Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka

MIKE KAFKA: Happy New Year to everyone. I know you guys had some questions to (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs about like my future and all that stuff. So, I just wanted to address it really quick. Obviously, I love being here and I love working for Dabs and everybody. My only focus really is just on Philadelphia, the coaches, the players, and getting ready to play a great game and build on what we did last week.

Q: Do you expect to get head coaching interviews again? You've been a hot name in the cycles in the past. But we've seen from around the league that non-play calling OCs, including your friend, colleague Eric Bieniemy has a hard time getting those jobs. Do you expect to still get those interviews?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, I'd say my focus hasn't been on that. My focus has been on Philly and just getting prepared for the game this weekend.

Q: Are you under contract for next year?

MIKE KAFKA: Yes.

Q: What's been the biggest surprise for you with this offense? Something that you just, if we had asked you back in August, what's been the biggest surprise?

MIKE KAFKA: Well, I'd say one thing I'm really happy about is how our guys have responded to adversity. You think during the games, there could be a tendency to kind of just fall over and give up, and our guys have never done that. And I'm really proud of that. All the position groups on offense for doing that, the offensive line group for weathering all the storm of having a lot of guys in. And I think they're number one in the league in individual guys playing on the offensive line, number one in the league in new offensive lineups per game. So that's really impressive to (Offensive Line Coach Carmen Bricillo) Carm, really impressive to (Assistant Offensive Line Coach) James (Ferentz) in those rooms, and to the players too. I mean those guys being ready to step up. It's not easy to do at that position. And I think the whole offensive group in general has really rallied around that.

Q: You mentioned the adversity, how much of that is the players versus how much did you as a coaching staff have to build that up?

MIKE KAFKA: Absolutely, it starts with the players. I mean, it's a player's game. And again, I'm proud of that. Obviously, the coaches are there to help and support them and put them in the best position possible. I'm proud of the coaches for sticking with it and getting their guys ready and preparing no matter the situation. So, just a lot of really good things that I can think of off the top of my head that I'm proud of.

Q: In this new role you had this year, when you look back at it, I know you're looking ahead to Philly, but we won't talk to you next week. Do you look at it and say, do you feel that your voice, your opinion, your input was satisfactory to what you wanted in the last two years? You don't have some of those roles that you felt you still were a meaningful contributor to the offense and the team and things like that?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, it's been great collaboration between the staff, myself, other position coaches, coaches together as a group, players, player input. So, it's been really good collaboration there.

Q: What's this year been like for you? It's obviously different not being the play caller. What's that been like for you throughout this season? How do you kind of handle that?

MIKE KAFKA: I haven't had an opportunity to really kind of sit back and think about that. I mean I've just been focused on Philly. I'm just focused on the guys and getting ready this week. So next week would be that time to kind of think about it and have a really big scale evaluation.

Q: Just because you have some experience with this, after last season, obviously not this week, when will you start looking at draft quarterbacks.? Is that like a next week?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, it's a little bit different each year. But I know (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) and (Brian Daboll) Dabs will kind of get together on that and give us the plan. But it's several weeks, it could be a couple, it could be a few. I don't really have a date for that because…

Q: It's not like on Monday you start.

MIKE KAFKA: No, there's a few other things that kind of happen in between before you start working on that. But I think the scouting side is already kind of well into it. But from the coaching side, there's some self-scout, there's some other evals with the current guys. So, it's not set in stone yet.

Q: Have you been able to watch any of the young guys? Have you been able to watch (quarterback) Cam Ward or (quarterback) Shedeur Sanders?

MIKE KAFKA: No, I haven't had time to watch other teams or college guys or anything like that.

Q: Do you like that? I mean, do you feel when you were a quarterback and you work with quarterbacks, do you feel you're good at it? Do you like breaking down a quarterback and you feel your opinion is a really good opinion on him?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, it's fun to do that.

Q: And then do you feel…

MIKE KAFKA: I feel really strong about my ability to evaluate.

Q: You had opportunities last year in the college all-star games when you went, it was the Shrine Bowl right?

MIKE KAFKA: Yes

Q: Do you expect to participate in any of that stuff?

MIKE KAFKA: I think the way that it worked last year was there was a committee that kind of picked the groupings there. So, I think there's like GMs, there's other GMs across the league that kind of- so they talk and have a committee about who kind of goes to which game. So, I haven't heard anything, I'm not sure.

Q: Was that beneficial for you? Would you do it again if they asked you?

MIKE KAFKA: Absolutely, it's really cool. One, you get kind of a firsthand view of all the players. You're able to meet a bunch of different coaches from other staffs, working together. It's a really condensed week, so all the stuff that we do with our normal staff that we're around all season, you do it in one week with a bunch of new guys. So, it's cool, so there's a lot of learning and you're able to kind of put stuff together. And then all the new players and kind of getting them integrated, it's kind of, you kind of run around with your head on fire a little bit, but it's fun.

Q: Carmen Bricillo doesn't have the three-year perspective that you do. Obviously, you know the offensive line here for three years, five years, ten years, it's been kind of a revolving door. Do you feel this group made progress from where it was in the past and is less of a question mark going forward?

MIKE KAFKA: I would just say, again, I haven't had an opportunity to have a big picture evaluation of all three years. So, we've been so tied down to this season and what's in the present…

Q: I just mean if you feel more confident in those guys than you did in years past.

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, I feel very confident in (Carmen Bricillo) Carm and James (Ferentz) and that whole group. There's a good leadership group there and some of them are banged up. And we got to get them healthy, but there's still a really good core group of guys and that room is built very well. And I like there's a lot of young prospects there that are doing a really good job and are playing for us right now, frankly. So, we'll get a good evaluation on them and give them an opportunity to get better and give them some objectives to get better in the offseason.

Q: During games and especially after games, with Brian (Daboll) calling the plays, did you kind of then go over it because you were the play caller and kind of say, 'that's interesting', 'Maybe I would have done something different here', 'I would have done the same'. Is it kind of a fine-tooth comb? Because you obviously have aspirations after that each one, you're kind of trying to learn and figure out what you would have done and talk about that.

MIKE KAFKA: I think, yeah. I mean that's really with any game, whether you're calling it or not, even when you're watching someone else's tape against the opponent you're about to play, you're thinking about those situations. So, it's one thing to kind of watch the grand scope of the game, but then when you break down individual situations like 'why would a team call this?' Or 'why would you call this?' Or 'wow, this was kind of different'. So yeah, you learn from a bunch of different coordinators. I've learned a lot from (Brian Daboll) Dabs. I learned a lot from (Chiefs Head) Coach (Andy) Reid. The guys that I've been around, I've learned a lot from the coordinators and head coaches that I've been around as a player. (Raiders Senior Advisor) Norv Turner and (Ravens Offensive Coordinator) Marty Mornhinweg and (Chiefs Offensive Coordinator) Matt Nagy and (Jaguars Head Coach) Doug Peterson. And I can go down the list of guys that I've learned from. So, you just take all those experiences and learn from it and grow.

Q: Has evaluating quarterbacks become more difficult, given how they're used in college, given their different skill sets? I mean, they're no longer just throwing the ball. They're running, they're doing all kinds of things. So, does that make it harder to evaluate them?

MIKE KAFKA: To me, it's kind of two-fold, you evaluate. To me, the way I've looked at it in the past is I've evaluated kind of both skill sets individually. And then you take both of those, where they're at as a runner, where they're at as a passer, and then you kind of have a really good picture of who they are as a player. You look at where they're at situationally. Do they take sacks? Can they make plays outside the pocket? If so, how accurate are they? Which direction do they like to get out of the pocket? Is it right, is it left? Can they do both? Can they step up and get yards? Do they throw the ball away efficiently? All those things, so it's decision making. A lot of those things, when I think about evaluating a quarterback and the way that they're groomed from high school into college, certainly the game has changed. And a lot of those guys that are getting now into the league are forcing us as coaches to adapt and make their… It's one thing just to insert a guy into an offense or a scheme. It's another thing to build on their positive attributes and build an offense around a skill set.

Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen

Q: When you hear that the Eagles aren't going to play a lot of their guys, (Philadelphia Eagles running back) Saquon (Barkley), (Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen) Hurts, is it a reselling job to your group now saying, 'Okay, we're not dealing with Saquon (Barkley). We're not dealing with (Jalen) Hurts.' We're not dealing with (Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta) Smith…

SHANE BOWEN: (Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver) A.J. (Brown), (Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas) Goedert. The offensive line.

Q: Do you have to readjust to the new guys and learn the new guys and the backups now?

SHANE BOWEN: I think we have to do a good job as a coaching staff making sure we present who we think is going to be out there for them. They're going to have to play some guys. It's the NFL and you only got so many guys. So, that's part of it. We're preparing like any other week, getting ready to go and hopefully our guys are ready to go play. It's about us too. We got to go out there and hopefully end on a good note and play a little bit better than what we did last week. We have to make sure we still keep a little bit of focus on us and how we go about our business day by day and then ultimately come Sunday.

Q: Would you have liked the challenge of trying to stop Saquon (Barkley) from breaking that record?

SHANE BOWEN: He's a really good (running) back. We faced him already this year. Really good (running) back. I think a really good offensive line. It's a really good offense. I'm not surprised by what he's been able to accomplish, what they've been able to accomplish over there this year. It's difficult as a defensive coordinator, as a defense, to go up against Saquon (Barkley), that offensive line, A.J. (Brown), (DeVonta) Smith, (Dallas) Goedert and, obviously, Jalen Hurts and his ability to throw the ball and then you mix in the ability to run the ball. They're a big time challenge. It's one of those things that is out of my control. I'm focused on our guys and making sure we're ready to go and doing everything we can to kind of keep improving, keep building as we go here.

Q: I saw a stat that (outside linebacker) Brian (Burns) and (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) have had the highest success rate over the last few weeks as far as their pass rush win rate. What is it about that tandem that they work so well together and within the scheme?

SHANE BOWEN: That's a good question. I think just being coordinated and understanding who they are, individually and as a unit up there with who we're playing with inside right now as well. When they've had opportunities, they've been able to affect. They've been minimal in comparison to what we would like at times. But, you saw it last week. We got up on them. We were able to rush. It was true passing situations, we were able to affect the quarterback and get him to throw an interception to us. Then we were able to get back there and take it off of him late. They just continue to buy into what we're trying to do and be able to create some more of those opportunities. I don't think we are on third down enough right now. We're giving too many third and manageables where we need to create some more third and longs where they get opportunities. But, I think the main thing, for me, with those two is understanding who they are as rushers. Let's make sure we're focused on us and who we are. Then, as a coaching staff, we've got to go off those strengths and hopefully coordinate it to where they can complement each other with the other two guys who are in there.

Q: Not to take away from the other guys, but this has happened since (defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence II) went down. So, does that just make it all that more impressive?

SHANE BOWEN: Obviously when Dexter (Lawrence II) is out there, he's a pro bowler. When he's out there, he garners a lot of attention, as he should. So, that comes into play. But, different offenses have different ways of kind of affecting these guys, whether they chip with tight ends, they chip with (running) backs, trying to slow down these edges. Anytime there's not as much focus on one guy inside, I think it helps. But, obviously, to your point, it's turned the other way a little bit for us. So, I think that's a credit to those guys making sure they're ready to go and take advantage of the opportunities when they get them.

Q: This is the last time we'll talk to you this season. I know that's probably disappointing for you (laughs). It's the last time the fans will hear from you. What do you make of (cornerback) Deonte Banks' season? It was the first time the Giants tried him in the cornerback #1 role and his future going forward.

SHANE BOWEN: I think he's a young player. We have a lot of young players. This is year two, for him. He's just continuing to grow week in, day in, day out. Continue to improve, continue to take the leadership that's given to him, continue to take the coaching that's given to him and trying to find ways to get better at his craft each day. I've been pleased with him. He comes to work every day. Obviously he would like to have a little bit more production than what he's had. Hopefully we can get there and he can continue to progress to that. But, again, he's got the right mindset. It's just a matter of continuing to grow up. You've got these young players and they're just figuring out the game, what it is, week in, week out, day in, day out and then ultimately being able to go do it on Sunday.

Q: How much is accountability a big thing with that group? Learning how to be accountable at this level in the NFL?

SHANE BOWEN: I think that's a big thing with every player. There's the accountability… It's a big thing with the coaching staff. That's part of it. We're all in this together and all of us got to be able to take ownership of our mistakes and be held accountable, to hold ourselves accountable. We're not going to get things fixed until we know it's wrong, until we accept that it's wrong and that we've got to… Whether it's me trying new things, doing something different, putting these guys in positions that are more suitable to their skill sets and what we're asking them to do. So, I think that's across the board. I think whenever you're young, just play. You've got to get out there and play, keep learning and hopefully we can show some of that accountability. You learn by fire sometimes. That's the NFL. You're going up against—they get paid too. They get paid too. They're going to make some plays and you're going to have to be at your best. But, let's make sure that, as a group and as an individual player, we're doing everything on our end. Let's make them make the play. Let's not give them anything. You've got to be accountable to that and hopefully we can learn from those trials as they come and improve off of it.

Q: Did you get what you wanted out of that period there where he was taken off the field a couple of times?

SHANE BOWEN: I thought he came back and he battled. I do. I thought he came back and he battled. I thought he has been everything we've expected him to be week in and week out just from a work perspective here over these past five or six weeks. Obviously, last week he had a tough game. I felt like he was in decent position on a few of those. They were hand fighting on one and he got a little tug in there and got caught. Then, those other ones, he was in a good spot for the most part. I think you've just got to make sure he gets his head around and finds the ball quicker. Again, you're running 4.4, 4.3 speed, whatever it might be down the field, and all of a sudden you've got to be able to locate the ball and have confidence and make yourself comfortable in those uncomfortable positions because it is hard. We'll just continue to work on those little techniques down the field when we find ourselves in those positions.

Q: Do you think he's thinking too much at times?

SHANE BOWEN: No.

Q: I heard you say sometimes you've got to go out there and just play…

SHANE BOWEN: Go play.

Q: What did you make of your first season here?

SHANE BOWEN: We'll reflect a little bit next week. We'll dive into all that and where we're at. The run game comes to mind. The x-play runs is something we've got to improve upon. It's something I felt like we have these past five to six weeks. We've been holding teams under four yards a carry, which is pretty good. But, that's the one thing that's glaring to me. I think situationally we were really strong early on, those first 10 weeks through the bye week. I think that's kind of teetered off a little bit here lately. Like I mentioned earlier, creating some longer third down situations. A lot of third and shorts even showed up last week. But, we'll see. I'm proud of the guys. I'm proud of the way they battled. They've fought. We've had a lot of different guys in there who have made the most of their opportunities. They have. They've played hard. They continue to stick together. They've battled through adversity throughout the season. Credited them last week. We get a fourth down stop. We didn't play great, but we found stops when we needed to. We got a fourth and short stop. It was a huge stop in the game after a sudden change. Failed fourth down attempt. We went out there and three and outed them. Then we came up with big plays late. I'm just proud of the resolve, proud of the guys that have stepped up and contributed.

Q: Coming in here you inherited most of your position coaches. What has it been like navigating that? How was that?

SHANE BOWEN: It's been good, honestly. I think we've got a really good group. I lean on those guys a lot. Again, I've said it before, it's not my defense, it's our defense. We're going to figure it out and I'm going to take their input. Coming into a new situation, it's kind of a benefit just because of the relationships and the familiarity with the players. They know these guys better than anybody. So, to be able to have that opinion, that view of these guys really helped early on. We've grown as a staff as it went. I feel like I've gotten more comfortable with them. They've gotten more comfortable with me. Just expectations, accountability and all those types of things, setting the standard of what we want to do in the office, on the field. So, it's been good. It has. We've got a good group of guys and it's been enjoyable. Obviously, we wish we would have played a little bit better at times and got some different results, but I really like the guys that are here.

Q: You mentioned earlier about you've got to make some changes and everyone has to look and see what's going on. Do you think next week when you reflect on this, you'll think, 'Did I do enough to change?' while also staying within what you want to do, what you believe in? Is that something maybe for next year you may really explore?

SHANE BOWEN: Absolutely. I think it always goes back to the players. I think that's the main thing for us as a coaching staff, is making sure we put the players in the best position to be successful based on their skill set and based on experience. A lot of different things go into that. I feel like we're pretty multiple with what we do from a coverage standpoint, from ability to adjust to different fronts, pressures, whatever it might be. I feel like we've got a little bit of everything. Part of that conversation is, 'Do you hone in and maybe scale back with what you're trying to do?' There's a lot you look at, but for the most part, in my mind, it comes down to the players What can they handle? What do they feel most comfortable with? Where are they at their best where they can go out and execute and perform on Sunday?

Special Teams Coordinator Michael Ghobrial

Q: Got another return in you?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Hopefully. It was good to see that success happen last Sunday, and when you get one of those, it's contagious, and I feel like the guys always felt like they were close. I told them in the meeting that we don't have to say 'we're one block away anymore', so it was a good opportunity for them to showcase that all their hard work came to fruition there, and obviously getting a good play, and hopefully we can run it back.

Q: Can you talk about (wide receiver) Ihmir (Smith-Marsette) a little bit, just what he's brought to the room and what he's done?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: I've said it before about Ihmir, it starts with the personality and his energy. It's truly contagious. It is and when you're looking at a returner in general, it always starts with the skill set, obviously, but there's a plus-one attribute that not a lot of people see, and that's the person, the human being. When people truly feel like that guy can go the distance, there's a little bit more added bonus to making that block a little bit tighter, being a little bit more aggressive to finish those blocks, and because Ihmir is that type of person, he gives you the conviction that anytime he touches the ball in his hand, he's going to try and score. Guys feel the importance of that, and obviously you've seen the strain by our guys in terms of the return game of trying to put themselves in position to make sure that happens, and then obviously the skill set shows up. You see the speed. You see the ball skills, the ability to make you miss, all things that obviously he's been able to show, and I'm really happy for him because he does work his tail off. I'm happy for the guys as well.

Q: I think there's been seven kickoff returns this year for touchdowns. What is it about this new dynamic kickoff that allows for that or is it just the skills of the returners?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: There's not as many layers the way this new return is set up, and that's based off of the formational rules that you're allowed to line up with, so it's not as… With the old kickoff, having all that space before, there was natural layers based off of guys' different speed types and then being able to basically layer your kickoff unit. With this new kickoff system, because everybody is on the 40-yard line in plus territory, you don't necessarily have the timing and spacing to be able to layer your kickoff unit once the ball is caught because there's not enough time to get down there. So, if you have aspirations to tackle people inside the 25 or inside the 20, you've got to get on your horse and go. Because of that, when there's a crease and it's blocked up, returners, if they have great catch mechanics, can hit that thing a million miles per hour and there's not a lot of 'save it' to that play.

Q: I'm sure every guy that is put back there believes he's going to take it to the house every time the ball goes up, but there's something to say about guys who actually not just believe it, but kind of walk it, talk it, and actually do it. Is that part of the personality that you're talking about, that just the idea that this guy may talk about it, but people see it, and he sees it, he knows that if he gets that block, he can take it?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yeah, there's evidence of it. When somebody is telling you everything that they can do, you still want to be able to see it, and when he's put pen to paper and has done it in this league here and in other places, you're like, 'okay, this guy obviously has done it and can say he's done it and says that he can continue to do it'. And everybody in the building believes that he can, including his teammates.

Q: As the Giants move forward here, what do you make of (kicker) Graham Gano's season? Obviously, he missed a lot of time. I think he's only attempted nine field goals, long of 50, which is not quite the leg that he's had in the past. Is that a product of opportunity? Does he still have the leg? How do you feel about an upper 30s-year-old kicker?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yeah, I mean it's a combination of things, obviously, because he missed some time. The production numbers isn't where probably he wants it to be, but I think he's done a nice job in this back half of the season of getting back in rhythm and really time on task of hitting the ball that he knows he can hit. So yes, I think he would like more opportunities. But he's done a nice job, like I said, in terms of just coming back and answering the bell when his opportunity presents itself. It's the veteran experience that he'll always lean on, and I'll lean on as well as everybody in this building. The guy that has done it at a high level for so long, I still believe that he can.

Q: Does he still have the leg strength?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yeah, we've seen it. Like I said, because he's been out, part of it was when he did come back, the weather was changing. We were starting to get into wintertime here, so whether we kicked indoors, and you saw the leg strength or whether we played outdoors, you still see it. It may not be in the magnitude of distance, but it might be in the ability to push the ball downfield still.

Q: As we get to the last game of the season, how do you think you've done in you first year here?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yeah, number one, I have so much respect for the players in the building. Their resolve, their ability to answer the bell when the win column wasn't necessarily there. I think guys have continuously showed up to work and truly bought into making game-changing plays. There's certainly, from a special teams' standpoint, some plays we'd like back that weren't up to our standard, but there's a lot of plays that will continue to be highlights going into the offseason for us. Things that our players really took pride in is making one game-changing play a game, and you've seen that throughout the season with their ability to do that. So, I always think that consistency is the truest measure of performance, and the more time on task these players had, you started to see more consistent ball in the back half of the season, and that's something I'm truly proud of the guys in terms of their response and their ability to come out to work and do that.

Q: What have you learned going through this season for the first time as an NFL special teams coordinator and what do you take going forward?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yeah, I mean a ton. I've learned a ton and will continue to learn every day. There's not necessarily one specific moment that I could point to. It's a culmination of every day holding this position, and that's something that, honestly, I go back to my office after every practice, after every meeting, after every game, and I continuously self-scout myself as a coordinator and then what our players are doing as well and always trying to find ways to continuously improve. I think the second someone stops learning and the second someone stops trying to improve themselves and those around them, then you're not going to get a good product. So, I'm going to continuously learn and excited for the future.

Q: Did you enjoy your first year with this organization? How was it working with (Head Coach Brian) Daboll?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Great. Again, when people talk about enjoyment, the number one thing I always point to is people. And I know, like I said, the production in terms of the wins wasn't necessarily there, but you can tell a lot about a person when they face adversity. That's a true measure of character, I truly believe. And the energy in practice by the players, the energy by the coaches to scratch and claw for every detail, regardless of who was playing, who was not playing, tells a lot about the people in this building. So, I have tremendous respect for obviously Dabs because I think leadership starts at the top and his messaging has never wavered. He's been a man of integrity, a man of character, and has really been a good leader. So again, it's about the people to me and the people have made this job enjoyable.

Q: Did you have the gray hair in your beard?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Oh, man. I always make a joke about that, that they started to show up a little bit more. But unfortunately, Father Time gets the best of everybody here. But, yeah, we'll see. That's probably why I'm wearing a beanie right now. (Laughs)

Q: Just in terms of maybe a bigger picture, it seems more this year, maybe it's because of the dynamic kickoff that week-to-week teams have talked about on special teams, that they've found something in the opponent and kind of taken advantage of. You guys obviously have done that and different teams across the league. I'm just curious, over the last couple of years, with that attention to detail, have you noticed that more and more teams are looking for weaknesses? Because you hear about it on offense and defense, you put something on film, people will keep attacking it until you fix it. Do you sense that now even moreso from a special teams' perspective?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yeah, there's more volume. I think early on in the season, when you're truly trying to study the new rule, the first three games by everybody, you're basically studying a culmination of all the teams. So, you're not necessarily getting general scheme tendencies by one specific team. You're really studying what are the trends around the league, what is happening on this play. But as teams start to play more games, you get into the middle part of the season. And towards the back half of the season, you're starting to see, 'what's this team's identity in terms of that unit?' 'Where are they positioning players to do certain jobs?' 'Where are they positioning certain returners?' So certainly, tendencies show up, certain strengths show up, certain challenges show up. And that's something that, obviously, I feel like we've had success in terms of the return game because of being able to identify those things, and certainly something that we've got to continue to move forward with more information going into next year.

Outside Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux

Q: As you close the season this week, can you make an impression going out? Can the team build something here these last couple weeks going forward?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: Definitely, I think this part of the season a lot of guys are playing for individual things as far as contracts or whether they're going to be on a different team next year or whatever it may be. But we're all still playing for something. I think we definitely got something to prove anytime we are out there.

Q: How difficult was the year for you when it comes to the losing side?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: For me, I got hurt in the season. So, I missed about five games, five or six, I don't really remember. But, when you miss games and you can't really contribute to the overall aspect, it hurts, even watching it. Obviously, us putting so much into it, it hurts, for anybody across the league. We are definitely going to take this to heart and continue to build from it and just keep doing what we can.

Q: Do you think the components are in this locker room for building for the future?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think we got a lot of young guys. I think with this league, the turnover is so fast that you have to mature fast. That rookie season is so long. But you're only a rookie for the first three games. At that point, you have to become a vet. So, I think, for us being a young team, one of the younger teams in the league, I think it was really good getting a lot of young guys reps and just being able to continue to build for the future.

Q: There'll be some speculation about (Head Coach Brian) Daboll after this game Sunday. What's it like playing for him and why do you feel he's the guy for the job?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I mean he's a great coach. It's sports. It's something that you can't control, in the NFL specifically. We affect everybody's money. All of us in this locker room affect each other, even with the coaching staff. So, for him as a coach, I love him. I think he's a great coach. I think he's a player's coach. I think he has great philosophies. Sometimes things just don't shake out for the season or whatever it may be. I got total confidence in the organization and total confidence in the coaching. So, I don't know how it'll shake out, but things will happen how they're supposed to.

Q: Do you want him back? Would you want to play him again next year?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: Definitely, yeah.

Q: (Defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence II) making a Pro Bowl again in a shortened season. What does that say about his impact in a short time?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: When I first got here, he was a guy I looked up to from his on-the-field play and then obviously the person he is. But he's a Hall of Famer in his own right. So, I think as long as he continues to do what he's doing, keep his head down, he's going to get a gold jacket one day.

Q: Do you long for playing games at the end of the season that are going to lead to something else? The Eagles are playing this game and they're going to the playoffs. Is that just a different thing when you're doing that later in the season?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: You always want to play important football in November, December, come January. I definitely wish that we could have more impactful football right now. But you got to play the hand with the cards that you dealt. Now we got to go and prove what we can against the Eagles.