The Detroit Lions face a different kind of test in Week 11. Detroit travels to New York to face the Giants and one of the NFL’s leading rushers in Saquon Barkley.
After battling injuries the last three seasons, Barkley is healthy and taking out his frustrations on opponents in 2022. The powerful Barkley averages over 100 yards per game and led the league in yards before Tennessee’s Derrick Henry passed him on Thursday night.
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is getting his unit ready for a different kind of back than they’ve faced this season. He knows Barkley is a challenge.
“You talk about vision, you talk about being able to break a tackle and take it the distance. That’s the one trait that you see with him that’s unlike any other back that we’ve went against,” Glenn said on Thursday. “So, the ability to make sure we get the ball down is important with that player. Population to the ball is important with that player. This jump cut, his ability to burst is probably the best I’ve seen this year as far as a running back. Even the ones, the good ones we’ve been against. And I think he’s on pace to – I think he’s leading the League in rushing, so that tells you the story of who this guy is.
Glenn feels confident in his unit, which has played better since getting healthier following the bye week.
“So, it’s a hard job, alright? But I think our guys are up for the job and each week we have to go against a good player and it is what it is,” Glenn stated.
