Imagine walking up to Saquon Barkley at halftime of the Giants’ game last week against the Jaguars, and saying, “I think you ran soft.’’
SEATTLE — Imagine walking up to Saquon Barkley at halftime of the Giants’ game last week against the Jaguars, pointing to the stat sheet indicating he had run nine times for 18 yards and saying to him, “I think you ran soft.’’He might have simply looked in the mirror, because that is how he characterized his running style. He is dealing with a bruised shoulder, but calling himself out as “soft’’ was startling to hear.
“Saquon is very critical of himself,’’ offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. “That’s what makes him the player he is. Was there some more left out there for him? Maybe, I think so. That’s the kind of competitor he is and I think he’s never satisfied.’’ “We just play them where they show up,’’ coach Brian Daboll said. “Whatever they are on the schedule, we play. And we try to do the best job we can as a staff to prepare the players, whether that’s give them a little bit more rest, change up a practice schedule, talk about hydration.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, 71, has 167 wins as an NFL head coach in the regular season and postseason. The next victory for Carroll moves him into a tie with Vikings legend Bud Grant for 18th place on the all-time list.