Josh Sweat brings the heat to Sunday’s practice

Saquon Barkley’s thirst for greatness

Saquon Barkley said that rookie running back Will Shipley asked him the other day what continues to motivate him, drive him after the success that he’s enjoyed in his first six NFL seasons.

“I just want to be great, man. I just want to take it to the highest level that I can take it. That’s my goal,” Barkley said. “That’s where I want to be. That’s where I want to go, and I’m not going to stop. I’m going to keep trying. The reality of it is, a lot of people don’t get to reach their full potential. But at the end of the day, if I know I could put my all into it and I don’t reach it when it’s all said and done, I’ll be happy with the work I put in.”

Barkley has been a featured part of the offense both as a runner and a receiver in Training Camp, but there is a triple-threat element to his game. Linebacker Devin White complimented Barkley, calling him the best back in terms of blitz pickup on the team. It’s an aspect of Barkley’s toolkit that he’s worked on over the years.

“We work it a lot here, so you kind of got no choice, which is what I needed though,” Barkley said. “I felt like early in my career, I struggled with pass pro. The last few years, I felt like that was something I was able to improve on. Coach Jemal (Singleton) does a really good job with all the backs of teaching us the right fundamentals and putting our body in the right position so we can execute the block.” – Chris McPherson

Vic Fangio praises the linebacking corps

Vic Fangio met with the media ahead of Sunday morning’s practice. It was the first time the defensive coordinator spoke with the media since the team’s preseason win against New England on Thursday night.

Fangio on what he learned about the defense from the joint practice with the Patriots: “It was a great learning experience for us. First off, we had a good practice with a good amount of reps which is rare for us. We were able to get a lot of guys a lot of work, both in individual periods, some pass rush drills, some team drills, so it was a tremendous day of work.

“Our guys got better from it. Only way you get better at playing football is to practice football and play in a game. We got a good day of that. We were able to see new plays, new routes, go against different types of blockers, the way offensive linemen set, the way they protect. Those days are invaluable.”

The defense has ramped up its pressure over the last…