Cut Back

PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley didn’t mince words.

The All-Pro running back only briefly dwelled on the Eagles’ shortcomings in the aftermath of last season, allowing two or three weeks for reflection and decompression. He termed that period the “breakup phase.”

But rather than speak in generalities in his assessment of the Eagles’ uneven 2025 campaign, Barkley, in typical fashion, took the opportunity to instead looked inward when speaking to reporters Wednesday after the team’s second OTA session.

“I personally didn’t like how my year went,” he said. “I don’t like how I performed for the team. I don’t feel I performed at a high enough level. That’s the beauty of it; it’s easy when you rush for all these yards and you win a Super Bowl. It’s easy to watch film and move onto the next chapter. But when it doesn’t go how you want it to be, you got to lock in even more. Be more detailed in yourself. Be more critical of yourself.

“You got to be your biggest self-critic. And just going back and watching film and seeing what I could do better. And then you find that, you find the weaknesses that you lacked the year prior, and you just go balls to the wall in the offseason. That’s what this process and this portion is for. Coming in here and learning the playbook, my favorite part is just getting back around the guys and building that together part. I feel like it’s really important.

Barkley added that he felt that togetherness in 2024.

“And I think that’s a big part of why we were able to accomplish anything we wanted to accomplish,” he continued. “So, being in the building and being around these guys is super important to me. But also working on the little stuff I need to work on and always trying to improve.”

GETTY IMAGES: After a down 2025 by his standards, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley wants to be dominant again this year in a reshaped Eagles offensive scheme.

Barkley has always been one to fixate on areas of improvement. Combing through his own film is one of his annual offseason traditions, as is his desire to watch players at his position around the league who he holds in high regard.

With first-year coordinator Sean Mannion now at the helm, the offense is expected to take a full-fledged plunge into the depths of the West Coast scheme. And for as much as been made about how the philosophical shift will alter the complexion of the passing game, it’s arguable that the conceptual elements of a reconfigured ground game — incorporating stretch and outside zone concepts — could be even more drastic.

Barkley spent time during the offseason focusing on former Rams running back Todd Gurley, who thrived in a similar system. While injuries ultimately deprived Gurley of his prime years, for two seasons he proved wildly productive as a centerpiece for Sean McVay.

In addition to watching the “OGs,” Barkley said he also consumed film of current players around the league who he considers among the best at his position, specifically singling out Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs and Christian McCaffrey.

Among the foundations of the new-look offense under Mannion will be an increase in under center looks, a formation the Eagles have only flirted with in recent years. The concept of under center tends to create intrigue for the passing game, but if all goes according to plan, it’ll also springboard a rushing attack desperately needing a resurgence.

The Eagles have predominately leaned on inside zone principles under previous run game coordinator and renowned offense line coach Jeff Stoutland, but Barkley noted advantages of running from under center.

“Under center, you could see a little clearer,” he said. “You’re not blinded, and when you’re in (shot)gun, you’re really focused on this side. You’re able to get your shoulders squared easier. Say if you have an inside run, from gun, you got to really work on getting your shoulders squared so you can see the whole field.

“From under center, it’s easier; you can get downhill a little quicker. You can threaten them with stretches and outside zone a lot more. There’s a lot of unique things you can do. It’s not a secret what this system’s about, and I look forward to doing that. It’ll probably be the most I’ve ever done under center, too, and outside zone and all that good stuff. But it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to working on and getting better at trying to be the best at it.”

To properly execute inside zone runs, Barkley emphasized the importance of having a jump-cut, adding that successful outside zone runners are typically one-cut backs. Barkley offered insight into his own style, explaining that following his ACL injury in 2020, he implemented a two-cut approach. He’s embraced the alterations required of the new scheme, honing in on the details and technical aspects that come with it. Barkley would include another example in the difference in philosophies, one that’s likely to entail the steepest adjustment.

“Also, blocking is a little different; outside zone is taught differently throughout different schemes,” he explained. “And just having the mindset of attacking it more, stretching them, getting the defense to expand – and when you get the opportunity to put your foot in the ground, do it fast, violent and physical.”

It’s important to note that the offense is in its early stages.

This spring is about the onboarding process, with Mannion learning his personnel and vice versa. The focus at this time is establishing a foundation on which to build, and improving and growing the system at a gradual pace.

But for the modernized offense to operate at optimal levels, it’ll require a fruitful season from Barkley and the ground game. The numbers from last season might tell a different story relative to Barkley’s monstrous 2024 campaign, but the 29-year-old has hardly exhibited any signs of diminishing returns.

There appears to be plenty of fuel remaining in the proverbial tank.

Fair or not, Barkley is his own worst critic. There were myriad factors contributing to the run game struggles last season, but Barkley, always accountable, never opted for the easy-out.

Reflecting on his own self-evaluation from last season, he would later specify an area of his game he deemed to be insufficient. If he checks off that box this time around, it’ll rekindle the offense’s most critical facet.

“One thing that I could focus on, that I felt like caught my attention the most, is just, for whatever reason, some years you just have better playmaking years than others,” he said. “Whether you feel better, whether you feel faster or you feel stronger, sometimes that kind of how the game goes.

“You could make the right decision, you could be locked into your details and follow the play, and it makes you into the wrong decision. There’s times where you make that same move and you break that tackle, and instead of slipping, you keep that foot up and you break it for 60. So, just being a better playmaker. That’s why I was brought here. That’s why I feel I’m one of the best in the league. And just bringing that back; I felt like that could help us in a lot of games, and I didn’t do it enough.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.