Running Back Saquon Barkley
Q: What's this week been like with the uncertainty at the quarterback position? What does that do for the rest of you guys?
A: Same old same old. Come and prepare, get ready to work. Had a great start to the week. Got to try to lock in right now with meetings, watch film and then go over to London and get ready to go out there and perform.
Q: We've seen (Quarterback) Daniel (Jones) in little titbits, he looks to be moving pretty well. What did you see from him so far this week?
A: I really can't speak for him. At the end of the day, I know DJ – he's a heck of a player, heck of a competitor. We'll see what happens.
Q: If I'm not mistaken, the Packers don't usually load up the box. At least they haven't this year. When you see that, does that make you lick your chops a little bit more?
A: I wouldn't really say that. We're doing pretty good right now in the run game. Really good, to be completely honest. Not just myself, but as a whole. It's going to be a focal point for a lot of teams to try to stop us. A lot of teams are going to do a lot new and different things, come up with creative ways. You can't really look too deep into that, we've just got to focus on ourself and adjust whenever they come out to try something.
Q: Can you talk about the job the o-line has done with run blocking for you this year?
A: The o-line has been incredible. Every single one of those guys. Just the way that they're working all on the same page, that's the beauty of the o-line. It takes five guys to be on the same page for one play. If one of them is just a little bit off – or especially me, if I'm not reading it right or my steps aren't right, the whole play can be messed up. The o-linemen are doing a great job. I also want to give credit to the tight ends. The tight ends have been doing an amazing job. There's one clip where they took the d-end and moved him five, 10 yards back and you see them celebrating. As a back, that gets you excited. Also, the wide receivers too and DJ making the right calls. It's been a collective thing. The beauty is, I feel like we've got so much more room to improve and get better. We'll just keep working on it.
Q: In what way? You say you have more room to improve?
A: It's just early in the year. Everyone is continually working on trying our best to get into midseason form and then after midseason form it's so on and so on. We've just got to continue to find the plays that we know that work for us and then just go out there and execute it. For me, I've got to do a better job when the o-line gives me opportunities to make the defense pay.
Q: (Green Bay Quarterback) Aaron Rodgers is widely considered to be one of the greatest ever at his position. How much is that a source of motivation for you to someday be considered one of the best ever to play your position? Is that something that drives you?
A: Yeah, that's the goal. I feel like if that's not your reason – I mean everyone's 'why' is different, I can't really say that actually. For me personally, that's the goal. That's the end goal. I can't really look too much into that. I've just got to take it one day at a time and try to improve every single day. At the end of the day, if I put in the right work and have the right mindset – do I believe I can achieve that? I really do, but if I don't, wherever I come up at I know I put a lot of work in to be there. I'll be able to look back at it and be satisfied with it. When you go against guys like that, it always motivates you. You are definitely going to be on the sideline looking up, seeing the things that he's able to do. I know him pretty well, too. Hopefully, obviously, he's Aaron Rodgers and he's going to be amazing, hopefully he's not as amazing on Sunday. I wish nothing but the best of luck to him.
Q: If Daniel is playing and he's not as much a running threat as he has been – that's been a big part of your offense – what changes for you? How much does that change stuff for you? That thread is always there and it takes a guy out. Am I right?
A: For me, personally, I don't really look at it that way. I look at it as just focus on knowing my assignment, knowing my roles, knowing my keys and making sure I'm on the same page as the guys up front. That's the only thing I can do. I feel like when I'm able to do that and the o-line, when all of us collectively, tight ends, are all on the right page – we've shown how special we can be. Like I said, I feel like we can continue to get better and that starts with me.
Q: Do you worry at all about how many touches you are getting?
A: I missed so many games the last couple of years. Me complaining about touches or being worried about touches, that would be just stupid of me to be completely honest. I'm just blessed and I'm happy I get to go out there and play the sport that I love. I keep saying it, I just want to go out there and make plays and try to help my team win games. If that means 30 touches, then that means 30 touches. If that means only five touches, then it's only five touches. Whatever I can do to put my team in a position to win games, that's what I'm going to do.
Q: At the end of the year, is there anything that you would look back on and be like, 'Oh wow, that's a lot,' or 'That's too much?' Are you good with whatever they throw at you?
A: I'm good with whatever they throw at me.
Q: I guess you were asked this after your performance against Tennessee, but in regard to (Tennessee Running Back) Derrick Henry, when there are great players on the other side do you think that does maybe elevate your own performances a little bit?
A: As a competitor, I can sit here and give you guys the same answer I always do. I'm not really competing against them and that's the truth, but as a competitor, I guess it does. That's every week for me. It doesn't just have to be a guy like Derrick Henry or a guy like (Indianapolis Running Back ) Jonathan Taylor or when we played (Carolina Running Back) Christian McCaffery. (Green Bay Running Back) Aaron Jones and (Green Bay Running Back) AJ Dillon, those are two extremely talented backs too. Every week for me, you're not really competing against them but you're really competing against yourself to be completely honest. For me, I'm just trying to go out there and perform at a high level. That's what I've got to focus on.
