The Eagles had their first OTA follow on Wednesday and Saquon Barkley spoke to reporters afterward to speak about a few of the new issues they’re doing with the run sport, and the way he’ll have to regulate his sport in consequence. He additionally touched on the A.J. Brown scenario and the way he was in a position to transfer previous final season’s disappointing finish.
Barkley famous that one of many issues that makes the Eagles so profitable, is having a bunch of like-minded gamers who’re all dedicated to getting higher — guys like Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and Jordan Davis — and he expects they’ll regulate to the various modifications with focus and willpower.
Right here’s what the RB needed to say:
On Sean Mannion and new offense
“I’m excited to work with [Sean Mannion], I think he’s been doing a really good job. He’s super smart, he works really hard, not only him but all the offensive staff, especially new guys. Right now we’re just working on building the foundation, and it’s been fun so far.”
As for a way the operating sport would possibly change this season, Barkley mentioned it’s too early to get into X’s and O’s, however famous that there shall be various things than they’ve accomplished beforehand this season.
“I think it’s a great plan that he’s putting together, and now it’s just taking it step-by-step, coming to work every single day, and improving on it.”
If the offense does require Jalen Hurts to be below middle extra usually, Barkley defined that he can see issues just a little extra clearly and isn’t blinded fairly as a lot as once they’re in shotgun formation. As a runner, below middle additionally permits him to get his shoulders sq. earlier so he can see the entire area — fairly than having to rotate his physique to take action out of gun. He defined that it additionally permits runners to get down-hill just a little faster, and threatens opponents with stretches down the sector and extra outdoors zone.
Barkley went on to speak about how being below middle extra shall be one thing new for him, too, however he’s wanting ahead to the problem. He quipped that he appears like a child once more studying a complete new system, and the precise footwork and particulars that comes together with it — particularly he pointed to outdoors backs usually solely using one minimize, whereas after his ACL damage, Barkley tends to do two leap cuts when he’s inside.
Exterior zone blocking additionally requires completely different mechanics and is taught otherwise, in order that’s one other facet to think about. He’s additionally been finding out loads of completely different RBs all through the league, however mentioned he’s additionally been watching loads of Todd Gurley recently.
On addressing the A.J. Brown scenario
“I don’t assume we actually addressed it. It’s soccer. It’s the Nationwide Soccer League. I feel it’s going to be a tough time for me to say something dangerous about A.J. Brown. I’m a giant fan of A.J. Brown — one in all my actually good pals, one in all my favourite teammates I’ve ever been round, simply respect him as a person.
However, it is a enterprise, it’s the NFL. If I’m not right here, if Jalen [Hurts is] not right here, if whoever’s not right here, the present goes on, and that’s how the NFL operates, so that you don’t actually handle it. It’s not likely something to be addressed. You simply go about your work, and preserve getting higher, and no matter occurs is above my pay grade, and I’m simply targeted on being the perfect participant that I might be, and simply being the perfect chief I might be going into this season.“
On final season’s ending
One advantage of not going to the Tremendous Bowl was that Barkley had just a little extra time to arrange bodily and mentally this offseason, and he feels higher this 12 months coming into OTAs.
Barkley mentioned that he turned the web page fairly shortly after how final season ended, taking two to a few weeks to undergo a breakup section after which transfer on. He admitted, nevertheless, that he doesn’t really feel like he performed nicely sufficient for his teammates, and that the movie was more durable to look at this offseason. Nonetheless, it motivated him to come back again and go “balls to the wall” and lock in much more.
When requested particularly what he wished to work on after reviewing final season’s efficiency, Barkley mentioned one factor that caught is consideration was that some years he’ll have extra playmaking potential than others, and a few years he’ll really feel stronger than others. So, he desires to concentrate on being a greater playmaker for the staff in 2026, acknowledging that’s why he was delivered to Philly.
