Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka

Q. How was the preseason for you calling plays and getting used to that again? What was that like for you at this point?

KAFKA: It was fun. It was fun. It was a good experience. Any time you get in there to call and a game situation in a competitive environment, it's always cool to watch the players go compete. It's awesome.

Q. Was it tricky to get back into the rhythm after last year not calling plays? Is there any tricky parts to that at all?

KAFKA: No, it's the game I've been planning to be a part of for a long time now. It's just about getting with the players, giving them the stuff that they like, and then just going through evaluation. The preseason is obviously a bigger evaluation tool, but just getting back into the flow of it. We've been doing it throughout training camp and throughout the spring. Just making those reps has been good.

Q. Dabs said you did a great job. He has a lot of confidence in you. It's one thing to do it in the preseason. What's it mean to you, you're going back into regular season, that you are going to do it this season in particular?

KAFKA: Yeah, just continue to go through our process and work through each day, what that emphasis is, first and second down --

Q. To you personally. What does it mean to be back as a play-caller, personally?

KAFKA: I haven't really had a whole bunch of time to think about that. I've just been thinking about the players, thinking about the guys and how we can make them great, thinking about our coaches and the coaching staff and how I can help them and be a servant to them, how we can make this organization better and how I can make our offense better. That's really been my focus. Then, you know, obviously all hands on deck for Washington this week.

Q. Do you like the hubbub of the sideline and the emotion of the sideline calling plays, or do you like to be in a sterile environment in the box where you can think?

KAFKA: Next to you guys (indiscernible). No, it was good to be on the sideline. It's always fun to be right there with the players and see it eye-to-eye and communicate with them more directly. You can do certain elements of that up in the box, but there's really no substitute for being on the field. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. I think guys obviously operate a bunch of different ways. So I thought it was cool. It was fun.

Q. But do you like it on the field?

KAFKA: I enjoyed it.

Q. If you had your choice -- you may have your choice -- do you want that? You can talk to Malik or grab somebody, do this, versus being up there?

KAFKA: I think that's been productive throughout training camp, because you're on the field, you're going to use the same voice and talk to the quarterback and look them in the eyes, go down to the offensive line and hit each position group. I think there's a certain element of, you know, leadership and just being a part of -- being down in there with them that's been fun. We'll see how it shakes out.

Q. Do you think it's been even more important when you have a rookie on the roster like Jaxson Dart, given your experience?

KAFKA: I don't know if it's an advantage or not. I think Jaxson and Jameis (Winston) and the quarterback room, everyone has to be ready to play. In terms of just the communication part of it, it would be the same as we are in the meeting room. We're building that relationship out. We have been the entire offseason. So whether we're on the field for the game or in the box, I would say and assume the communication would be very similar.

Q. Do you sense any disappointment from Jameis when he was put third on the unofficial depth chart this week?

KAFKA: I don't know if Dabs -- I'm not going to get into depth chart stuff. I know Dabs will probably give you a more elaborate, detailed answer of the depth chart.

Q. How ready do you feel like Jaxson is if he has to go in his first NFL game?

KAFKA: Yeah, we're in Thursday, so not everything is in yet. Each day everyone is working to get better and learn the game plan, learn the focus of that day. He's prepping to play and prepping to get ready to roll and just being on schedule with everybody, just like everybody is. I think he's right on schedule. I think we're right where we're supposed to be in terms of the game plan and tomorrow. Today is the most important day. Tomorrow is another big day. That prep will continue to go all the way up until game time.

Q. This is your first game with Russell Wilson, obviously. It's his first game with the Giants. You don't know what his stats are going to be, how he's going to do. What do you feel very confident you know you're going to get from him on Sunday?

KAFKA: I think you see it in the meeting rooms. You see it in the building. You see it off the field with the players, with the guys in the community. I think you get a really consistent player. Russ has been doing that all camp. We need his leadership and his consistency, and just go play quarterback and do your job, and let the game come to you. I'm excited to see Russ play and excited to see everybody play. I think it's going to be a fun year, and we're all excited about it, but we've got to get to work today, and we have a lot of things we've got to get cleaned up before we get ready for Sunday.

Q. The benefits of being on the sideline, but obviously there's a reason why you're up in the box for three years. What are some of the drawbacks of being down there?

KAFKA: The drawbacks... it is more quiet up there. I don't know if that's a drawback. I'm just trying to find some of the things that are differences, I would say. The difference is it's definitely quieter up there, and you can see the field a lot, like the width of it. You see everybody. When you are down on the field, you trust the eyes upstairs to make sure you say, Hey, check out the back side corner on this play, check out what the safety is doing. You can verify via the pictures and stuff like that, but you know, it's just probably more dialogue upstairs saying, Hey, check this out, my eyes are over here, your eyes are over there. Just the communication with the staff is probably a little bit quicker, because they're working to do their job. They have their substitutions. They have their players, their guys. Who is on the field? Who is off the field? That needs to happen a little bit quicker. But there is a certain element of having the guys right there next to you and being able to just communicate with them quicker.

Q. Who are you relying on your eyes up there?

KAFKA: There's a group of guys up there. There's a group of guys up there. I'm not going to detail who is up and who is not. Dabs will talk about the exact specifics, but about half of our staff is up there in terms of the game management, in terms of the offensive side that will give us all of the information.

Q. Dabs has talked about this a little bit. How did you feel like Jaxson handled it the couple of times he was thrown into the fire? I can think of a practice here where he came in for Jameis in the red zone, the Jets game, where he came in for one play for Russ. I know Daboll said that was part of his plan. How did you feel he handled those times when it was unexpected, you're in the game?

KAFKA: I thought he did a nice job. He did a nice job just stepping in, executing. Yeah, I thought he did a nice job.

Q. Is that a hard thing to do?

KAFKA: Yeah. Certainly when you're just thrown in on a whim, it's not necessarily easy, but I think he's prepared himself. He's prepped, and he went in there and just executed. It wasn't too big for him, and he just went in and played.

Q. How different is it to go in in preseason action like that versus the regular season?

KAFKA: You know, this is not his first game. I would say he's been playing football for a long time, so getting in, I think that's part of the game. It can happen at any position. That's why you prep and you study and you spend hours and hours and hours looking over this stuff. You walk around the building in the late afternoon, and there's guys here that are meeting together and talking together. They're studying and writing their notes. So you see that. You see the work, prep. Then when you get an opportunity, it pays off because you're so prepared for it.

Q. A lot of guys have said Russ is very consistent and has been since he got here. I'm curious, with preparing for this game, what's it been like working with him for the game preparation as far as his demeanor, his approach?

KAFKA: It's been very, very consistent throughout since the day he got here really. Just the communication, the consistency in the meeting rooms and his preparation, getting guys on the same page, communicating with the players, communicating with the coaches. It's been really impressive, really good, and that's something that we would expect from a veteran of his stature.

Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen

Q. How challenging did it make picking a cornerback starter between Deonte Banks and Cor'Dale Flott given that they were never healthy at the same time?

BOWEN: Yeah, I mean, there were a lot of reps throughout. I know they both missed a little bit of time, but there were a lot of reps throughout. They both have done a really good job when they were out there. So I think there was enough to go off of. Unfortunately, we did lose them for a week or so, both guys, but able to get back out. Again, I look back to last year and kind of what we went through in that position going into week one and the moving parts. At least it was a little bit earlier than what it was last year at this time.

Q. Do you anticipate playing just one? If so, want to tell us who?

BOWEN: Yeah, we'll find out on Sunday.

Q. Could you play both?

BOWEN: We'll find out on Sunday. We'll find out on Sunday, so we'll see.

Q. Have you ever had a rotating cornerback position where you are basically two series here, two series here, whatever it may be, of guys? Have you ever done that throughout a season?

BOWEN: Yeah, I'm just trying to think. In my history, I don't think I have. I don't think I have. Just based on where I've been and who I've had at those spots. You know, a lot of guys have always had to play. It's the nature of the league. I mean, it comes up I guess, but I don't really know about that right now.

Q. Does it make sense to sometimes handle a position situationally? This week this guy works better for us; next week there's a matchup, the other guy works better. Or, no, I want --

BOWEN: That's a good point. It's a matchup league. It's a matchup league. I mean, I think every week you're trying to do that, whether it's positionally, corner, front-wise, whatever that might be, trying to find the best matchups that work for us and put these guys in favorable positions. So, yeah, absolutely. I think week-to-week, it's something you look at.

Q. You obviously knew that Abdul Carter was an explosive player when you drafted him. Is there something about his skill set over the summer that surprised you or part of his game you didn't know he had that he showed?

BOWEN: Yeah, I think like you see the explosiveness obviously rushing the passer. He's a really good athlete, too. He can bend, the flexibility, everything that comes with it, which we've all seen from Penn State. I think there's a violence to him. Like the explosiveness comes out in that form too, which is probably a little bit more than what I was expecting, to be honest. He's done everything we've asked of him, continues to try to improve, continues to practice hard. So excited about him. Excited to see him out there Sunday.

Q. I'm sure you're eager just to unleash this pass rush. When you have a guy as mobile as Jayden Daniels, how much does that impact your approach as far as you want to dictate to him, but if you go too aggressive, he can burn you?

BOWEN: Yeah, no doubt. I mean, it's a really good offense, and I think obviously the playmakers they have, the scheme causes issues, it's 11-on-11 football every single play. It's a fine line.

We've got to be able to rush the guy, but we've got to make sure we're coordinated, we're all on the same page, we're executing and not leaving big creases, easy edges for him where he can just take off and get vertical on us. That's the biggest thing. When he has the lane and can get vertical, he's a tough tackle in space, tough to bring down with just one guy. So I think it just goes back to our rush coordination, making sure we're coordinated, understanding how the guy next to me is rushing, how it all ties together where we can hopefully minimize and shrink some of those windows. Like, you rush four. There's six gaps, right? Just by a number count, there's going to be a couple of places where he can escape if he needs to. We just have to make sure we do a good job of constricting those spaces where it's not inviting for him.

Q. What did you think of your run defense this summer, and how different are they to defend against the run without Brian Robinson being in that running back room?

BOWEN: Yeah, man, I feel like we've improved. I do. I like the additions we've made. I think those guys up front have developed a little bit as well just in terms of what we're trying to do in the run game. I think the linebackers have done good. I think Bobby (Okereke) and Micah (McFadden) and (Darius) Muasau, all three of those guys have done a good job. I'm encouraged where we're at right now. It's going to be a big challenge this week. I mean, it's, like I said, 11-on-11 football. They've got a lot of different schemes, a lot of window dressing. They got Deebo now, what they do with him. So there's a lot to it. But hopefully our fundamentals hold true, we can play physical up front, and not let it affect us too much, but we're going to have to be sound, we're going to have to be disciplined and making sure we're in the right spot, because it's going to take everybody in the run game this week. So we'll see. What was the other part of that?

Q. Just how different their back field is to defend without Robinson. It sounds like you expect maybe Deebo to factor in there.

BOWEN: Yeah, we'll see. Just his history, what he has done in San Fran at times, it wouldn't surprise me. I think the rookie (Jacory) Croskey-Merritt runs hard. They obviously have some confidence in him. (Austin) Ekeler has done it a long time. (Jeremy) McNichols played against us last year. So we'll see. They have a plethora in that room of different guys. They're all a little bit different. Obviously they feel confident in those guys enough to let Robinson walk. So I'm sure they're going to be ready for it.

Q. I would imagine that as a coordinator, when you look at your depth chart and your starters and say, we have three or four things I'm really worried about, that's a challenge. But what about conversely as a coordinator, if you look up front and say, I got a lot of guys that I got to figure out how to play, can that be a big challenge too, because you've got to get it right with that rotation?

BOWEN: Yeah, it's a good problem to have, first of all. But as a staff, I think we sit in there and try to find ways to put these guys in the best positions where they can have success. Again, it's unique. They're all going to play, but you have three edge guys. I'm sure you're referring to that and just how we utilize those guys. They'll all be in there. I think that will evolve a little bit as we go, too. One of those guys is a rookie. It's going to be his first game, so what does that look like and where he's at. A little bit back to your last question. The matchups week to week, what are teams doing to us, what's their scheme? That plays a part in it as well in terms of our versatility, so to speak. I think it's going to be an evolving thing as we go kind of throughout the season. It's a good problem to have. It's a really good problem to have. That's on us as a coaching staff to be creative and find ways to utilize all three of them.

Q. As a coordinator, after the game is over, do you really want to avoid looking through the tape and saying, why didn't I have -- you know, versus instead of saying I should have had him out there, that kind of thing?

BOWEN: Again, we can all be the armchair quarterback in certain situations. Hopefully we find a way to get the guys that we think best suit us in that situation and have conviction on it. We spend a lot of time here throughout the week going through all those scenarios, those situations, what we're playing to what, vice versa, who is in the game. You've got to have conviction. Ultimately, if it doesn't work out, you're probably kicking yourself come Monday, but at the same time when it does, hopefully you're feeling pretty good about the decisions you made.

Q. Talent-wise, what are your expectations for this group this year?

BOWEN: Yeah, going into week one, I think it's make the plays you're supposed to make. Let's make sure we're in the right spots, we know what to do, we're playing fast, playing physical, and when we get an opportunity, let's make those plays. When we get a one-on-one block, let's find a way to win our one-on-ones. Don't got to be anything spectacular. Again, we don't know how they're going to play us, how things are going to change based on our personnel as well, so that's a little bit part of the chess game in-game just how they're attacking us based on how we're defending them. But don't feel a need to go outside the framework. You're going to have your opportunities. Make sure we're making our plays when we have our opportunities and continue to improve week in and week out.

Q. With the talent that you have, people say the Giants need this group to be a top-10 defense, top-5 defense. What do you think when you hear that?

BOWEN: I think I'm focused today on figuring out how we have a great practice for Washington, right? I'm focused on today. I'm focused on getting ready for Sunday. All that stuff will take care of itself.

If we can keep the focus on the opponent this week, on what we got to do out here for however many snaps we get at practice and continue to improve, continue to learn, that's the end game. That's the end game result for me, right? Hopefully we can continue to do the things day in and day out and approach the process the right way where hopefully we can achieve those things, but the ultimate goal is let's make sure we focus on today and improve and do what we need to do come Sunday to find a way to be 1-0.

Q. The legacy of this franchise is built around defense with L.T. at the center of that. How much do you talk to your guys about trying to be a part of that or trying to advance that?

BOWEN: Yeah, I think what Dabs did this offseason, bringing those guys in, hearing from the offensive side and the defensive players, that we had L.T. in here and a bunch of guys speak to the team, speak to the defense. Embrace it. Embrace the tradition. We want to make those guys proud of us and proud of the way we play and live up to the standard that they set here. That's part of it. When people think of the Giants, they think of really good defense. We're trying to do everything we can day in and day out throughout the process to get to that level and have some of the success that they had.

Q. Charlie Bullen had brought up just really throwing a lot at Abdul Carter during the course of the preseason and seeing how he handles it. How do you balance that and pulling back for game time, and then just what have you seen what you're able to do?

SHANE BOWEN: I think some of that's going to be told on Sunday. I really do. We've got to be mindful of it. Again, emotions are going to be high. They're going to have a lot of energy. They're going to be ready to go and just making sure we don't overload him too much with all the other stuff of game one, what we're seeing, everything that comes into play in a game, that it doesn't paralyze him before the snap, right? I don't want these guys out here thinking too much. We've got to do what they're comfortable with. We've got to find ways to build that confidence hopefully throughout training camp and this week so they can go out there and play. The last thing we want to do is have too much where these guys are timid or unsure, and then their ability doesn't show because of it.

Special Teams Coordinator Michael Ghobrial

GHOBRIAL: What's up, everybody? Hope you are doing well. Good seeing everybody. I'm excited about this year. I'll take questions.

Q. Did Gunner Olszewski get a returning job solely on returning, or did that have a lot to do with what can do as a receiver too?

GHOBRIAL: No, I think he has a lot of versatility. He obviously did some good things offensively in the preseason, but he also did some good stuff for us returning even before I got here.

You know, he's a proven returner that's done it at a high level, and he had a good camp. So excited to see what he can do.

Q. He hasn't returned a lot of kickoffs in the last couple of years. What have you seen from him in the past? What gives you confidence that he can fill that role?

GHOBRIAL: Well, I think, number one, this will be a new kickoff rule to him. Because of that, it does take a different run skill than it did prior with hang time being a premium with the last couple of years ago with those kickoffs and now not being as much of a frequent thing and then the formation restrictions that are with the rules. I think his skill set does lend to have success in this, because it almost seems somewhat more like a punt return play, because a lot of guys are on the same level. No different than a punt would be.

Q. What are you looking for from your kickoff return this season?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, I think number one is ball security. It's the first play of offense. So retaining possession of that ball is critical. Every opportunity we get, we want to have efficient returns. I think that's a huge component to being a good kickoff return. Yes, the mentality is always going to be let's score, let's score every time, but the fact of the matter is we want to give the ball back to the offense. But if we're getting explosives out of that too, then I'm looking at that as a successful play. So efficiency will be the biggest thing.

Q. How much more added value is it to have two quality returners back there, because you're going to get less touchbacks where in past years you had one guy back there?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, I think it's important. Those guys both have to be great ball handlers, number one, and both guys will get touches throughout the year. There's no guarantee that one guy could be a primary returner and the other guy is a secondary returner, because you are seeing a lot of skilled kickers now being able to put the ball outside the numbers each way, in the middle of the field, in the alleys. So it requires both guys to have great communication, great ball skills, and also the run skill to be able to have success with it.

Q. Is decision-making now more important than maybe it used to be where they would kick it out of the end zone or they would kick it three yards into the end zone, and then you had a rule -- if it's at the 5 -- they really have to kind of really know on the fly, you know, is this right on the boundary, what do I do here?

GHOBRIAL: I think decision-making has always been a premium. That's never really left. Now, the one thing I will say is the decision-making time is a little bit shorter now just because you're not seeing a lot of hang time with the kickoffs. So it requires a lot of impulse decisions. To me those impulse decisions always go back to what they know best. If what they know best is the things that they practiced in practice, then they're ready for any situation and rules that come up.

Q. What are you seeing from Jude McAtamney since he arrived here last year?

GHOBRIAL: Tons, tons. Obviously the number one thing he's always had is that leg strength, but then you're starting to see him understand the wind patterns in our stadium and obviously on our practice field. Then, also, just the moxie he's been able to develop with those other guys in the room. I think those guys have been good pros to him, and he understands what it takes to have success at this level. It was good to see him have success during the preseason. So arrow up on Jude, and I'm excited that he's back.

Q. Between Graham Gano and Casey Kreiter-- I'm used to the Giants always having a special teams captain. There was not one voted this year. Who do you look to in that role?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, so I don't necessarily -- being a captain is a huge honor, and that is held very sacred to your teammates and it's coveted as coaches. I think both Casey and Graham have great leadership qualities to them. Just because they were not voted captains doesn't mean they're restricted from speaking up. I think those guys never get deterred. When they have to say something, they say something. I think those two guys are really good leaders in the special teams room as well as other guys that are returning, like Chris Manhertz, Chris Board, Flannigan-Fowles, Gunner. We have a really good veteran group, and I hear a lot of conversations with them not only in the meeting room, but you hear it on the practice field. How do you see this? How do you see me playing this? That, to me, ultimately is a sign of leadership as well, and you see that with a lot of guys on this football roster.

Q. What does Beau Brade -- obviously a guy you claimed. What does he bring on the special teams areas?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, so he's a physical presence. He is a true 'see ball-get ball' player that studies the game the right way, and you see his study habits show up because you see him make full-speed decisions. There is no hesitant play in his style of play, and that's the thing I respect most about him. When he's convicted about the play he's supposed to make, he goes and gets it. So I'm excited to work with him and I'm excited to get to learn him a little bit more over the next couple of weeks.

Q. Was he somebody on your radar last year in the draft, or somebody you just kind of got on your radar now?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, so both in the draft and then also playing Baltimore last year. You know, a guy that showed up. Just being able to have multiple interactions with him, has shown up, and excited to work with him.

Q. Saw Russell Wilson out here yesterday working on holding, I guess emergency holding. What's his experience level with that? Is it something he's done before?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, yeah, he's done it every year since he's been in the league. He did it in college as well. That's been a skill set of his that it's really valuable for us to have a backup holder. That's with obviously anything. He just gives us a little bit of flex in that position.

Q. You have cycled through a lot of guys since Bryce Ford-Wheaton went down at that gunner spot next to Art Green. Who stepped up and seized that role?

GHOBRIAL: There's been a few guys actually. Beaux Collins is a rookie. Has been great in that role. Tae Banks and Flott have both been good in that role as well. You know, Art Green has done it for us at a high level, and then Nic Jones. I think all those guys have the capability to help us on Sundays. All those guys have a good mindset if we ever need them to go execute those rep, that they're able to do it and do it at a high level.

Q. Devin Singletary hasn't returned many kicks in his career. What do you see from him that translates to that role?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, he has great ball skills, number one. The run skill is there, because the vision as a running back shows up, so he sees the game really well.

I've made this comment before, last year. This new kickoff return looks more like the offensive run game, so you see a lot of running backs have success in this new system because of them being able to see and diagnose return holes, set up blocks. He's shown us that he has a skill set to do that, so if he ever gets an opportunity, excited to see what he does with the ball in his hands.

Q. How was Deonte Banks? He has been a starter on defense around here. How did he take to the gunner role, and some young guys who were starters -- that's like the second priority for them. You know what I mean? How do you see that with him?

GHOBRIAL: He's a great teammate, number one. Unselfish and wants to do right by everybody. He's awesome in that regard, because he knows he has a skill set to be a high-level corner. He also has a skill set to be a high-level special teamer. Every chance he gets to play football in general, I think he embraces it. That's a thing I respect most about him is that he doesn't blink twice about it, and he just wants to play football, and he's excited to do so.

Q. It seems like his skill set is really very strong for that, because he is strong, he is fast. Can you expand on that a little bit?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, he is. Like you're saying, he's big, fast, and strong. Those fundamentals obviously show up defensively, and that's why he's had success in that position. Whenever you have a guy like that that has had success in whether it be a primary position on offense and defense, those true fundamentals show up again on special teams, because we do block disruption, we do tackling. All those things that they're asked to do defensively show up in our kicking game as well.