Head Coach Brian Daboll

DABOLL: No injury updates.

Q: (Quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) looked pretty good out there. How would you summarize his performance?

A: (He) executed well.

Q: What was that when you put him on the field for that one play?

A: You never know when you're going to have to go in, so just part of the multiple things we've done with a young quarterback in years past, where I was before, and thought it would be good for him for a play to get in there and not know that he's going in there. He didn't know it. He threw a little screen pass for 30, doesn't hurt.

Q: How did you know exactly when you wanted to do that?

A: I didn't tell anybody. I didn't tell the coaches, I didn't tell anybody.

Q: Why that exact moment?

A: Because I felt like it.

Q: One play in, one play out?

A: You don't know what's going to happen. Just be ready to go when your number's called.

Q: Does it help that Dart's done that in training camp so he already has that mindset?

A: He hasn't done exactly – I mean, he's done that a little bit. Again, it's just you're trying to put these young quarterbacks in as many situations as you can, so that's what we did.

Q: Those situations that you put him in during camp and now in preseason, is it fair to say he's met the expectations you had for him in those situations?

A: Yeah, he's still got a lot to learn but he's growing every day. Like I said, that's why we drafted him. We spent a lot of time with him, have a lot of confidence in the young man. He's done a good job for us since he's been here in every area you could do, off the field, on the field, leadership, moxie, intelligence, but it's early. We've played a couple preseason games against probably some vanilla looks but he's making strides everyday and that's all you can ask of any other young player.

Q: You guys believed in Jaxson, traded up for him, you got him. When he exceeds in these moments that you guys are putting him in, is there any sense of pride from you guys? Like you believed in him and it's coming to fruition?

A: No, I just think we have a good relationship, both on the field and in the building and outside and you work as hard as you can as a coach or as a player to keep improving every day and that's what he does. Does he make mistakes? Absolutely, he makes mistakes, he makes a lot of them. I make a lot of them, but you learn together and for a young quarterback, you grow together and that's what we're doing. We're making mistakes, we're trying to learn from them, making some good plays, you learn from those. That's where we're at. Early part of a young quarterback's development.

Q: Can you talk about (wide receiver) Beaux Collins? Obviously, he had a big play tonight.

A: Yeah, he hit the one. Hit the post. What a great ball by (quarterback Russell Wilson) Russ, right? Eighty-yard bomb, dropped it in the bucket. Great protection by the offensive line off an action pass. Really just great vision by Russ to lay it up there and we were an inch short, whatever it was. And then the second one, where we threw the pick, the long one, that's just some time on task – I can do a better job with that, but I like the aggressive nature of the quarterbacks – all the quarterbacks. We threw a couple picks, but they were down field, they turn it loose, they're convicted on their throws, they're convicted in their vision. Good guys to work with.

Q: What is the next thing you'd like to see from Jaxson?

A: Keep getting better. Do a good job of rehabbing tomorrow whatever he needs to rehab and keep growing in the offense and we'll see how it pans out on Thursday night.

Q: Jaxson's played really well in the preseason. You've said Russ is the starter. Is there anything he can do to get himself in that mix at this point?

A: Yeah, Russ is our starter and we're going to keep developing Jaxson.

Q: With Russ remaining as your starter, would you like Jaxson take some first-team reps to see what he can do against that competition as part of his development?

A: We have a plan. We had a plan a while ago. Previous stop we've had, we've had a plan for this quarterback. It's specific to each quarterback that you have, they have to possess the traits that you covet, that you look for in the draft. I think we just have to keep working with him and understand there's going to be a lot of downs. I know there's some ups right now but there's going to be a lot of downs and we just got to keep growing and communicating, just keep getting better.

Q: Does the plan include first-team reps?

A: There's a lot of stuff that's in the plan. It started back in April so keep growing him.

Q: The plan you had in Buffalo seemed to change quickly so is there anything Jaxson can do to force you to change whatever plan you have?

A: Jaxson's just got to continue to work to get better and we got to help him get better.

Q: Why was it important to you to give Jaxson a drive with the starting offensive line?

A: Because that was part of the plan.

Q: That seemed to be an escalation of him getting more of an opportunity than he's had.

A: We have strategy and a plan of how to develop a young quarterback and that was part of it tonight. The one play in, the one play out, the reps, the situations, the situations in practice in the red zone, unscripted periods, scripting plays and then completely scrapping them, putting new plays in, having him call his own plays… I mean, there's a variety of things that we'll continue to do but he's doing a nice job.

Q: You're developing him or are you preparing him for the possibility of playing early in the season?

A: What we're trying to do is help Jaxson be the best quarterback he can be, just like all the quarterbacks. Just like all the players on the team.

Q: What did you think about (quarterback) Jameis Winston?

A: Did some good things. I know there's a couple plays that he'd like to have back. Moved the ball down, scored points, but we'd like to finish with touchdowns rather than field goals, but another guy that's working as hard as he can work and doing a good job in our system and good leadership, glad we have him.

Q: Why did you do so much up tempo with Jameis and Jaxson?

A: Because we wanted to.

Q: What did you see from Russell?

A: A great shot. We can clean up… That's two guys that haven't worked a particular route.

Q: Are you talking about that interception?

A: Yeah, they haven't worked that particular route. I'm not too concerned about that. Nice pass to (wide receiver Jalin) Hyatt there, backed up. It was good, executed well.

Q: When you talk about your plan, where has it materialized throughout your career? Was it coming together with (Buffalo Bills quarterback) Josh (Allen) in Buffalo? When did the plan become the plan?

A: I would just say this is unique to Jaxson, our plan with this player right here. You know, you take a lot from your experiences, where you've been, and who you've learned from and who you've watched play quarterback or developed as a young player as a quarterback. Some on the fourth string, some that wasn't going to play and then a guy gets hurt or whatever it may be. We alter that daily, we talk about it every night. It's a big priority for us, to help him improve. It's a hard position to play. Again, he's played two preseason games. He'll be the first to say that there's not terribly difficult looks or anything like that. I'm proud of the way he prepares, I'm proud of the way he practices, the way he communicates, the way he executes.

Q: When you look at the offensive line, obviously you mentioned…

A: Another good job tonight with all the guys.

Q: Also, the confidence you had in the offensive line when you're backed up in the end zone, for Russ to make the throw to Hyatt, have you seen this progression and development with the first unit and is it different from the past two years?

A: I think everybody helps the offensive line out. The offensive line has done a nice job but the quarterbacks got to throw it on time, in rhythm, pull the trigger. When he sees it, let it go. Backs got to protect, receivers got to run the right depth, the routes. It's an all-encompassing thing on offensive football. Everybody's got to do their job for a play to work and you have to have confidence in the players that they can go out there and execute but confidence comes from seeing them do it in practice, even though it's not a live situation or putting the ball in Russ's hands, who has done it a variety of times and know he's going to make the right decision, or Jaxson, or Jameis, or (quarterback) Tommy (DeVito), whoever it may be. But they've done a nice job. How many sacks did we have? One? On a naked, I think.

Q: With how much your starters played together in these first two games, do you feel that the team is more ready? That they needed this?

A: Time will tell. We had a target of what we wanted to get. For example, the inside linebackers, we were hoping for around 20 each so I was asking between every series, 'Where are we at with (inside linebacker) Bobby O (Okereke)?' 'He's at 15.' 'Where we at with (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden)?' 'He's at 21 or 20.' 'Alright, get Bobby O one more. Where we at with (inside linebacker) Darius (Muasau)?' 'He got 25.' We had how many reps we wanted to get so who was in there, when they were in there, doesn't really necessarily mean anything. It was a number of reps we were trying to get our guys to hit a sweet spot of the first game we played and then the second game we played. Now, does that change a little bit with (nickel) Dru Phillips playing the nickel or (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) playing the slot and the personnel we're using? Sure, that can happen so then you get to a certain point in the game and say, 'Okay, Wan'Dale's only got seven reps. We don't need to play him anymore – but he only had seven' But that was a byproduct of how we called the game with (assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike) Kafka, or how the Jets utilized them so Dru Phillips is in. That's all it comes down to. Not like, 'Bobby Okereke only had 20 but then he went in the second…' like that's not how it works. What works is we calculate the numbers. I'm talking to the coaches in between every series, where they're at, target number. (Cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott had a couple more than we were going to give him. I think he had 18, we were shooting for roughly 10-12 but they got into a little bit of a series. (Wide received Darius) Slayton and Hyatt were right around 10-12, which they got right around that area, so I'd say the reps or the rep counting that everybody's doing, I understand it, but there's a specific plan for it and the reason why we do it.

Quarterback Russell Wilson

What's up guys? That was fun.

Q: Were you throwing that to (WR) Beaux (Collins) all the way because you kind of looked to the side.

A: Which one? The deep one early? The bomb? Yeah, that was pretty cool. Yeah, we had a play set up where he could go down on the deep post and obviously (WR Darius) Slay(ton) was kind of going down the sideline and I just saw Beaux kind of even and you're leaving. He's got great speed and just the line did a great job on that, giving enough time. Obviously, it was a big chunk play. Massive play by him. He did a great job, so that was fun.

Q: Not to be a downer, but what happened on the interception?

A: Just a little miscommunication. I'll be better there for him and just we were on two different pages, I guess, but it was really more so just me really trusting him early. I kind of put the ball up right before he moved and, it's football. Good thing is that it happened in the preseason. We get to see it and talk about it and that's why you play these games. You just get better, you learn, and we all work together.

Q: What has this playing time done to you to get so much time with the starting offense?

A: You know what's been great? Just the team camaraderie. I think the locker room, the sideline, just how connected we are. The defense, the offense, the special teams. We're all having a blast. Obviously, we were playing two tough AFC teams, the Buffalo Bills and then obviously the (New York) Jets and then obviously the (New England) Patriots coming up Thursday, so it just really gets us ready. I think the line is doing a tremendous job. They're giving us enough time to make plays. I think really gave me enough time to make some big time throws and guys making some big-time catches. And I think running the ball, we're running it well too. I think (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mike) Kafka and Dabs (Head Coach Brian Daboll) and the whole offensive staff is doing a great job of putting us in a good positions to be successful. And I think our practice habits have been great. So, to be able to take the practice all week where we had a good week of practice and then come out in the game and put up 31 points and do all the things we were able to do and make some really big explosive plays, I mean that's the exciting thing for us. The good part is we don't even have (WR) Malik Nabers out there yet. He's had a great camp so when gets back out there too it will be really exciting for us.

Q: What was it like, you go out there for a series, you hand it off, and then (QB) Jaxson (Dart) is running on the field? What was going through your head in that moment?

A: Coach and I had kind of talked before just between me and him that he was going to send him out there at some point just to randomly surprise him and then put me back in. So, I think, first of all, I think Jaxson has done a great job. He's learning every day, he's working his butt off. We're all working in that room, the quarterback room, and he did a good job.

Q: How much have these stealth snaps the first two games helped you in a new situation be ready for potentially opening week?

A: I think, I like playing in the preseason. I like playing any time I get a chance to do that. Especially early on, you get a rhythm. I think that going against Buffalo, a really good defense, a really good team, obviously they've been super successful the past several years, you know, last week and to put a good drive, a 14-play drive together, to be able to move the ball well. I think (WR) Wan'Dale (Robinson) had a really good game that game and made some great catches. Some guys, (TE) Theo (Johnson) had a really good game the first game, the offensive line did a great job. And then to come back in this game to see guys like (WR) Jalin (Hyatt) make some big – we were backed up the first couple drives really – and I thought we did a good job obviously getting out of there, the huge explosive play to Beaux (Collins), and then being on the one, two-yard line and Jalin Hyatt running a great route on the right, that was a huge play by him, tremendous route, great protection again. I think what it does is it just gives you that confidence in what we're doing. We're doing it on the practice field as you guys have seen in how well we've practiced, but I think to translate that to the game, put a bunch of points on the board and to be successful. There's still a lot more room to grow. We can be way better, we'll be better and just as we continue to play and continue to get after it together it's going to be fun.

Q: How did it feel your first game being with the fans?

A: Just to be back in this stadium – this stadium means a lot to me, to be honest with you. I remember pulling up to the stadium just to remind myself that I've been here before and been successful here in this stadium before. So that feeling of winning a Super Bowl and then to put on the blue and white, to be in this stadium as a New York Giant is a tremendous honor. And so, I love doing it with our teammates, to do that and we're excited about the season. We're excited about where we can go. We've got a lot of work to do, but we're very capable of what we want to accomplish and so we've just got to keep our heads down and stay humble and hungry. But to be here in front of our fans was a true blessing and a lot of gratitude.

Q: From training camp (WR) Darius (Slayton) mentioned you brought a lot of clarity to the offense, making things simple for guys. I guess, for a guy with your experience what does that mean to you? What do you think you brought to the team this year? What's your unique perspective?

A: I think clarity equals confidence. I think confidence equals success. I think a lot of times in this game there's so much terminology, there's so much this and that, and I think as a veteran, as a leader, as a guy who's played a lot of ball, I think the quarterback-receiver, quarterback-o-line, the quarterback-running back, all the tight ends, we're all working every day to be our best daily. And I think a lot of that is just communication, the coaching staff does a great job. I think Coach Kafka is doing a great job of leading us. I think Dabs does a great job too. I think (quarterbacks coach) Shea (Tierney) in our quarterback room. We have great communication and just I think all of it becomes the passion and obsession with the game. I think we've got one of the best offensive line coaches in (offensive line coach) Carm(en Bricillo) in terms of how he teaches the game and so we're just all communicating at a high level. That's what makes this game fun and when you can put the pieces together and then to do it on the field and to do it in practice and continue to be constantly on that quest for knowledge and constant quest and searching for more, that's the fun part. So, I think it's a great blessing to lead a great group of guys.

Q: Understanding it's different for every quarterback, for you, how long did it take you get comfortable in the preseason of your rookie year?

A: I think, like I said last week, I remember my first touchdown pass. I remember my first game, winning that game. I remember the second one, when we went to Denver on that one, played well and I think it's just football. Jaxson's doing a great job of it. It's the game that we love and we have a great quarterback room, guys that are really confident, guys that play ball and I think that and the end of the day, when we put the work in and translate it and make practice harder than the game, that's when it works out for you so I think all those things I go back to. Every year, I feel like I'm a rookie all over again just because of the gratitude that you have. The gratitude just to be able to step out on the field and you never lose that juice and that energy for that so that's the fun part.

Q: Curious because Jaxson did so well in his first two games. As a quarterback, how long does it take to get comfortable and does it make it more impressive to do what he's done in these two games?

A: Yeah, I think he's done a tremendous job. He definitely has worked at it every day. You know, he's sitting over here in the room so (laughs)… But he works at it every day, and he asks the right questions. That's what I enjoy about him. He knows this, like I'm never shy about giving information and talking about it and us learning about it and me asking and vice versa and we're all just constantly learning and I think that the thing is, and I really believe this – on any great team, I think from a leadership standpoint, you want everybody to get great because when you get everybody great, you as a team become great. I think that's a huge part to it and I think that's the fun part that I've had on this journey this year so far is just continuing to just love guys up, teach as much as I can, be passionate about it, getting it right as close as we can so that we can all be great. We're searching for something. In the New York Giants, we're all searching for something, to be great and to go where we want to go and there's no substitute for hard work and I think that we're doing that but it's the beginning and we're just getting focused on right now and today and we're going to enjoy tonight because that was fun and then tomorrow, the Mara's and Tisch's throw a great party for us, for the families and so we're going to do that well and enjoy that because it's camaraderie and it's team and it's organization and culture and the New York Giants know how to do that really well and so that's what we're excited about.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q: I think you finished off with 13-straight completions to end the night. Have you ever done that before?

A: Yes; I think I had a little bit more in a game in college [at Ole Miss]. I felt like guys were making great plays for me. I was just trying to distribute the ball to the playmakers.

Q: What do you make of the performance overall from you personally?

A: Honestly, the third-down that I had where the guy clipped my ankles is going to haunt me for a little bit. That's the thought that is in my head right now, but I think that the most important thing is us getting the win. I want us to continue to expect these kinds of things as a team and build on these moments and just have fun winning and playing the game. The most important thing was to come out here and win.

Q: Why does that third-down play haunt you?

A: I should have scored [on it]. If I had gotten my feet up, I would have scored.

Q: I know it hasn't been, but the first two games have seemed easy for you; you have made it seem easy. How have you acclimated to this speed at this level [in the NFL] so quickly?

A: I think the first thing it starts off with is obviously the guys I am out there on the field with and then my coaches putting me in a really good situation to succeed. There are a lot of conversations, I think it is really unique, you talk to guys all around the league and rookies being able to have input to the coaches, that is not very common at times. I think that our relationship from the players to the coaches has been top-notch since I got here. They [the Giants Coaching Staff] put me in good situations, they let me express the things that I like that I feel confident in running, and the tempo drives; I felt comfortable in that. I felt like that was a good time for us to come out of half and try to change the pace of the game. I just felt like the coaches and the guys on the field help put me in good situations and I am just trying to distribute the ball.

Q: Did you suggest that about the tempo at coming out of halftime?

A: It was just a conversation. They were kind of, 'What do you think about this?' and I said 'I love it'. I think it was cool for them [the Giants Coaching Staff] to ask me and see how I felt about it.

Q: Jaxon, you were really comfortable with Lane [Ole Miss Head Coach Lane Kiffin] at Ole Miss with the hurry-up-offense. Tonight, you looked very comfortable in it. Why are you so successful and so comfortable with the hurry-up-offense?

A: I think it is a huge advantage for the offense because the defenses can't do as many things because they have to line up and get in their call too; there is not as much disguise. At the same time, you can get them tired and when people are tired, you often make mistakes because you are not thinking about your alignment and assignment as much as you're thinking about how tired you are. Just kind of changing the speeds of the game. Obviously, our offensive line did another amazing job of keeping me clean. When I am able to sit back there [in the pocket] and see the field and go through my progressions, I think that is just a quarterback's dream. Shoutout to the O-Line for that..

Q: When Dabs (Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll) threw you in there for that one play, what was going through your mind?

A: I was like 'Serious?' He was like, 'Yeah.' I was like, 'Alright.' I didn't know that I was going to go in for one play and come back out. He is making up scenarios where you never know when your number is going to be called and you have to be ready for that. He has done it in practices, so I think that kind of taught me that I need to continue to warm-up on the sideline because you just never know when things like that are going to happen.

Q: Dabs talks to us a lot about this plan he has for you. How much of that does he impart to you? Or are you just kind of going along with it or has he laid out what his developmental plan is for you?

A: No, I think that they've done it with so many other quarterbacks. I trust them in the process. So, I'm really just focused on each and every day, how can I get better? I said this before, when I first got here the amount of knowledge in that quarterback room was very humbling. I'm just trying to catch up on a lot of information. I want to get on the same level as the guys in my room so I'm continuing to try to chase that each and every day and just listen. I have great guys around me, great coaches who have won and done it at the highest level. So, I just look forward to learning each and every day.

Q: Did you know that throw was going to be just a one play thing?

A: No, I had no idea.

Q: So you come in, you throw the little flip that goes 30 yards. You're running down the field. You kind of think…

A: I'm thinking we're going to get into it. And then make a change. As a player, when your number is called on, you just try to do the best that you can do.

Q: Did training camp prepare you for that because you've been in those situations already? You've been thrown in those situations before. So did it prepare you a little bit?

A: Yeah, I had a similar situation where a few weeks ago, (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) had a drive and he was driving down the field and got inside the red zone and then Dabs threw me in there and then I had to kind of finish it. That kind of gave me a little bit of a throwback when I was put in that situation.

Q: You had talked about being inside the stadium, the first home game, when it was just the preseason. But what was this day like for you getting here and then to finish it off the way you did? What was your emotion tonight?

A: Yeah, it was sick. Going out there in warmups and just seeing the stadium before it got filled up and then feeling the energy of the crowd come in. I was happy with how many more Giants fans there were. I mean, I know it was a home game, but I was happy about that. Hopefully we can just continue to bring a lot of energy, bring home a lot of wins and get everybody excited about the season.

Q: How did it feel when you threw your first touchdown?

A: Today? Yeah, it felt good. That was a look that we kind of missed on. We weren't on the same page the week before. Me and (tight end Greg) Dulcich were able to kind of have those conversations this week and get on the exact same page. So, it was sweet when it happened, and it happened exactly how we kind of prepared for it to be. So that was really cool.

Q: That fake pitch, the first pitch, is that something that you pulled from your game at Ole Miss that you put into the playbook here?

A: Yeah, they already had it in there. So it was kind of just the thing where I was just trying to operate the play call that was given to me.

Q: You haven't gotten a lot of reps with the ones at camp. What was it like to have a series with them tonight?

A: Yeah, I thought it was good. Obviously, I wish we could have scored a touchdown on that drive. But I felt like it was cool to be out there with those guys. Anytime you're on the field with the best, you try to make the most of your opportunities. And obviously, that's going to be something that I go back on and watch the tape and try to learn from it.

Q: Do you believe that you're ready for more of those opportunities, based on what you've done so far?

A: I think that I'm just trying to improve myself each and every day. The quarterback room has played at a very high level. A lot of the guys in my room who I really look up to, so I try to continue to pick their brains. I'm in a really unique and cool situation right now. So I'm just trying to learn from them, learn from all my coaches. Whenever my number is called, I think that I'm just going to try to do my best. But I'm also just going to be the best teammate that I can be and try to push this team in the best direction to win.

Outside Linebacker Abdul Carter

Q: I know you're on the sideline, but when you're watching (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) and the kind of have the success that he was having, what goes through your mind?

CARTER: I'm just happy for him. I want him to be successful in everything he does, so I'm just proud watching.

Q: How was your first game at MetLife?

CARTER: I enjoyed it. I didn't get to play a full game. I just can't wait to play a full game, but it was fun.

Q: What's it like coming in in different spots constantly? You're kind of rotating in, whether its edge…

CARTER: I've been doing it for a long time, so it's pretty much nothing for me at this point. I just do what my coaches ask.

Q: Explain the play, what you saw when the tight end got you. It's kind of going viral a little bit...

CARTER: It happens, but we got the win. That's all I'm worried about.

Q: Did you not see him, or did you not think he was coming at you? Is that kind of what happened there?

CARTER: (Stuff) just happens on the football field, but we got the win, so we're good.

Q: How much do you enjoy rushing from inside? We've seen it a decent amount now practicing some of these games. The defensive tackle spot when you line up in the 3 technique. What does that allow you to do when you're rushing in there?

CARTER: It's different from being on the edge – inside, you don't have the same path to the quarterback, but at the same time it's shorter. If you're right in front of the quarterback, you're right over the center of the guard. It's a shorter path. I've just got to win with quickness. I just do what I do.

Q: Abdul, you've been getting short snippets here, but I know pass rushers love to set guys up. It's important for you to get a lot more snaps so you can put guys in position. How much are you looking forward to getting more snaps so you can do that?

CARTER: That's going to come. I'm patient. Right now, in preseason, we've got things that I can't control, so I've just got to control what I can control. When I'm in there, just do what I do best.

Q: What have you been learning from the preseason? What do you take from it?

CARTER: It's just football, I try to treat it like – I try to work at practice, make the practice as hard as I can, so when I come to the games, it's easy.

Q: What's your perception of the speed of the game? A lot of guys are saying it's a little bit different than college…

CARTER: I haven't felt much of a difference yet, but obviously I want to play a full game so I can actually tell a difference.

Q: Abdul, how many more snaps do you think you need to be ready for game one? All of a sudden, the Commanders game is going to be here, and I'm sure you'd like to get some more oil in that engine.

CARTER: I'm ready whenever, so I can line up tomorrow and be ready. In due time.