Running Back Saquon Barkley
Q: How are you feeling?
A: I feel good, body feels good. I think we've had another great week of practice so far. Obviously Seattle's a great team, they're playing well too. So, I look forward to going up there in a hostile environment and come together as a group again.
Q: You said last week that your shoulder, 'wakes up.' What actually happens with that? It seems like you're down, you're in a lot of pain, and then you're right back in.
A: Just pain management I guess you could say. But every week it'll continue to get better. Just got to keep sticking with it, keep doing the rehab and keep trusting the trainers.
Q: What does that actually look like for you on a regular basis? What is that pain management?
A: Yeah, I do kind of all the same techniques that I do for my whole body. Whether it's massage, acupuncture, stretching, cold tub, hot tub, red light therapy – all the stuff I do. I try to have all that stuff to my recovery process, and I've been having a pretty good feeling within my body, so I've got to keep sticking to that schedule.
Q: It seems you've taken your pass protection to another level this year. Is that something you worked on a lot during the week? Training camp? How did you improve in that area so much?
A: I feel like that it's something that you've got to credit to the coaches. The coaches have been doing a really good job, especially in the offseason. That's something that I came in, focused on. But I really don't get too caught up into that. I feel like I've had some situations where I've lost before in pass blocking and to be completely honest, hopefully not, but it's the NFL, sometimes you're going to get got. I really don't look too much into it. Just keep working, keep trying to improve even though I'm quote unquote, 'doing well,' I feel like there's still room for improvement for me. I'm going to keep trying to take those strides.
Q: I'm going to be honest, I was a little surprised, you basically said you played 'soft' in the first half the other day. You usually don't hear guys say that about themselves. What made you say that and how much of that is connected to you kind of thinking about your shoulder?
A: What made me say that is because it's me. It's my body. Sometimes you've got to be your biggest critic and just being honest with myself. I think maybe I jumped a little to a conclusion when I talked to you guys after the game.
Q: Was it as bad as you thought?
A: No, it wasn't. It's never really as good as you think and it's never really as bad as you think. It was more just having a slow start. I've got to be better for the team in the beginning of the game. Obviously was able to pick it up, but just got to be better. That's it. Just go back to trusting the alignments, trusting the reads, getting downhill, being instinctive and making plays.
Q: How much did you think you were thinking about the shoulder a little bit? Sort of protecting it when you could.
A: Yeah, that's just the nature of it. Anytime you're dealing with something, but you're never really out there thinking about it when you go back and look back on film. Similar to, for instance when I had my knee. I never last year, especially in the first couple of games, I never was out there like, 'dang my knee doesn't feel good.' It was never like that. I would go back and look at film and see myself make a jump or a cut, but I wouldn't stick that right leg out there like I used to. So, it's more of that, but like I said I think I kind of jumped to conclusion a little bit. The whole thought process of that was just got to start faster for the team. Obviously, we started fast as a team. I think we had probably one of our better first half, especially offensively scoring 13 points, but as a player I could start a little faster for us.
Q: What was your reaction to the (Wide Receiver) Kadarius (Toney) trade?
A: It's the NFL. Anytime there's a trade you're going to be shocked. KT's a talented player, I wish him nothing but the best of luck in KC.
Q: For a team that's lost a few receivers already, is it difficult to lose a guy that talented at receiver?
A: I never want to take anything away from KT like I said he's a talented player, but for us right now it's just continue to have the same 1-0 mindset, fall in love with the process and go to Seattle and try to come out with a win.
Q: It obviously didn't work for him here, what advice would you give him moving forward?
A: I feel like that's something that I'd rather talk to him personally about. I feel like that's not needed to be said in the media. Like I said I just wish him nothing but the best of luck in KC.
Q: In the heat of the moment last week, you were upset about not getting out of bounds. When you think back about running the ball eight straight times, they know you're running, you know you're running, and you still cover the distance to put the game away. How impressive is that from the offensive unit that you can play that kind of bully football?
A: It's really impressive, and it starts up front with the guys, the offensive line and the tight ends. Establishing the line of scrimmage. That's how you win or lose football games by establishing the line of scrimmage. We've been doing a really good job of that so far this season but especially in that moment when everybody knows you're running the ball and to be able to go down, pretty much run the same play a couple times in a row. It's pretty impressive. But going back to the getting out of bounds thing, just got to be more aware and slide a little earlier. Never put our team in the situation where there's a minute and four seconds on the clock and they have a chance to go down and score.
Q: You said you were going to close your eyes and get rid of it.
A: Oh no, it's gone. It's gone to be completely honest. I already know the type of player I am, the type of person I am. I honestly can't wait for that next opportunity. You kind of want that. It's four minutes, five minutes, whatever time was left on the clock. But as a player and as a running back everyone knows that you're running the ball. You want to take that responsibility and put the game away. Like I said, I've got to do a better job than I did last week, and I know I'll do a better job.
Q: With another long trip going to Seattle knowing that it's this game and then the bye week. Is there any big picture exhale for this team knowing that if you kind of spill it out you get a little break here that you've earned? Or is it just focusing on Sunday and then whatever comes out after that?
A: Yeah, it's just focusing on Sunday. You can't get too caught up in the bigger picture. Like I said, Seattle's a really good team. They're playing extremely well right now too, just as we are, so it's going to be a great game. We know we'll get their best effort. Going into a hostile environment and the only mindset that we can have and that we're going to have is that going out there and trying to go out 1-0.
