Head Coach Brian Daboll

Daboll: Good morning. How's everybody doing? Another day, cranking away. Same place in terms of the injured guys, where we're at. Everybody's making progress. So just got another day without pads on today. So, that's about all I got.

Q: So, no injured guys are going to be back?

A: No, the same guys that have been working. You know, (Wide Receiver Darius Slayton) Slay and (Wide Receiver David Sills V) Sills, they're going to be doing stuff. Everybody will be doing a little bit of something. Well, not everybody. Most guys are going to be doing a little bit of something where they're at in their rehab process. But that's where we're at.

Q: (Fullback) Jeremiah Hall is a guy that was just waived. I'm curious where you plan on going with that sort of fullback/h-back position, and you're also pretty thin on numbers now at tight end.

A: Yeah, we have four of those guys. So, all of those guys – Jeremiah was actually in the tight end room. That's where, since I've coached tight ends like James Develin I talked about, he was with me when I was in the tight end room, those guys can usually play both spots. So, all those tight ends are cross trained, whether it's fullback, h-back, tight end, we teach them all those spots.

Q: You had until 4 PM today, so I'm curious why do it before practice when you're short on bodies?

A: (General Manager) Joe (Schoen) and I just get out there, do the player right. They were going to be released, so try to treat them the right way.

Q: I'm kind of curious, do you sit down with the player and give them feedback as to why they're being released? Do you tell them to stay ready? I mean, how do you approach that?

A: I appreciate the question. I'll keep those confidential. You do it with a sense of empathy because, look, these players are working extremely hard. They've given everything they have in spring, summer camps, and it's the nature of the business we're in. And I've been on the other side of that, too. It's not any fun. These guys care about what they're doing. They're giving you everything they have. So obviously, there's empathy for the player and what they've tried to do, but you're as positive as you can be with giving someone news that they don't want to hear.

Q: As a coordinator and an assistant, you have had to do that in the past. Or no?

A: I was like the second wave. So, you know, the first wave is Joe and I sit down with the player. I was always the second wave after they heard the news. So, yeah, it's a tough part of the job, just to be honest with you, as a people person and a person who respects what these guys go through. I mean, you guys know. But in the building, whether they're a little bit hurt, they're injured, they're rehabbing, the training process, the meetings. You respect these guys. And in a couple weeks, there will be a thousand players that are out of a job. These guys are pretty much the age of my kids. So, I have a great deal of respect for the stuff that they do and empathy when things don't go exactly the way they want them to be because that's real life.

Q: Why didn't (Cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson) go in on 11-on-11s yesterday?

A: He'll be fine. He's good. We just gave him a little rest.

Q: Why does (Cornerback) Zyon Gilbert impress you? Why did he get that opportunity?

A: He has a pretty good skillset. He's got good length. Quickness. He's still learning. He's got a ways to go. But he's done a great job since he's been here. And as you can see, we were rolling in receivers. We're going to roll in a bunch of players still. He was kind of the next guy up that we wanted to take a look at.

Q: The receiver position, a couple guys there where this organization has invested significant resources, be it free agent dollars or draft picks. How do you balance playing time distribution to guys that the organization's invested a lot in compared to somebody like (Wide Receiver) Collin (Johnson), who is not a high draft pick nor is he getting a lot of money, but his playing time is kind of forcing him into that discussion?

A: Yeah, I think Joe and I are on the same page that whoever performs the best is going to play. So, whoever comes in and has the right habits, priorities and then ultimately actions out there on the field, that's why you create competition. I understand the question, but we're going to do everything we can do to give everybody opportunities to play. And however that sorts out, we still got three weeks or whatever it is left. Those are the guys we feel best about playing.

Q: As a follow up, how do you feel about that position group overall halfway through August?

A: I think they're making progress just like all the position groups are. Everybody's learning new things. But (Wide Receivers Coach Mike Groh) Mike's done a good job with those guys. They're going to continue to grow, continue to learn. And we're going to make it as competitive as we can make it.

Q: With a player like (Wide Receiver) Kenny (Golladay), he obviously has a proven track record in this league. How much does practice production matter to you?

A: Well, everything matters. Everything matters in the evaluation.

Q: How much emphasis do you put on it? That's a better way of saying it.

A: You put emphasis on everything. Practice. Ultimately, it's the games. Again, when you get into live action. But everything right now is a competition. So, the people that are doing the best – and again, your best might be a little different than my best. He's improving, but all those guys are going to compete. I think we're going to try to make it as competitive as we can make it to put the best 11 out there on each play.

Q: There are players that maybe don't necessarily show up in practice, but something just switches on game days? Is there a way to tell, 'Oh this guy's just a gamer?' Or do you just not know until the regular season?

A: I think, again, we evaluate everything. There's practice. There's games. There's meetings. Again, the receiver position in general, it's a position where you've got to be mentally tough. I've coached it for a long time. And there's games where guys don't get a whole lot of play or a whole lot of touches. They might be open, but maybe a read or something takes them to another guy, so you got to stay into it. You can be out there 70 plays and get five targets. Some might get a little bit more. But that position is one that requires a great deal of mental toughness.

Q: At the end of the game, (Running Back) Saquon (Barkley) was going crazy for (Running Back) Sandro (Pluazgummer), and you have seen that kind of support here at practices as well. Can you talk about the importance of that comradery, that spirit and that support from the players to each other.

A: Yeah. We're just trying to build as good a team chemistry as we can. That's important. That's important during the season, as you guys know; you've been through NFL seasons for a long time. There's a lot of things that don't go as planned, and you have to stay strong within your group. And you have to support one another. And you have to concentrate and focus on the things you can control. And I'll just say with Saquon in general, he's been excellent since he's been here in the spring, picking up our stuff and into summer. His leadership has really been good. It's stood out in a strong way to me as is his performance and the way that he approaches it on a day-to-day basis. He's been fantastic.

Q: Is there a need or maybe a desire or maybe even a curiosity to see what (Quarterback) Tyrod (Taylor) can do with the first team at some point this summer?

A: Yeah, as we get going here in terms of the preseason games, we'll talk about whatever we think is best. But I have full confidence in (Quarterback) Daniel (Jones) and full confidence in Tyrod and what his role is. Each day, we sit there and we evaluate the guys. But will he get a few reps here or there? He might.

Q: Is that any reflection on Daniel?

A: Absolutely not. No. I learned from a pretty good coach a while ago, usually he doesn't tell those guys when he throws them in because that's what the backup's role is. You have to go in on a split second. You prepare like you're a starter. But the fourth play of a game, something happens, you're in, you got to be ready to go. So, I don't necessarily think we'll tell those guys when that will happen.

Q: There's been a lot of scrutiny on the offense and Daniel. And I know you don't read social media, likely, but there is a perception out there that your offense is struggling this summer. The flip side of that, does that mean your defense has been playing very well this summer? How do you look at that, and is the defensive system maybe a little bit easier to pick up for guys than what you're installing offensively?

A: No. I look at it as a team always. There's a lot of things we can do better in every area on our football team, starting with us as coaches and all the way down to the players. So, again, we're just trying to build as good of a team as we can. Team chemistry. Try to get a little bit better every day and take it day-by-day.

Q: How do you see your defense developing so far this summer with (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale)?

A: Some good. Some not as good. Much like the other areas of the team, I think those guys are working hard. But there's a lot of things that we can clean up really in every area.

Q: You mentioned the number of players that are going to be let go and kind of be out of work.

A: Yeah.

Q: Because of that, are you a fan or a proponent of some of these other leagues that have kind of started to sprout up recently whether it's the XFL or the Summer League where these guys who don't make it in the NFL now have another opportunity to play, develop a little bit and then make another run?

A: I think it's great for players. Again, this is a tough industry. It's hard to make. And the more opportunities that players can have, wherever that may be, I'm all for it.

Q: Not doing a joint practice with the Bengals, is that logistics, or is that something you thought football-wise wouldn't benefit you? Why not?

A: This is just our first year. I've done it a lot of different ways. I've been part of a lot of different teams over the last however many years. I just thought for our first year to make sure we're getting our installations right and we're doing the things we need to do, I thought that it was in our best interest to do it this way.

Q: Whenever we ask you about the quarterbacks, obviously today is another example, it's Daniel and Tyrod. Obviously, (Quarterback) Davis (Webb) is here. You are familiar with Davis. What does Davis bring to the table in terms of what you're trying to get out of him being here this summer?

A: Davis has done a really good job since he's been here. He knows the system. I think he operated the system well the other night in game action. He's done a really good job in his leadership role with really the entire team but in general the skill players, when he talks to those guys. And I think he's a good ear for Daniel and Tyrod. Being in the system, being around me, he's been really good.

Q: Do you look for a way to kind of stoke his competitive fire, too? He's not necessarily playing for those roles.

A: I think he's innately competitive. So, when he's out there, he understands what he's trying to do. And he's a very competitive guy.

Q: How helpful in the evaluation of the bottom of the roster is it to have that quarterback playing with the threes who knows the system rather than some rookie who's flailing around?

A: Yeah, no doubt. Anytime you can have a quarterback that can function in these games, I'd say that and really in the trenches, what you're looking to do is give everyone a good chance and a fair evaluation. That's important.

Wide Receiver Kenny Golladay

Q: Seem like you made some plays today, was that a good practice for you?

A: Yeah, today was cool on and off the field.

Q: How do you look at your training camp overall so far?

A: Really just coming to work every day, I'm really going out there picking little things for me to get better at, and just going out there working hard each and every day.

Q: You said on and off the field, how cool is it to see the surprise Giants Ring of Honor?

A: It was really dope, definitely for (Head Athletic Trainer) Ronnie (Barnes). Shout out to Ronnie.

Q: Have you heard of any of those other players?

A: Not really.

Q: I mean you're too young for them, some of those guys are around a little bit maybe, but you don't really know them.

A: Yeah, maybe one of them.

Q: Is that what you were talking about on and off the field or was there something else that made you say that?

A: I'm confused. I don't know what you're talking about.

Q: You said it was cool on and off the field, right?

A: On the field as far as getting our work done on and back off the field getting our bodies right. Yeah, my bad.

Q: (Head Coach Brian) Daboll was talking to you during warmups, what kind of stuff did you guys discuss?

A: He was really just talking to me and (Wide Receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) about some plays that we were going to do that he wanted us to get a look at.

Q: How important is this season for you to prove again that you're a number one receiver in this league?

A: I'm not just going to talk about me as far as how important it is to me; I think it's important for everyone. We've got new coaches and a new offense; I think everyone is going to probably come into this season with a little chip on their shoulder. Even from the coaching standpoint, everyone is going to come in with that edge to try and meet the expectations.

Q: You are obviously a proven player in this league, you've had success already. When I brought something to Brian Daboll before, he said "you're competing, everyone's competing" just the same regardless of how much you're making and what you were brought here to do. How much do you view it that way, or how do you feel?

A: I compete with myself, with everybody. When I go out there and see Wan'Dale, (Wide Receiver Kadarius Toney) KT, (Wide Receiver David) Sills (V), (Wide Receiver Darius Slayton) Slay make a catch, I'm competing with those guys. When they make a play, that urges you to go out there and want to make a play, that type of stuff excites me. When the defense goes out there and makes a play on the ball, line it back up, kind of like my lick back almost. So, when he says every day is a competition, I would say that is a fact. When I step on that field, I'm competing each and every play.

Q: Kenny how do you balance, you're a competitor obviously but, when you don't have things go your way obviously you want to show the coaches you're still good at this. But this is a new system you're learning, how do you balance being forgiving of yourself if a mistake is made versus coming down on yourself?

A: First off, I'm my biggest critique pretty much so, other people that say anything about me, they're not going to be harder than I am on myself. But I think it's really just coming into work with that hard hat on every day and just keeping your head down, and trusting the process and just grinding.

Q: Have Giants seen the "real" Kenny Golladay yet?

A: No, I wouldn't say so. Maybe I probably showed glimpses last year in New Orleans a little bit, I definitely would say I got a lot to prove, not just everybody else. I would say to myself I'm always in a daily competition with myself, just trying to better myself each and every day.

Q: Is that frustrating for you that you came here with big expectations and not produce the level that people have seen?

A: It was definitely frustrating, but that was pretty much last year, you know? It's a clean slate, kind of flush that and build from it.

Q: The reason that Daboll said that about the competition thing was because I asked him, what does he make of the previous two days of you catching balls in live drills and practice? So, I guess what he makes from that because your obviously a proven player and what his expectations are. It doesn't matter if you make 10 – 15 catches. So I'm curious what do you make of it when you don't catch balls in live drills, does it bother you?

A: Me being the competitor that I am, I kind of just look at it as a challenge. I'm pretty sure you probably know some receivers out here, when they don't get a ball in practice, you can kind of see it with the body language. So, I accept that as a challenge, and just figure out other ways that I can pop at least on the tape. If that's me blocking 30 yards downfield, that backside block so (Running Back) Saquan (Barkley) can go, or me blocking for Wan'Dale, or me just winning the 1-on-1 matchup I have, but I didn't get the ball. You just have to pick out little battles within the play and just keep going.

Q: Is it a bad day if you don't have any catches, or can it still be a productive day for you without making actually making catches?

A: I want to go into practice and make a catch, I'm not going to lie. I'm not going to say it was a bad day for me, but it goes back to just picking out the positive from it. But I do want to make catches during practice.

Q: It was a bit unusual to see you fire that ball.

A: I was pissed. I went down there and grabbed it, and (Cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson) just came and made a play and made it into a little fumble. So, yeah, I was pissed because it would've been a big completion for us.

Q: Kenny, how much has the new coaching changed technique or anything that you've done in the past, and how different is it; And how much does it take getting used to all of that?

A: I wouldn't say necessarily too much technique, more so you've just got to be a smarter player with this offense. There's a lot of moving parts as far as different guys in different positions. If you can play multiple positions, you can be on the field a lot of the time.

Q: You say you're your hardest critique. What do you see about your own game that you're unsatisfied with last year going into this year?

A: Well, I'm not going to talk about last year, but just as far as training camp and me coming down making those 50/50 balls. I pride myself on just catching the ball period to be honest. I would say just going back and looking at little stuff I could do better. I'm the type of person whenever my number is called, I just want to make the play.

Q: Kenny you said that you're learning new positions in this offense, is it stuff you've never done before or just stuff you haven't done in a long time?

A: I wouldn't say stuff I've never done before, more so when I say just being a smarter player, one play I could be playing this position, next play I could be playing something totally different. So, I've got to erase out my mind me playing one position to play this next position.

Q: So it's a position that you've never done before? I just want to be clear on that.

A: More so just the concept.

Q: Kenny there was a play in the preseason game down near the goal line, it looked like you came off the line and I was wondering rather you were trying to get the guy to fall asleep a little bit by not breaking out of the routes fast and then cutting across. It seemed like the ball was there or is it just a drop or what?

A: I definitely wish I would've come up with it. It's something that we definitely talk about as far as just the route itself. I want to say Wan'Dale at three, (Wide Receiver) Collin (Johnson) at two, and I was outside. Kind of trying to take my time a little bit for those guys, but at the end of the day I have to make the play.

Q: Kenny, do you feel like you're a little extra bounce this year? I just feel like you're enjoying it more, and that it's more comfortable, do you feel that way in practice?

A: Definitely, like I said today we were on and off the field. We went pads two straight days and the past couple of days. Today he (Dabs) wanted us to go out there and get our bodies moving but at the same time good competition, and that's all you can really ask for in a coach. You give him two hard days and you come back and kind of returns the favor a little bit.

Q: Do you think enjoying it sometimes might lead to even productivity, it adds to something like if you're happy and you're rolling along.

A: Definitely, when you step out there on the football field with a good mindset, it can go pretty well for you.

Cornerback Adoree' Jackson

Q: Why did you need the day off yesterday?

A: Coach (Brian Daboll) gave me I guess a little vet day.

Q: Did they make you?

A: Yeah, pretty much. I tried to get out there.

Q: What did you think of that?

A: I was sick, because I wanted to get out there and have some fun with the guys. Especially when they're making plays and running all over the field. That's one of the things you hate when it is your day to have a vet day. It sounds good, in a sense. Obviously, they're taking care of you and thinking of the bright side, but at the same time when you love to compete and want to be out there, it just sucks. But listen to what the coaches want, I know it's for the greater good.

Q: You are facing (Wide Receiver) Kenny Golladay a lot during camp. What have you seen from him this year?

A: It's great competition in the sense that we keep battling, going after it and that's what I can respect. We'll be doing one-on-ones or going to team and somebody else may be up and then Kenny will be like, 'Nah, Adoree' get up,' or, (Cornerback Aaron Robinson) 'A-Rob, come up,' so we can guard. That's what I respect the most about it. It's not like anybody is shying away from competition. We are going to go out there and compete every day. That's what we look forward to and appreciate the most from KG. He's gave us great looks – a big sized-receiver going out there, a good catch radius. It makes us have to work on our tangibles, what we do well and trying to figure out how to compete and play.

Q: With the level of competition, we know the defense has been chirping the offense a little bit about how they've been ahead. How much does that encourage both sides to level up?

A: It is good for competition because you'll see if we do make plays, but let's say we don't and then the offense is making plays, obviously they're going to be riled up and it just gets the defense going and vice versa. It's just us trying to battle. It's like big brother, little brother mentality out there – who is going to be the best at the end of the day. But when we go in the locker room it's all fun and games. When we step out between those lines, they are the opposing team and we're the opposing team for them. Yeah, ready for the next practice so we can get back at it, for sure.

Q: Obviously, you're showing a small percentage of what your defense is going to do in the preseason game. Do you kind of sense, I don't know if it's frustration but, (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale) wants to put all this stuff in? Then you get in a game, and you dial it back pretty significantly, correct?

A: It's about trusting the process. I understand that the rest of the results are going to be during the season. I think that's the great thing about having these preseason games, allowing us to be able to work, practice and get those reps in of what Wink wants us to do. When it comes to the games, giving us the calls that we know that makes us go out there and play fast and play free. I don't think we are worried or frustrated, as you said, about not doing everything that Wink wants us to do. When we go out here, we go out here and practice it and execute it in practice and understand that is on the table for a later day.

Q: Are there times on the field during a preseason games, like maybe this one coming up, where something happened and you say, 'Okay I see what happened here but we're going to do something different in the game?' Wink may even tell you, 'Look, we are going to do this differently in them game.' It's kind of like, 'Okay, I get it. I see what is happening.'

A: No. That's with anything, though, with practice or whatever it may be. At the end of the day, you are put in that situation to see how you are going to respond and come out of it. There is never a sense of, 'Oh, we really would have played it like this, or we really would have played it like that.' At the end of the day, we are out there competing, and we've just got to find a way.

Q: When we talked to you earlier this camp, you talked about interceptions and wanting more. Is the ball finding you? Are you finding the ball more in camp?

A: Just speaking it into existence. At the same time, when the opportunity presents itself, making the plays. I just think that's how it goes. Speaking it into existence, working on just going and attacking the ball and getting the ball, seeing it as mine. If we're out there, it's not me playing defense or them playing offense, it's like playing backyard ball. One-man individual throw up, tackle-type situation where we are all just competing, trying to get after the ball and just flying around. Then good things just happen when you're running towards the ball as well. That's a testament to that as well.

Q: Can you talk about the responsibility that you have back there? They're looking at you as the veteran, the one guy that kind of knows what is going to happen. Do you accept that responsibility? Do you like the pressure that comes with it?

A: We accept the, well I, accepts the challenge for us as a defense and us as a collective. As a team, offensively as well, special teams, just accepts the challenge of the unknown as a sense. Just going out there, worrying about today and the process of trying to perfect our craft. Working on the fundamentals, the little tangibles, the details and understanding that the bigger picture is always going to be the games, but at the end of the day the small picture is that practice, those mental reps, those walk throughs and everything that we do to help us get to that goal to be better.

Q: Personally, how do you accept that being the veteran here?

A: I enjoy it at the end of the day. Being able to go through certain things in my career early, not being old but still being able to relate to the guys. If they need to come to me and ask me for some help or ask me anything, I'm just being able to be there for them which I think is pretty cool. It's kind of like when we were in high school and somebody comes in like a freshman or when you're in college and you're an older guy and then everybody just wants to chop it up with you, chirp or whatever it may be. At the end of the day, they respect that. I'm not really trying to be all in their face telling them you need to do this, you need to do that. I just let them go and do their thing and if they need help, they know they can talk to me. I appreciate the role that is given to me and that I have.

Q: You guys came into camp with a lot of inexperienced guys in the secondary. What small things have you seen them pick up here in these first few weeks? How has that process been going?

A: I think just buying in, I think that's for all of us. Buying in, understanding that there are a bunch of changes going on in the organization. Us just buying in, not, 'Woe is me,' or feeling bad about the past or looking too much in front of the future. Just worrying about the day that we have, today, and being present and trying to perfect that day.