Head Coach Brian Daboll
Q: Coach, is there any update on (running back) Cam (Skattebo), how's he doing, how's he holding through the setback?
DABOLL: I'd say with all the guys that are hurt, they're all making progress. If they can be out there, they'll be out there.
Q: The MRI was optimistic then?
DABOLL: Everybody that is not practicing today is getting better. Well see where we're at each day, everybody is day by day.
Q: Is there anyone that will practice today that didn't on Saturday?
DABOLL: I think it's about status quo.
Q: Who's not going to be out there?
DABOLL: Most of the guys that weren't on Saturday.
Q: (Wide receiver, Darius) Slayton included?
DABOLL: Slay will be doing some stuff on the side, so he's getting better. But he'll do some stuff on the side along with (wide receiver) Beaux (Collins), receiver wise.
Q: Andrew Thomas (tackle), is he going to ramp up this week at all?
DABOLL: He'll just keep working his rehab and continue to get better.
Q: How does the focus change this week with a game at the end of this week?
DABOLL: Yeah, right now we're all focused on us and getting better at the things we need to get better at. And we'll continue to do that here for the next few days.
Q: For someone like Beaux, who had been making strides as a young guy, now he's kind of on the shelf. How hurtful is that for a rookie trying to make his mark?
DABOLL: Yeah, anytime you can't be out there, it doesn't help you. But if they can't be out there, then they'll do everything they can do to get out there. Take advantage of the meeting time, but there's no substitute for being out on the field playing, particularly young players that are trying to earn a spot.
Q: You sprinkled in some young guys with the first team that hadn't been out there, like (cornerback, O'Donnell) Fortune and (safety, Makari) Paige and (cornerback) Dee Williams. What was just the thought process behind that?
DABOLL: Yeah, I think the guys that are doing good work and making plays, (wide receiver) Montrell (Washington), I would include him in there, they're going to get more opportunity, they make plays, they're going to get more opportunity to show what they can do. There are guys that are doing a nice job. This time of year, you're shuffling guys around and seeing them versus different players in competition, but maybe some guys that aren't getting as many reps with the early guys that are showing up, earn the right to get more.
Q: Coach, you spoke about Cam, but the rest of the guys in the backfield, which strides, just looking forward, do you want to see (running back) Tyrone (Tracy Jr.) and (running back) Devin (Singletary) make in their second year in your offense?
DABOLL: Well, Motor's been in my offense for a long time, so he's a vet that's having a really good camp. Kept his head down, and Tracy has made strides from what he's played last year as a rookie, there's usually a big jump from year one to year two. Time will tell when we're on the field and the games count, but his preparation habits, his professionalism, understanding what he needs to do out there, blitz pickup, run reads, route technique, he's improved.
Q: What are the best things that (guard, Greg) Van Roten brings to the O-line, and is he back today?
DABOLL: He is back, wife and him had another baby girl, Anna. So congratulate the Van Roten family, but he'll be back. He's a veteran that's played this game for a long time, that's smart, that communicates well, that both guys on either side of him have a lot of confidence in because of his, I would say, his intelligence and his instincts and his ability to communicate when things happen quickly. Was a good addition for us last year, that's why we brought him back, and has shown good leadership throughout camp and throughout the offseason.
Q: There's a lot of new faces on the defensive line, what have you seen from that unit, particularly (defensive lineman, Chauncey) Golston?
DABOLL: I'd say all those guys are in good competition. Golston's a guy we brought here that has some flexibility to play inside, play outside, pass rush downs, he's done that for us. He's brought some to the room too as well with the other two veteran outside linebackers we have. It'll be a good competition for the interior part of the line. Roy Robertson-Harris has come, he's been a true pro, but guys like Nacho (defensive lineman, Rakeem Nuñez-Roches) and (defensive lineman) Dex (Lawrence II) and (defensive lineman, Elijah) Chatman that have still been here, it'll be good competition.
Q: We ask you almost more about your backup quarterbacks than we do about your starting quarterback, so I was wondering how you would describe the camp that Russell's (Wilson) had?
DABOLL: I'm glad Russ is here for a number of reasons. He's provided leadership to our football team in various ways, not just in the quarterback room, but meeting extra with the entire offense, how he communicates with defensive players, the experience that he's had throughout his career. And he's been productive and made good decisions at that position here in our offense. He understands it, I think he's performed at a high level. We need him to continue to do that.
Q: You talked a lot about adding toughness to the roster, but along with that, you seem to have added a lot of guys with what you might call personality, or swag, or attitude. Does one go with the other, or was that intentional as well?
DABOLL: Well, we look for good football players, first and foremost. And I'd say we place a high premium on toughness, both physical and mental. Something we talked a lot about in the offseason, I think we've added that. In terms of the swag, I think everybody, you got your own swag, Ed. Those guys got their swag. I think probably everybody defines swag a little bit differently here. But I do like the pieces that we've added, the personalities. But I like their instincts as football players, competitiveness and their overall toughness.
Q: (Ihmir) Smith-Marssette said he wanted to get more involved in the offense this season. He obviously contributes on special teams. What have you seen from him?
DABOLL: He's making strides, he's in a competitive situation. His primary role is as a returner, but he's gotten a number of reps out there, and he's competing with a lot of other guys that are trying to earn a spot. But he's a guy that plays inside, he's learning some how to play outside. His primary role is as a returner, but we have some competitive guys here in the return game as well. So, each day he comes out with a good attitude, tries to make the most of every opportunity he has.
Q: To go back to Russell, the impact he's had on his teammates, just with meetings and all that time, how have you seen that with (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) just coming back after his rookie year?
DABOLL: I think he's had a very positive impact on Malik. They have a good relationship, they spend a lot of time in the meeting room and then they spend time outside just in terms of body maintenance, how Russ takes care of his body, the things he's done to have a long career. He's kind of grabbed hold of that, asks a lot of questions, he's very involved. Talking about Malik in the meetings, communicative. I know you see a lot of the plays that he makes out on the field. But the thing I'm most proud of is the growth he's made as an individual in the meeting rooms, outside the building. And I think Russ has had a big impact on that as well. He's one of our best players, in terms of Malik. And I think he's made strides from year one to year two in a lot of areas. And I'm very proud of how he's approached really the whole offseason and then into training camp. But I do think that the relationship he has with Russ has been impactful.
Q: How different does the offense look to you schematically with Russ? I know it's a lot of the same plays, but you cater stuff towards quarterback skills and abilities. When you look at it as a whole, what does it look like?
DABOLL: Yeah, we're still working through that. So Russ has done everything we've asked him to do. I think he's done it at a high level in practice. But we're still working through all those things. And we'll continue to work through them. The beginning of the season will be important. I think you evolve as the season goes on. And we're trying to do that in training camp and execute well consistently day in and day out. It's been good, competitive practices, and we'll just keep at it.
Q: Do you intend to get your starters into this first game, or would you rather handle it the way you have the last couple of years?
DABOLL: Yeah, that's something in the next few days we'll talk about as a coaching staff, and we'll do whatever we think is best for the team. But right now, these first few days are going to be about the Giants, we'll have a plan here. I wouldn't say necessarily tonight or tomorrow, we'll let these guys go and we'll do what we think is best for the team. Could they play? Yeah, they sure could play.
Q: Brian, I'm curious about (Darius) Muasau, you have two guys who've played a lot in (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden) and (inside linebacker) Bobby (Okereke) in those spots. But he came in here as a guy who was known as a special teamer, and it seemed like he contributed more and more on defense. What do you see?
DABOLL: I see improvement in communication. I think he's a very instinctive player. He earned playing time, too. I mean, there's always sometimes that young guys play, but he's earned playing time because of his performance. And he's another guy, kind of put him and (cornerback) Dru Phillips in a category, who has taken a good step from year one to year two. Now we talked about Malik, but Malik was pretty successful year one. Where they've kind of, they've grown into their roles, communication, production out on the field, not making a lot of mistakes. If they do, they come back and they fix it. So Darius is right in the mix here. I think he's a good football player for us. And he'll have every opportunity to compete and to play. He'll play.
Q: Coach, how would you describe the overall camaraderie of the group and how important is that?
DABOLL: Yeah, the chemistry is very important for a team. I think the guys have good relationships. They work well with one another on the practice field. They compete and they get after it. I think they have a lot of respect for one another on all three sides of the football. They do things outside the building. They stay here late with one another. But the true test for chemistry and camaraderie is when you hit some tough times and how you can respond. Whether that's in a series, whether that's a play, whether that's after a loss, being able to regroup and kind of reload and get our minds right back to where they need to be. So I like the personalities of our guys, but we're still working through that. But it's been fun to be around them. They're a group that loves football. We've got a lot of guys that love the game of football and that practice hard, practice the right way. But again, it's training camp right now. So there's a lot of talking and things like that. We gotta go out there and we gotta do it.
Q: Are you signing a running back?
DABOLL: Potentially, potentially, yeah. We had a workout this morning. So they are still going through some things before we make a decision.
Linebacker Darius Muasau
Q. How do you look at your opportunity here in camp? Obviously (inside linebacker) Bobby (Okereke) and (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden) have played a lot of reps but you've been on the field quite a bit too so are you looking at it as if you're competing for a starting job?
MUASAU: I think that's the way you got to attack it every day is every day I'm competing for a starting job. Although I might not be starting, I might be special teams – any way that I can contribute to the team. That's really what I'm all about. Coming in as a sixth-round draft pick last year, I came in with a chip on my shoulder, being thought of mostly a special teams guy but I'm trying to develop my game. I felt a lot of growth throughout the year playing under (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Coach Dabs and all them, learning the defensive scheme, learning how to become a pro. I feel like I've grown a lot learning from both Bobby O and Micah McFadden so just a lot of experience and like I said, growth.
Q. What's the biggest difference heading into training camp in year two?
MUASAU: Year two, I just feel building off of what we had last year, as a team and defensively, this is year two going into (defensive coordinator) Coach Shane (Bowen)'s defense and I feel like we added a lot of pieces this offseason and I feel like the puzzle is complete right now. It's just a matter of us putting it together, going out there and executing on Sunday's.
Q. One if the highest compliments I hear Daboll give guys is they're a really instinctual player and that's what he described you as. Where do the instincts come from?
MUASAU: I think the instincts are just a part of who I am. I'm not the biggest, I'm not the fastest, I'm not the strongest, but when I get out there, I feel like that's what makes me unique is just my instincts. That's why I'm able to play at this level and I feel like that's what made me unique, that's why I got to the NFL, I feel, is just my instincts. Being out there and just being able to apply that to my game in every way that I can and just going out there and being instinctual.
Q. Is that from a lot of reps or film or watching a lot of football growing up? What is that from?
MUASAU: It's just from hours and hours of studying film, playing football since I was like six years old and I think it's also just me acknowledging that I'm not the biggest, I'm not the fastest but just learning how to use my strengths and applying it out there on the field. So yeah, just a lot of studying film, learning certain techniques that are used not only from my teammates but other guys, other linebackers in the league, so just being able to study that and taking the good things from their games, taking the bad things, learning from that, learning from their mistakes and just applying it to my game.
Q. What is football like growing up in Hawaii?
MUASAU: It's very physical. I would say that's the one word to describe football in Hawaii. All we do is – a lot of us just run the rock so everyone just runs the ball. So, I went to Mililani High School and we were very pass oriented. My teammate was (Cleveland Browns quarterback) Dillon Gabriel, the quarterback for the Browns right now. I also played running back at the time so that was very unique in my journey, playing running back all the way up until like senior year. That's when I made the transfer to linebacker. (It was) very hard mouth, just run-the-rock physical, contact every play – I would say that's the one way I would describe football in Hawaii.
Q. *So you were a fan growing up. Would you get up early and watch the NFL live? *MUASAU: That was one thing that was hard, because Hawaii is six hours behind from east coast time so being able to get up early – the first game was at like noon east coast time, so we'd have to wake up at like five o'clock, six o'clock in the morning just to wake up, get ready to watch the games. Sometimes I would just wake up, turn on the TV and be watching the games. My dad was a big 49ers fan growing up and so that's kind of who my dad rooted for and my family would always grow up watching that game and the Niners were always playing at that time and it was just awesome, awesome feeling.
Q. So who is your dad rooting for this year when you play them?
MUASAU: Obviously, us (laughs). I mean, I'm not a little kid (any) more. I'm in the NFL living out the dream so I'm rocking with the Giants all the way.
Q. Who is your dad going to root for?
MUASAU: Oh, for me (laughs). He's rooting for us. I hope so.
Q. How would you describe the kinship your draft class has? Some of them led to pretty big contributions and what do you see moving forward with that group?
MUASAU: I think last year, we really set the standard as far as what we can go out and contribute. We have a bunch of dawgs in our draft class. We got (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers), we got (running back) Tyrone (Tracy Jr.), we got (safety Tyler Nubin) Nub, we got (cornerback) Dru Phillips. I think the camaraderie that we bring is unmatched. We always get together – our rookie class from last year. Every time we had away games, home games, we would always get together, go out to dinners, just chop it up on how the team is doing. A lot of the vets, you got (defensive lineman Dexter) Dex (Lawrence), you got (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, they're always coming up to the rookies from last year. They're like, 'Aye, you guys are the future of this program. You guys are really the future of this whole organization. You got to put the team on your back at times because everything is coming down to what you guys put on tape, how you guys carry yourself around the building. The staff is always looking at you guys. Whenever your number is called, you got to be able to step up.' So, I feel like that's what a lot of the guys drafted last year in our draft class really did and they put out a good showing and we're really just trying to build off of that coming into this year. We got a good rookie class this year with (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter), we got (defensive lineman) Darius Alexander, we got guys on defense – on both sides of the ball, even (quarterback) Jaxson Dart, so just really looking to build off of that and set a higher bar for our standard.
Q. With all of the additions on defense, do you notice any difference schematic wise from Shane Bowen with these additions?
MUASAU: Not really, I think it's the same thing, just a higher standard for executing, going out there and executing at a higher level. I mean, now we got – I'd say we got the best D-line in the NFL right now, so just letting those guys go out and go out on third down, try to manage first and second down, get our opponent to third-and-long and let our front go out there and eat. Now we got three premier edge rushers going out there and we got Dexter, we got (defensive tackle) Roy (Robertson-Harris), Darius Alexander, just a bunch of guys that can go out there and just rush the passer so really looking forward to that. I honestly look forward to watching that every day. I go out there and I'm watching one-on-ones and I'm just amazed at some things that they do every time. It's crazy, watching Abdul go out there and pull out some crazy spin move or something that you never expected, but yeah man, it's awesome.
Wide Receiver Montrell Washington
Q: That was just an everyday catch?
WASHINGTON: It was crazy, it just happened, I can't lie to you. It's just like an instinct, glad I brought it in.
Q: Seems like there's one or two of those every day for you?
WASHINGTON: Yeah, I'm just trying to make a play just to get on the team, to be honest with you. That's just really it, I'm just trying to make plays every day. A play a day, my motto, a play a day, keep the coaches away. So, I'm trying to make as many plays as I can.
Q: When you're in that situation, do you, I mean, it's literally play to play. I mean, you make a catch like that, I would imagine the next one, it's like, all right, well, don't drop this one. How do you regulate your emotions from the highs to worrying that they're going to cut you on the spot if somehow you drop one?
WASHINGTON: Yeah, we kind of got a word here, like a little motto that we go by called 'reload.' So, if you do make one of those catches, yeah, you get excited, but you got to reload, do it again, do it the next play. You make a drop or something like that, you kind of mess up or whatever. Yeah, you got to get over it, reload, get back to it, and go out there and make a play. Sometimes you make plays and you mess up, but then again, you go out there and you do stuff like that, and you say, you reloaded, ready to go, locked and loaded.
Q: What's your favorite one so far? You had the one hand in the back of the end zone last week, you jumped over a guy in a punt return.
WASHINGTON: Probably the one hand so far, yeah.
Q: Today?
WASHINGTON: Yes, sir, that was pretty cool.
Q: I feel like sometimes a guy could start off on third team, make plays, and never get off third team, maybe no one's even noticing. Does it feel like, I mean, you got some first team reps now, does it feel like here they're getting noticed, like here you're earning your keep?
WASHINGTON: Yes and no, to be honest with you, like I said, I don't even think of it like that. If I'm in with the third team, fourth team, first team, whatever team I'm in on, a play a day will keep the coaches away. Don't matter what it is, and I just go by that, to be honest with you. I'm just trying to make plays with anybody I can, to be honest, just so coaches can see.
Q: Did you see that play yet?
WASHINGTON: No, sir, not yet, not yet.
Q: When will you see it?
WASHINGTON: As soon as I get in, I was signing for the kids and stuff, and came in here, so I'm about to go watch film, literally right now, I want to see it a couple times.
Q: Obviously, nobody wants to see teammates go down or be sidelined, but what do you make of the opportunity you get with the first team getting to show that to the coaching staff?
WASHINGTON: Like I said again, I'm just trying to make a play, kind of a next man up role. We don't like when guys go down, but I'm just trying to be there to show the guys I'm available, I'm locked in. I can be that guy to make a play for you guys when y'all need me to, not saying I'll be able to be a starter or anything like that, but when y'all need me, I'm available and I'm ready.
Q: You are 100% full speed, I see you zigging and zagging and everything, right? Is that something you learned during your NFL journey?
WASHINGTON: Yes, sir, you practice how you play, it's that simple. You just practice how you play, and that way when you come to the game, things like that, one hands, going full speed, stuff like that, it'll just come second nature.
Q: Were you doing that when you came into the league?
WASHINGTON: To be honest with you, when I came into the league, I had a whole different mindset. It was just different, I can be honest with you. I came in kind of young-minded, I wasn't studying enough, wasn't really taking advantage of my opportunities, I feel like, personally. And now, going over the years, being with Denver, first year, leaving there, somebody took my job, I left, went somewhere different, was able to play a little bit there, didn't get to what I wanted, but played enough. But now, I see what it takes now, I feel like, and I'm ready. I'm ready to attack each day like it's my last. I want to be that starter, I want to be that guy to make the play, which I know I can, you know what I mean? So, I'm just trying to do whatever I can to be out there on Sundays with the 53.
Q: What brought you here? Like free agency.
WASHINGTON: To be honest with you, I don't even, I let my agent handle all stuff like that. As long as I can play ball again, I'm on the way. That's all I'm trying to do, is just play ball to show the world I can ball.
Q: You've been around, obviously, this is your second run around with (quarterback) Russ (Wilson), and you obviously were in Kansas City with some other guy (laughs). With your interactions, it seems like you've built some good chemistry with (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) here. I'm just curious what that's been like?
WASHINGTON: Last name Dart, that boy throw darts, it's real good, you know what I mean? I'm just trying to make as many plays as I can for him. I ended up dropping a deep ball, his first deep ball he threw to me was kind of like a little corner route that we did, a high angle route. And I ended up actually diving for it when I didn't have to dive. And after that, I told him right after that, you don't ever have to worry about that, I'm going to get whatever you throw in the air. It doesn't matter if it's behind, short, low, I'm going to make the play for you. I apologize that I missed that play right there, but it won't happen anymore.
Q: Is there a thing when you're getting opportunities, and you said you don't focus on first team, second team, third team, but when it's the first-round rookie quarterback that you know every one of his plays is going to be dissected by coaches, upstairs, everything that he's doing. When you're making plays with that guy, it's almost impossible to not notice you on the other end. Is there any feeling about when that's happening?
WASHINGTON: To be honest, like I said, I'm not even worried. I'm just trying to make plays. I know, obviously, it'll be watched, yeah, because he's a first round guy and stuff like that. But I have to do the routine play, plays like that, he trusts me to throw it right there. When it got kind of on me, go make the play. That's my job, and that's all I'm worried about. No matter if it's him, (quarterback) Jameis (Winston), Russ, (quarterback Tommy) DeVito, whoever is out there, it's my job to make the play for them.
Q: What have you taken from (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers), and do you think you've given anything to Malik?
WASHINGTON: I wouldn't say I've given anything, but I can tell you definitely I'm taking a lot from him, (wide receiver Darius) Slay, (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson). I take game from everybody, even past teams I've been on. Anybody can tell you I'm always going to try to learn from somebody. I don't care who you is, a vet, you can be a rookie. It doesn't matter who you are, I'm going to try to learn and take something from your game and implement it in mine. So for Malik, it's just making a play. The ball in the air, Malik is going to make that play. He doesn't care who you are, who on you. One thing I can say from this film is just watching him, he is going to make that play. That's how I have to feel. I might not be the starter or nothing right now, but if I can take that mentality he has, it's contagious. You throw the ball up everybody's see it, Malik going to make that play. We know he is going to make that play. That's how I want everybody to feel about me. I'm going to make that play.
Q: Is Russ any different here than he was when you were with him in Denver?
WASHINGTON: Russ is Russ, you know what I mean? Russ, he attacks every day. In my opinion, it's just Russ the ultimate competitor, Russ the ultimate leader. There's nothing bad I can say about Russ. Russ is the G.O.A.T. I'm just trying to make sure and show him that I've changed from my rookie year to now. I'm locked in and I'm ready for whatever opportunity comes my way.
Q: How important will return opportunities be for you, you think, in the preseason games?
WASHINGTONL: Very important, that's another way for me to kind of make the team. We got good receivers, great receivers. Like I said, yeah, I'm making plays, but at the end of the day, you still got to do what you got to do, and I'm a returner as well. So hopefully I can make plays returning as well for my team.
Q: Have you always been number 80? Have you always worn the 80?
WASHINGTON: I got 80 when I was at the Chiefs, and I just kind of fell in love with 80 ball. I like that. (Former Giants wide receiver) Victor Cruz as well.
Q: That's a Victor Cruz's number around here.
WASHINGTON: Yeah, you know what I mean? Everybody has Victor Cruz. I'm trying to get 80 ball with Washington on it.
