Monday Media Transcript: WR Sterling Shepard

WR Sterling Shepard -- December 10, 2018

Q: Can you talk about how this team’s coming together in your mind?
A: After the break or the bye, you’ve just seen this team make a complete turnaround. Guys have been playing for each other and that’s all you can ask for, especially the way the season went the first half. Like I said, it’s turned around for us and we just got to keep it going.

Q: Eli (Manning) said last night that the offense kind of goes through Saquon (Barkley) now. As a wide receiver, you’re okay with that?
A: Yeah, because it’s ultimately just going to open up the pass. You’ve just got to be patient as a receiver and we enjoy blocking for him and get these big runs. It’s going to open up the pass, like I said, in the long run. Everybody will have a turn.

Q: Speaking of blocking for him, you’re getting some praise the last two days for your blocks on those big runs. We’re always talking about touchdowns and big catches and big plays, what's it like for a receiver to finally get noticed for blocking?
A: I actually got a game ball for blocking. They put the stats up there and I was like, okay, two receptions for 17 yards, but some of the downfield blocking was great. It sprung some big runs for Saquon, but I mean that’s what we take pride in in the wide receiving room is blocking, which a lot of receivers you see don’t really like to do that but Coach Tyke (Tolbert), he’s implanted that in us since he’s gotten here. That’s what we love doing.

Q: Does it add to your appreciation for Saquon? Because in the past, not to disrespect the guys you had running the ball here in the past, but you may have hit that block and that’s a 15-yard run, maybe that guy gets caught. The fact that he’s able to turn the jets on and go and take it to the house brings that recognition for how important that block was that you threw. Do you feel that together rather than just one guy out doing his own thing?
A: Yeah. When he gets to that second level, it’s pretty much over with. There is an appreciation for that. I feel like even if you get a big gain out of that, it doesn’t have to be a touchdown, I’d still be happy, everybody would be happy with the block, but when you got a guy like Saquon that can go 60, we appreciate guys like that.

Q: Can you mutter the word at all, 'playoffs'?
A: Yeah, we still have a chance so guys are still fighting around here like we do and we've got to continue that.

Q: Do you start looking at the numbers, though, in that regard -- where the other teams are, what you might need? How do you do that?
A: I don’t even go deep into that. I know that we have a chance and all we can do is take care of one game at a time and so that’s what everybody’s mindset is, preparing for this next team and a pretty good team coming up.

Q: You saw how last year when you were in and out of the lineup and Odell (Beckham Jr.) was out of the lineup that the passing attack really struggled. Yesterday, for you, had a touchdown, the other Shep (Russell) had a touchdown. Can you see how different it is compared to last year when he was out?
A: It’s a lot different in a lot of ways, though. When you have a back like Saquon, they really have to pay attention to the run, so it ultimately leaves us open and it was great to see my guys get in the end zone.

Q: Is there a different type of confidence that comes from having a player like Saquon or a running back like Saquon in what you’re able to do early in the game on the ground?
A: I just know that you give him a couple of touches, he’s going to make something big happen out of those couple of touches, so he’s a player that’s special. You got to give him the ball and he can make magic happen.

Q: You give Odell any grief about the biggest scoring game of the year and he wasn’t even around?
A: No, he said he was watching, he was locked in, he was happy for us, so no I didn’t give him too much mess about it.

He wouldn’t laugh at that.
A: No, he probably wouldn’t.

Q: Has he ever gotten a game ball for blocking?
A: I don’t know. That’s a question you got to ask him. I haven’t been around him since he’s been in the league, but he might have.

Q: First one for you though?
A: First one for me, yeah. First time I’ve ever seen it. It was good.

Q: Does that make it standout a little bit among them? I’m sure you’ve gotten game balls in the past. Does that make it standout a little bit?
A: Yeah, because they write your stats on it and everything so that would be a special ball for me, I guess.

Q: Two catches?
A: Two catches, 17 yards.

And a touchdown.
A: Yeah.

Q: Does it say blocks?
A: Yeah, it says the block – downfield blocking, I guess.

Q: Did you get a game ball in college for blocking at all?
A: No. We were throwing the ball a lot. It wasn’t even like that. We had Samaje Perine, so I had a couple of blocks with him and Joe Mixon, but that was all yards receiving. It was lighting up the board.