Running Back Orleans Darkwa
Conference Call, November 20, 2017
Q: Do you think there will be some carryover from yesterday’s win going into the game on Thursday?
A: Yeah, I would think so. Everybody is pretty excited, obviously, to pull out a tough victory like we did yesterday and we want to carry that same energy that we had in that game into the next game. Like you said, it’s a short week. It’s difficult, but I think we’re up for the challenge as a group and it starts today. We’re going to have a lot of intense meeting time and making sure that we know. If we do so, we can be ready for Thursday.
Q: How are you feeling after getting banged up at the end?
A: I’m fine. I’m fine. Just couple of things here and there, but overall I’m good. Ready to go.
Q: What’s the overall vibe like around the team today?
A: Everybody is pretty positive right now. We haven’t – especially facing a difficult team in the Chiefs, you know, they have a lot of playmakers. Nobody has given us a chance. We were confident in ourselves and we had a great game plan that we put together – the coaches put together for us – that we were able to execute. So, overall, the vibe, everybody is pretty positive. We’re not complacent. At the end of the day, it’s just one win. We want to make sure we can stack these wins together and make the best situation possible for this team.
Q: There have been a lot of variations on the offensive line. How do you think this group worked with Chad Wheeler and how cohesive of a unit was it yesterday?
A: They were extremely efficient overall. Everybody on that line did their job and they played well. They were able to open up holes for the running backs and for the most part were able to keep Eli (Manning) clean. That’s what you want in a line, so I feel like they did a really good job with that and definitely pleased with how they played and I’m sure the coaches are as well.
Q: Rhett Ellison doesn’t get a lot of mention, but I assume he’s a big part of the run game. Can you talk about the effort he gives and what he’s meant to the running game?
A: Oh, man, he’s extremely important for us. Not only in running, but even you can tell his receiving skills as well. One of the elite blockers that we have in the league and he’s definitely been really helpful for us. Something that might be a little thing to a few people, but I always recognize is when I’m on the ground, when I’m getting tackled, he’s the first one out there to come and pick me up and I always tell him how much I appreciate that. He’s a team guy. He puts the team first and really glad to have him in this locker room.
Q: When the coaches pull out trick plays, is that saying they’re going to try to win more? What’s the vibe when they start doing that?
A: I mean, when you see trick plays, I guess, you know, you get excited. Obviously, you’d hope that the opposing team doesn’t see it coming. But, I think with the talent that we have in this room, we should be able to execute in any type of way. Whatever they draw for us. Obviously, they feel that there’s a weakness in the defense that we can exploit and that’s why they call them up. The one that we had was unfortunate. The result of it might have been because of the wind or whatever, but they have complete trust in us to get it done. So, that’s why they call these plays.
Q: You have six games left and the best you can do is .500. Are you playing a spoiler at this point or what are you playing for?
A: I mean, I wouldn’t say as a spoiler. I think we just want to go out there and win. At the end of the day, we play to win games. I’m not looking towards what happens in the future. We’re just trying to go one game at a time and the next game right now is Washington and it’s a big division game and they’re always going to be riled up for a division game, especially on Thanksgiving. So, it’s going to be a tough task and it’s going to be a challenge, but we’re definitely up for it.
Q: Did you sense an increase in effort and energy from Coach Ben McAdoo on the sideline? He seemed more animated.
A: I mean, coach is coach. As far as the animated part, I always focus on my job more so than looking at how coach was. But, coach is going to be himself. I don’t think he’s going to change any type of way. So, as far as like overall animated, I didn’t notice that per se. I’m really focused on the game and getting my task done. I mean, I wasn’t really paying attention to that, so maybe that’s something y’all saw. But, coach is going to coach and he’s focused on the game 100 percent. He was able to do a good job with us yesterday and we were able to get a good win.
Q: Does it feel any different approaching a week where you’re not being asked about lack of effort, winning, coach’s job security, etc.?
A: I mean, you’re all going to ask the questions y’all want to ask. As far as different, I don’t think – everybody played extremely well. Everybody played with a lot of effort. I think that was noticed all around and as far as the job security and all that stuff, like you said, y’all can ask those questions a million times. It’s not going to really faze me. It’s not going to really faze coach Mac (Ben McAdoo). We’re playing a game that we love and I’m just completely focused on that.
Q: We got a chance to watch the video of the postgame celebration when Ben McAdoo called you all together and it seemed like everybody got an extra boost when he called Eli Manning to the center. Did you guys feel that and why?
A: Eli is the heartbeat of our team. I think pregame, he gave a fiery speech that got everybody riled up and to have a guy like that, that has been through so much, that’s got those two Super Bowl rings, we follow him. We follow his footsteps in everything, so to have him come up there – it just shows the weight that he carries on this team and he’s definitely up for it. I think everybody tries to follow his footsteps because at the end of the day, he’s been there, he’s done that as far as reaching to the promised land and getting those two Super Bowl rings. Everybody is trying to push for that goal, so we try to follow his footsteps as much as possible.
Q: Do you need to get that more from Eli Manning?
A: Excuse me?
Q: Do you need to hear those kinds of pep talks more from Eli Manning?
A: I mean, he talks to us a lot. I would say I guess the difference yesterday was just you could sense the fire in his voice. But, at the end of the day, Eli is going to be Eli. He shouldn’t change the way he commands the room. He shouldn’t change the way he talks to us and that’s just how he is. That’s how he leads us and like I said, if the Super Bowl rings don’t hold any weight, then I don’t know what else should. You got to be able to follow a guy like that and listen to what he says.
