The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Four, a team that ranks third in the league in rushing (167.3). Saquon Barkley, a free agent acquisition from the Giants, is the Eagles' new prized possession in the backfield and he leads the NFL in rushing yards (351) and rushing touchdowns (four) through three games. Barkley put up 151 yards in Week Three against the Saints and has an arsenal of tricks at his disposal. He is a threat to take the ball the distance from anywhere on the field and can stiff-arm, power through tacklers, hurdle defenders and finesse with spin moves. This week, being "gap disciplined" is a key for the Bucs' defense with Barkley's ability to jumpcut from the B to C-gap.
"He is a very talented back and his jumpcut is unlike anything you have ever seen before," said Zyon McCollum. "They have a big offensive line, and we just need to do a good job of creating push because if we do not control the line of scrimmage and we do not win the first and second of every down, then they will push us off the ball and continue to run."
Barkley possesses elusiveness, vision and a compact frame. He exploits vacant cutback lanes and has the ability to alter his course at any point with stop-and-go agility. Barkley has made an immediate impact in elevating Philadelphia's ground attack, alongside dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Hurts, one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the game, has averaged over 700 yards per season on the ground during his three years as a full-time starter. Both Hurts and Barkley present a lethal one-two punch for defenses to contend with. Hurts thrives on read-option plays and can create chunk yardage with his legs. The signal-caller can make off-schedule plays and utilizes his strength and mobility to escape pocket pressure. Philadelphia's offensive line is a physical unit that has the capability of dominating the trenches. Right tackle Lane Johnson suffered a concussion in the seconds quarter against the Saints and is currently in the protocol but both Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson are maulers and among the best at their respective positions. For the Buccaneers, maintaining gap discipline and not allowing Barkley to get a head of steam or break past the second level will be critical on Sunday.
"Saquon changed the trajectory of their offense with the run game that he brings, so it's going to open up more of the pass," said Tykee Smith via the Salty Dogs podcast. "You've got two guys in the backfield that can run, with the quarterback and the running back. But we look forward to the challenge this week."
