Can you talk about how the injuries to Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas potentially affect your role? "Obviously naturally I'm going to have to step up. Not just me, but Julius Jones, DeShawn Wynn. Some of the guys on this team are going to have to step up. We'll be alright. We're working hard this week at practice and we feel like we're more than prepared. We have the guys who can step up and make up for some of the missing links. I feel like we'll be alright."
Do you anticipate putting more pressure on yourself if you have to do more?
"I always expect a lot out of myself no matter what. The pressure, I don't know. I'm definitely expecting a lot. I definitely have high expectations for myself in this postseason."
Are you looking forward to this?
"Of course. Of course I am. I'm looking forward to it. We just take it one day at a time. At the end of the day, it's about a team effort. It's not just about one person. We have some mistakes that we made as a team throughout the season on offense, defense and special teams that we had to clean up. The running back position is just one small piece to the puzzle."
You're coming off probably your best performance of the season. Is that something you can build off of
? "I think it is. I definitely think it is, going into this postseason, getting into a rhythm and getting ready to take on the bulk of this workload at the running back position. I definitely think it's something I can take away from."
Do you have a sense that you have been improving physically and that the injury is further behind you?
"I feel better physically. I tell everybody that at this stage in your career, you're never 100 percent and that's just the way it goes. It's a physical sport. We all have nicks, bumps and bruises here, especially in week 16 or 17 of the season and definitely the postseason. Nevertheless, I feel as good as possible and I'll be more than ready to go this weekend."

Will you bring the bat with you this game? "I don't know. The only reason I brought the bat with me that game was because coach gave them out to us. If he makes it a bat game…I don't know. That's on him. I don't know. I'm not sure."
How does losing these two guys change the dynamic of defending your championship?
"I'm not so sure it does. The one thing we've done a good job of this year is managing what we've had, the injuries that we've had. There's been a number of them this year. I feel like we've done a great job of just managing that, still winning games, keeping a rhythm and making up for injured guys. This is just another thing we're going to have to do this weekend. We'll be ready."

Are you ready to carry the ball more? Can you physically handle that? "Yes I could."
Do you remember the last time the Saints played in Seattle when you had 19 carries?
"Yes."
Is that something you've talked to Sean Payton about or have an understanding about?
"I think it's one of those things. You know what the role is. You know I'm going to have to step up and take more of the bulk of the running load. It's unspoken. It is what it is."

Do you want that? "Of course. Definitely. Anytime my number's called. I'm excited and looking forward to making the most of it. Knowing that my number's going to be called more this game, I'm looking forward to it."

Do you think your former coach knows how to defend you?"I don't know. We'll see."