Head Coach Brian Daboll

Daboll: How are we doing? Day two. Rolling along. We did low red zone yesterday, we'll do some high red zone today. Do some one-on-ones today and good first day. Good to get started. A lot of things to correct. A lot of good things too. So go to day two.

Q: Quarterback Jaxson Dart threw a pick early in his first training camp. How did he respond to that? Did you like the way he responded and did you talk about that play on the field afterwards or was that later on for you?

Daboll: You talk about it right after it. I mean, the defense made a good play. He threw it into (cornerback Nic) Jones there, made a nice play and move on to the next play. That's what these practices are for, for everybody. There'll be some good, there'll be some things we need to correct and make sure you correct them and move on.

Q: Did you like the way he responded?

Daboll: Absolutely, yeah. I mean, we're talking about practice here, so that's what those are for. He's going to make those mistakes. Everybody's going to make them. There's plenty of other mistakes that happened and there's plenty of good things. He did a good job coming back. You don't want to throw picks, but that's why we're practicing.

Q: When you talked about correcting mistakes yesterday, that's what the rookies and young players have to do, right?

Daboll: Old players too.

Q: When you're talking about correcting mistakes for Dart, what do you say to him that we need to do differently on a pick like that?

Daboll: Every play, you have something to teach a player, correct a player on – most every play. So, to get into every detail of every play, 'You should have done this. You should have done this.' It happens for every position. It happens on defense and the kicking game, on offense, you go to the meeting room, you watch the tape, coach up, 'Hey, this is what you could have done differently,' and then you go on to the next play.

Q: Wide receiver Malik (Nabers) mentioned yesterday you stayed in touch with him in the off season in terms of moves you guys were making. What do you value about his opinion on the moves you guys make on offense?

Daboll: Well, I stay in touch with a lot of players in the off season. I try to have good communication with the guys on our football team, build relationships with them. That's what's important to me.

Q: Nabers made it sound like you were consulting him on personnel moves. That seems unusual for a first-year player. How did you get to that point with him?

Daboll: I'd say we have a good relationship. Early on, in camp, if you remember one of the competitive periods we were talking about a play over there and it was his first training camp and he's got good vision on the field. [He's a] smart player. I'm close with him. I think those relationships with all your players are important and particularly ones that play like Malik, but (wide receiver Darius) Slayton, I've talked to a bunch, (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson), (tight end) Theo Johnson, GVR (offensive lineman Greg Van Roten), (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, (defensive linemen) Dexter (Lawrence) – I mean a lot of guys.

Q: How much do you think you'll have to manage Nabers with the toe during the summer?

Daboll: We'll see as it goes. We'll go through practice, see how it feels. If we have to pull back, we'll pull back some. It looked pretty good yesterday.

Q: Was surgery ever a discussion for Nabers?

Daboll: I'm not going to get into injuries and conversations of that. He's working through it and like I said, I think you all saw, he looks pretty good out there.

Q: Is there a threat of that surgery being talked about for now or was Nabers just alluding to down the road?

Daboll: Again, I'm not going to get into the conversations about injuries. You guys see him out there, he looks pretty good. We'll do what we need to do to keep him as fresh as we can keep him. If he has any type of setback or is extra sore, then we have a discussion with the training staff, with the doctors, the medical team and decide what's best, but he's good to go. Three days – who knows in three days, how's it feel? If we need to pull back a little bit – that's kind of the day-by-day plan as we go.

Q: This is defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence's first time being back out there. What did you see from him?

Daboll: Dex is Dex. Good player for us. He's big, explosive, quick. (They have) no pads on, so you have to pull back a little bit because he can be a problem.

Q: I know tackle Andrew Thomas is on PUP. Do you have a rough idea of when you want the offensive line finalized so that they have enough time to work together?

Daboll: Yeah, our guys have worked together. We've talked about this ad nauseum each year. Guys have to do different things. There'll be five starters and then there's guys that have to be flexible. We had, I think, the most offensive line combinations in the league last year playing, so this is a time to practice it.

Q: What is your plan with when you're going to have padded practices?

Daboll: As soon as we can. As soon as we can. Now, you got to ease into it and soon as we can, we'll be in pads.

Q: By soon for padded practices, do you mean Sunday?

Daboll: Yeah, the first day we can be in pads, we'll be in pads.

Q: You had a slow start the last couple of years. Do you change your approach to training camp in regards to putting guys in pads, the amount you make them work, etc?

Daboll: I think that you asked that question yesterday, so not much different than I answered you. We make changes every year and we'll do what we think is best for the team.

Q: What have you seen from cornerback Deonte Banks? We saw him rotating with Cor'Dale Flott yesterday.

Daboll: Again, it's so early and I understand we're looking at guys right now. It was the first day. Tae's working hard and we'll evaluate him throughout camp like we will everybody else.

Q: Are you planning on being in pads more this year?

Daboll: Yeah, we have our plan of what we're going to do. You'll see it out there when the pads come on, but we'll be in pads a pretty good amount.

Q: What do you think of the year that safety Tyler Nubin had last year as a rookie? What are you looking for him to do?

Daboll: Nubin is a pro. I think he's a very young player. He's got tremendous leadership skills. He's very, very smart. He's vocal, not just on the field but in the team meeting and I think it's good to add (safety Jevon) Holland next to him, who's another vocal guy who's done it for a while. The combination of those two guys since OTAs has been very encouraging for me and I know for the defensive staff, in terms of the communication, the adjustments you need to make when you get into a different formation. The safeties are kind of the quarterbacks of the defense, particularly in the back end to make sure everything is aligned and good to go. Nubin is not just a good player, he's is a good person, he's a good leader. He's got a lot of good traits. I'm a big Nubin fan.

Q: Why did you move practice to the opposite field for the second half yesterday?

Daboll: There was a little turf deal, so I moved it over. Some grass came up so instead of – I saw a guy slip, I moved it over. It'll be okay now. We fixed it.

Q: Coach, you bring up being smart a lot. Is that the gap between going from college to the pros and how valuable is being football smart at this level?

Daboll: Yeah, it's important. It's important in college too. When I was there, you need smart players that can execute under pressure, be able to communicate, be able to adjust on defense, be able to handle multiple things that you do on offense – formation, motion, shifts, route adjustments, blocking schemes, pressures. There's so many different things and it's all tied together because it's the ultimate team sport. You've got 10 guys doing the right thing and one guy doing it wrong, it could look like a bad play or give up a big play. Teamwork and communication and being on the same page and doing things the way you need to do them collectively as a unit, that's a big point of emphasis.

Q: Is there anybody who won't practice today?

Daboll: No, same thing. We're good.

Wide Receiver Darius Slayton

Q. How does it feel to be back?

A: Good. It's been fun so far.

Q. What's it like working with (quarterback) Russell (Wilson) now that training camp is open?

A: It's been nice having him around. Been a good first two days for us. Obviously, camp is a little bit different than OTA's – a little bit higher intensity, a little more team periods, things like that where you get to play a little bit closer and closer to real football. It's been a good two days and I think Russ has operated well.

Q. What has Wilson added to this offense this year that maybe you guys were missing the last couple of years?

A: Probably just some clarity. He's been playing football for a long time, so he knows what's worked for him and his career. He knows what he likes, what he doesn't like and that makes it really simple on all of us just be able to get on the same page as him.

Q. Has there been any sort of transition going back to (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mike) Kafka calling plays for you guys and what's that in general?

A: I mean it's different. They're different people, different personalities, but at the same time, not much verbiage-wise has changed, but obviously different people, different personalities. He called it my first year here, so for me it's not really that big of a difference, but I think he's done a good job. I like Kaf. I think he's called it well these first two days and obviously as we continue to grow, we have a full new quarterback room, all three guys and then him. I think we'll just continue to grow and get better as time goes.

Q. You and (defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence) are the longest survivors here. Does it feel like when you look around that you came in with him and nobody else?

A: Yeah, it is kind of crazy. Sometimes I forget about it until somebody brings it up like you just did. Obviously, I've been blessed, Dex has been blessed, to be Giants our entire career. This is a great organization to play for and hopefully we'll be able to continue to perform in a way that'll keep us here.

Q. You and Lawrence aren't even 30. You're like prime-of-your-career guys. What do you think it took for you guys to stick around?

A: Yeah, for Dex, I mean he just kind of was born that way. Bigger, stronger, faster. I was born faster, not quite bigger and stronger, but just consistency. I think, regardless of the coaches we've had here, regardless of the systems we've had here, I've been pretty consistent my whole career. I've been able to play good football regardless of who's been here and that's kind what I pride myself on and what I'll continue to pride myself on.

Q. Do you think because of your longevity here that it would mean more to you if the team does turn it around? Everyone wants to win. Nobody else has invested in this team as you. Do you think it would mean more?

A: Yeah, for sure. When – I'll say when – when we get it turned around and when we get this thing going in the right direction, I think for me specifically, it's been a good six years. It's been a long six years, but I've looked forward to every year and obviously I don't want to see any team in the league succeed more than I want to see the Giants. Obviously, my whole career has been invested here. Most of my adult life has been invested in New Jersey and New York area, so it'll be huge for me to be able to win here when my time is done.

Q. Can you start to see what you hope develops on offense or is it too soon to tell?

A: Yeah, you see flashes like (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) made a play down the field. That was kind of a situational period. Yesterday, (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) made a couple plays down the field, so you see the flashes kind of early on. We're in the red zone, the high reds, so we literally haven't even gotten to the full field yet, but you kind of see flashes of plays being made. That's what I'll say. I think the first few days, we've done a pretty solid job so far, but you definitely see flashes.

Q. What do you think this offense can be? When you look at it, what do you envision?

A: Multifaceted. I think we have quarterbacks that do a good job of pushing the ball down the field, being aggressive, and then we have people that are aggressive playmakers, people that go get the football, people that can create with a ball in their hands. Obviously, we have the backs – (running back Tyrone) Tracy, Motor (running back Devin Singletary) and now we have (running back Cam) Skat back there. I think we have three really solid backs and we got some talent in the tight end rooms as well with (tight end) Theo (Johnson) and (tight end Thomas) Fidone II and some of the other guys. I think we have a very well-rounded group.

Q. Given your longevity with the team, do you find yourself being in a position where quarterbacks Russ and Jameis (Winston) are leaning on you and learning things from you even though they are veterans?

A: Yeah, for sure. They played more football than me, but they haven't played more Giant football than me, so that's kind of my unique perspective and something that I help them understand. Maybe it's a guy that has been here in the past that it's new to them, but I've played with them for the last two, three years of their career, whatever it might be. Just trying to help bridge those gaps and help them in any way I can.

Q. Can you give me any traffic solutions after your six years here?

A: There is no solution (laughs). 17 is torched Everything is torched except the turnpike, honestly. Except at night – in the morning, the turnpikes about the only thing open but other then that you're pretty much stuck.

Safety Tyler Nubin

Q. Can you talk about how you and (safety) Jevón Holland complement each other?
A: Yeah, I think we definitely got a lot of similar skill sets. Things that he does are things that I like to emulate as well in the run game, being able to play deep in the half, being able to play in the post. He's a very versatile player and he's a guy that I looked at a lot when I was in college coming into the league, so definitely a lot of respect for him there in that aspect. Definitely, we could do a lot.

Q. Holland is a veteran now. Are you learning a lot from him?
A: Yeah, definitely, man. I learn from Von every day, man, something new every day. He's got a lot of knowledge of the game just because he's played so much, he's seen so much so I just try to soak in as much as I can.

Q. Is it interesting to kind watch a player when you were in college to now being teammates with a guy who you admired and studied like Holland?
A: It's cool, man. It is real cool. Like I said, I was studying him a lot in college because I admire his game. I think we have a lot of similar traits. We're both bigger guys. We can both come up and tackle. We can both cover, we can both play in the half, do a lot of versatile things so it's awesome to be able to get a chance to play with him and learn with him.

Q. How do you assess your rookie year?
A: Rookie year, it was a lot of learning. A lot of new experiences for me, but I'm glad I got them because all those experiences now I can put in my tool belt, my Rolodex of things that I can use to help myself be successful in the future. This year, I'm really just focused on just getting better. Just getting better every single day and becoming a leader and leading by example. That's really what I want to do.

Q. How is it to be out there all the time for the second year with (cornerback) Dru Phillips?
A: Me and Dru got a really tight connection, especially playing so much last year with each other and we're only going to continue to grow that.

Q. You changed your number. What's the story behind that? We know it's for a family member but what made you want to change it?
A: I've been wearing 27 my whole life. My dad and his two brothers actually all went to three separate colleges. Their freshman year they ended up wearing 27 just out of the blue, so that was kind of a family number for them at first but then my uncle, he actually played at University of Michigan, Steve King. He ended up passing away in 2014 and ever since then, I told myself I'm definitely going to keep this number, keep this legacy going for him and for the family. It was super special to be able to change back and get back in his number for sure.

Q. What does your uncle mean to you personally as a player, person, nephew?
A: Everything, man. He lived in Chicago. He lived in downtown Chicago, so I grew up obviously in Illinois, so he was at every big football game I ever had. One of my first memories with him is playing football, throwing the football by the beach in the city, doing things like that, taking us around the city and he meant a lot to us man. He meant a lot to the whole family and that's why I try to honor him with this number.

Q. What do you feel like (cornerback Paulson) Adebo has added to this secondary this season?
A: A lot, man. He's real smart, bro. He's a super smart football player. He is real technical, he's a pro. I think he's just another example for guys to look at it, somebody that's really doing it the right way. Everybody can follow in his lead and follow in his footsteps.

Q. Adebo has been high on the leaderboard in the league for passes defensed the past few seasons. Is there anything from his technique or anything that you guys have taken from him this early on?
A: Yeah, definitely, man. I think all the corners are learning from him. He's a guy that's not afraid to talk and let you know what he's thinking, his techniques and things that he likes to work on. I think the corners are doing a really great job just working with him and allowing that to happen.

Q. When you guys have a defensive line and a pass rush like you guys have, what does it do for the secondary when you have guys that are that dominant?
A: It makes our job a lot easier, definitely. We know the ball has got to come out. We got (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux), we got (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, we got (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter), guys that can really get after the quarterback. The quarterback knows that, so his clock is going to be sped up already because knows that those guys are coming so that just gives us extra confidence to be able to go get it.

Q. Was it tough seeing your rookie year end not the way you wanted with that injury?
A: Yeah, definitely. It sucks being injured at any time. I love this game and anytime that I can't play it sucks, but I think it gave me a chance to really step back, focus on my body, get a lot of things better that were aching and bugging me during the season. This year I'm definitely back to a hundred.

Q. You had a surgery after the season, right?
A: Yes, sir.

Q. You were a big impact player in college. Did you see enough impact plays as an NFL rookie and do you think you can get to that this year?
A: Yeah man, I got a lot of goals for myself this year, but I'm going to keep those to myself. I'm going to let my play speak for it and let everybody else decide what it is at the end of the day. I always want to be an impact player. That's what I pride myself on, is being somebody that when it's crunch time I'm going to show up.

Outside Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux

Q. How is camp going so far?

A: Camp is going great. Second day out. It's getting hot, but it's a lot of work, a lot of fun.

Q. Do you have any sense of what this pass rush is going to look like with (linebacker) Abdul (Carter) or is it too soon to say?

A: It's exciting. We're rushing, we're doing different things, moving him around, excited to see what it'll be.

Q. What do you see from him? What are your first impressions of him after being here on the field with him for a few months?

A: He's a hard worker. He is fast, he's twitchy – he can play it all.

Q. How are you feeling about yourself coming in this year?

A: Super excited. I'm in shape. I'm healthy. I'm ready to go.

Q. You've been posting things on social media getting ready for camp. Have you done anything differently? Are you in a different kind of physical shape coming into this year?

A: I think I'm in pretty good shape. I'm in normal shape that I've been in. I probably dropped a few pounds to be a little faster. Focused more on speed, I've been working out. It's been good. It's been good.

Q. It seems like one of your offseason goals has been finishing. If so, why?

A: You've been listening. Nice (laughs). Definitely one of my goals is to finish, like I said before, I had 5.5 sacks last season. I had five half sacks, which equates to 2.5 and probably would've been – you guys can do the math – maybe 7.0 or 8.0 if I were to finish those. (I'm) just making sure that I get everything I deserve this year.

Q. How do you work on finishing those?

A: Well, we don't get to practice tackling, pre-season, so until you actually – especially on the quarterbacks, until you actually get in the game that's the only time we actually get to replicate sacking a quarterback. Just doing – as you mentioned before, I've been wrestling a little bit, taking some guys to the ground. I've been on bags and stuff, working on my tackling earlier in the season.

Q. In one of those clips that you posted, was that wrestling that you were doing?

A: That's what I said, yes.

Q. What got you into wrestling?

A: Because wrestling is another form of tackling, I just wanted to make sure that I can use some techniques from wrestling into football.

Q. Was that something you were always interested in or who got you interested in it?

A: No, just kind of looking at it and doing the things myself and kind of looking into it.

Q. When you say, 'everything you deserve,' is that just finishing the sack or is there something you're looking for goal-wise?

A: Well, I mean that's just finishing the sacks. Just finishing plays and putting yourself in position to be the best.