Chargers offensive tackle Joe Barksdale was this week's guest on the eighth episode of the Backstage: Chargers Podcast presented by Toyota.
Barksdale discussed starting football at age 15, his love for music, the NFL coach who convinced him to start playing guitar, his soon-to-be released second album, Philip Rivers, the leadership of Anthony Lynn and more. The conversation took place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
Barksdale returned to the field last Sunday in London against the Tennessee Titans after missing the previous five games with a knee injury. Excerpts from the conversation are below.
Barksdale on Rivers' hot start in his 15th NFL season:
"He perfectly embodies the mind over matter thing. He's not out there worried about his age; he's out there worried about making plays. I think that's why he's been able to do it so long, and I think that you can tell that he's one of those guys that always wants to get better – and just like you said, you can see that from last year to this year, which is cool."
On Lynn's leadership and Super Bowl experience as a player:
"(The) first thing he said getting off the bus was 'competition' – the first time we met as a group. … He's a former player that wants to win, and he's coaching players and coaches that want to win. … He's got that experience, and it's always great to have a guy that's been there before, so to speak, because he knows how to get there and he knows what's not going to get you there, too. So, I think that's just as valuable as having the vets like Russell (Okung), (Brandon) Mebane (and Michael) Schofield that have won Super Bowls because they've also been there before and they know what gets you there and what doesn't."
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