DT Johnathan Hankins
Conference Call, December 23, 2014
Q: There are so many first and second year players on the team… Can you talk about how much of a role the rookies and second year guys are playing…? How much hope does that give to the future?
A: I feel that my [draft] class and this year’s class have definitely made a big step forward contributing this year. It is looking good for the future with the guys that came in this year like [Odell] Beckham Jr., [Weston] Richburg, and [Jay] Bromley. They continue to get better this year, so going into the offseason, we definitely have some good things to look forward to.
Q: Do you think having the younger guys in the mix has re-energized this defensive line?
A: I feel like once we had a couple guys go down, we kind of got closer together in the defensive line room as a unit and trusted one another to go out there and do our jobs. If we did that, we can come out with a win or help out the player that is next to us. I feel like once we lost a couple guys on offense and defense, as a unit and as a team we definitely grew together and challenged ourselves to get some wins and play better.
Q: It seems like you guys are finally coming together this year as a team… Is it hard to face the end of the season when you finally feel like you are playing your best football of the year?
A: It is tough not to get a chance to play in the playoffs and play for the Super Bowl, but we learned a lot this year. We have been through a lot. We just have to continue to get better and hopefully we can finish the season off strong this Sunday.
Q: What is the biggest step you made personally?
A: I would say it is knowing the scheme and reacting a lot faster this year to pass or run and knowing my keys so I can react better and be in a better position for me to make plays.
Q: Pro Bowl teams come out tonight… Would it mean anything for you to make the Pro Bowl team?
A: It would be nice if I made the Pro Bowl, but I am not even sure how it goes or how the voting goes. If I was to be invited, it would be truly an honor. I feel like this year I have played pretty well to be considered, but that will work itself out. I am not really worried too much about that. We have the Eagles this week and that will be a nice challenge for us.
Q: How much would it mean to the team after everything you had to go through to close with four straight wins? Can you carry any of that over into next season?
A: We definitely can carry it on if we can close this game out this week and go into the offseason. We are eventually going to get guys that have been banged up or hurt back. That is going to make us better as a unit and whatever they have going on during the offseason, I feel like once we all get back together, the winning streak we have here is going to carry on over to next season. It is looking pretty good. I can’t wait.
Q: Yesterday, the Rams coach, Jeff Fisher, was cynical reflecting on the brawl… He said the Giants also need to look in the mirror, too… Do you guys feel like everything you did on Sunday was justified?
A: That situation that happened with the brawl and us getting into it was crazy. I feel like both sides – it wasn’t a positive at all with what happened. In that situation, I just try my best to not try to do anything stupid. As it goes to coaches and however they feel, I am not even sure because I am not in that right a decision or an example of what happened or went down. As it goes to coaches and however they feel, I am not even sure because I am not in that right to make a decision or an example of what happened or went down.
