Saquon Barkley has his confidence back and it shows | Ekeler’s Edge
Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler and Yahoo Sports’ Fantasy Analyst Matt Harmon are joined by New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. The NFL’s second leading rusher through 3 weeks explains why after two injury-marred seasons, the Big Apple superstar feels like he is back at the top of his game. Barkley, a well-known gym rat details his in-season workout routine, and believes Austin, Nick Chubb and himself need to come together for what would be a highly entertaining weightlifting competition, between three of the NFL’s weight room dynamos. Catch fresh episodes of Ekeler’s Edge every Wednesday on Yahoo Sports and your favorite social media platforms. Listen to Ekeler’s Edge on the Yahoo Fantasy Football Forecast wherever you get podcasts.
Video Transcript
[AUDIO LOGO]
AUSTIN EKELER: I have this reputation out here with the Chargers, like, workout warrior, all this stuff.
SAQUON BARKLEY: I do think you and Nick Chubb, I see all the videos. I think you got to link up one day in the offseason and--
AUSTIN EKELER: No doubt.
SAQUON BARKLEY: --put to rest and see who really got the better of max squats and all that good stuff.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MATT HARMON: All right, joining us now is Giants running back Saquon Barkley. Saquon, welcome to "Ekeler's Edge". Thanks for coming on with us.
SAQUON BARKLEY: Thanks for having me, guys. Thank you.
AUSTIN EKELER: Heck yeah, man. welcome to the show. You've been making a splash this year, so it's good to see. It's good to see you back being yourself, being the best version of yourself.
MATT HARMON: Honestly, one of the best picks you could make this year so far was Saquon Barkley in the second round, man, because you've been crushing it, dude. I mean, honestly, I think not only just from the stats perspective, I feel like right now you're running better than you have maybe ever. I think you just look fantastic, you look great against the Cowboys on Monday night. Like Ek said, it's good to see you just healthy and out there crushing it again.
SAQUON BARKLEY: Thank you. I appreciate that. I mean, it's just all about getting your confidence back. Actually, having to battle with injuries in past years, just being able to go through OTAs, be able to go through the whole offseason not really focused on rehab and more of just you can focus on yourself, getting your body ready for the grind of the season.
And then getting to camp and be able to practice, for me, that's something that lacked. I didn't have those practice reps in the last couple of years, just because of battling injuries. And to have that, and that's where it all starts, practice, practice, practice. Getting those practice reps, building that confidence so you can go out there and make plays.
And not even right now, I feel like I'm in mid-season form. Ek can agree with this. As a season goes, especially as a running back continue to get in your rhythm, continue to just build that chemistry with your O-linemen. 2-1, obviously not happy with the results of last night, but not bad, not off to a bad start and we just kind of keep going.
AUSTIN EKELER: Heck yeah, man. You're speaking of the grind of the season practice, the repetitiveness. I am curious, from a personal standpoint, just because I have this like reputation out here with the Chargers, like, workout warrior, all this stuff.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
AUSTIN EKELER: What was your in-season workout routine? How many days are you working out like a week, stuff like that?
SAQUON BARKLEY: First, I want to say, I do think you and Nick Chubb, I see all the videos. I think you got to link up one day in the offseason and--
AUSTIN EKELER: No doubt.
SAQUON BARKLEY: --put it to rest and see who really got the better max squats and all that good stuff. But for me, it kind of changed. From coming to college, I was in that mindset of just lift, lift, get strong, lift, lift, get strong. You're still in that mindset too.
I still put on the heavy weights and I still get after it, but it's more about mobility, it's more about flexibility, it's more about having strength and being strong in those movements that correlate to the football field. And just putting my body in positions where, you can't really prevent injuries, injuries just happen. It's the nature of football, but the injuries that you can prevent and the ways you can help yourself to become a better player, it's really what I've been adding to my in-season regimen.
Whether it's working on needs, anchor mobility, shoulder mobility, stability, all those things. It's trying to be a better pro. That's the way I've been kind of attacking this season.
[AUDIO LOGO]
