EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Success hasn't changed Joe Schoen. Pretty soon we'll see if it's changed the Giants.

Schoen did a masterful job in his first season as the team's general manager. He hired the eventual coach of the year and staffed the front office and built a roster with people who orchestrated a turnaround that ended a five-year streak of losing seasons and earned a playoff berth.

In the offseason, the Giants added standout veterans like Darren Waller, Bobby Okereke and Parris Campbell and a draft class in which all seven members could contribute.

Schoen and coach Brian Daboll met the media Thursday, 10 days before the Giants' season opener vs. Dallas. But if you thought everything that's happened in the last 19 months would cause Schoen to boast about his success and predict big things for the coming season, you came to the wrong news conference.

"Each day, we're going to try to get better," Schoen responded when asked his expectations in the wake of the team accomplishments in 2022. "The thing is progress. We're going to focus on our process. I think if we do what we did last year in terms of practicing the right way, coming in and being pros…again, we'll see what happens, I'm not going to say we're going to do X, Y and Z, but I think if we focus on our process, we'll see results."

Daboll offered a strong concurrence.

"It's a challenge every season in the NFL, at least it's been in the 23 years that I've been in the NFL," he said. "It's always different, it's never the same, there's a lot of challenges every year and you're going to go through them. And how you react to them and focus and stay locked in on your targets, that's really important and then ultimately, you've got to go out there and play well and coach well and that doesn't guarantee anything. So, we're just grinding along here. The guys have worked hard, they'll get a couple of days off then we'll get going here on Dallas."

Schoen doubled, tripled, and quadrupled down on his cautious comments.

For example, Schoen has not been shy in conceding that the Giants were 1-5-1 against NFC East teams last season. The lone victory was against fourth-place Washington, and the season ended with a 31-point loss in Philadelphia, their third in seven weeks to the Eagles.

Has that gap closed?

"We haven't played a game yet," Schoen said. "So, we'll see. Again, we're going to continue to prepare for Dallas and get ready for the season. I think I said it last year at the same press conference: it takes a few weeks into the regular season to figure out who the team is, how we're going to react when adversity strikes, and how we're going to handle if there's success, or if you're down at halftime.

"I think that showed last year against Tennessee in the second half (of the season opener). I didn't know how the team was going to react coming out of halftime or if you're playing Green Bay in London and you're down in the second quarter, 17-3. We still have a lot to learn about this team. We'll see when it comes to Sunday against the Cowboys, how they're going to come together as a team and gel and how they're going to react in those situations."

When he looks at the current roster, does he see a better version of last year's team?

"We'll see," Schoen said. "I like some of the guys that we brought in in free agency. I like some of the guys that we drafted, but they've still got to go out there and do it on Sundays."

Has he assembled a team he believes can challenge for the division title?

"We'll see," Schoen said. "Our guys (starters) didn't play a lot in the preseason. They played that Carolina game as a unit. We're still practicing and getting better daily, and we'll see what it looks like when we get to the regular season."

A reporter tried another tact, asking with quarterback Daniel Jones' increased comfort level and the new receivers he will throw to, does Schoen think the Giants should have a "much more explosive, big play" passing game this season. Schoen wasn't about to crack.

"We'll see," Schoen repeated. "I think Dabs and his staff have got a lot of confidence in them. It's about the guys coming together and gelling and executing when it matters. So, that's what I'm most excited to see when we get out there versus the Cowboys, see how we can - again, guys have to execute and come together and gel as a group, and we're still working on that."

In a final attempt to get Schoen to reveal expectations, he was asked, "what kind of litmus test are you looking for to say 'yes, we're better than what we were?'" The G.M. easily deflected that query.

"Again, it's too early to tell," he said. "We've got to get these guys out there and see they click together. Again, we brought in some new pieces, Waller, on defense Bobby, some of the defensive lineman that are depth players, two young corners. So, we'll see how this group comes together. It's still early, we haven't played any games and that'll be probably a better answer later in the year once we see how these guys react."

*Daboll was asked what he's seen from the team in the last five weeks. The players will be off for the next three days before reconvening Monday to begin preparing for the Cowboys.

"I think they had a productive camp," Daboll said. "I think we've gotten better from where we started, but again until you start playing in regular season games and adversity strikes and how you respond to things. There's a lot of things - you can't really take it from one year to the next year because it's a different team. Thirty percent of the guys are different, different things are going to happen, you're playing different opponents, how you react to certain things – you've really got to learn your team as you go in the regular season, and you just don't pick up where you left off last year or a preseason game."

*Schoen this week acquired two players via trade, inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons from Arizona and outside backer Boogie Basham from Buffalo.

"Talked to (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale); he's got a vision for (Simmons)," Schoen said. "He's a young guy, just turned 25, size, length, athleticism, and versatility. So, for the compensation (a 2024 seventh-round draft choice), we thought it made sense. We're excited to see what he does this year.

"(Basham is) a young man we're excited to get. He was a second-round pick (in Buffalo, when Schoen and Daboll were with the Bills). He's been in the league for two years. He still has two years left on his contract at a reasonable price. We think he's got a lot of upside. He's got to come in here, he's got to learn the playbook, and it's a different system than what he played in Buffalo. So again, he's been here one day, and we're looking forward to working with him."

*Schoen on the Giants' youth:

"I think we have 39 players that are 26 years old or younger, which as of today is second in the league," he said. "So, I think adding Boogie I think is 25 - so again, kind of a young nucleus of core guys here. I think between the youth and some of the veterans that we have, it's a good mix and he fit into that."

*Before taking questions, Schoen offered a tribute to Gil Brandt, who passed away. Brandt, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, was the Cowboys' vice president of player personnel from 1960-89.

"Our condolences go out to Gil's family. I lived in Dallas for 11 years, and he was often at pro days, or I'd see him at the Combine. Somebody in my position that I looked up to and was a mentor for me. I enjoyed a lot of long drives on the road when I was out scouting listening to him on the radio. So, definitely a sad day for me. He was somebody I definitely looked up to."