Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Good to see everybody. I sure appreciate you being here. Good practice, just getting ready for a big challenge. We've got some things going on, obviously, not the least of which is the weather that's coming in, so hopefully be prepared for that as well. We got a little bit of wind out here today, so maybe that helped us, but we're excited. We got a tough opponent coming in, a big challenge for us, very important game, so what questions do you have?

Q: You do anything specific to prepare for rain?

JOHN HARBAUGH: We made the wind really pick up, but the rain we did not. We couldn't make it rain. We didn't do wet balls.

Q: John, I saw (former NFL coach) Jerry Rossberg on the field. Obviously, someone who you have a history with. Are you bringing him on, or is he just visiting?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He's visiting. Megan's (Assistant to the Head Coach/Defensive Assistant Megan Rosburg) here. His daughter's on staff, so he's visiting Megan, and Sherry's in town, too, so Jerry's welcome anytime. Anytime. He was in our meetings today, so it's great to have him with us.

Q: I know it probably just happened, and you're just coming off from practice, but do you have any word on how Jaxson's (quarterback Jaxson Dart) surgery went?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I do not. I've not heard anything on that.

Q: That seems like a good sign that he's doing it right away. How much do you look at it that way? Start that clock as early as possible.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I would think so. I think that's probably the plan. I was excited that they were going to get to it right away, and that they'd mentioned that. That, that was something that could be done quickly, so that was good.

Q: (Offensive lineman) Andrew (Thomas), he's back out here today. He's fine, I assume?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, yeah, he's full participation. You'll see the designations, I think, at four o'clock, but they're all trying to get back, different levels of guys. They all have a chance. We'll just have to see what happens on Sunday.

Q: What was (outside linebacker Brian) Burns able to do?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, he was on the side. He was doing rehab stuff today.

Q: I'm sure you've been monitoring the mood of the team. Down early in the week when we found out about Jaxson. How have you seen it?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Right, I've seen it really, yeah, I've seen it really be good. I mean, they were, when walking in Wednesday for the first meeting, that was kind of a moment and that was challenging. I mean, they were just kind of, I think, looking to see what the plan is. I mean, a lot of guys had been talking, and they were in good place, and Jaxson had talked to them, too. But they just wanted to know what direction are we going, probably. But as soon as we got through the meeting and we got to the work, got out to practice, they were great. Yesterday was probably our best practice of the season and we had another very good practice today, so that's really what's important. The preparation is what matters, and our football team will be out there playing the game and I'm looking forward to seeing how they play. I mean, I'm very excited about the opportunity, and also about the challenge.

Q: With (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers), he said to ask you how the x-ray went with his shoulder the other day.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I don't know.

Q: I'm sure it was fine, obviously.

JOHN HARBAUGH: It was fine, yeah. I don't read the x-rays. Sometimes they show them to me, and I'm like, ah (laughter).

Q: What I really wanted to ask you is, coming back off something like that, sometimes that's something you have to manage, how much is that the case here with him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I really don't know. The trainers take care of that. It's not something we have to manage from a football standpoint, as far as plays, or like maybe keeping him on the right side of the field, or the left side of the field, or something like that. Is that what you're thinking about?

Q: I'm just thinking, sometimes when your shoulder comes out, it has to go back in.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Is that what happened?

Q: It looked like it. He said he popped it back in. So, when you take a hit, sometimes it hurts when you go down, and maybe it needs some managing in that regard. Alright, if he takes a hit, he might have to come off for some plays or something like that.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah. Yes. We'll see.

Q: You're obviously not thinking about that going into the game now.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Right.

Q: Coach, this Sunday is the Latino Heritage Month game, or the Latino Heritage in the league. Do you have any message to the Latino fans of the Giants that are going to support this Sunday and the team for this special day?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Absolutely. We cherish all our fans, for sure. And we cherish all our Latino fans. It is a very special day. It's funny, you see some of the, this is just a side note, but some of the excitement watching some of the soccer. I'm going to call it soccer, if that's okay and to see the enthusiasm of the fans, it's cool. Sport all around the world is the main thing. We love it when the NFL can tap into that kind of excitement and enthusiasm. We're proud of our sport. We're proud of our football, too. We're really excited that it's spreading worldwide, and especially in that part of the world, and for the Hispanic fans everywhere. We want that kind of enthusiasm, man. And we would love for them all to be Giants fans. So, they're welcome to be New York Giants fans any time, man.

Q: You said after the game, obviously, that you want more sacks. Are there things you guys are going to be able to find, without telling us what they are, to scheme it up to do more, to get more sacks? Or is that just one of those things where they'll come when they come as long as we're relentless?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think it's more of that, actually. You definitely scheme stuff up. I mean, it definitely is week-to-week, and we scheme stuff up the first two weeks that we wanted to get sacks then, too. And so, we got pressures, but we want sacks. Sacks are game-changing plays. They're like turnovers. They're difference-making plays. So, heck yeah, we want sacks. I do think it's about relentlessness. I also think it's about sometimes just getting the quarterback down when you get him in your hands. Sometimes it's about scheming up a free runner. That can be the case, too. So, it's any kind of different number of things. But, yeah, we are very determined. I mean, our pass pressure is something that we lean on heavily. It's a big, big part of who we are and who we need to be because of the talent that we have there. So, getting to the quarterback and getting guys down, that's something that, it's a game-changing opportunity for us. So, yeah, we're very determined to get that done.

Q: John, what do you feel is the right opportunity to get (wide receiver) Odell (Beckham Jr.) worked more into the offensive plan?

JOHN HARBAUGH: That's a great question. I would think Sunday would be great. I would be all for it for Sunday. That would be the perfect time in my mind. So, I hope that happens this Sunday.

Q: You haven't added a quarterback. Where are you at on that process?

JOHN HARBAUGH: We're in the process. That's really all I can probably say right now. We are going to have to do that. Whether we can do it before the game or not, I don't know. But we're working on that. That's important to us.

Q: At this point, (quarterback) Jake (Haener) would be the backup.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Jake would be the backup Sunday, yes.

Q: So, what kind of faith do you have in him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: A lot of faith. I mean, he can throw it, man. I mean, I just watched him out here today. You guys probably saw him a little bit earlier. But he fires that thing around. He knows the offense. I have a ton of faith in him. That's why we're okay with it for this game. But going forward, we just can't have two. So, we'll be adding guys.

Tackle Andrew Thomas

Q. How are you? How are you feeling?

ANDREW THOMAS: I'm good. After the game, a little sore, but I got to move around today.

Q. Why didn't you practice yesterday?

ANDREW THOMAS: They held me out, they just wanted to make sure, I guess, to give me another day to recover. Like I said, I was sore right after the game, but I'm feeling good today.

Q. When you went in that blue tent on Monday night, were you worried?

ANDREW THOMAS: I wasn't worried. I was planning to go back out there. Obviously, didn't have that opportunity, but the mindset was to wrap it up and go.

Q. I noticed that on that drive you were limping for a while on that drive. Is that when you first hurt it or was it before?

ANDREW THOMAS: That's when it happened, that last drive. I was just trying to anchor. It should be alright.

Q. What do you think are the keys to improving your guys' pass protection?

ANDREW THOMAS: I would say, one, getting to the line of scrimmage first. We had a lot of plays where we're snaping the ball later. And for us, we wanted to be able to get to the line, let the quarterback make his adjustments, he gets in rotation, make checks if there's pressure coming. And then two, just pushing the fundamentals. I think it was – we had the quarterback hit three times on the same game, so it's like just being able to pass off games, trusting your technique, setting together, and then finishing.

Q. Why has that been the case? It does seem like you have to be getting to the line late.

ANDREW THOMAS: I don't know. I mean, I don't think it's one person. I think it's the collective.

I think we can get to the line faster. I think quarterbacks can communicate, receivers can line up, motion faster. But it takes all of us to be able to allow the quarterback time to make his decisions.

Q. It seems like you subbed in and out a lot. Maybe that had something to do with it.

ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, I mean, we have a lot of personnels, but we have smart players. We're trying to find mismatches whenever we can, so we have a lot of different adjustments that we have guys that can – they're kind of like tweeners, can play different spots in the game. We have (tight end) Isaiah (Likely) who's like the tight end, but he can play in the slot, he can do different things, and all of our receivers can play multiple spots. So, I think our coaches are just trying to give us the best opportunity. It's on us to go out there and execute.

Q. When you guys have – you lost your quarterback, and then you get hurt, and (outside linebacker Brian) Burns gets hurt, and (wide receiver Malik) Nabers gets hurt, (cornerback Deonte) Banks is already hurt. Is there any kind of – I understand that you have to take care of your body – is there any kind of feel of like, 'Hey, we've got to get back. We're already down (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart), and we can't all be – do you rush yourself back in a situation like that so the team's not down everybody?

ANDREW THOMAS: I think all of us are always trying to play. Obviously, you've got to put your body first. I mean, that's the most important. But I think all those guys you named are trying to step up for Jameis. Obviously, I hate what happened to Dart. Anytime anyone gets hurt, especially a quarterback. But we're trying to rally around Jameis and do the best we can for him.

Q. You sound like someone who doesn't really have any question about whether you're going to play on Sunday. That's true?

ANDREW THOMAS: Yep.

Q. Have you guys heard from Dart at all? Like, 'Hey, had his surgery today.' I don't know if there's any kind of like group text message or anything. Did he say anything to you guys?

ANDREW THOMAS: I didn't speak to him today, but the last few days he's been around. He's been at walkthrough. We're just trying to love on him. Obviously, it's a tough situation, hate it for him. Been there before, but I know he's going to be back.

Q. I know Jameis didn't get here yesterday, but it's still a different huddle when he's in there versus Dart. What has that been like in terms of the communication? Is it any different when he's in there?

ANDREW THOMAS: It's been good so far. Like you said, it is different. The way we practice we only get reps with the one quarterback. I haven't gotten a lot of reps with Jameis, even going back to last year, only in the games that he played. But he's a veteran quarterback. He can play at a really high level. He's smart. Like I said, it's a lot on the system on the quarterback to make the adjustments and make the right calls, but I know he's capable of doing that.

Q. Does anything change for you with him in quarterback versus Dart, just in terms of how you set or anything like that?

ANDREW THOMAS: No. The way I set, the way I run block, all that stuff is the same. We've got an open line of communication just when it comes to checks and cadence and stuff like that, just trying to get on the same page to make sure we see stuff the same way.

Q. I know he's inside a lot, but what's the key to dealing with a player like (Titans defensive tackle

Jeffery) Simmons who not only is that good, but it seems like he talks a lot. How do you handle a player like that?

ANDREW THOMAS: He definitely talks a lot, but, I mean, he backs it up. He's a really good player. I think it goes back to what I said earlier where you were asking about picking up games and the pressures. It's trusting your fundamentals. When you're playing against a player like that, and you play with bad fundamentals, you don't have a chance. So, for us it's just trusting that playing physical, having a finishing mindset – and it's not just him. I mean, I think their front is underrated. They have some good players and they play well together in the scheme with (Titans Head Coach Robert) Saleh. So, we're excited for the matchup.

Q. Will you talk back to him?

ANDREW THOMAS: No. You know that's not me. I just play.

Q. Do they run a lot of games and stunts?

ANDREW THOMAS: They do. And they actually ran some different pressures and different fronts than they had historically against Philly, and I know some of the scheme stuff that we do is a little similar when it comes to tight zone and stuff like that, so we have our eyes aware for different things. I mean, you watched the tape last week, we're going to get gamed. So, we're prepared for that.

Q. Anything when there's as much familiarity as there is in this game? Like (Titans wide receiver) Wan'Dale's (Robinson) over there, (Titans Offensive Coordinator Brian) Daboll's over there, (Titans Offensive Line Coach) Carmen's (Bricillo) over there, (Titans cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott's over there. And then you have their head coach from last year, (Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach) Brian Callahan, and (Defensive Coordinator) Dennard (Wilson). Anything added to this game when there's that much familiarity?

ANDREW THOMAS: I mean, for me, I just want to win. I'm sure the guys might have their ulterior motives, but once the ball's snapped, none of that matters. You've got to execute, you've got to do your job. So, we're going to do our best to get the W.

Q. With the weather, I know you're not focused in necessarily on the weather forecast, but Skatt (running back Cam Skattebo) was saying yesterday, if you've got to run it 20, 30, 40 times –

ANDREW THOMAS: Music to my ears.