Eagles ‘new wrinkle' on offense could help Saquon Barkley continue to dominate in 2025
That's hardly breaking news, as Barkley put together arguably the greatest regular- and post-season run in NFL history, helping the Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LIX for the franchise's second championship in eight years.
Advertisement
Barkley's ability to make game-changing plays for the Eagles' offense isn't in question with training camp just around the corner. The question is how coach Nick Sirianni and newly appointed offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo plan to stay a step ahead of the competition, continuing what at times was an unstoppable ground attack during the team's magical 2024 season.
The answer could be a subtle 'new wrinkle' on offense, as analyst Josh Davis of The Philly Special Show recently put it, that debuted with a short sample size last season. The results? An average of over 6 yards per carry on 22 plays.
We're talking about Ben VanSumeren, Philly's former undrafted linebacker who's spent the past year converting to fullback.\
'You could just see from BVS's snaps that the former running back flashed a natural ability as a lead blocker, helping one of the game's best offensive lines open up even more space for Barkley,' Davis said. 'So when you consider the Baltimore Ravens ended up averaging the most rushing yards per game last season, and used fullback Patrick Ricard on 495 snaps… it's as if Philly is sitting on a hidden gem that not a lot of people know about.'
VanSumeren will be an important player to watch during Eagles training camp this summer. In 2024, the 25-year-old played 213 snaps on special teams and 22 snaps on offense as a fullback before going down with a season-ending knee injury suffered during a late-November practice. He was back healthy for OTAs, and enters camp working primarily with Philly's offensive skill position players.
Advertisement
Now, is VanSumeren poised to approach the 500 offensive snaps that Ricard did for Derrick Henry and the Ravens last season? Definitely not. But the former Michigan State product earned himself an extended look working with Philly's offense last season, he's a strong bet to not only make the initial 53-man roster, but to log 100-plus snaps as Barkley's lead blocker in 2025.
MORE EAGLES NEWS:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
22 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will host the 2028 Final Four
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will host the 2028 Final Four. A decade ago, it would have been inconceivable. A decade ago, the NFL shut down Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's fantasy football convention in Las Vegas, even though the convention was being held at a property that had no gambling on it. A decade ago, sports betting was legal in gambling but nowhere else. And while the proliferation and normalization of gambling throughout the country since 2018 has stripped Las Vegas of that which made it unique, it has opened new doors for Sin City. An NFL team resides there. A Super Bowl has happened there. An NHL team plays there. An MLB team is coming. (I think.) And now the Final Four will happen there. Via Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority voted on Monday to devote $26 million to the planning and execution of the event. LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill believes the economic impact will outweigh the expenses by $250 million or more. 'When that event takes place in Las Vegas, everybody knows it,' Hill told Akers. 'They telecast the skyline of our city over and over again and they talk about being here.' With most of the country now able to carry a casino around in their pockets, it's more important than ever to have more of what happens in Vegas happen in Vegas.
New York Post
23 minutes ago
- New York Post
Rex Ryan parties with ex-ESPNers Sage Steele, Sam Ponder in ‘Here to Bang' T-shirt
He certainly is a firecracker. Rex Ryan's Fourth of July festivities served as an ESPN reunion with former colleagues Sam Ponder and Sage Steele, the latter of whom documented the celebrations on social media and called out the ex-Jets coach's cheeky attire. 'Only Rex Ryan can pull off a shirt like that!!' Steele exclaimed Monday of Ryan's 'Just here to bang' T-shirt that featured a sparkler animation. 6 Sage Steele posted snapshots from Rex Ryan's Fourth of July celebrations with Sam Ponder. Instagram 6 The 'Sunday NFL Countdown' star wore a T-shirt that read, 'Just here to bang.' Instagram 'What an awesome reunion weekend full of reminiscing with some of the most wonderful humans I know!!' Steele, who departed ESPN in 2023 after 16 years, opened up about her two decades-plus friendship with Ryan, who joined the Worldwide Leader in 2017 after head-coaching stints with the Bills and Jets. '25 years of friendship with Rex (dating back to our @ravens days!) and almost 15 years of friendship with the beautiful @samanthaponder,' Steele said of the duo. 6 Rex Ryan worked with Sam Ponder on 'Sunday NFL Countdown' before she was let go in 2024. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 'Thank you to Rex and Michelle [Ryan's wife] for including us and inviting us to your home away from home!!' Ryan, 62, frequently contributes to ESPN's 'Get Up' and serves as an analyst on 'Sunday NFL Countdown,' which Ponder, 39, had hosted since 2017 until her shocking firing in August 2024. Mike Greenberg took over hosting duties last year. 6 Sam Ponder originally joined ESPN in 2011. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 6 Sage Steele left ESPN in 2023 after 16 years. Instagram/Sage Steele Ponder, the wife of former NFL quarterback Christian Ponder, recently shared she's still close with her former 'College GameDay' colleagues Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis and David Pollack. 'David Pollack is stuck with me as the big brother I never (jk) wanted, and I was texting with Kirk Herbstreit the day before I got fired,' Ponder said in an Instagram Q&A last month. 'Rece Davis is my forever favorite. I'll never forget how all 3 of them loved Jesus and treated people. I will be a 'college gameday' fan as long as they continue to make it about the people. It's such a special show.' 6 Sage Steele spoke about her friendship with Rex Ryan in her Instagram post from July 2025. Instagram Ponder had originally joined ESPN in 2011. She remains close with Steele, who is two years removed from her ESPN departure. 'Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely,' she posted on X in August 2023. 'I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!' Steele sued ESPN and its parent company Disney in April 2022 over circumstances that led to her being sidelined in 2021. The lawsuit alleged Steele was retaliated against over comments made about the company's COVID-19 vaccine mandate and how it violated her right to free speech.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bucs' DL Cracks Top 10 of Impressive Offseason List
Bucs' DL Cracks Top 10 of Impressive Offseason List originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tevita Tuli'aki'ono Tuipulotu Mosese Va'hae Fehoko Faletau Vea, more commonly known as Vita Vea, has been an anchor on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive line since the team drafted him in the first round with the No. 12 overall pick in 2018. Advertisement The former Washington Huskies defensive tackle was a key piece of the Bucs' 2020 Super Bowl championship run and continues to be an important part of the incredible run of four straight division titles and five consecutive postseason appearances. Vea has boasted two Pro Bowl nods in 2021 and 2024, with the most recent season setting career marks. That's part of the reason Vea has appeared at No. 9 on ESPN's list of the top 10 defensive tackles in the NFL. The list was compiled by Jeremy Fowler's interviews of executives, coaches and scouts in the league. "Vea slimmed down last offseason, and the result was a career-high 7.0 sacks along with his usual run-stopping ways," Fowler wrote. "But the stats don't tell the story with Vea, whose raw strength is undeniable. 'He's the kind of guy where if you don't have him [on your team] for a while, playing defense is a lot tougher,' a veteran NFL assistant coach said. 'A true difference-maker.' Advertisement "Vea's 10 tackles for loss also marked a career high. Head coach Todd Bowles is unafraid to drop the 347-pound Vea into coverage, where he makes open-field plays." Last season, during Vea's career year, he posted 42 total tackles with 27 solo and 10 for loss with seven sacks and one pass defended while earning his second career Pro Bowl nod. Related: Buccaneers' Offensive Line Gains High Ranking Ahead of 2025 Related: Buccaneers Could Lose Coach in Unwelcome Trend This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
