Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: Any changes to the guys? Is anyone coming back to practice?

DABOLL: Yes, (wide receiver Jalin) Hyatt will practice some, (nickel) Dru Phillips and (offensive lineman) Evan Neal.

Q: Is anybody from yesterday not practicing today?

DABOLL: (Cornerback Deonte Banks) Tae and (tight end Chris) Manhertz.

Q: When you went back and watched the film, what did you think when you saw your offense yesterday? What comes to your mind?

DABOLL: I thought we started off fast in seven-on-seven and I thought the first period there, we had a couple plays that we'd like to have back that you can learn from. I thought there was some good and I thought there were some things we could correct. I thought that on the defensive side, I thought that in the kicking game. It was a good practice. We got a lot out of it.

Q: Did you like how the defense responded toward the back end of practice as opposed to how they started the 11-on-11?

DABOLL: Yeah, look, it's practice and there's a lot of good give and take from both teams and it was a productive day, I'd say, for us and I'm sure it was for them as well. We got a lot out of it, good situational work, competition against some other players, some different schemes. I'd like to get that same thing today.

Q: How much do you look to see how the team bounces back and has continuity when you have these back to back practices?

DABOLL: It's similar to training camp, which we're in right now. Every day you go out there, you look to have a growth mindset to get better the next day and build off of positive things, correct some negative things and correctable things and come out here and compete and do the same thing. You're just trying to grow and build your team at this time of year. There's a lot of things that happen through practices that help you illustrate some of the things we can be better at and then also some of the positive things.

Q: (Quarterback Russell Wilson) Russ said yesterday that the team would've liked to have started faster in the team periods but it was good to end well and that can be necessary in a game sometimes. Can some of those little lessons be cultivated in things like this?

DABOLL: Yeah, that's part of coaching. It's not just a certain technique. There's things that come up throughout games. They happen in a preseason game, they happen in practices, they're going to happen in regular season games. The ability to respond is an important thing, in a positive way. You're going to go through some ups and downs in the season, whether it's a game, whether it's a series, whether it's a half, whatever it may be, to kind of have that reload mentality to come back and focus on the things you can control, which is the next play, your assignment, your fundamentals and your execution.

Q: With (offensive lineman) Marcus Mbow…

DABOLL: Oh – and I'm sorry, (offensive lineman Jermaine) Eluemunor won't be here. In the middle of the night, they had their baby, so congratulations to them. Healthy, in good shape, so Mbow will be out there to replace him.

Q: In terms of what we've seen in the last couple weeks, we've talked to you about the challenges of switching positions within the offensive line. He goes from period to period going from left to right side. For a younger player, what are you looking for from him? And I would imagine that's a physical and mental challenge. Do you like what you've seen from him?

DABOLL: Yeah, I think he's acquitted himself well. He's done a nice job of picking up our information. There's always plays to learn from, but he's done a good job of communicating with whoever's next to him. He's making strides and that's what you want out of these young players.

Q: (Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence) Dex talked about the pass rush communication. What have you seen in that regard?

DABOLL: It's a work in progress, like really everything, but I thought they did a good job of communicating. We did some different things, I would say, yesterday. Tried out a few things to see how they looked. Again, you got to get them into those situations where you can utilize that pass rush and then you have to all be coordinated in whatever you're trying to get accomplished in how you're rushing the quarterback.

Q: How much does it change the look of your offense when you don't have (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) there?

DABOLL: Whoever's out there are the guys we're going to utilize. Again, when Malik's out there, when (offensive lineman) Andrew Thomas is out there, they're good players for us, so as soon as they can get out there, that'll be obviously a help for our offense, but it's good for the guys that are playing other spots. Whether it's for Malik, whether it's for Andrew Thomas, whoever it is (that) doesn't practice, you're going to need that throughout the year so it's – you always want your best players out there, but it's a team sport and it's about 11 people doing the right thing.

Q: (Wide receiver) Beaux Collins got some of those reps yesterday. What did he show?

DABOLL: Coming back, we'd like him to be able to be out there, like for all the players but we eased him back in. He's smart, made a couple plays, ran some good routes. We'll kind of build him up as we go here but again, for these young guys or these guys that are competing for roster spots, availability is important because your time's running out. It's getting closer and closer to decision making, it's getting closer and closer to the season, so all these guys that are not out there are doing everything they can to be back out there and Beaux was one of them. It's good get him back out there and keep growing him.

Outside Linebacker Brian Burns

Q. How'd you feel about the two days?

BURNS: It was some good work. It was good to see another team (to) try out the moves you've been working on and some of the techniques you've been working on, on somebody else that doesn't know you. It's been good.

Q. It seems like you had a pretty active day in the backfield today. Talk about your progress.

BURNS: I'm just trying to take my game to a level it's never been. That requires me doing things I never did. I've been working with (defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence) Dex quite a bit, talking to Dex a lot (about) just how to manipulate body positions and try to use my length and power more and not just my speed and finesse. That's been good to me so far so I'm going to keep working on that.

Q. What did you learn about yourself coming out of these two days?

BURNS: Outside of techniques, I would just say I play my best when I'm me. When I get in my head and things – I mean that's anybody but when I get in my head and things of that nature and I think too much, that's not me being me so just allowing my instincts to kick in is where I'm thriving at right now.

Q. What did you learn about this Giants front?

BURNS: We look good. We look good so far. True testament is Week 1 though. Preseason, practice, joint practice, all that (stuff is) cool but when the bullets flying for real and the spotlight really on us, that's when we need to show.

Q. Were there times last year you thought you were thinking too much?

BURNS: I mean, that's every season. I feel like when I'm in my element, I'm having fun, dancing around, not too tense, that's me at my best. That's all.

Q. How much do you think overall the defense is going to be improved with the additions and how much is it going to be the key to team success?

BURNS: Like I always say, it's as far as we want to take it. This (stuff isn't) rocket science. It's as far as we want to take it, like if everybody is keyed in, doing their job, doing their 1/11, being detailed in what they need to do, I feel like the sky is the limit. Obviously, these guys get paid too – our opponents, they get paid too, they're going to make plays and things of that nature but if we got the mental resiliency and we stick to the process, I feel like we could still take this far.

Q. How much better do you feel? You're talking about when you get the best version of you out there and you were dealing with lot of different stuff. How much different does it feel now?

BURNS: I feel good. I'm a little nicked up now but I mean, as long as I stay on top of it, I'm not going through that again. I feel good, fresh, you feel me? I feel good, healthy, everybody does. I feel good.

Q. Should fans expect to see almost an even better version of you because of that?

BURNS: God willing. I don't put any expectations or predictions or any of that stuff out in the open. I'm just trying to enjoy the process. If I take care of everything that we're doing right now, it'll show. It'll show in ways.

Q. What does it take as a pass rusher to go from generating consistent pressure to actually finishing the plays?

BURNS: There's so many variables that go into finishing a sack. (Outside linebackers) Coach Charlie (Bullen) always says, 'A sack is tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage,' but there's so many other ways you can affect him. Batted balls, pressures, hits, anything to get in the quarterback head – I mean, if I can harass him all day, I'd rather do that then get a free-bee sack. To answer your question, it's just continuing to perfect your craft, worrying more so about beating the man in front of you than the results of the play. If you handle what's in front of you first, you'll get to what you need to get to but you can't control every play. Every play where the ball comes out at 1.7, you'll never get there, so you just need to handle your food that's on your plate.

Q. You've been successful play a certain style over six seasons. What made you go to Dex and try to incorporate that into your game?

BURNS: It's always been an uphill battle with me trying to add that into my game but Dex is one of the best to do it and the way he does it – I mean, obviously he has brute strength but he's so much smarter than that. He's such a master at manipulating body positions and of course it takes strength to do that but it also takes length and technique and that's something that he works constantly but when I see him working and when he expressed that he wanted to help me in that area, shoot, why not? Everybody is trying to get better, so why not?

Q. You mentioned you're a little nicked up. Why are you practicing in full and not just manage it and wait?

BURNS: Hey, I don't know, man. That's the Florida in me. That's how we were raised. I don't know. If I can go, I'm going to go, until I can't anymore.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q: Did these two days sharpen you? Did you feel that they helped you, they improved you?

DART: Yeah, I feel like obviously when you're going against a new competition, the intensity ramps up a little bit. There are different looks that you're getting from the defensive side of the ball. I think that we're very used to going against our defense. A lot of times certain concepts are key in certain players just because of the overall look that you get. When you play against somebody new, it's a little bit different. You have to adjust. I think that was really good for our team, especially for us as a quarterback room to work on our progressions, work on our eyes, and kind of just work the pocket. I think that we were able to do a really good job with these two practices.

Q: How about for you personally? How do you think it went?

DART: I thought it went good. Obviously, there are things that we've got to clean up on. I think that goes for us as a unit across the board, but I thought that for the majority of the time, we were able to play at a good level. I thought that yesterday we had a little bit of inconsistency, but I thought that we finished practice really well. I thought that was a really good sign to see, just kind of like the resiliency. I think we kind of needed that a little bit. Tried to get put in those little uncomfortable situations, but I felt good.

Q: Can you take us through that deep pass to (wide receiver) Beaux (Collins) down the right side? It looked like you gave him kind of a little scramble…

DART: Yeah, so just kind of how the progression was, it was kind of just pick a side, play a side. They did a great job covering the side that I started on and kind of turned into a quick scramble drill, and instinct kind of take over, and Beaux made a great play of kind of just like following direction and taking it up the sideline, so that was good to see for sure, and it was great to have him back.

Q: What's been the biggest difference from when you first came into this facility to now, now that you've got the majority of training camp under your belt?

DART: Jeez, it's a world of difference. Obviously, you just feel more and more comfortable each and every day. I think the biggest thing just starts with the relationships that I have with the guys in the facility, just all around, and really being able to come to work every single day and just love it. I think this is just a special place where people hold each other to a high standard, and I kind of want to be a part of that to raise it. I think that we're all just hungry to win here, so we're chasing that for sure.

Q: How much are you a different quarterback?

DART: I think that just from a knowledge standpoint, I'm way ahead from where I was, and I think that's just kind of the maturity of it when you get into an NFL system is that you're just constantly learning and being around a special group of guys that are here and some great veterans, especially in the quarterback room. It's been great just to kind of get these different experiences, be put in these different situations. I think now when I'm able to step out on the field, I know that it's still early, but being able to go through so many different scenarios and situations and your understanding of ball and why (assistant head coach/offensive coordinator) Coach (Mike) Kafka is calling a certain type of play and just the different looks. In the NFL, there's a lot of disguise pre-snap, and just being able to see that and being able to start my eyes in the right spot. So I think that I've made some big strides since I first got here.

Q: With that said, how do you approach this next week? This is like the last week that you'll have live reps until regular season, and you're going to be practicing mostly at the start, I guess. How do you approach these last few opportunities, pre-season games?

DART: Yeah, I don't really know what the schedule is. I'm kind of just going day to day, so that's interesting to hear. I'm just trying to take advantage of the opportunities that I get, trying to watch the film as much as I can to go into depth and just keep learning. It's been really cool to play against these caliber players at the highest level, and I think that obviously raises your mindset and your intensity to compete at a really high level each and every day because if you're slacking at all, it's going to show. I'm really liking this process, and I'm just going to take my opportunities and try to make the most of them.

Q: When you've been out there with the ones or twos, with the ones, this offensive line here for years has been kind of an Achilles heel. What's your sense of the group up front that you've been working with?

DART: I thought they've done a great job, a great job. If you look back at last game, I don't know how many pass attempts that we had, but we didn't have one sack. I sent a message to them after the game that I've never played in a pocket like this, so I thought that they've been able to compete at such a high level. I think it's really unique just how close that they are, really from wherever they are on the depth chart. They're all together, they're all communicating, and it's been really cool to see. As a quarterback, when you're able to play behind that, it makes your job a lot easier. I thought that they've done a great job, and I know that they're going to continue to work and progress themselves as well.

Q: How about your draft classmate, (offensive lineman) Marcus (Mbow)? Have you ever seen him get riled up? He doesn't seem to be the rile-up type.

DART: He's level-headed for sure, and I think that that's one of his strengths, because as a rookie you're going to make mistakes, and there's a lot of learning that you have to do, and I think that it's kind of just shown his maturity. He makes a mistake, he doesn't get flustered, he's able to come back and answer. He's been thrown into a lot of different situations, him starting with the threes and making jumps and playing with the ones. I thought that he's done a great job, and he's a guy that I felt coming to work each and every day, that he's really been consistent in his process of getting here early, doing extra, and I know that he's hungry, and he wants to do the best of what he does.

Q: You've had fans here at practice. You played in Buffalo. This is going to be your first home game on Saturday. What does that mean to you? What do you want to take from it? What do you want to show people?

DART: I can't wait. My first time going into the stadium was (for) the Zach Bryan concert, and I think just standing there and being able to look at all the great players' names in the stadium and then just kind of seeing the atmosphere and trying to picture what a sold-out stadium is going to be like and just the energy involved. I can't wait. It's going to be a lot of fun. I hope that the fans come out, and they're super passionate. I hope that we can make a home field advantage for us. But I can't wait, and I know that there's going to be a lot of energy for sure.

Q: Have you been over there since the concert?

DART: No. There's always stuff going on, so I can't really find time to sneak in there.

Q: How do you balance the patience you need to show by going through your progressions with knowing when you have to take off and use your feet? I would think that's something that takes time, especially as a rookie.

DART: Yeah, absolutely. I think that just kind of comes with a little bit of trial and error a little bit. Obviously, at times in games or in live situations, your instincts are going to take over. I have a lot of confidence in myself. I feel like a big strength of mine is being able to escape the pocket, create plays and whatnot. I definitely do not want to take that part away from my game because I feel like there's a lot of good that can come from it. But at the same time, yeah, you're right. There are amazing players in front of me. You look at all the great quarterbacks, and the great quarterbacks don't take sacks. I think that's kind of a thought that goes in my head is being able to distribute the ball and get the ball to the playmakers and let them go win in space.

Q: Did you get in trouble for not sliding on that run in Buffalo, that long 19-yard run?

DART: Yeah, maybe a little bit. (Head coach Brian Daboll) Dabs came and talked to me after about it. The extra hits you don't need to take. I think I was just so amped to see the open field and try to make something happen. But I'm going to continue to learn, and I definitely have to be smart in those situations for sure.

Q: What have you learned about Giants fans here in general?

DART: I love the support each and every day that we're able to have practices that they're able to come watch. I think the energy's super high. Everybody's super hungry, like I said earlier, to win, and I think that a lot of people feel like a certain energy around here. Obviously, I haven't been here, so I don't know what it's been like in the past, but I just feel like it's really positive. I know that we've got a group of guys who really want this, and we want to compete and play at the highest level we want to play in the biggest stages and win the biggest games. I think that what I see from the fans is they hold everybody to that standard, and I think that as a competitor you want to be a part of that because ultimately that's going to push you. You want to play for a passionate fan base, and you want to win.

Outside Linebacker Abdul Carter

Q: What'd you learn about yourself and your game after these two days?

CARTER: I'm learning a lot. Every day, every practice, they're out here teaching me new things trying to help me out. I'm just learning everything.

Q: What's the biggest difference from when you first came in for rookie minicamp and now?

CARTER: A lot. Just getting more comfortable, I know my teammates more and just building that chemistry. I feel like that's the most important thing.

Q: (Outside linebacker) Brian Burns has talked about how he sits with (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence II to talk about improving his game. Have you done that too?

CARTER: He sits right behind me in the meeting room so I'm always talking with him trying to get better. He helps me a lot.

Q: When you're freelancing and improvising, how important is it to have the other 10 guys on the field covering for you and keeping the steady beat?

CARTER: Everybody has their job to do so wherever I'm at, wherever I'm lined up, I'm doing my own job and everybody else got to do their job and that's how the play works.

Q: Your ability to get to the quarterback to bull rush and all that stuff, is it mental, physical, or a little bit of both?

CARTER: Definitely both. It takes everything. Your preparation, your physical ability, your coaching, it takes everything.

Q: We saw what (Dallas Cowboys defensive end) Micah (Parsons) had to say about you. What do you think when you see something like that?

CARTER: Yeah, that's my brother. Ever since I been at Penn State, he took me under his wing, taught me a lot. I've learned so much from him in terms of on the field football things, and then off the field in terms of putting in the work, how to be prepared so I'm thankful for him.

Q: How long is your hair now?

CARTER: That's why I got the hood on, right now.

Q: Is it the longest it's been in a while?

CARTER: Yeah, for sure but it won't be like this for long.

Q: How much pride do you take in trying to be a disrupter and trying to make things unsettling for a quarterback?

CARTER: That's what they brought me here to do so I take a lot of pride in that and that's what I do best.

Q: You have a lot of people singing your praise like Micah and then the guys inside like Brian and Dex say, 'We haven't done anything as a unit yet.' What do you make of all the noise and praise at this point?

CARTER: It's all cool but you can't get into it too much. I feel like once you start to drown yourself in that, you can get distracted so I feel like what those guys are saying in terms of us not proving it yet is real. We got to get to the season and show that dominance before we can call ourselves anything.

Q: What have you learned about Brian Burns on the field?

CARTER: If you want to pick a guy, like a perfect guy to watch in terms of how you practice, how you prepare and just how you play the game and show your love for the game, he's a guy I'd say you watch.

Q: What's special physically about him?

CARTER: He's a freak athlete obviously, but it's the things that you can control like his effort, his energy, his leadership, things like that.

Q: He just said he's been playing a little nicked up. What does it say to you as a teammate to watch a leader going through that and staying on the field?

CARTER: It's just no days off. That's our mentality. That's how we try to do it. Everybody's going through something. Everybody's hurt. Everybody's banged up. You just have to come out here and push through it.