Head Coach Brian Daboll
DABOLL: All right, so good to get a win. Don't have much on the injury front, I haven't talked to the trainers yet. Good to get a win, proud of the team, all of them.
Q: When you look at (quarterback) Jaxson Dart, it's kind of a two part question. Can you take us through what you saw from him in that first drive of the game and then his overall game and leading you guys to that first win?
DABOLL: Yeah, I mean, that's his job as a quarterback, make good decisions. Convert, make the right choice. It wasn't perfect, didn't expect it to be in this first game. But a tough opponent, 3-0 team with pretty good defense. Thought he made good decisions, that we ran the ball well, thought we controlled the game for the most part. Had some turnovers on defense, but I think the young man played well within himself. Made a huge play when he needed to, to (tight end) Theo (Johnson), in that third-down play. Happy we got him.
Q: It took a lot for you guys to make the decision to go to Jaxson this early in the year, and for you to respond though with a victory, as you said against this team, what does it mean? And do you feel any vindication at all?
DABOLL: I mean, we're trying to go 1-0. We closed it out this game, missed the closing out a couple weeks ago. So there was some improvement in that area. The running backs ran hard; we only had two of them up. They both ran hard, (running back Devin Singletary) Motor and (running back Cam) Skatt. The line played pretty well. But again, defensively, I thought we created some pressure on (Los Angles' quarterback Justin) Herbert. They hit us on a couple of explosives there in the second half, the long run. It was good to get a win. I'm happy for our players. I'm happy for our coaches. They put a lot of time and effort and energy into this. Jaxson has, all quarterbacks do, but for a young player to come out here in his first game against a 3-0 team, with Herbert as quarterback, and the defense, the way they were playing. I think it says a lot about our guys. I think it says a lot about 6 (Jaxson Dart).
Q: How does it feel for you to get this win? You guys needed this one.
DABOLL: I'm happy to get a win, that's the goal. But I'm more happy for the assistant coaches, the players. We put a lot of effort into this. Haven't got the results we want. We were close in one game, not close in other games. But credit goes to the guys that are staying there late at night, players that are busting their cans. I'm proud of them, I'm proud of all the guys that contributed, which is not just the guys that were out there, it's the practice squad guys. But give a lot of credit to our guys and try to build off of this next week. I know 6 is probably going to be sore, I mean, he gutted it out. (He) is a tough son of a, you know what. He's tough, but I knew that.
Q: You talk a lot about the red zone offense. You had a couple of chances again today.
DABOLL: Yeah, what did we end up, two for four, or what was it?
Q: Yeah, two for five.
DABOLL: What was it, two for five. Not good enough. We were trying to run it in. I thought we had a chance on the corner there with Skatt, they made a nice play. Work in progress, we've been working our tails off on it. Wanted to try to run the ball in this week, so we'll keep working on it. That'll go a long way, we're getting down there. Have to continue to improve in that area.
Q: When (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) went down, everyone goes around him to see him carted off. I'm sure it was a very difficult thing for everybody.
DABOLL: Anytime anybody gets injured, it is.
Q: A guy like him, obviously, such an important player. Do you think your team needed to show you something or show themselves something after that? That can be a jarring thing in a close game like that.
DABOLL: No, I mean, they're grown man that compete their tails off in a professional football game. Injuries happen. Certainly not happy about it, whether it's Malik or anybody else. But unfortunately, this is a business of injury, and I feel terrible for Malik's injury. We'll see where it's at. He's an important piece of our team, but the guys that play behind him. Just like last year when (wide receiver Darius) Slay went in, in Seattle, and the week after that, wherever it may be, everybody gets paid to do a job. And it's the next man up.
Q: You mentioned the completion of Theo and how big of a moment that was. Was there any hesitation at all to-
DABOLL: To call a pass?
Q: To call a pass in that spot?
DABOLL: No. It's interesting, with that play, it was a little bunch play. We've worked it one way for 10 years, as we run the play. And Dart sees me in the locker room right before I come out here, he's like, on that play we ran, Theo and I talked about that, whatever it was yesterday or the day before, and if you get this look, I want you to sit. We normally don't really sit on it. So that's a credit to two young players playing the game and having confidence in a critical time to do what they talked about when they're studying film. I got a lot of confidence in our rookie quarterback. But he's a rookie quarterback, so there's going to be mistakes that'll be made. We know that. There'll be more next week, there was some this week. It's not going to be perfect. I've went through this before, seven years ago, whatever it may be. But the way he extended plays, that penalty on (center) John (Michael Schmitz Jr.), I think what they call him, John Michael, 7-yard run or, whoever it was. Who was it on?
Q: John Michael.
DABOLL: Okay, that was a big one, because that was a huge play. But the run in to the end zone, the kid's a competitor. Not going to be perfect. I'm sure he'll be the first one to tell you there's a lot that he can do better. We have to continue to help him do it better. But I like his traits, I like his toughness. I'm glad we got him.
Q: You mentioned what a tough son of a, you know what, Dart is. There's no question he is. But he took a lot of shots. He took a lot of shots today. Now, how do you kind of balance that competitiveness?
DABOLL: I trust him. I mean, there's different shots to take. We watch them every week. There's going to be shots when you run through, that play that they jumped off sides, it was a fourth-down or whatever it was, the crowd was going crazy. He hit it for two yards. You know, there's different shots. You don't want to take his, you want to try to minimize them. But part of what I love about him is what he did in college. He's tough. He's a competitor. So, I'm glad he's our young quarterback. Again, and there's going to be a lot of growing pains, I'm just telling you. But his job is to go out there and do what we need to do to win. As a quarterback, whether it's running a bunch, make a big third-down play. Again, there's a lot of things to improve on, though, from him. And he'll be the first to tell you. But let's give credit to the other guys around him. How the backs ran, the receivers blocked, ran the ball more. I don't know what we run for. What did we run for?
Q: 161.
DABOLL: Okay. So I'll take that, stuff to improve in the red zone, stuff to improve in the passing game. And credit to the defense for closing it out, getting two big turnovers. (Defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence) rumbling down there. I thought (kicker) Jude (McAtamney) did a good job. But again, it's one game. Our goal is to win that one game, one week. I'm happy we did. Certainly a lot of things to clean up. Close in other games, not close in other ones. But the goal is just to continue to improve. And I'm happy for the players and the coaches.
Q: What about your pass rush today? What about the way they got after Herbert? Can you just talk about that a little bit?
DABOLL: Yeah, that's what I expect from them. A lot of good players up there. I told them that the night before. That the biggest thing in this game is going to be how our guys play. And I'll give, I saw (outside linebacker Brian) Burns after, and I saw him during the game. He is spent, not saying it's the flu game. But that young man is spent, I mean, he looks the part right now.
Q: You mentioned Dexter's interception and return. How much were you hoping he was gonna take it all the way?
DABOLL: What do you think? Yeah, I was hoping. I don't even think, what did we get a field goal out of that, so.
Q: You mentioned Jaxson's toughness. Was there any conversation with the hamstring? It looked like he was limping pretty good at the end of the first half.
DABOLL: He isn't going to come out.
Q: Did you guys talk about it at all, or limit anything with him?
DABOLL: We didn't run him much. I mean, we ran him on scrambles. So, we stayed away from that in terms of, I would say for the most part, because it was stuff that we did a few things at the end there that I thought we needed to do, get an extra blocker. I'm sure he'll be sore tomorrow. But I know we got the holding penalty, but for that guy to go however far it was. I think that just shows his grit, but I'm not surprised.
Q: They showed it on TV afterwards, you were pretty pumped up. You went up to him after the game. What was your message to him at that moment?
DABOLL: When was that?
Q: After the game, they showed it on TV, you went up to him, whispered it in his ear, slapped him on the chest. What was your message to him in that moment?
DABOLL: Probably said 'Great F-ing win.' Something like that.
Q: What did you guys figure out defensively today? Was it just your pass rush leaning on them so frequently? (Outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) specifically, it seemed like he was just terrorizing Herbert all day.
DABOLL: Well, what do you mean, what did we figure out? What does that mean?
Q: It seemed like you had answers to what they were bringing you in the passing game all day.
DABOLL: And like comparison to what, just like how we played defensively today? Is that what you're asking? How we played defensively today?
Q: Why did your defense play well today?
DABOLL: They played hard. I thought they did their job. Again, it wasn't perfect, we gave up a big one at the end of the half, we gave a big one backed up. But I thought, it starts up front, controlling the line of scrimmage, getting pressure on the quarterback. They had a couple big runs that hurt us. Now we have to get that fixed, because that'll get you –
And I would say, at the end of the half, that fourth and two, stay in earmuffs, stay offsides. We just have to do a better job of that. Some of our young guys, and keep on working with them. I thought the defensive coaches did a good job. I thought the players played hard. They made some plays in terms of the back end, breaking up plays, and they got after the quarterback a little bit, which always helps.
Q: How big was Burns' quarterback hit, and (cornerback Dru) Phillips' interception?
DABOLL: At the end of the game, that was huge, yeah, huge. The guys played tough, all the guys. Defense, special teams, offense, the coaches did a good job. One game, we try to win, we try to win every week. We fell short a number of weeks, and it really doesn't matter what you do next week, you have to get ready to play. Compete, make plays during the game, play good situational football. There are not many secret recipes to winning in this league, it's hard, but you have to do a good job all the way around.
Q: How big was the game on the ground from Cam today to complement Jaxson in his first start?
DABOLL: What did he have?
Q: 79.
DABOLL: Well, I'd just say that the run game was important, control the game. We can do better at it, too. Again, that's a tough defense, they're 3-0 for a reason. They were one of the better teams in the red zone for a reason, they showed that. We knew it would be a challenge, just like next week will be a challenge, and the week after that, but credit our guys that played, they played their tails out, they played together. But it'll be over in a few hours and we'll get ready to play next week.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart
Q: Congrats on the win. Your first NFL start, what a game it was for you. You had a rushing touchdown your first drive, the shovel pass to (tight end) Theo (Johnson), took a lot of hits. How are you feeling both mentally and physically?
DART: It was just a football game. I think that's just the best way to describe it. Obviously, this experience was a special one, it being my first one. I'm just grateful to have the guys around me that I had. I obviously want to give a big shout out to (quarterback Russell Wilson) Russ. I know that this week probably wasn't the easiest thing, but he handled it like a professional and just was a mentor for me. I just have a ton of respect for him. It goes for (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) as well, just getting me prepared for this week. Really just proud of the guys, being able to battle through some adversity throughout the game. It's not always going to be the cleanest, but I was just happy that we were able to come out with the win.
Q: How are you feeling physically?
DART: I feel good.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about that play with Theo, the one that picked up the first down, just how it came together in the moment, what you're seeing, what's he seeing, and the backstory to it?
DART: That one was really cool because it was something that we discussed, kind of a change-up, an adjustment on the route. He was really just supposed to keep running all the way through. I told him, just from film prep and stuff, if you see that middle open, just sit down for me. It was kind of a cool moment to see that happen in a big situation like that. We gave each other a little look, and I was really excited to obviously make that play with him.
Q: Were you surprised at all that they put the ball up, and they put the trust in you to throw in that situation?
DART: No, I wasn't, because I wanted the ball in my hand. When I think back on the game, I obviously haven't watched the tape, but there's mistakes that I made that I want back in the passing game. I want to be cleaner, so I was grateful that they did have the confidence in me to give me the ball there. I just knew in that situation with the guys out there with me that we were going to make a play.
Q: Your mobility also got you out of some tough situations today. Would you say that the way you played today is kind of the way you like to balance it out, in terms of using your legs and also throwing the ball?
DART: I'd like to be a little bit more efficient in the passing game, creating a few more explosive plays. But they had a really good plan for us, so you've got to give them a ton of credit. They've played really good defense this past three weeks, and we knew that coming into this game. The vertical passing game down the field just really wasn't there because of how they played. They're very disciplined, so we were able to take some things underneath. When things look a little sticky in coverage, I'll just try to make some plays with my legs.
Q: How will this offense change for you, and overall, if (wide receiver) Malik's (Nabers) injury is long-term as feared?
DART: Obviously, prayers to him. I don't think we know exactly what happened, so he's going to be one of my first phone calls to check on him. Malik is – I've said it – Malik's one-of-one, so when you have a guy like that on the field, you have all the confidence in the world that he can just be a dominant game-changer. But I thought from that moment, obviously it's really hard seeing one of your best friends go down, but we were able to rally. I thought guys made some good plays, but obviously, just prayers to him.
Q: On Malik, what was going through your mind in that situation?
DART: Obviously, it hurts, because the worst part of this game is injuries. You hate to see your teammate, your brother, go down and look in pain like that. But I'm just going to be praying for him and I got his back through it all.
Q: What was going through your head as you were standing on the sidelines as the clock expires and you realize you're going to get your first NFL win?
DART: I was waiting for it to hit zero, because obviously that Dallas game, in my mind I thought we were going to have that one. So, I was just staring at the clock, and I was waiting for it to count down. (Guard) Jon Runyan was right next to me and that was a cool moment to have with him. Yeah, it was just special to get the first one. This is just the start.
Q: You know what it's like as a quarterback to get hounded and get hit. Could you tell at all from what your guys on defense were doing to (Chargers quarterback) Justin (Herbert), how important was that to getting this result?
DART: Yeah, I thought our defense carried us through this game. I thought our defense, our offensive line, played at a really elite level. As a quarterback, when there's pressure like that and there are guys always in the backfield, no matter who you are, the game just speeds up. They have a really good team over there and played really good. Our D-line knew that they had to play at a dominant level for us to win. Just really credit to those guys for stepping up and making a lot of plays.
Q: We saw the moment you had with (Giants head coach Brian) Daboll after the game. Clearly, he was very emotional. You have to know this was a big decision for him to go to you. Can you feel how much this meant to him to get this win?
DART: Yeah, like I said, we've been really close in these past weeks. It's hard when you feel like you should win. You have plenty of opportunities to win, and there's just plays we just didn't make. I think everybody in the locker room felt that way, too. We know that we have really good players on our team.
This is just a big confidence builder for us as a team to have a win like this where it wasn't easy, it wasn't clean, and we had to fight. Just like the other weeks, but this time we finished. I thought our coaches did a really good job. Obviously, Dabs was just excited to get the win.
Q: What was that embrace like? What did he say to you and what did you take from it?
DART: Me and Dabs just have a special relationship. He's the guy that believed in me from day one. I think it does say a lot that he made the decision and had the confidence in me. Even just giving me the ball in those situations on a third down to make a play. I know that when you have a coach who you know has your back, I'm going to go out there and do everything I can for him to win.
Q: Congratulations coming into your first NFL win, first NFL start. Coming into the stadium, there were a lot of young kids at your jersey, cap on backwards, the Anakin Skywalker eye black. What does it mean for you to see young kids now emulating you so early in your life?
DART: It's really cool because I was one of those kids. (Quarterback) Russell Wilson was the guy who I had one of his first pairs of cleats when they came out. When you grow up and there's guys that you look up to. You try to emulate things in the backyard when you're just playing around with your friends. It's cool to see that. It definitely gives me a feeling of you just want to play really good and make people happy and obviously win. There's a lot of people who take time out of their day and take the sacrifice, tickets are not always the cheapest, and they're here to support us. I think it just means a lot. It definitely means a lot to me to see that support, and it makes me definitely go harder.
Q: What were you thinking when you were forced off the field for the concussion examination?
DART: I was pissed. I don't want to see anybody try to sprint 70-yards as hard as you can, and then you've got to run back and get ready for the next play. You're going to be tired. That's all it was. I was just tired. Obviously, I never want to come out of the game.
Q: Talk about (running back Cam) Skattebo?
DART: Yeah, Skatt is a baller. I just think that we play very similar, like mentality-wise. May need to be smarter in the open field, taking some hits and whatnot, but when you have a guy like that who just brings the juice every single day and gives it his all, the guys around him want to play harder. Off the field, we just have a really good connection.
Q: How much of the hamstring, how much did you have to fight through pain or adjust your game to play through it?
DART: I didn't feel like I really had to adjust my game. It's just kind of football. You're going to take a little bit of a step or something, you're not going to feel perfect throughout a game. I'll just take this week and recover, and I'll be ready to go.
Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II
Q: The interception--?
A: "I got my hand on the ball earlier in the game, but it got called back. And this one, he just threw it right over my head. I put my hands up, in Dallas I missed it, and this week I got it and tried to go score."
Q: Often times when defensive lineman get into deflection like that and it lands in their hands, teammates are screaming for the ball. Was there any way you were going to give that thing up?
A: "Nobody was close to me. I tell everybody I'm the fastest."
Q: How close did you think you were going to get to the goal line?
A: "I thought I was going to score. I knew he was going to go low, but I can't catch my feet quick enough, but then I just went down."
Q: For the defense to close this game out what does that mean after being in this position before and not being able to do it?
A: "That's everything. We asked for that. We ask to be on the field when it matters most and this week we just took advantage. The whole game we were on each other about, speaking through the game about situational awareness, and understanding what plays need to be made right here, and giving the offense short fields to play on, and the whole game we were speaking, and when you speak on stuff like that things actually happen."
Outside Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux
Q: Kayon, very strong defensive effort today. Obviously, you guys were on the field to finally lock it down, how did it feel?
A: It felt good, man. It felt amazing to get a win, it's the first one, but we have got to use it. It is just the start.
Q: How difficult is it to deal with this [Los Angeles Chargers] high-powered passing attack?
A: They [the Chargers Offense] are a great team, he is a great quarterback [Chargers QB Justin Herbert], that's my college quarterback [from when they were teammates at The University of Oregon]. He is a great player, but we [the Giants Defense] were able to get to him today.
Q: Kayvon, 20 quarterback-pressures from you, Abdul [Giants OLB Abdul Carter] and Burns [Giants OLB Brian Burns]; just the three of you. Is that sort of the blueprint where you lead for 50 minutes and let the pass-rush tee-off?
A: It's all about competition, especially in our room [the Giants Linebacker Room], all of us want to be great; Burns [Giants OLB Brian Burns] has his goals and I have mine, Abdul [Giants OLB Abdul Carter] is trying to make a name for himself in this League, so competition is what is breathing this excellence.
