Q: You come from a different system than the Giants play. Have they spoken to you at all yet about where they see you fitting in here?
A: Yeah, I actually had an opportunity to go out on a visit there and they really described where exactly I would be playing and what I would be doing. So I'm pretty familiar with exactly what I would be doing.
Q: What did they tell you? What are you going to?
A: Basically they just told me that I am going to be the SAM linebacker similar to what I played here at Virgina. They asked me to do a little bit of other things. But I'm going to be the SAM linebacker and similar to what I do here at the University.
A: What do you think you can do to contribute to this team?
A: Honestly I'm not all about projections and what I can do. All I really want to do is just come in there and just work hard and try to establish myself as a hard worker. It is a great organization. They have been for quite some time. It is one of those organizations that is competing for championships every year. I'm just going to come out there and just try to work hard and do whatever I can do to contribute.
Q: You said that you had talked to the Giants. How likely did you think they would be the ones to pick you?
A: To be perfectly honest this whole thing is ………..just one of the events where you just didn't know what. I knew that my best shot to be picked in the first round would have been the Giants. But there were so many teams that showed interest and everybody kind of keeps their focus based throughout this whole ordeal. For me it was just watching and waiting – watching and waiting and just try to figure out who was going to take me.
Q: Are you more of a pass rushing linebacker or can you go pass rush and run defense?
A: I'm just a linebacker. At the end of the day I'm just a linebacker. I had an opportunity to be coached by Coach …… at the University of Virginia. And he is a great coach and he taught me a lot about linebacker play. I can't sit here and say I'm the greatest at this or that but one thing I can say is that I'm willing to work and learn and just make myself a better player. This organization is a great organization. It is a great city. I'm just trying to match my ability so I can do whatever I can to kind of help out.
Q: What do you think the biggest adjustment will be coming into the NFL?
A: Just learning; learning. You have to understand – you play with grown men everyday. This is a game that is physical and it demands a lot physically and mentally. And you are playing with guys who have wives and kids and have been doing it for quite some time. I'm just going to have to bring my hard hat everyday and just compete and really just try to be a playmaker – just do whatever I can to help the organization out. I've been blessed to be in a situation that I am in. This is a great day for me and my family but it doesn't stop here. We have to continue to work and continue to develop and get better day.
Q: Where are we talking to you from?
A: You are talking to me from my house. I'm sitting outside my house right now. We have a couple of people in there --- maybe about 20 or 30 people in there. We are all just sitting there and they watched –even though we kind of found out together. So it is pretty cool.
Q: Did you come up for a visit to the Giants or did they come and see you?
A: I actually came up for a visit with the Giants.
Q: Who did you speak to?
A: I had an opportunity to check out the facility and meet Coach Coughlin and everybody. It was pretty cool.
Q: When was that?
A: I visited the Giants probably about two weeks ago. It was myself and about 18 other guys.
Q: How many teams did you visit? You said it was your last visit.
A: I visited four teams – Buffalo, New Orleans, Kansas City and the Giants.
Q: RE: switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3
A: It is a little different. But the game of football remains constant. Football players are football players at the end of the day. And the 3-4 is a little different than a 4-3 but I'm just excited about the opportunity. I'm excited to learn and just kind of transition from this 3-4 to 4-3. There are a lot of players in this draft and I'm just ready to try to come out there and learn and be better.
Q: You said your roll in this 4-3 would be similar to what you did down there. How is it similar?
A: Playing on top of the tight end is always the same. I have always played the top of the tight end and I think that is one of the strong points of my game. So it is just a matter of learning the new scheme, trying to develop and just trying to get better. So really that is why I'm out to do – just try to get better for myself and try to help the team out. And just try to simulate into the New York Giants culture.
