Running Back Saquon Barkley
Q: I know you guys are big into talking about complementary football, offense, defense, but when you're going against an offense on the other side that has been able to score the way they had. Is there any pressure or urgency on your guys to make even more possessions count in terms of putting points on the board?
A: I wouldn't say it's pressure or anything. Every single time we touch the ball the offense's objective is to go out there and score, put points on the board – whether that's six or three. Like I said, they're a great team over there. We know they're going to come with a lot of energy, come out with a great game plan. For us we've just got to go out there and focus on the little things and focus on us first and the opportunities they give us, we've got to capitalize them and make them pay.
Q: Where did the 'Vanilla Vick' nickname come from?
A: I can't even take credit for that. I saw it on social media so long ago. I forgot he was mic'd up. But that's where it kind of came from. I can't take credit for it. I saw it on Twitter or something like that.
Q: You guys have done such a good job of being a grind it out, run-oriented team. Do you think this offense has the capability if needed to get into a shootout.
A: Yes, I think we do. I think we've got the skilled guys, the talent, the coaches, to find ways to win games whatever that is. If we've got to run the ball 30 times, 40 times then that's the way. If we've got to throw the ball and make it a shootout, then I feel like we can do that too. That's something that's the biggest blessing about this team, especially on the offensive side this year. It's the way that we've been able to adapt, adjust, and try to find ways to put points on the board or try to find ways to help our team win games.
Q: No matter who it is, after the workload you had Sunday there's some soreness you have the first couple of days. How long does it take you to start feeling better after a game like that?
A: You know it's weird to be completely honest. It all depends on the week. Obviously, you would think when you touch the ball that many times, you're going to be sore. It all depends on the week, the team you play. Sometimes you can touch the ball 10 times and be just as sore if you touched the ball 35 times. Sometimes you can touch the ball 35 times and not be that sore. It's just the grind of the season and that's how it goes. For me, it's just continuing to be a pro, take care of my body. We've got great people within this facility, and I've got great people that I work with outside of the facility to get my body back in shape and get my body right for the next game. There's never a set day, every week is different.
Q: You've talked a lot about wanting to be one of the all-time great running backs. Why do you think you have pride in the term, 'running back'? You could call yourself a playmaker or a versatile weapon or something, so why 'running back'?
A: I am a playmaker; I am a versatile weapon – but at the end of the day for me it's kind of just the people that I study. The quote, 'Study the greats to become greater.' That's a focal point of mine. I feel like you've got to know the history of the game if you want to be great. The guys that come to my mind – the Walter Paytons, the Barry Sanders, the Emmitt Smiths, the Adrian Petersons, the list goes on and on with so many guys you could mention in that category. Those are the guys that I'm chasing, those are the guys that I want to be able to be talked about like that one day. That's why I say I want to be one of the greatest running backs.
