay competitive in this league, we need to be willing to make the tough calls. And bringing in a talent like Tracy might just be the spark we need to ignite our offense and bring home some Ws.

So, yeah, let's roll the dice on Tracy and see if he's the missing piece we've been searching for. Who knows, he might just be the key to unlocking our full potential on the
I think Barkley is a loser player  
Ben in Tampa : 5/4/2024 11:17 pm : link
I watched him run out of bounds in kill the clock situations, give himself up a yard short of the 1st instead of icing a game and fumble the ball without being touched. That was just off the top of my head from last year.

Shocked Howie made that deal. The first really baffling thing he’s done in many years.
Anyone else remember rookie 26?  
OBJ_AllDay : 5/4/2024 11:27 pm : link
He was tossing players off of him left and right. Not sure what happened to that guy. And I don’t buy injuries as an excuse for why he was one of the hardest people to bring down off a swing pass to the player he was a few years later
RE: I think Barkley is a loser player  
GiantTuff1 : 5/5/2024 6:36 am : link
In comment 16506504 Ben in Tampa said:
Quote:
I watched him run out of bounds in kill the clock situations, give himself up a yard short of the 1st instead of icing a game and fumble the ball without being touched. That was just off the top of my head from last year.

Shocked Howie made that deal. The first really baffling thing he’s done in many years.


I totally agree. He has had mind numbing dumb plays here. He does not have that winning magic like other players. His going to the eagles is addition by subtractions. The RB room this year is going to out produce what Barkley did the past several seasons easily.
Great OP  
5BowlsSoon : 5/5/2024 7:04 am : link
I also am not shedding a tear at losing SB. Sure, he is a nice guy, but we have to be wise in how we allocate our expenses seeing there is a cap and we are not Philadelphia.

Saquon has issues too….I believe he lost that break away speed because guys were catching him from behind and I don’t recall many long runs. He dances too much and you don’t want him to run on 3rd and one. He made that huge fumble falling down in the Green Bay game that almost cost us the game. He doesn’t know when to fall down…shows me he is not as cerebral as he should be or many the coaches aren’t doing their jobs coaching them up. Plus he has a resume of injuries that surely has affected him. I have no doubt being on a team with his OL and all their weapons he will do well, but I’m sure we can easily replace him much cheaply.

Singletary, Travis, maybe Gray, and watch for Dante Miller. I’m very happy…
I think some of you forget...  
DefenseWins : 5/5/2024 7:21 am : link
that last year Barkley was running through people all season. You have a point that he played soft in prior seasons, but his rookie year and last year were excellent.

I remember games when the OL was so bad, he was getting hit a second or less after he got the ball. He was breaking that first tackle every time to get positive yards.

All of that said, I am fine with moving on and while we all give the organization shit for holding onto mistakes for too long, we have to give them credit here for how they handled his contract.
How could anyone truly give their best  
rasbutant : 5/5/2024 7:30 am : link
To a fan base that never appreciated you and always wanted to ripe you down. Just because you were drafted #2 overall and some idiot compared you to GOD.

That plus a shit team and oline that allowed a jail break on almost every other play. Injuries are your fault and battling through injuries for the betterment of the team only gets you more flak. No win situation.
I’m excited about the potential of Tracy  
Jimmy Meatballs : 5/5/2024 7:42 am : link
But I find it funny how perceptions change after the draft. We talk about this guy like he’s the answer to all our prayers and should have been a second round pick. If we had picked him any higher we’d be bashing him as not having a chance of success in the league and being a gadget player.
I've been down on Barkley  
Gman11 : 5/5/2024 7:42 am : link
for a while. A 235 pound back that can't get 1 yard on his own on 3rd/4th and 1. A guy that goes down, not just on arm tackles, but fingertip tackles. It's like he falls at the first sense of contact. The stupid late game gaffs that have already been mentioned like falling down short of the first down late in the game. I don't miss him. I don't care how much of a "face of the franchise" he was.
Where losing Barkley is going to be a  
Dave on the UWS : 5/5/2024 7:50 am : link
BIG problem, is the “fantasy” threat he presented.
Teams STILL played the Giants like it was rookie Barkley back there, which opened up the RPO for Jones.
NOW, that’s gone, and Jones has to be THE guy to make the offense go. Problem is, he’s already proven he can’t do it by himself.
We need a back that can  
56goat : 5/5/2024 7:52 am : link
reliably convert 3rd and short, haven't had that in a long time. Don't know that anyone in our RB room can do that, guess we'll find out.
RE: I think Barkley is a loser player  
gersh : 5/5/2024 7:54 am : link
In comment 16506504 Ben in Tampa said:
Quote:
I watched him run out of bounds in kill the clock situations, give himself up a yard short of the 1st instead of icing a game and fumble the ball without being touched. That was just off the top of my head from last year.

Shocked Howie made that deal. The first really baffling thing he’s done in many years.

Barkley had many of his best games against the Eagles. Even Great GM’s make emotional decisions.
RE: Where losing Barkley is going to be a  
gersh : 5/5/2024 7:55 am : link
In comment 16506563 Dave on the UWS said:
Quote:
BIG problem, is the “fantasy” threat he presented.
Teams STILL played the Giants like it was rookie Barkley back there, which opened up the RPO for Jones.
NOW, that’s gone, and Jones has to be THE guy to make the offense go. Problem is, he’s already proven he can’t do it by himself.
Fairpoint. But the improvements on the offense should allow Daboll to scheme around deficiencies and make the offense better than it was with Barkley.
Good comments above.  
mittenedman : 5/5/2024 8:28 am : link
I also see Barkley as a losing player. He has an almost uncanny ability to make the wrong play at the wrong time. He is another guy (like Jones) who you'd be shocked to rewatch as a rookie vs. what he is now.

I really don't see Barkley as anything special anymore. He's not very good in the passing game, he's not a very good pass blocker (he knows who to block, but doesn't want to), he's not a very good between the tackles runner, and he doesn't have breakaway speed anymore. He is poor keeping an offense on schedule. And he's injury prone and constantly checks himself out of games.

I just don't see an overly impressive RB anymore. I see him as a decent all-around RB with a veteran presence and outstanding cheerleader-type leadership skills (but not necessarily on-field leadership). That's about it.
Have the Bills really had a great line?  
Blue Dog : 5/5/2024 8:43 am : link
Even if it improved the last few years, Singletary has played more snaps the last 5 years than Barkley at a fraction of the price. Really looking forward to the RBBC approach rather than the offense relying so heavily on an injury-prone workhorse. Hopefully Gray can have a better year two. Same with JMS with help from better guards. The clips of Tracy are encouraging. Might be bad news for Brightwell.
I think we will be very pleased with Singletary  
5BowlsSoon : 5/5/2024 9:15 am : link
He is elusive and quite frankly, better at 3rd and 1 because it is harder to tackle the “little” guy….gets lost among big bodies. I love his pass catching ability too.

But I also am excited about having a RBBC with Travis and Miller and possibly Gray. Millers speed greatly intrigues me and Travis’ ability to get yards after Impact is not what we saw with Saquon.
comparison  
Rod in St Cloud : 5/5/2024 9:24 am : link
Barkley has 4.3 yd average for 5211 yds and 35 tds with 288 receptions.

Singletary has 4.6 yd average for 4040 yds and 20 tds with 175 receptions.

Singletary is not going to replace Barkley's production, but he's going to be adequate. He has had a better yards per carry, but it's hard to compare players on different teams.
Barkley's main threat, as it unfolded  
Will Shine : 5/5/2024 9:27 am : link
was his pass catching out of the backfield. With his background, that could be Tracy's as well. Has anyone read if he can pass block? That is a question mark for me.

And don't forget, we are also getting a dynamic return man (with good hands). I am excited by this pick.
I don’t really see we will much miss Saquon.  
Giant John : 5/5/2024 9:39 am : link
He was a soft back coming out of Penn and that never changed. The intractable the eagles gave him was a huge overpay they will regret. As a person think Saguon is a good guy. Wish him the best but as a player just don’t see it so much.
Like Daniel Jones, he's never really had much around  
barens : 5/5/2024 9:41 am : link
him. Has always had a bad offensive line, and was always the main focus of defenses because our receivers weren't scaring anyone.

RE: Like Daniel Jones, he's never really had much around  
Bruner4329 : 5/5/2024 9:52 am : link
In comment 16506626 barens said:
Quote:
him. Has always had a bad offensive line, and was always the main focus of defenses because our receivers weren't scaring anyone.


Put him behind a good offensive line and with threats in the passing game and then we can have a good discussion. Last I saw there are 11 men on the field at a time and if they don't do their job collectively nothing looks good.
Barkley is one of the best RBs in football  
PatersonPlank : 5/5/2024 10:05 am : link
Just because the Giants suck doesn't mean all the players suck, or we should hate on every one He had a lousy line, no passing game to help him out, and the defense just keyed on him all game long. Two years ago the guy still got 1,650 total yards and 11 TDS. Last season was roughly the same, but he missed a few sue too injury. Really outside his injury year and the recovery year where he played but obviously wasn't 100%, the guy did as well as anyone could in his situation. Look at his backups results on the same team, they were pathetic.

Barkley is the poster child for why you don't spend a top pick on a RB. The position is too dependent on the OL play, no matter how good you are. Unfortunately I will not be surprised if he does great behind the Philly OL
Ben in Tampa  
fanoftheteam : 5/5/2024 10:14 am : link
+1. Im sort of glad we can clear the air here and send him down there to pollute it. I also found his i terviews/personality to be very fake.
For the most part, I enjoyed when SB got the ball.......  
GiantBlue : 5/5/2024 11:01 am : link
However, he holds some responsibility for our QB's getting pressured, hit and/or killed.

The first block he makes successfully or the first chip that actually sends a pass rusher off course will probably be in Philly or maybe at home in his dreams.

I told all my Philly friends that for $37 Million, that contract may end badly.
RE: For the most part, I enjoyed when SB got the ball.......  
PatersonPlank : 5/5/2024 11:06 am : link
In comment 16506706 GiantBlue said:
Quote:
However, he holds some responsibility for our QB's getting pressured, hit and/or killed.

The first block he makes successfully or the first chip that actually sends a pass rusher off course will probably be in Philly or maybe at home in his dreams.

I told all my Philly friends that for $37 Million, that contract may end badly.


PFF ranked Barkley as one of the top pass blocking RBs the last two years. I've linked the article from 2022
Link - ( New Window )
RE: Have the Bills really had a great line?  
HomerJones45 : 5/5/2024 11:43 am : link
In comment 16506591 Blue Dog said:
Quote:
Even if it improved the last few years, Singletary has played more snaps the last 5 years than Barkley at a fraction of the price. Really looking forward to the RBBC approach rather than the offense relying so heavily on an injury-prone workhorse. Hopefully Gray can have a better year two. Same with JMS with help from better guards. The clips of Tracy are encouraging. Might be bad news for Brightwell.
If you think Singletary and Barkley are the same player, I have a bridge to sell you. No DC cares about Singletary who had the benefit of being an afterthought in every offense he played in thanks to Allen and Stroud. Barkley was the marked man in our offense because no DC cared if Jones went back to pass.

You don't think Barkley is worth the dough, that's one thing. The hot takes about some ham and egg, easily replaced running back like Singletary being the equal or better is just nuts.
If Barkley remains healthy  
The Mike : 5/5/2024 12:05 pm : link
He will be one of the top RBs in the NFL this year if not the best. Remember, he was saddled with playing with the worst quarterback in the NFL for five of his six years here. Note how he never came close to matching his 2018 receiving capacity. People have blamed this on many factors - but the most obvious is the inability of DJ to get him the ball.

Now he will be playing with one of the best quarterbacks and offenses in the NFL. I expect that SB will have the best year of his career.
Barkley sucked and was a terrible Giant  
UConn4523 : 5/5/2024 12:09 pm : link
awesome thread.
RE: Where losing Barkley is going to be a  
blueblood : 5/5/2024 12:10 pm : link
In comment 16506563 Dave on the UWS said:
Quote:
BIG problem, is the “fantasy” threat he presented.
Teams STILL played the Giants like it was rookie Barkley back there, which opened up the RPO for Jones.
NOW, that’s gone, and Jones has to be THE guy to make the offense go. Problem is, he’s already proven he can’t do it by himself.


Thats been one of the Giants issues.. relying on Barkley as a playmaker from the RB position. moving away from him and adding Malik Nabers should transform the offense in a completely different way..
RE: RE: Have the Bills really had a great line?  
Blue Dog : 5/5/2024 12:26 pm : link
In comment 16506738 HomerJones45 said:
Quote:
In comment 16506591 Blue Dog said:


Quote:


Even if it improved the last few years, Singletary has played more snaps the last 5 years than Barkley at a fraction of the price. Really looking forward to the RBBC approach rather than the offense relying so heavily on an injury-prone workhorse. Hopefully Gray can have a better year two. Same with JMS with help from better guards. The clips of Tracy are encouraging. Might be bad news for Brightwell.

If you think Singletary and Barkley are the same player, I have a bridge to sell you. No DC cares about Singletary who had the benefit of being an afterthought in every offense he played in thanks to Allen and Stroud. Barkley was the marked man in our offense because no DC cared if Jones went back to pass.

You don't think Barkley is worth the dough, that's one thing. The hot takes about some ham and egg, easily replaced running back like Singletary being the equal or better is just nuts.


No DC has cared about Saquon in years, that's the idea. He can't even stay on the field. What DC cares about a running back on IR? Singletary is healthy and part of actual gameplans so DCs need to plan on him being out there for 4 quarters. Saquan could easily be taken out of games.

3rd and less than 3 to go: Barkley is only 26/42 and Singletary is 26/39. Even in 2022 when he was healthy they only trusted Barkley on 3rd and short 6 times all year and he converted just 2. He just isn't good with all the injuries. Singletary has stayed healthy and productive: Singletary was 4/7 last year.
Agree with DW  
Lines of Scrimmage : 5/5/2024 12:49 pm : link
SB ran hard and broke tackles last season. PS said his rookie season that he needed to get those available tough 3-4 yards. He made a lot of progress since imv. All the backup RB's had under a 3.0 ypc last season.

Fine moving on from him but I have some concerns they take a step back. I look forward to seeing Tracy and the other RB's and what they bring to the team. Better OL/TE play will help.

RE: RE: RE: Have the Bills really had a great line?  
UConn4523 : 5/5/2024 1:03 pm : link
In comment 16506774 Blue Dog said:
Quote:
In comment 16506738 HomerJones45 said:


Quote:


In comment 16506591 Blue Dog said:


Quote:


Even if it improved the last few years, Singletary has played more snaps the last 5 years than Barkley at a fraction of the price. Really looking forward to the RBBC approach rather than the offense relying so heavily on an injury-prone workhorse. Hopefully Gray can have a better year two. Same with JMS with help from better guards. The clips of Tracy are encouraging. Might be bad news for Brightwell.

If you think Singletary and Barkley are the same player, I have a bridge to sell you. No DC cares about Singletary who had the benefit of being an afterthought in every offense he played in thanks to Allen and Stroud. Barkley was the marked man in our offense because no DC cared if Jones went back to pass.

You don't think Barkley is worth the dough, that's one thing. The hot takes about some ham and egg, easily replaced running back like Singletary being the equal or better is just nuts.



No DC has cared about Saquon in years, that's the idea. He can't even stay on the field. What DC cares about a running back on IR? Singletary is healthy and part of actual gameplans so DCs need to plan on him being out there for 4 quarters. Saquan could easily be taken out of games.

3rd and less than 3 to go: Barkley is only 26/42 and Singletary is 26/39. Even in 2022 when he was healthy they only trusted Barkley on 3rd and short 6 times all year and he converted just 2. He just isn't good with all the injuries. Singletary has stayed healthy and productive: Singletary was 4/7 last year.


You think the Eagles will “trust Barkley”?
I'm waiting for the first time a ball bounces off his hands  
jb322 : 5/5/2024 1:21 pm : link
into a defenders arms, lets see how Philly likes him then.
RE: I'm waiting for the first time a ball bounces off his hands  
UConn4523 : 5/5/2024 2:43 pm : link
In comment 16506838 jb322 said:
Quote:
into a defenders arms, lets see how Philly likes him then.


Well, he will hear about it and then the Eagles will likely be able to make the points up afterward. Same with Toney here vs KC.

Barring injury Barkley is going to make a ton of plays for Philly that will offset the few bad ones by a wide margin. Giants just couldn’t overcome his mistakes, we basically had no other way of scoring. What other offense in the NFL operated that way for that long?
RE: RE: For the most part, I enjoyed when SB got the ball.......  
mittenedman : 5/5/2024 3:11 pm : link
In comment 16506716 PatersonPlank said:
Quote:
In comment 16506706 GiantBlue said:


Quote:


However, he holds some responsibility for our QB's getting pressured, hit and/or killed.

The first block he makes successfully or the first chip that actually sends a pass rusher off course will probably be in Philly or maybe at home in his dreams.

I told all my Philly friends that for $37 Million, that contract may end badly.



PFF ranked Barkley as one of the top pass blocking RBs the last two years. I've linked the article from 2022 Link - ( New Window )


I personally LMAO at this. If it's about knowing who to block and making any kind of effort, fine. But the actually effectiveness of his blocks? He's a borderline coward taking hits head on. It always P'd me off when he was here too and I said it many times. The Giants have a proud history of outstanding pass blocking RBs. Barkley isn't one of them.
I'm very curious  
arniefez : 5/5/2024 3:11 pm : link
to see how Barkley's time in Philadelphia plays out. I'm not sure his "style" of running will be appealing to that fan base.
I think Barkley’s issues stem from the injuries  
Rudy5757 : 5/5/2024 4:31 pm : link
But I think it’s in his head that he’s afraid to get hurt. He runs scared. His rookie year he was a different player. Then the injuries hit and it was like the life was taken out of him. It was the high ankle sprain and he just played like a different player.

He still has moments of greatness but they a getting less and less. I think Philly overpaid for him. I think he is best as a part time player in a rotation. He can’t carry the load. Maybe 10 touches a game.

Excited to see the rotation the Giants use this year. I think we will have more production that last year.
Barkley is no longer what we need  
HBart : 5/5/2024 5:37 pm : link
As a rookie he was everything you could ask for: a short yardage beast, breakaway runner, fabulous receiver. 5 per carry and 6 per catch. That's the guy teams had to gameplan for.

What we really need now is a consistent 4 YPC and a yard when we need it. We weren't going to get that from SB. Hopefully it's Singletary and the committee behind him. If not, RB is a '25 need.

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