Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, Landon Dickerson Address What’s Gone Wrong in the Run Game

For the Philadelphia Eagles, the run game has always been their heartbeat.
It’s what defined their Super Bowl run in 2017, what powered Jalen Hurts’ MVP campaign a year ago, and what made Lincoln Financial Field feel like a fortress. But through seven weeks of the 2025 season, that rhythm has sounded offbeat — and the numbers don’t lie.

After rushing for 2,005 yards last season, Saquon Barkley is on pace for just 896 yards this year. His longest run? Eighteen yards. He hasn’t reached the 100-yard mark once. For a player who used to make big plays look routine, it’s a startling shift.

Still, Barkley remains calm. Asked about the team’s rushing slump, the former Pro Bowler didn’t flinch.

“I know it’s going to turn,” Barkley said. “It’s close.”

He said it with conviction — the kind that suggests confidence, not denial.

Frustration on the Field, Calm Off It

If you watch closely, you can see the frustration bubbling. Barkley’s body language sometimes gives it away — hands on hips after a stuffed run, a slow jog back to the huddle after yet another one-yard gain. But in the locker room, there’s no finger-pointing, no panic.

He knows this isn’t just about him. The Eagles’ ground game — one of the NFL’s most feared last year — has been a collective struggle.

“I don’t think that falls on Saquon at all,” offensive guard Landon Dickerson said. “I think it falls on us, the offensive linemen. We’re the ones who block. We’re the ones who make those lanes.”

Dickerson’s tone wasn’t defensive, but accountable. After watching film this week, he said the issues are obvious — breakdowns in timing, missed assignments, and, most of all, a lack of rhythm between the line and Barkley.

“You can have the best running back in the world, but if we’re not synced up front, it doesn’t matter,” Dickerson added. “That’s on us.”

What’s Gone Wrong?

The film backs him up. The Eagles’ offensive line — long considered the team’s foundation — has struggled with both injuries and communication. Cam Jurgens’ knee injury forced Brett Toth into action at center, disrupting chemistry across the line.

Meanwhile, defenses are stacking the box more aggressively, daring Hurts to beat them through the air. It’s a strategy that’s worked.

Through seven games, the Eagles average 3.7 yards per carry, down from 4.8 last season. Even when they’ve had favorable down-and-distance situations, they’ve failed to capitalize.

The problem isn’t Barkley’s burst or vision — those traits still flash on tape — it’s that he’s being met at the line of scrimmage far too often. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s been hit behind the line on 42% of his carries this year, one of the highest rates in the league.

When asked if he feels like defenses are keying in on him differently, Barkley shrugged.

“I think that’s always been the case,” he said. “Teams know what I can do. They want to stop me. That’s part of it. I just have to stay patient and trust the guys in front of me.”

The Missing Explosiveness

Last season, Barkley led the league with 17 runs of 20 yards or more. This year? None.
That’s not for lack of effort — it’s a reflection of the space he’s been given.

“I feel like I’m a half-step away from breaking a few,” he said. “You see it on film. There’s one block here, one angle there — if we clean that up, those big plays will come.”

Dickerson agrees. “It’s inches,” he said. “Sometimes we’re off by just that much. When we fix the small stuff, those long runs will be back.”

Still, “close” doesn’t win games. The Eagles are 5–2, but their offense has relied heavily on Jalen Hurts’ arm and improvisation rather than the balanced attack that once made them nearly unstoppable.

Adjustments in Progress

Head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson haven’t ignored the issue. In practice this week, the focus was on getting back to basics — timing, pad level, and finishing blocks.

“It’s about reestablishing our identity,” Sirianni said. “We’ve always prided ourselves on being physical. That’s not gone, but it’s got to show up consistently.”

Expect more inside zone and gap-scheme runs this week against the Giants, with DeVonta Smith possibly getting more involved in motion packages to open running lanes.

The Eagles also plan to rotate D’Andre Swift and Kenneth Gainwell more often to keep Barkley fresh, hoping his late-game explosiveness returns as the season wears on.

Teammates Still Believe

Inside the locker room, there’s no panic — only resolve. Teammates insist Barkley hasn’t lost a step, and the blame isn’t on his shoulders.

“Saquon’s the same guy,” said right tackle Lane Johnson. “He’s still the most explosive back I’ve ever blocked for. We just haven’t given him enough daylight. That’s on us.”

Wide receiver DeVonta Smith echoed the sentiment. “Everybody knows what he can do. He’s a playmaker. Sometimes you just hit a stretch where things don’t click. But we all know — when it does, it’s scary.”

Barkley appreciates the support, but he’s not looking for excuses. His focus remains simple: keep grinding.

“You can’t overthink it,” he said. “You just keep running. Keep trusting. It’ll break. It always does.”

The Bigger Picture

The Eagles’ running woes have sparked concern among fans and analysts, but context matters. This is a team still sitting atop the NFC East, still finding ways to win even when the ground game sputters.

Still, for a franchise that built its identity on toughness and trench dominance, the inability to consistently run the football feels like something deeper than stats — it’s a matter of pride.

Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland summed it up earlier this week:

“We’ve got to play with that edge again. When people talk about the Eagles, they should think about physicality. That’s what we stand for.”

The Road Ahead

As the Eagles prepare for another divisional battle against the Giants — the same team that embarrassed them earlier this month — all eyes will be on whether the run game can finally find traction.

The matchup won’t be easy. The Giants’ front seven, led by Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence, has been one of the league’s most disruptive units. But that’s exactly the kind of challenge the Eagles need to reassert their identity.

If Barkley and the offensive line can start creating consistent push, it could be the turning point of their season. And for Barkley, it could be a reminder to everyone that greatness doesn’t disappear — it just needs a lane.

“It’s close,” Barkley said again this week, his voice steady. “Closer than people think.”

For the Eagles, that’s both a promise — and a warning to the rest of the NFC.