RB Saquon Barkley -- November 15, 2018
Q: Why do you think this offense operates so well with pace?
A: I don’t know, that’s a good question. I agree with you there. We have had a lot of success in those areas of the game. We’ve been trying to add that to just regular possessions to the game too. It comes down to executing in those areas. That’s where we execute the best at. We have to find a way to execute better in normal downs and normal possessions of the game.
Q: The offensive line did a great job of protecting (QB) Eli Manning last week. Are you starting to see some more openings in the run game with the offensive line?
A: Yeah, the running game is there. I feel really good about it. I always feel good about it. Just got to stay focused and stay within. I got to continue to get better as a player in that area of my game to help the offensive line out. We got new guys, new faces just every week, and now we finally got something there solidified. That’s all with repetition, working with each other, practicing, and games. As the season goes on, I think we can continue to get better.
Q: What do playmakers like yourself like about playing with pace?
A: I guess you can say in that area of the game is when you’re just kind of reacting. Especially in those positions, you’re just trying to find a way to get into the end zone. I guess you’re just more reacting. You get the defense on their toes. They can’t get their play-calls and what they want to get in. They kind of have to adjust to you. That’s something that we can continue to do in regular time.
Q: Can you talk about how you adjust your run lanes, your vision, and your cuts as blocks are being set up in front of you?
A: That’s the growing pains. I guess I got to just continue to grow through and continue to get better at. You go back and you watch film. If my shoulders were a little this way, but I probably would’ve made this cut if they were this way, I probably would’ve made that cut. I want to be perfect. I want to be exact on every play, but that’s not going to happen. There’s no running back or any player in this league that’s perfect at every single play. That’s what it means to be an athlete. You got to learn from it, you got to work on it, and continue to get better.
Q: Do you feel like it’s harder to come by in the NFL coming from college?
A: No, I don’t think there’s a difference between college or the NFL. It’s not like, oh, that hole is going to close so quick because it’s the NFL. Not in my personal opinion, I don’t think it’s really any difference.
Q: Is it tempting to make an extra cut here or there to try to spring open a big play?
A: It is tempting. The way I’ve been trying to play is take what the defense gives you, and when you get a chance, try to make them pay for it. I just got to continue to trust the system, and trust the team, and trust the offensive line, and trust myself, and just play how I play.
Q: When you watch the film of that last game, do you feel like you left a lot of yards out there?
A: No, I think I left a lot of yards out there, especially in the beginning. I was slipping.
Q: Was it the cleats?
A: I’m not going to blame cleats in that scenario. I’m going to blame myself. I got to be a better pro there. I thought I got a good grip of the grass and the field in the walk-thru. I guess I didn’t. That’s where I have to be better as a pro. I’m not going to blame it on cleats or anything like that. The only person I can blame is myself.
Q: Did you change your cleats?
A: Yes.
Q: Did you change them after that first slip?
A: Yeah, I changed my cleats. Just longer cleats to get better grip on the ground.
Q: You had your first 20-carry game, and saw a lot more production from (RB) Eli Penny. Is there something you guys changed in the running game that made it more of an emphasis?
A: No, we were in the game the whole time to get 20 carries. When you look at the good backs, or just any good run team, the long runs come, it’s just at the end of the game. For example, when we played the Redskins not so long ago, (Redskins RB Adrian Peterson) AP’s biggest run was in the fourth quarter. We were doing a pretty good job of stopping them, but it’s going to break at some point. Obviously, we got to get out of that little bit to get kind of a two minute mindset to go score. When you are able to carry the ball – and even though there may not be pretty yards, or even though they may not be a 200-yard rushing game, it controls the tempo of the game, it controls the pace of the game, and we’re able to do that. Penny came in and did a great job, even when he got the ball in his hands. He caught the ball a couple of times. Even got some moves and almost got a first down for us.
Q: How much did you physically feel the workload, if at all?
A: No, nothing really noticeable. I work my butt off in the offseason. I work my butt off during the season trying to maintain my strength and my speed, and I try to stay healthy for games like that for a workload like that, so it doesn’t bother you. The only thing that really bothers you is the wear and tear of the season, and that’s with everybody. No matter if you carry the ball 20 times, or if you carry the ball five times.
Q: So, you’re good for 30 carries, right? (laughter)
A: I’m good with however as much carries I need to try to help my team win, whether it’s two carries or whether it’s 38.
Q: How do you think your learning curve in pass protection has gone from Week 1 until now?
A: I think from where I’ve learned, especially just watching myself during the bye week. Just being more patient in the pass game. Trying to get out there too quick to dictate the coverage or my responsibility on my route. I’m just being more patient and making sure that I know that I know before I get out. I think last week is probably one of my best pass-pros I had, but still can get better.
Q: Odell mentioned when he said this team will go 8-0 for the rest of the year, he said a couple people laughed at him. Do you feel it’s not so crazy to think that way?
A: I don’t think it’s crazy to think that way at all. I think that’s what we all feel in this locker room, we all feel on this team. We’re more than capable of doing that, but we’re not naïve to the fact that it’s a long season and you can’t really think, oh, we got to win eight games, because that’s not the mindset. That’s what we want to do, but the mindset is taking care of every single day and every single game, one day at a time. We got to come in and we got to attack Thursday, and have our best Thursday of the year.
Q: How much are you looking forward to getting your first win at home?
A: Yeah, that’ll be big, just the momentum for our team of getting two in a row and getting one in front of our fans. We got two this year, and we haven’t got it done at home. So, that’ll be big for us to get a win at home, and definitely need it.
Q: Do you think it’ll feel different?
A: No, I don’t think it’ll feel different. Not for me. Personally, a win is a win to me. It doesn’t matter if it’s home or away, by 30 or by two. I just love winning.
