Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q. What happened with Darius Slayton yesterday?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I would say the guys that were out yesterday, that went out, won't practice today. Should be ready to go by training camp.

Q. Daniel Bellinger said yesterday that he's stepped back to give the other tight ends more playing time this spring. What exactly happened there?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, something happened a few weeks ago. He's okay. He's probably good to go right now, but I'm being cautious with him. He'll be fine. He'll be good.

Q. What do you think you accomplished this spring?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, we had a lot of new people. We installed our systems. Again, it's a teaching camp, so you try to overload them with as much information as you can so that when they're able to come back, put the pads on and really be evaluated, you can play fast, not think as much.

So I think the coaches did a good job of that. The players came out and competed and worked hard to pick up some new systems and some young players learning, getting more reps.

So it's been a good camp. We have a good day ahead of us here. It's been a productive camp.

Q. You mentioned evaluating in training camp. How important is that? What's the key of being able to evaluate your own players on a day to day basis?

BRIAN DABOLL: It's critical because you know what you're supposed to do. When you evaluate other players, you're maybe not exactly sure what the scheme is or what their responsibilities are. Each of our players know exactly what's expected of them. We know the calls; they know the calls.

So doing the right stuff is obviously important, and then letting their physical skillset take over. And you're always looking at that out here. I know I say it's a teaching camp, but really when training camp comes and they're playing with pads, because there are so many rules, you want to keep people off the ground and do it the right way. But it's very important to evaluate your players properly.

Q. Shane Bowen just talked about the idea he wants to see from his guys when you guys return back for camp, he wants to see guys go out and get it, go grab that opportunity. Is that always a fine line for you in the spring, because you want to keep it a teaching camp? It's not that you're taking the competition out, but also to remind guys that there still is a competition. You may not be the guy who has to win that route or do that, but it's still an underlying theme that should never go away?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, absolutely. I think we have a bunch of competitive players. This time you got to do a really good job of coaching of how you want them to practice. And, again, some of the competitive things that show up, whether it was a sack, wasn't a sack, there is no pads on, there is no cleaning the pocket, was it a pass break up, not a pass break up.

That's not really concerning to me. What's concerning or important to me is they know what to do, know how to practice, keep the competitive spirit up, but do it the right way. There will be plenty of time for that when the pads come on.

Q. Wan'Dale Robinson was one of your first draft picks when you got here. First offensive playmaker that you picked. Rookie season, got hurt. Where do you see him now? Where is he in terms of what you thought he could bring to this team?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, he's a good football player. We ask him to do a lot of things. I think he's got really good quickness, good speed, a very dependable player for us. For the quarterbacks, they know where he's going to be most of the time. He runs a variety of routes. Not just always inside, we've moved him outside too as well. Smart. Very, very smart. Does a good job in that room.

He was injured and is still a young player, and he's been very good for Malik (Nabers) and I would say (Jalin) Hyatt too with his communication process. We call a formation, he needs to bring a guy over, he knows really what all five players, including the running back, is supposed to do.

He's progressed well. He's had a good camp.

Q. You seem calmer during practice. Would you agree with that assessment? Has that been a concerted effort for you?

BRIAN DABOLL: Just coaching, yeah. Again, I've been obviously calling some of the plays, there's an element of that.

But I think the coaches are doing a heck of a job. It's organized. They're coaching them up well. You know, the players are bought in. It's been a good camp.

Q. Mike Kafka was talking earlier about he developed with Kansas City where the head coach was the playcaller so the coordinators were not. He saw that dynamic. Do you think that will help him if this change does take place?

BRIAN DABOLL: Mike is a good teammate. Provides a lot of the value, has a lot of good insight. The new coaches -- Mike, obviously not a new coach, might be the longest tenured offensive coordinator I think at one place.

But the coaches are doing a great job. Tim Kelly, he's been a coordinator before. Kafka obviously has done it. There has been a lot of good collaboration. Shea (Tierney) has been with us for a while, JT (Joel Thomas) down at New Orleans has been around Sean (Payton). Carm (Bricillo) coming in. He was with Josh (McDaniels) and in New England. It's been a really good collaborative process of ideas and it's a good time now to go ahead and look at things and see how they do.

Q. You emphasized that collaborative process. Is that something you feel like you needed to change? Was that a problem?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, I'm just going off this year, these guys working together, you know, a lot of good give and take. Not just with the coaches, but with the players as well.

That's important when you're just starting to build your team. We're obviously a long way away, but it's an important ingredient for team chemistry, and I've been pleased with it.

Q. When I watch practice, Evan Neal stands really far from teammates. I don't know if that's by design or his choice. My real question I guess is: Are you certain when you come back for training camp he can be a participant on this offensive line and someone you can count on?

BRIAN DABOLL: That's what we're hoping for. We can count on him. He's in here, he's working his butt off, and hopefully when everybody gets back, like I said yesterday, I'm hopeful we're going to have everybody ready to go in terms of how Ronnie Barnes has set it up and Aaron Wellman has set it up. They've done a good job. The strength staff has really done a good job. Frank (Piraino) has come in and those guys have worked hard.

Evan is on his program in terms of trying to get back as soon as he can. He's doing everything he can do. Participating in the meetings. So very hopeful really with all our guys when we get back we'll all be ready to go.

Q. You mentioned the collaboration again. Some of the players talked about how the different position groups have seemingly worked together more early on this spring than maybe they have in the past. The idea of having the tight ends with the O-linemen and stuff like that, was that a concerted effort that you guys looked at and said we have to do more of this on both sides of the ball this spring?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, and that changes every year. You go back and say okay, what did we do the year before? Is that really what we should have done? Should we make some changes? Should we work more together, tight ends and tackles for example. Should we do some more stuff with the outside linebackers and defensive tackles and work together like Charlie (Bullen) and Dre (Andre Patterson) do.

Yeah, you look at all that when the season is over. You evaluate, you self-evaluate. We've talked about that before, like at the owner's meetings, try to make it as good as you can make it for this year for this team and do everything you can do to make it as good as you can.

Q. Another coaching developmental question. I'm sure every coach wants to start and go like this, nice steady and --

BRIAN DABOLL: Doesn't really happen in this league.

Q. Didn't for you certainly, right?

BRIAN DABOLL: Right. Good observation. (Laughter.)

Q. You've been at it a long time.

BRIAN DABOLL: Sure.

Q. Do these parts make you better? You get something and kind of lose something, does it help or can it crush you?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, no, I think every experience that you get…I probably assume that applies to any job, you should learn and grow from. I think the times it's more down at this end is the times you -- it's easy to be up and things are great. You're going to have tough times, whether in this business, whether it's an iron worker like one of my buddies, whatever it may be.

You're going to have some tough times. There is always a lot to learn, a lot to self-evaluate. Again, you do everything -- you don't have all the answers. You do everything you can do every year to try to be as good as you can be.

You leave everything on the table. Like I said, you don't have every answer. You lean on a lot of people and try to grow and try to build the team you have for this year, whether that's in the leadership department, the plays, schemes, whatever it may be, the chemistry.

But certainly those lows, you're going to have them, particularly in this league. They're never fun, but they are very good learning tools if you use them the right way.

Q. After today, six weeks, these guys go home. Do you have to in today's society say, stay out of trouble and come back ready?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think when I first started in 2000, it's not the exact same speech. You have to grow and learn. Obviously it's different. Certainly you want to represent yourself, represent the organization the right way, be a pro both on and off the field, and let them know that we're here for them if anything does come up.

But they're so used to structure right now. The players have been here since April. They have a routine and then you go away and I have kids that are some of those rookies ages and of course you got to try to lead them, show them the right way.

But we have a lot of good young men who do things the right way. That's something we will address.

Q. What gives you hope that the offensive line can be better this year?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, again, it's more of a teaching camp. There is good communication. Those answers will all come as we get going in training camp. Got a little bit here before we start up here.

But the chemistry, the communication, those have been good. That's what you're looking for this time of year in an OTA without pads on. It's important. Half of your offense is basically the offensive line, so the more communication, the more looks they can get, that's where I told you one of the reasons I want to do so much team is for that reason. Team. Team reps.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

BRIAN DABOLL: A little bit, yeah. Want to make sure we're heading home healthy, ready to go.

Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka

MIKE KAFKA: Quick shoutout to my son Jackson. He had his sixth birthday a couple weeks back, so Happy Birthday, Jackson. With that, we'll get rolling.

Q: How many star recruit is he?

MIKE KAFKA: He's getting there. He's a good little player. He plays all kind of sports. He's a good little player. Everything. Hockey. He loves playing goalie. Football, receiver, defensive back. He had a pick-six the other day in flag football. He is doing well.

Q: Were you there to see it?

MIKE KAFKA: I was. I am helping coach. I am an assistant coach.

Q. Mike, how is Drew Lock progressing in the offense?

MIKE KAFKA: Drew is doing a really nice job. You can see him getting a little bit more comfortable each and every day with just the verbiage, the command, out there processing, executing. You're seeing each day he's getting a little bit better.

It's been nice to see because he's a veteran guy. He's been in a couple different systems. He's taking that next step.

Q. When you have a guy that's been in multiple systems, how do you help them from not saying, okay, we called it this in that system and we call it this, that, and just keep them straight?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, you try to get them to use those prior experiences and take the good that he's had and some of the plays he's really comfortable with. It's just about creating dialogue and communication with stuff that he likes, stuff that we do, stuff he's done in the past, and just make it really collaborative and working together with that.

Q. Talk about the development of Malik Nabers. How is he fitting into your system?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, Malik is doing a nice job. He is a rookie, so he is right on schedule. He's learning our system, learning how we do things, how we practice, and he's doing a really nice job. He's making plays when his opportunities are becoming available, so I'm happy where he is.

Q. Anything really standing out about him that was maybe a little bit of a surprise to you?

MIKE KAFKA: He has a great work ethic. That's something we saw in college and something we studied and watched. He's a playmaker. Again, we're in spring and he's doing a nice job right now getting acclimated to being a pro and learning what he has to do to be in our offense.

Q. How big of a jump do you think the wide receiver group as a whole has made this off-season?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, it's really coming together quite nicely. Coach (Mike) Groh has done a really nice job with those guys developing them and getting them caught up. Cade Knox is working in the receiver room there. He does a nice job of complementing Coach Groh and putting the drills together.

As a room, they've worked really well together and they are continuing to grow together. Got some really young guys who are really energetic and taking that leadership role. I think you're seeing a guy like Wan'Dale (Robinson), (Darius) Slayton, guys that have been playing for football for us, Isaiah Hodgins. Those guys that played a lot for this group, you're seeing them take that leadership role.

Q. What have you seen from Tommy DeVito this spring?

MIKE KAFKA: Tommy is doing a nice job, too. His second year, so now – the first time is kind of like a fire drill, you know, so second year around he's hearing it, he is more comfortable, he's able to really describe all those little details that we talk about all spring.

Last year, he kind of got thrown into the fire a little bit in the season, and he did really well last year in those games and you're seeing him take that next step now.

Q. What's your role in practice when you're not calling plays?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, I'm just complementary to Dabs, helping out with offensive drills. You'll see me walking around and being an asset to the coaches and the players wherever I can. Whether it's fundamentals, technique, whether it's thoughts and ideas on routes or protections, stuff like that.

So doing whatever I can to complement those guys.

Q. What's the spring been like for you? Been a little bit of shift there in what your responsibilities are. How is that for you on a day to day basis?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, every year brings new opportunities, and so I'm taking this as an opportunity just to continue to grow as a coach and be, again, an asset to those coaches and players.

Q. Play to play, how do you complement what Daboll is doing?

MIKE KAFKA: There is a lot of things on a given play you can look at and detail up. I'm always looking to have some feedback with the players, get their interactions on how they saw the play, and then give my feedback.

Then we talk about it on the field and we talk about it in the meeting room and get those things cleaned up.

Q. How do you feel about not calling plays?

MIKE KAFKA: I think Dabs hasn't really made a final call on that yet. We are going through the spring right now. It's kind of too early to tell. Whatever decision he goes with, I fully support.

Q. How do you think that will affect your head coaching prospects?

MIKE KAFKA: I'm not worried about that kind of stuff right now. We're in the spring and we have so much stuff that we have to improve as an offense fundamentally, technique-wise. That's really where my focus is at.

Q. Usually, you know, he's an offensive coordinator who is also the playcaller; he is an offensive coordinator who is not the playcaller. If you are the offensive coordinator who's not the playcaller, is that a fulfilling thing after having done that for two years?

MIKE KAFKA: I'll kind of lean back on my experience in Kansas City a little bit where Coach Reid is the primary play caller, and then the coordinators that were under him, whether it's Eric Bieniemy, Matt Nagy, like those guys are super involved. So I have that experience of being in a system like that.

It's pretty typical around the league of head coaches doing that. So whatever decision Dabs wants to go with, I fully support.

Q. And you feel you will be super involved if you are not the playcaller?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, absolutely. It's collaborative. From day one it's been that way.

Q. Do you make up the game plan though and Dabs would call the plays?

MIKE KAFKA: No. We would be working together. So the way Dabs would handle it -- and this could change -- but you kind of piece it out to certain guys in the group. We would all talk through those certain areas, whether it's third down, red zone, guys would detail out what their thoughts were, and we would put it together as an offensive staff.

We would put it together and make sure it all matched and we felt good about that plan versus that specific defense.

Q. With Wan'Dale, you mentioned the leadership. Beyond the leadership, how much do you see him making a jump on the field in terms of his production?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, again, that's a great question. I think he's right where he's supposed to be right now in spring. Every day he's going to continue to take a step. He's taken a step with his leadership.

Last year he dealt with some injuries. Got in midway through the season and had some production. Wan'Dale is one of those guys we know and love and got to get him the ball.

Q. With Evan Neal, can you count on him to be there any time?

MIKE KAFKA: Absolutely I can count on Evan Neal. He's going through his rehab process and I know he's eager to get out there. All those meetings in the O-line room, he's asking great questions and really into it and trying to get better. The medical side of it, our staff is going to take care of him and make sure he's on schedule.

Whenever he's ready to go, he'll be ready to go.

Q. So he is engaged with you and his teammates in that setting in the room?

MIKE KAFKA: Absolutely.

Q. How different is what you're asking the offensive line to do this year versus last year with a new O-line coach and maybe what you've tinkered within the offensive system?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, so Carm (Bricillo), you know, getting everyone on the same page from an offensive standpoint with our new coaches, with our new players, whether they're veterans, whether they're rookies, is always part of the this process, right, in the spring.

Carm has done a really good job of, one, being installing and cleaning up some of the detail work they need to do individually as a player. From a schematic standpoint, there is certain language we've cleaned you up and talked about just to make it more streamlined.

I think Carm is also going to put his flavor on it. That is what makes him special as a coach. Put his own flavor and his own fingerprint on that offensive line.

He's done a really nice job. Happy where they're at.

Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen

Q. Very broad question, but how would you describe your base defense?

SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, that is a very broad question. I would start with our style, our fundamentals, being smart players, playing with great effort. Really being able to play with physicality and toughness and finding dependable dudes in terms of scheme. I think we're multiple. I think there is going to be multiplicity in the back end.

We're going to have some front variation depending on the down and situation. Ultimately, scheme for me is finding what fits our players best, right? We got to do a good job as a coaching staff figuring that out as we go, as we been through the spring and we can evaluate, and as we get into training camp, continuing that evaluation.

Something that never really stops as we go throughout the season.

Q. You've been working in some of the younger players. Can you talk about some of those who have made the jump from the start of the spring to where you are now?

SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, I think all those rookies, all those guys have done a really good job. I've seen growth from all of them. I think the coaches are doing a really good job taking advantage of the time we have with those guys. We get more time with them than the veteran guys.

But I've seen guys learning. I've seen them not making the same mistakes twice. Being able to turn the page and continue our teaching progression where we're not held up on 100 level stuff. We can progress to 200 level and at some point start to implement how offenses are trying to attack us.

It's more than just our defense, right? It's being able to take the next step and turn our focus, especially come September, to who we're playing against.

Q. So much talk about what was here before and the aggressiveness of the Wink Martindale defense. This defense will be less aggressive. I'm sure as a coordinator, less aggressive is not something you're going to have on T-shirts I would think. Is there aggressive but less aggressive but still aggressive?

SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, I think there is a fine line between being schematically aggressive and being play style aggressive. Like the play style ain't going to change. We're going to be physical, we're going to be tough. We've got a high standard for that.

We turn the tape on, we want teams to see us flying around, hitting people, not turning down contact, being decisive in our decisions, being aggressive with our breaks.

There is a lot of aggressiveness outside of scheme as it relates to defensive football. Then with the scheme, we'll see. Still a work in progress. Like we were a new defense nine weeks ago; we're the Giants defense now, right?

New is over. I told the guys this morning, like I don't want to hear new no more. It's not new anymore. We are still figuring it out and we're learning every single day and it's been great work this spring seeing things, but the Giants' defense is going to continue to evolve based on our personnel and what our guys do best.

Q. What have you learned about the players that you have out there now?

SHANE BOWEN: I think there has been a lot of growth with their understanding what we're asking them to do. As a coaching staff, coming together, collaborating, figuring out how we want to play things.

It's not the Shane Bowen way. There is no egos involved here. We are going to be a very collaborative group as a coaching staff. Hopefully we are that way as a unit: selfless players that put the team first.

And I think that's grown. As time has gone on and guys get an understanding of my expectations and my standard and what I'm looking for from certain things, they gradually learn and it gradually increases their ability to go out there and do it, right, and for coaches to teach it.

It's been good this spring. I feel like we've taken some big strides. I told them this morning, six weeks from now we got to come back ready to roll. The clock is ticking. Again, it's not new anymore. It's the Giants defense. We've got to be able to take the next step in the teaching progression, take the things from the meetings to the walk-through to the field, and ultimately when they start playing these other opponents, how our scheme and game plan is going to adjust according to personnel.

Q. What's it like to inherit a player like Dexter Lawrence?

SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, it's great. That's the one thing, Dexter, Bobby (Okereke), (Brian) Burns, these guys that have played at a high level in this league. They're not only great players, but they're really great dudes. They're great teammates.

I think there is a correlation. The guys that have success in this league usually are the ones that work the hardest, that want to take every single ounce of coaching that you give them, right, and they go and they apply it.

And there is a reason they get to the level they're at because of that. And having those as your leaders, guys that aren't afraid to be vocal also where it's not just show by example. That's a tremendous asset to me and a tremendous asset to our coaching staff, and ultimately to the younger guys we're trying to get ready to go.

Q. What do you make of your cornerback room with Deonte Banks and Cor'Dale Flott and that second corner spot?

SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, I think Rome (Jerome Henderson) has done a really good job with them this spring. There is some new things for them that have went in that they've been kind of working through and learning, but technique and fundamentals are technique and fundamentals. Cover that guy. How are you going to go about covering that guy?

Then there are some things we ask them within the scheme that we might ask of them just in terms of vision and eyes and where they're looking.

All those guys have progressed. They've challenged – my challenge to that group and really the majority of our group now is consistency. When we get back in training camp, I'm looking for those guys that are consistently reliable to go out there and do their job, play with the technique and fundamentals we're asking them to play with.

That's ultimately how they're going to win their one-on-one matchups. Bottom line: We need guys to start separating themselves. Maybe not the first week in training camp, but as we get going those first few weeks in training camp, we've got to start defining roles. I want to see guys take opportunities, grab them, and start to pull away.

It's the NFL. Like everybody has to earn it. Go do it.

Q. It's early. Has anyone done that so far?

SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, I've seen improvement. I would say not enough. Like right now this spring, I would say not enough. Again, it's 7-on-7 basically out there, and the rules and everything else that come into play, I think it's going to be more telling come August.

But there is a lot of positions within our defense right now where the competition hopefully will continue to drive that. But I want to see guys grab these opportunities and run with them.

Q. What does Tyler Nubin have to do to get more prominent snaps and make it a competition?

SHANE BOWEN: He's got to get better every day. My expectation for all the young guys and every single guy that we have in this building, undrafted, second round draft pick, first round draft pick, like it doesn't matter what you did, it matters what you do when you're here, right?

So my expectation for them: be better than you were yesterday. When the opportunities come, make the plays. They're going to earn their role. It ain't on us. We're going to coach the hell out of them and give them every opportunity they can imagine. We're going to try to get them in the best spots that fit their skillsets. When the time comes they have to make the plays and show they deserve more.

Special Teams Coordinator Michael Ghobrial

Q. On the kick return, what does what does putting two returners out versus one do to the alignment? What advantages does that give you?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Number one, I think you got to look at the rule changes, right, where people can't necessarily leave until the ball has landed in the landing zone or the returner catches it.

So if you think about what's really irrelevant right now, it's hang time. You're going to see a lot more lower kickoffs, which is going to cause returners to have to cover more ground.

What allows you to cover more ground is potentially putting two back there. Now, there is still going to be elements where people will still put one returner there, in which case you've just got to really challenge your returners, see how much ground he can cover, and see if you can get away with it.

Q. Are you looking at this a little bit more than it used to be almost like a running play at times?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: You know, it's funny that you say that. It's going to look more like the offensive run game than people think. The NFL has taken the speed and space out of it and there is just less space to necessarily get as creative with your blocking schemes as you would think.

Because as things sit right now, especially with teams that will have good get-offs on both sides, so the biggest thing is, yes, there is an element that it may look like some more offensive run game.

But the thing I've always coached our guys on is it is the first offensive play of the series, and it's our job as the kickoff return unit to put our offense in the best position to have success.

Q. The flip side of that is covering? How much does it change how you cover it and the kind of people that you need on that coverage unit?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yeah, the biggest thing is like when you're talking about any -- just how I said about kickoff return being the first offensive play, kickoff is the first defensive play of the series.

When you look at the purest form of football, you're talking about block destruction, pursuit angles, disengages, all those things you've that have still been prevalent in our game.

That doesn't necessarily change. So the biggest thing is those fundamentals have to come to life, and you have to be able to practice those. It's just the matter of when you could use it and how quickly you use it.

Q. Does it change the body types at all? You want bigger, smaller from what you had in the past?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: There are strengths and challenges to putting any type of personnel in there. I think the best is you got to ultimately figure out who is on your team and what is the best combination of 11, because the nature of it, and you guys understand, in this league the rosters are limited.

So to figure out how many basically smaller skilled players, bigger skilled players that we have, it's going to be different. That's something we'll have to face when we figure out when the roster turns down.

Q. What are the timing mechanism options? When you're covering, you're looking forward, you can see when the ball gets there. When you're blocking, what are the options for the return team on how to indicate to everybody that the ball is touched at that point?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yeah, the rule is still the same for everybody else. The thing that doesn't stress anybody out right now is when the ball is initially kicked off, because you can't go anywhere.

So not to get too much into scheme, it's going to be -- we have certain rules we're going to have initially, but those can definitely -- we can mold as we get into pre-season of where your vision should be and all those things.

Q. When you're putting your pairs of returners together, are you also looking -- it's not just, okay, you can return and you can return, but also how they work together, and especially if you're looking almost like an offensive run game kind of thing to have that other guy is not just a throwaway. That's a guy that probably needs to fit, know how to block, understands the schemes. Is that fair to say when you're putting two guys back there? It's not just taking guys who happen to be your fastest guys on the field?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Yes. Yeah, it's no different than what the rule presented itself whenever you had two returners back there. When people chose to put a second returner back there, the biggest thing was if you didn't get the ball, you had to be active in the blocking. Is that more prevalent now?

You know, potentially that guy is faced with a little bit more stress initially to where those guys do have to understand blocking.

But it was no different in the past few years where you were still counting on that guy to potentially insert on a safety, to potentially kick out a two. Those don't change to me.

Q. What have you seen from a Tracy and Dante Miller?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: Man, you talk about two young bucks that I'm excited to see what they do in pre-season.

Both of them just tremendous human beings, number one, and so excited, so eager to put their best foot forward. Both have such a skillset to be good returners in this league.

So it's funny. It's like whenever you are interacting with a new player or anybody potentially coming from the college game, you want to see how quickly their skillset translates.

Fact of the matter, the rule change is different and there aren't a lot of similarities, so it will be unique to see everybody, whether you're a rookie or veteran, what they potentially do.

Q. Do you see a potential challenge that hasn't been resolved yet with this new rule? If so, what are you working to or how are you working to resolve it?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: I think the number one thing is you always want to make sure your players are versed on the rules, number one. Whether it be alignments, when they can take off, those are the biggest things that I think you have to start when you're installing a drastic rule change. What are they allowed to do and not allowed to do.

Once you get to that, then some challenges can certainly unfold. The fact of the matter is things will reveal itself when it's a little bit faster tempo and you are going against another team.

So I think the challenge for every coordinator in this league is how quickly they can evolve after their first pre-season game when they see it.

Q. Coach, you talked about young bucks as returners. Your placekicker is not a young buck, coming back from injury. What are you seeing so far in terms of health from Graham Gano?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: I'm so excited to work with Graham. Number one, he's a tremendous person to have in the room, a guy that's seen a lot of football. He has great foot accuracy. You obviously see the explosive leg.

So it's been fun to work with him and to see his skillset in terms of the kickoff and field goal stuff. I'm excited for him to start off day one with us.

Q. Have you had to manage him in any special way throughout the summer to limit the amount of kicks on that let or how do you plan on moving forward with that coming off the injury?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: I think you always have to monitor how many kicks a specialist has in general. But the fact of the matter is that is like a conversation that you always have with the player. How are you feeling today?

The biggest thing you is you want to make sure they show up to the game healthy and ready to go. I've seen him do everything that I need to.

Q. Will you give any non-kickers a chance to kick and cover? Do you think there might be value to that depending on how the plays develop?

MICHAEL GHOBRIAL: There is tremendous value to it. We have a few guys on the roster that have in in the past so it will be exciting to see again what they can do in terms of that, that position.

Obviously the rule change has affected everybody that enters that field. Whether you want a guy that can be active in tackling that has a little bit more action with that. It all depends on what your scheme looks like.

Ultimately, you want to have a kicker that can make sure he's placing it in the right spot, where it's supposed to go and all that.

Wide Receiver Wan'Dale Robinson

Q. Can you talk about where you were at this point last year? Obviously still coming back from the knee and now where you are. How do you feel?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: Yeah, I would say it's completely night and day. Last year around this time I wasn't running routes, barely sprinting. To come out here now and be able to go for a full practice and not worry about my knee at all, it's like I said, night and day.

Q. You talked a little bit at the end of last season about how you were finally starting to feel like yourself. How are you feeling right now? How much are you looking forward to entering a year fully healthy?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: I feel like I'm kind of back to myself all the way. Having a full off-season to train and not have to rehab, so it was a really big deal to me just to be able to go back home and do everything I was able to do ask and get back to myself.

Q. How has it been having Dru (Phillips) on the practice field with you?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: It's been pretty cool. I mean, he's a cool dude. Really calm out there. Not trying to do too much. It's been really nice.

Q. Did you anticipate your role growing in this offense?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: I'm just there to do whatever I'm supposed to do. At the end of the day, whatever my role may be, just getting open, doing what I'm supposed to do, getting open on third down for Daniel (Jones) and just going out there to make plays.

Q. Obviously you're entering year three, you've seen the wide receiver room really turnover from where it was two years ago. Guys were coming from the practice squad and starting games to now where you're at. Can you put in perspective what you feel like you have in the wide receiver room now?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: Obviously a really young group, we're still learning a lot of things, and each and every day just trying to go out there and get better. I think we all bring a little bit of a different skillset, but we can all do similar things, and that allows (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs to move all around. I think it will be a really good group to be around.

Q. With that room being so young, Brian (Daboll) and Mike (Kafka) kind of called you a leader in that room. What's it like being 23 and looked at as a leader?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: They kind of put that on me towards the end of last year, knowing I would be one of the older guys now. I've kind of tried to take it upon myself just to do whatever I can out there on the field, teaching the guys how we do things around here. It's nice for them to know that I can do that.

Q. How is that role for you?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: It's kind of crazy. They tell you that whenever you're a rookie, after two years you're one the vets. I didn't really believe it. After being here whenever we got back, you could really see that, yeah, you're a vet now.

Q. Compared to last year, do you think this year you're going to be more explosive when you have your catches?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: No question about it. (Laughter) I mean, especially for the first couple weeks of the season, I didn't feel anywhere near like myself. Obviously just being able to go out there and just do what I have to do and now just feeling all of the way healthy I feel like I can do everything I need to do.

Q. I would think that gives you a great sense of confidence, that you regained what you know you had.

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: Oh, yeah, there is no question about that. There would be times last year I wasn't all of the way confident in doing what I had to do out there. Probably until the Green Bay game I wasn't out there just really doing whatever it was and not thinking about my knee. Just really excited for this full year and being healthy.

Q. What is it in your game you really haven't shown?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: I don't want to talk about that. We'll let the play do that (laughs).

Q. We saw the explosiveness yesterday. How much do the GPS numbers reflect that you're moving better than you were last year in the beginning, especially coming back from that injury?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: I would say in this off season I hit some numbers that I hadn't hit ever, so it was pretty nice to see that. Hopefully being able to hit those numbers fully in pads and just show that explosiveness out there on the field.

Q. I know this group is not limited to you, Jalin (Hyatt), and Malik (Nabers). But it seems like you guys are having a party out there on the field. How much do you appreciate their talent and what they bring to the table and what that could mean for what you're able to do?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: I mean, everybody helps everybody. The more Malik catches the ball down the field and Jalin catches the ball downfield, the more it's going to open space for me inside and underneath. The more I'm catching the balls underneath, they're going to have to bring guys down just to try to stop that, and they can get deep. Everything works hand in hand, so I'm excited with those guys. Like I said, we can all do a little bit of everything, too.

Q. I know your social media team had a little fun with the Spiderman meme. Was that the intention yesterday?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: A little bit, yeah. We saw the meme. We were kind of like, that will be pretty cool little celebration – yeah, it was pretty fun.

Q. Have to be any better though?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: Yeah, it'll definitely get better. That was just the first one right there. We've got until training camp and all of training camp, and then once the season rolls around, we'll be good with it.

Q. Have you noticed a difference in Coach Daboll calling plays this spring? Any difference?

WAN'DALE ROBINSON: I mean, I wouldn't say necessarily a difference. He's always kind of been the fun, joking guy. I think now that he's calling plays, he's a little bit more intense with us and making sure we're on top of everything. But he's been the same guy since I got here for the most part.

Offensive Lineman Jermaine Eluemunor

Q. Were you surprised that your personality was kind of embraced by this fan base so quickly? Did you set out to make sure that people knew who you were and how happy you were to be here?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: It was a little surprising. I know how big this fan base is, but that's just me. I've been myself this entire time, this entire process. That's one thing I truly believe in. If you're yourself, you show people who you are. Hopefully, people follow that and like your personality. Everything y'all seen when I signed here, the last couple weeks, just having fun, that's just who I am and how I was raised and how I like to be.

Q. When you signed, you didn't know where you were going to play. How did playing guard come to be? What were those conversations like?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: Yeah, just one of the openings they needed, and me being as flexible as I've been over my career, I just fell into it. I started as a left guard when I was in Baltimore before I got traded to New England. I was training to start as a left guard in Baltimore the entire off-season. So it's nothing I'm not familiar with. If you watch my career over the last seven years you've seen I started left guard, left tackle, and right guard and right tackle. I can do it all. I just want to be out there.

Q. You had a lot of success with Carm. What makes him such a good coach?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: He just believes in the technique and knows how to make a successful offensive line. The offensive lines we have had the last two years we've been really good because of his coaching and the schematic side. It's easy to go out there and just try to block a three tech, but if you know how to do it and the best way to do it and then also how the play that you have is going to affect your block, that is what separates the good from the greats. Carm does a really good job putting these guys in the right places at the right time, so that's how you open up holes for the running backs and get the quarterback time to throw the ball down the field.

Q. Going back to the positional flexibility, do you have a preference?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: No, I just want to start. I just want to be out there. For the first five years of my career, if you look back, I was in and out of the starting lineup trying to figure out how to be an NFL player.

Now that I've had a taste of being a starter, I just want to be out there—I don't care where it is.

Q. How do you characterize the offensive line right now?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: It's a fun group. I don't count teams; this is my fourth team. I've been blessed to be in a lot of great offensive line rooms, and this one falls right into that. AT (Andrew Thomas), EZ (Joshua Ezeudu), Ev (Evan Neal), (Jon) Runyan, (John Michael Schmitz) Schmitty, Marcus (McKethan), (Aaron) Stinnie, Marcelus (Johnson), Jake (Kubas) and Jimmy (Morrissey). We have so many great guys in that room and a bunch of different personalities. I feel like the offensive line room is the best room in the NFL just because it doesn't matter who you are or where you've been; as soon as you get in that offensive line room, you're one big family. Everyone is goofy and funny. I have so been having a lot of fun with it.

Q. Going back to positional flexibility one more time, we see you; you're at left guard pretty much every time we've been here. You still take snaps sometimes on the right tackle. Is it a big deal that you have to make that switch? (Plane interference.)

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: I don't think so. I played right tackle mainly for the last two years, so I was able to hone in on that and really craft my technique to get it where I wanted to be and where I was comfortable. So now that I'm moving to left guard, I'd rather just stay there and really hone on that position and perfect that. Just what I've learned and what I've been through in the NFL at right tackle shouldn't be hard if I have to go out there. I trust the guys in the O-line room, the tackles. I believe in them and know what they're capable of. That's why I've been able to stay left guard and let them ball out over there.

Q. It was obviously a priority of the organization to supplement the offensive line. Where do you think your group has made the biggest strides during this portion of NFL schedule?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: Confidence has been a big thing. Easy going out there at tackle going against Kayvon and Burns every day. Sometimes, you're going to lose a rep, but it's how you come back from that rep, and you learn and don't make the same mistake twice. He's been killing that. AT, Schmitty, we can see all these guys getting more and more confident, and that's really dope to see. As an offensive lineman, confidence is one of the biggest factors in being a great player. You have to be able to go out there on third and long and know what it's going to take in order to get the job done. The way the O-line is going right now, the confidence is growing, and it's really cool to see and be a part of that.

Q. Have you won your share of battles though?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: I'm trying. Dex is a hell of a player and that's a big boy, so. It's definitely a learning process for me. I'm having a lot of fun. This is probably the most fun I've had in my career during the off-season.

Q. Just the camaraderie?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: Yeah, the camaraderie and just how fun it is playing with these guys. Everyone has a bubbly personality, smiling and just being out here, just loving playing this game, and it's really cool to see.

Q. Is that unique?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: I wouldn't say it's unique. This game isn't supposed to be so serious. It's a child's game, and you're getting paid to do it. You should be having fun doing it. I haven't seen one guy not smiling out there every single day. The energy is contagious. Really inspiring.

Q. You bounced around the last two years. Did you take reps at guard or pretty much exclusively at tackle?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: With the Raiders?

Q. Yeah.

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: No, I stayed at tackle, but that's -- actually, I take that back. There were times when I played multiple positions in practice just because I was capable of doing it. That's what I pride myself on: being able to play all the positions on the offensive line. Other than center. That's something else.

Q. With your journey as a player and the ups and downs, I'm sure there were times when you doubted whether you could get to that point. Finally, stabilizing as a player, what lessons can you bring to that table? Like you said, you have some young guys on this team that have gone through it the last couple of years in terms of confidence and lack thereof.

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: If you look back at my past career, confidence was something I really struggled with. It was the time in my rookie year when I started two games in a row and didn't do enough to stick. Then I got traded to New England and then I was in Miami for a stint and then I got cut. That week I thought my career was done. And then the Raiders took a chance on me, and then there was a time where I didn't get signed and I didn't have a team, and luckily Raiders wanted me back and I kind of knew -- if you look back at it like two years ago, that was it for me. I didn't know if another team was going to take a chance on me. It was all or nothing. I really want to be a great player in this league, and I know I'm capable of doing that. I just have to put my head down and just work. Being around a guy like Maxx Crosby in Las Vegas changed my career, in my opinion. He is just balls to the wall. He is the hardest worker I've ever been around. That inspired me. So now I'm at the point in my career where I'm finally on the road to the player I want to become. I'm not there yet. I'm nowhere near that player, but I'm becoming that player more daily. If I can go out there and help these young guys become the players, I know they're capable of being, too, that's dope for me. That's what I want to be and who I want to be. Just show guys that it doesn't matter where you are right now. If you keep working with your head down, the sky is the limit.

Q. When you're training on your own the next six weeks will you be focused on left guard?

JERMAINE ELUEMENOR: Yeah, I trust Ev at right tackle. Like I said, confidence is a big thing. I'm trying to pump confidence into him because I know what he's capable of and the type of player he can be, and I'm excited to see that come out.