Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: Can you talk a little bit about (guard) Mark Glowinski and how he has responded after the first game having a rough time and just coming back and settling things down and settling his performance down?

A: I think he's had two good weeks of practice. I thought he played well yesterday. He's done a good job of bouncing back and making the most of his opportunities, and I'm looking forward to him continuing to do that.

Q: Regarding (wide receiver) Jalin Hyatt, I was talking with him yesterday and he said to me that he still wants to become more of a complete receiver. What have you seen from him? What does he still need to do other than obviously get better in all aspects of the game to become a complete receiver?

A: He's young. I've talked about this before. He's improving, but with these young players, we've still got a ways to go in detail, assignment, execution, everything that every position gets evaluated on. Those are things we'll continue to work on with him. It was good, again, to see him make a few plays, but certainly have ways to improve.

Q: I know things change fast in the NFL. It was only a couple of weeks ago that we were asking you about your defense missing tackles, and now we're asking about a dominant defense. Why do you think that is that they played so well here the last couple games? Is that just the case of a bunch of new guys and needing time to gel together? Is it something you see different from your defense? Why has the defense looks like it has joined the ranks of the better ones in the NFL these last couple of weeks?

A: I think they're improving. They're improving their chemistry. They've done a good job with their fundamentals. I think (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale) has done a good job with them. Try to eliminate as many big plays as we can. I know they hit a couple to (Commanders wide receiver Terry) McLaurin yesterday, but they're playing well.

I thought our front did a good job. That's where it starts. (Defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence II), I'd say, had a very, very good game, along with (defensive lineman) Leo(nard Williams). Guys like (defensive lineman) A'Shawn (Robinson) and Nacho (defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches) that moved in, they did a good job. That's where it starts. But again, chemistry, playing together, I think all those things are in play with that. But again, one week has nothing to do with the next. We're going to have to go out there and do a good job of getting ready to play this week.

Q: When it comes to punt returner, I feel like I've heard you say generally speaking about your team, you play the best guys. Has (running back) Eric Gray been the best guy as a punt returner for you guys for the first six weeks, seven weeks, or are there other factors involved with him like trying to justify the draft pick by getting a rookie a role when you know he's not going to be able to get many carries in a (running back) Saquon (Barkley)-dominated backfield?

A: You're always looking to put as good of guys back there as you can. He's competed. He's worked hard. So, that's why he's back there.

Q: Will he still be back there going forward, or do you consider that more open than you have?

A: I'd say we're going to look at it here. We're going to look at it.

Q: Do you plan on, or do you think you need to bring in somebody from the outside to fill that position, especially if he's injured?

A: We'll have workouts this week like we always do.

Q: Where are you at the quarterback position as you begin this week?

A: Relative to?

Q: Relative to (quarterback) Daniel's (Jones) health.

A: I don't have any update yet on DJ's (quarterback Daniel Jones) health.

Q: Can you just give an overview of what this offense is like with Saquon versus without Saquon. Obviously, the running game has not been gangbusters, but he certainly made a difference in these last two games, and just what you feel you and (Offensive Coordinator) Mike (Kafka) can do with Saquon going out there as opposed to not having him out there.

A: I've said this before: you always hope all your best players are out there. So, he's one of them. We'll do what we need to do each week, but it's better to have him out there than it's not.

Q: You've dealt with quarterbacks for so long. Is that a position where the coach needs total clarity with his team, as far as who's in, who's out, who we're going with? A lot of coaches feel quarterback is kind of a different animal than any other position on the field where he's the leader, he makes everything go, he gets the most money, all that, that the coach has to be in complete clarity with his players as far as, 'This is our guy, we're going with him, here's why.'

A: I guess I'm not following you with that.

Q: Do you look at quarterback as sort of a different position? You treat everyone the same, but quarterbacks have an elevated position on a lot of teams where it's important to know who is the guy there?

A: As you go through the week, it's important to know who your guy is going to be at really any position. You have strategy and backup plans if that's not the case. Certainly, it's an important position. Each week we go into it, it's ideal when you know who your quarterback is versus who it's not.

Q: Is it the most important position? You said it's an important position. Is it the most?
A: Quarterback? It's a pretty important position. Yeah, absolutely.

Q: What's the best thing that you've seen from Jalin Hyatt? I understand he's a rookie, he has a lot of room to improve, and I think he understands that as well from my conversations with him, but what's the best part that he's brought to this team?

A: He's made some big plays when he's had an opportunity to, in terms of downfield. We threw him a few more this game, came down with some, didn't with others. Again, I can't say it enough, he's got a long way to go. Hard position to jump right into. He's making strides, but still got a lot to learn and details to clean up.

Q: How did you think (quarterback) Tyrod (Taylor) played yesterday?

A: I thought he played well, yeah. Had firm control, made good decisions, had a good game.

Q: How much more involved were you with the offense in the meetings and stuff last week? Why did you see that as necessary?

A: Yeah, I know there's a report on it. I'd say I'm involved every week. I meet with offense, I meet with defense, special teams, go into all the meetings in all three phases. I meet with all the coaches. I have a variety of meetings every week, just obviously being the head coach. So certainly, I'm in the offense. I've been in the offense before. I'll continue to be in the offensive room, but I'll also be in the other rooms, too.

Q: The end of the game, I'm just curious, obviously it didn't come to fruition because of the timeout thing with the injury, but what was your plan—

A: Safety.

Q: Were you going to take a safety?

A: Yeah. It was 49 seconds. We had seven seconds. It was 56 seconds. So, taking a couple slow knees, it would be similar to the Green Bay game that we had over there in London. That was the strategy going into it, and then there was the injury and no timeouts. They reset it to 40, it was 33 seconds, so we could just run out the clock.

Q: I'm not asking so much about where (where) Andrew (Thomas) is going to be this week, but where was he at the end of last week in terms of his progress in getting back?

A: He was better than the week before.

Q: Does that leave you encouraged that this might be at least a limited participation on the field?

A: I'd say it's early in the week. Wednesday, I'll probably have a better answer for you.

Q: You've been on both sides of this Jets-Giants rivalry. I know you're micro focused on things, but is there something special about playing a team in your own city? Could you feel it on the Jets side, and do you feel this week at all?

A: My focus is to just get ready to get started on these guys. Got a tremendous amount of respect for (Jets Head) Coach (Robert) Saleh. Understand the history behind it. This is, again, a good team that's playing well that just beat Philadelphia. They're on their bye week. So, that's really where my focus is, just getting onto the tape and kind of turning the page here from the last week.

Q: Have you looked at any tape yet?

A: Right after this.

Q: Based on even without looking at it, how good is that defense you're about to face?

A: I've got to go watch the tape. I know we played them in the preseason. I've got a tremendous amount of respect, like I said, for Coach Saleh. He's a heck of a football coach. They're a dynamic defense, obviously. I think they've given up one touchdown – it's early in my preparation right now – one touchdown in the second half. So, they take the ball away, they play fast, they're a good defense.

Defensive Lineman Leonard Williams

Q. Is it hard for you to believe that by the end of this year, you will have been a Giant just as long as you were a Jet? Does that make sense to you at all? Do you feel like you spent an equal amount of time with both teams?

A: I think I'll forever be grateful to the Jets for giving me my first opportunity in the NFL by drafting me there, but I've been with the Giants so long now that the Jets almost feel pretty distant to me at this point. Like when I see the Jets on the schedule, it's not like something I'm like 'woah, I used to play there' you know? I kind of just see them as another opponent on the schedule at this point. But I guess like around this time when we finally have them up this week is when I started to get messages from old teammates and stuff like that, that bring it up, but I forget about it until those moments. But you know it's always exciting to play in this game.

Q. What did this game mean to the Jets? You probably know more than anybody what this game means to the Jets and now what it means to the Giants.

A: Honestly, throughout my career, no matter what coach I played for, they try to let you know that it's a big game to the people of New York and the fans of both teams, but at the same time it would be good of the team to treat it like a regular week. Just like every game, we don't want to get too high or too low, after a win or after a loss, or leading up to a game, even. We never like to try to get too high or too low. As far as players and coaches, I think we try to treat it as a regular game and prepare the same way we would.

Q. How would you describe the rivalry to somebody, let's say they are from outside the area, they don't know anything about the Giants or Jets, how would you describe the rivalry to them?

A: I mean, I think it's a big one because it's two New York teams. We also play in the same stadium. I think for the fans, they love to see it. This area is known for the blue-collar type of people, so it's a gritty, type of old-school football per se. I think fans love to see it.

Q. You obviously have been in both places a decent amount of time now, what to you is the biggest difference being with the Giants compared to being with the Jets?

A: That's a good question. I think there would be a big difference in any organization you go to. From the top down, there is a whole different staff of people, but I really appreciated my time in both places, I think at this point I have grown to love the Giants longer, I've been here longer, and I think I love the tradition here a little bit more.

Q. We talked last week about how it felt like that was a game the defensive line could really assert itself, it certainly looked like you guys did that. Do you feel like you did that and can you guys do that now going forward? Do you feel like that's the standard for you, (defensive lineman) Dex(ter Lawrence II), (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux), all those guys to play at now going forward now that you've shown you can dominate a game?

A: Yeah, I mean I feel like leading up to the game, just from what we've seen on film, teams getting after them on defense against their offense in terms of like sacks and pressures and things like that and I think as a whole front we saw that as an opportunity to step up those sack numbers or get to the quarterback. I think we did a good job of that. I think the coaches did a good job of putting everybody in position for that and we made it happen as players. I think going forward that gives the defense confidence in those areas. Whenever you thrive in a certain area in any game, it kind of shows the team that you can do it, so you want to keep doing it more and I think it's definitely given our front and rush some juice going forward.

Q. Only a couple of weeks ago, we were asking why is the defense struggling, why are you guys missing so many tackles, and I know things change quickly in this league, why do you think you've gone from that, I guess that was probably Week 3 or 4 to three weeks later, dominating? Is that guys just needing time to gel? It's not that many different faces under (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale). Why did it take maybe this long to get the defense to gel or is there an actual schematic change you can point to or an attitude change that made a big difference between there and now?

A: I think there are quite a few factors. We have a young team, there are some rookies that are starting on the team that have to get adjusted to the speed of the game, like where their teammates are going to be on certain plays, all these adjustments. It's players from different systems, whether they are older or younger, they are coming into a new system and have to develop new ways of playing with each other. There are different ways people play with their front and backers, how they fit off of each other, and things like that. Throughout the beginning of the season when we knew we were struggling in those areas, we tried to harness in and correct those areas of the defense and I think we have such a good brotherhood on the defense that we really take pride in doing our job for the man next to us and when it's something that we focus on and harp on, I think everybody takes pride on in fixing it.

Q. I know you don't play against the Jets' defense; you play against their offense. Two things, do you look at it as a measuring stick, they have a great defense, and you have a great defense, do you consider it, like we have to out-defend their defense? They are really outspoken about they want to be a historic defense, like the Legion of Boom or the '85 Bears. You guys don't usually say stuff like that, do you consider that a measuring stick, I guess?

A: I've never looked at it as a measuring stick, but I think they do have a good defense, but at the same time, just like I said about this brotherhood of defense, taking pride in what we do for the guy next to us, I think we also take pride in wanting to be the best defense anytime we step on the field, no matter what team it's against. We want to be the best defense and we are competing against their offense of course, but we are also competing against the whole field, so I think we take pride, and we will continue to be that way.

Q. With your backs to the wall in the same end zone, two plays, obviously the field goal block, is there something that you saw on film coming in that you thought a block was possible? How did it play out in your eyes?

A: I think Coach T-Mac (Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey) does a good job of showing us where the holes are on our field goal protection for our defense and in that situation, a lot of times I'm on the backside of the block, and in this particular situation, he called a call where I was a part of the block on this one and I just knew that we let the offense drive a little bit and I just remember getting in my stance next to Nacho (defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches) and Nacho is like loading up, and I'm like, hey, this could be a huge play right here, like let's get this block, this could be it right here. I think he didn't look at me or say anything, but I could just tell by the way he was screwing his cleats in that he was ready to get off the ball and I think he did a great job of getting off the ball and driving and it allowed me to use that drive to get a little bit of penetration and get my hand up. It was great teamwork honestly and great communication, I think we spoke it into existence a little bit.

Q. Just to ask you about the goal line stand obviously on the last play that was incomplete. (Inside linebacker) Bobby O(kereke) said yesterday that the message in the huddle, as it always is with Wink's defense, is attack, that you guys were not going to lay back, you were going to attack. What kind of confidence does this show in this defense at every level to know that in that situation it's basically zero and go after it and see whatever happens in the end?

A: I honestly love that mindset. As a defender, we like to be known as hunters and people who get after it, and we are like a pack. To instill that mindset in a defense and have that as a group, really creates a nasty mentality. One thing Wink always says a lot that I love is he says, 'We always hold the pen last' and I like that because even if offenses are audibling or checking or motioning or anything like that, we feel like we have the pen last and we are going to make them do what we want them to do and I like that mindset, it's fun.

Offensive Lineman Ben Bredeson

Q. Do you feel like you guys have stabilized things on the offensive line a bit? I don't know if that means maybe getting comfortable with constant change. It's not like you guys have settled into the same line, (offensive lineman) Tyre Phillips was on the Eagles last week, but it seems like the results are better.

A: I think we took a great step forward in the past week and like you said, Tyre coming in, I thought he did a good job and I thought we played well together as a unit.

Q. How do you think that plays into the last two weeks? There have certainly been more aggressive throws, more downfield throws. Obviously, a lot goes into that. (Quarterback) Tyrod (Taylor) versus (quarterback) Daniel (Jones) and (running back) Saquon (Barkley) being healthy versus not being there. What is the offensive line's part in that? Do you feel like you guys have given the offense the time to take more shots than you were earlier in the season?

A: Obviously, with more downfield throws like that you need to have a little bit more time and some strong protection. I feel like we've been working well as a unit and have been taking a good step forward in working together in pass pro.

Q. I know you don't go against your starting defense every day like you do in training camp. What have you seen from them in terms of a couple of weeks ago we were on them about not tackling well and now it seems like they are playing like one of the best units in the league. What have you seen from those guys in terms of motivation or play or just answering the bell?

A: Obviously, on the offensive side, we knew what we had in our defense going against them every day in training camp and leading up to the season. We have some great leaders on the defensive side of the ball, and we have a lot of great athletes back there as well. From the defensive line all the way back to the safeties. I believe it's a very talented group and they're playing really, really, well right now.

Q. Yesterday (offensive lineman) Justin (Pugh) was talking about how the offensive line has been 'overcommunicating' to make sure that given the different guys that were coming in and out of the line up and everybody is on the same page. Can you talk a little bit about that process and have you found that to be helpful for your play?

A: Absolutely. I think one of the biggest pieces in offensive line play is making sure that we're all on the same page and going to the right guys and accounting for our responsibilities. When we don't have a whole lot of time to gel together, like a full training camp or OTA's or things like that, we have to overcommunicate and make sure that we all know who we're responsible for and be able to be working together as a unit.

Q. Can you give a quick example of the overcommunication process? Is it like you're sitting at lunch, and somebody calls out a play or is it something more involved to it?

A: It might be something more involved. It's more so – we call it sometimes a call and a response and just making sure that everybody knows what their responsibilities are. Communicating at the line of scrimmage, coming off on the sideline and communicating there what we're seeing and any possible adjustments or anything like that and talking through it and making sure that everyone knows what the plan is and how we need to execute.

Q. This is not a trick question, I'm not asking who you like better. Can you just talk about being in the huddle, being on the field with the two different quarterbacks, Tyrod and Daniel? Is there a different feel or is there a different style that these two guys present? Every person and every player is different. Can you speak to that a little bit?

A: Like you said, obviously, Daniel and Tyrod have their – I'd call it slightly unique characteristics that are different from one another but for the main point, they're both great veteran leaders, great quarterbacks, taking control of the huddle and making sure that everyone's on the same page. It's a pleasure to block for either one of them.

Q. What are some of those characteristics that you see manifest itself in a huddle or on the field?

A: I guess it could just be their own personalities, things like that. I think they're both wired like true professionals and they're both kind of wired the same way. From the o-line perspective, we don't really – I wouldn't say that there's a complete difference in style of play with the two quarterbacks. I think they both make sure that we're all staying calm. Just speaking from this past game, Tyrod did a great job of having that veteran presence and making sure that even when things weren't going right, that we were all staying together. When Daniel is in, he's doing the same thing. He's checking with us on the sidelines and making sure…it's not like we're really skipping a beat or we're having anything too different when it's Tyrod or Daniel back there.

Q. How different does the offense look to you when you go back and watch it on tape with and without Saquon?

A: Saquon is – he's a key part to this offense and he's an exceptional running back and a great player for us. It's awesome when he's in the game and he can make some explosive plays like we saw this past game. He adds a great dynamic for us on the offensive side of the ball.

Q. How much as an offense do you feel better today than you did the past few weeks? Just on the fact that when you got that first touchdown, when you ended that streak, does that take a weight off your shoulders at all?

A: I don't know if it's a weight off the shoulders, it's just good to see some results. Especially a red zone touchdown like that, where there were some times where drives were stalling out down there and to be able to finish in the red zone was awesome.

Q. I know you haven't been here too long but what do you make of the Giants-Jets rivalry? What do you see from their defensive front that you're going to have to go against this week?

A: In terms of the Giants-Jets rivalry, I know that this is going to be a game that's near to a lot of people's heart. Personally, I can't speak a whole lot out of that at the moment, because I've only been here for a couple of years, and we haven't had a regular-season game against the Jets while I've been here. I'm looking forward to it, I'm very excited to be a part of it. They have a good defense. They have a good defense, and we need to be prepared and ready for that.

Q. I know you haven't done much studying on them but when you look at their defense, it seems like they are very balanced between their edge rushers and their middle and they don't really blitz a lot. What does that mean for an offensive line? Is it just about winning one-on-ones and things like that?

A: Yeah, it's winning your one-on-one matchup and it's working together as a unit and being able to help. Someone's always going to be in a position where maybe they can get some help and sometimes you're just going to have win your one-on-one matchup. Like we talked about earlier, in a previous question about overcommunicating and making sure that everyone's on the same page.

Q. Did you get any kind of sample size at all from the preseason game? They did play their starters a little bit I guess in that game, correct?

A: Correct. Yeah, I got a little bit, yeah. Like you said, there was a small sample size there, so we got a couple drives of it from that last preseason game. Like I said before, they have a good defense over there.

Q. Just because you're in the same city and sometimes your games aren't at the same time, have you watched them at all? Just even on TV?

A: Yeah, I mean, I watch some games so obviously you're always tuned into it. There are times where we'll have a late game or they're playing on a Monday night, something like that and you catch the game, so I've seen them play before.

Q. When you watch it do you watch it as an offensive lineman, or do you just watch the game?

A: Sadly, that's kind of how the football watching goes for me now is watching the o-line. It's taken out that whole watching the game as a fan. I'm always tuned into the o-line of whatever team has the ball so –

Q. The D-line too? O and d-line?

A: Yeah, I mean, exactly. I tend to watch the blocking more than the ball, watching it as a casual fan.