Chicago Bears: Alex Barnes offers dynamic skill set at running back

Q&A with Alex Barnes

DaWindyCity (DWC): Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us and giving Bears fans a chance to learn a little more about you. I know you’re schedule is full so we’ll jump right in.  Tell me what have you been doing to get ready for the NFL Draft?

Alex Barnes (AB): I had been down in Dallas training at Michael Johnson Performance working on speed training and a lot of fundamental running back positional work with coach [Robert] Ford who was a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and running backs coach back in the 90s. After the Combine, we had a quick turnaround for Pro Day so I’m back in Manhattan [Kansas] working with the new running backs coach and doing some stuff on my own to get ready for these top-30 visits coming up.

DWC: You absolutely dominated the explosiveness and agility drills at the Combine. Did you anticipate you would do well at those events heading into them?

AB: Yeah, I mean I’ve always been really explosive and my lateral agility has always been slept on because I’m a bigger guy and you know being from the state of Kansas, I’ve kind of always been overlooked because there have always been excuses like ‘the competition isn’t that great’ or ‘it’s the Big 12 and the defenses are weaker.’ But I never look at those sort of things. I always just play my best and exceed expectations wherever I go, and I’m looking forward to continuing that at the next level.

DWC: It appears your Combine numbers and measurables are very similar to David Johnson’s. Whether it’s him or someone else, is there a player right now that you think your game compares favorably to?

AB: Yeah I mean David Johnson is definitely a guy that I’ve watched a lot of film on because I really like how he plays the game. He has a lot more experience receiving the football, but that’s something that I am capable of doing. I have big, soft hands. I can catch everything that’s thrown to me. So I like to think that I could potentially model my game after him, but I would say as of right now, the I guy I really like that I think I play similar to is James Conner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Him and I both have that physical running style — always getting a few yards even when they’re not there. That’s something I really pride myself on — my power, strength, and ability to move piles.

DWC: You made a huge leap in production from your sophomore to junior season. What do you attribute that to? Was it experience, more opportunities, or something else?

AB: I would say it was a combination of things. The experience helped a lot, but in my sophomore year, I actually had a pretty nagging ankle injury that kind of limited me a lot. I couldn’t cut the way I wanted to. I just didn’t feel 100 percent until the Bowl game. But when I was finally able to get fully healthy I was able to hit the ground running this season.

DWC: What were some of the biggest things you took away from your experience at Kansas State?

AB: A lot of it was life lessons. It was something coach [Bill] Snyder really took pride in. We came in there as young men but left as full-grown adults who were able to function in society in whatever path we chose. K-State is probably one of the only schools in the country where you could walk into the coach’s office and learn something about finance, or how to manage your money. You know just learning about life, or how to treat people. No matter who you’re talking, just how to be respectful. Just a lot of life lessons over my four years there.

DWC: I saw you have a degree in kinesiology. Talk to me about how that has helped you throughout your career and as you prepare for the NFL Draft.

AB: Exercise has always been something that intrigues me. I actually started lifting weights in sixth-grade. My step-brother and I, after practice, would go to our local YMCA and get in the weight room. There were a few older guys there who took us under their wing and showed us how to lift and how to train. And I’ve always had an interest in that. My plans after football are to open up my own gym and potentially train people the way I was trained, and to have more of a football emphasis — so drill work, footwork drills, more position specific stuff. I’ve always had an interest in teaching people how to be healthier and live a better life.

DWC: Are there particular running concepts or schemes that fit your game?

AB: I don’t have any preference. Whenever the ball is in my hands you have to do whatever you can to take it to the house. But last year, I did notice I had a lot of success running power plays. We had a couple of counter plays that I was really successful on during the season. We also had a couple of outside zone plays where I was able to get to the edge and make a somebody miss. We ran a lot of different concepts here at K-State and it was really advantageous to learn all the different concepts and all the different reads on concepts, so I’m looking forward to taking that and translating that to the next level.

DWC: How comfortable are you coming out of the backfield as a receiver or maybe even split-out wide?

AB: I’ve definitely been learning a lot more routes and learning the fundamentals of running the different routes. You know that’s not something that many running backs learn in college. At the next level, I feel like I’d be a mismatch with my height, weight, and speed. It would be difficult to find someone to cover me well. I have big, soft hands. I can catch everything that is thrown to me. And in my film, I’ve also made a lot of difficult catches that you don’t see a lot of running backs making. But I’m just polishing up on my route running and something I’m working diligently on improving.

DWC: What would you say are your best traits as a running back?

AB: I’d say my vision. I’m able to see creases right when they’re about to open up and be able to anticipate them and burst through them whenever they’re there. And my power. I’ve always been a very strong, powerful runner. Someone who takes pride in yards after contact and getting the “dirty yards.” I’d say my agility and quickness. A lot of people don’t expect someone as big as I am to cut and turn 90 degrees, and maybe cut it back across the formation. I’d say I have a pretty complete game.

DWC: What separates you from other running backs in this class?

AB: I’d definitely say my vision and strength combined with everything else. Those are probably my best strengths so far but that doesn’t take away from my other strengths either like my speed and my footwork. But my power — you’re not going to find another back in this Draft that has the kind of power I do, and you’re not going to find another back that has the combination of skills that I do.

DWC: Is there an aspect of your game that you think might be underrated that perhaps people are sleeping on a little bit?

AB: I’d say my speed. A lot of people say “oh he ran a 4.6.” A lot of people were surprised I ran a 4.59. All throughout training I was running in the low 4.5s. high 4.4s so I was pretty upset with my 40-time at the Combine. But I would say I have more long speed than I get credit for.

DWC: Have you had a chance to meet with the Bears?

AB: I met with a couple of regional scouts at the Combine.

DWC: Did you get a chance to watch any Bears games last year?

AB: Yeah I have actually. During the season I watched a lot of Jordan Howard film to see what I could take from his running style and add to my arsenal. But it was very interesting to see what they did not only with Howard but with Tarik Cohen. — moving him around the formation, and finding different ways to create space and get playmakers the ball. It was definitely interesting and fun to watch. Every running back’s dream is to get the ball in as much space as possible and last season the Bears were able to make that happen quite a bit.

DWC: What are your plans for Draft night?

AB: I’m just going to be home with a small crowd of my immediate family and we’re just going to enjoy the experience.

DWC: What would you want prospective teams to know about you before Draft night?

AB: That I’m the most complete running back in this draft. You’re not going to find somebody that’s built like me, that can move the way that I can move, and is as powerful as I am. Somebody who is as smart at the game of football as I am. A lot of times last year I was calling out blitzes for the quarterback. My football IQ is something I take pride in. I watch a lot of film. I’m the hardest worker on my team no matter what. I’m going to do things the right way and be the best player I can be to maximize my full potential.