LB Jon Beason
Conference Call, August 23, 2015
Q: How are you feeling and when exactly did this [knee] sprain happen?
A: I’m feeling okay. It happened when I banged my knee actually on the pass breakup in the end zone. I fell awkwardly on my knee and initially didn’t feel anything, and then a few plays after, it just felt a little unstable. I was able to finish the series, and then I had the doctors look at it— they were uncertain, but it didn’t feel stable, so we went in and got a picture today and it is a knee sprain, but it’s minor. Nothing too concerning in my book.
Q: In your mind, is the regular season opener still happening in your time frame?
A: Yeah. For sure. The thing that’s most frustrating is the reps in a new system— getting comfortable and getting my feet back under me. I felt like I was just starting to come into a zone where I felt comfortable in this scheme in terms of getting everybody lined up and trying to do my job at a high level and being active. But the other thing about it is that I’ve been down this road before and I know how to prepare without necessarily being on the field.
Q: The season opener is three weeks from today. You said “yeah, maybe” or “for sure.” Do you think that’s realistic in three weeks to be on the field?
A: Yeah, I totally believe that I can and I have my mind made up. I’ll do everything I can humanly possible to make sure that that happens. And I don’t want just straight on Sunday—I want to get back in time for preparation for that [Dallas] game.
Q: If you have to be shut down for the rest of the preseason, do you feel that you’ve had enough opportunity in this defense to feel comfortable to run it week one?
A: Yeah. With the new CBA, I think they take a lot off of us from a physical standpoint in terms of two-a-days and what not, but mentally, we meet more than we ever did. We walk through more than we ever did. And those reps are so valuable to me— it’s what I truly love to do. I just want to see it, and then when I do make mistakes, I’m one of those guys where if I ever mess something up, believe that I won’t do it again. So you have to kind of see it and make the mistake and learn from it, so for me I look forward to continue to take that step and I put more emphasis on watching film, meeting with my coaches, and still doing some walk through stuff that’s not so physically demanding where I can recover but at the same time keep my mind sharp.
Q: Have you ever had an injury like this before? Is it similar to any other experience so that you sort of know what you need to do?
A: Yeah. You know, knee sprains are weird just because you got a lot going on. All the ligaments and cartilage and everything kind of works together, and when something is agitated, the first thing you do is get it to calm down and get the inflammation out— that makes it feel a lot better— and then just keeping your strength. So ways of working your lower body without loading the joints so that the inflammation can come down but you can stay strong. That’s the most important part, so we’ll start now. Like I said, is it a setback? Yeah, for sure, because I could be practicing. I could be playing in these games to come, but at the same time when you know that it’s non-operable and it’s just a matter of using the modality and using our training staff and whatever I have to do to get something better fast…
Q: Do you have to do anything like shut it down for a couple of days? Put it in a brace or anything? Or is the plan just to sort of get into rehab right away?
A: Yeah, rehab is going to start right now, but I would assume that they’re going to take some of the load off me right away just to see if we can’t get it to calm down as fast as possible, and then you start to build back up. That’s usually the protocol with any injury.
Q: With all the injuries you’ve had at safety, and you, and some of the offensive linemen— are you beginning to think that you guys are snake-bit with these injuries?
A: That’s the funny part— people may say, “Hey, Beason has been accident prone the latter part of his career,” but at the end of the day, this game is unforgiving. And it’s tough— it’s physically demanding— you know anytime you increase the number of guys, you’re going to have more injuries, so you go from 53 to 90 in the offseason and you’re going to have more injuries, so… For us, it’s unfortunate when starters and guys who you assume are going to be a big part of the equation for the season get hurt. But you know, that’s a part of the gig, so we’ve had some really bad injuries and knock on wood but we’ve had injuries that are just setbacks for guys that are probably going to come back and be fine. You just keep your fingers crossed, but it is the nature of the beast and it’s like gambling— you just don’t know what’s going to happen. Day to day, anything can happen, so hopefully the injuries for us slow down, because they’ve been coming fast and furious over the past couple weeks.
Q: What did you think of the first team defense’s performance yesterday? You let up 9 points, but at the same time all three drives for the first team defense with you out there were scoring drives. How did you sort of view it and what do you take from that?
A: Well, we go back and watch the film and you look at critical third downs that we should’ve gotten off the field. Not third downs that we were out-schemed, or there was a lack of effort, or just getting beat— it was more so a lack of execution. We have a certain leverage, we have a technique, we have a job to do on every play, and a lot of times when guys don’t do that they get yardage and then the drives continue. So, that was the big emphasis for us— we had them here on third and nine, we had them on third and short, you know we had opportunities throughout these series where we could’ve got off the field and we failed to do that. That’s on us, and anytime it’s on us that means it can be corrected. So that’s the thing that we’re hanging our hat on. We should’ve gotten off here, we had opportunities to hold them to no points in the first half as opposed to the three field goals that they did have.
Beason is brittle, no other word for it.
LOL
Just hope the guy plays 12 good games this season and that's it. It is what it is... Maybe Kennard is the long term answer but I see him more as a playmaking OLB.
Just hope the guy plays 12 good games this season and that's it. It is what it is... Maybe Kennard is the long term answer but I see him more as a playmaking OLB.
So he spent a 5th rounder on Kennard (even though he's not a MLB) and signed McClain, so they protected themselves?
They've made zero attempt to find a long term solution at MLB since they traded for Beason. That's mind numbing. And every year we hear how important he is to the defense. A guy that never plays is one of the most important parts of the defense that Jerry Reese has built. That's a fucking disgrace.
Keeping guys like Beason around at any salary is a poor decision. We have zero long term solution at MLB. Should have moved on 2 years ago when the defense turning around had a hell of a lot more to do with facing one backup (and multiple 3rd string) qb's after another. Instead he got the credit for it, Giants give him a nice contract, and he to the surprise of no one but Jerry Reese can't stay on the field.
When is he ever "in"?
Hem Roid : 8:23 am : link : reply
Jon and do yourself and your remaining health a favor ... you will also force the Giants to finally move on, and try to solidify the middle of the defense with a dependable body ...
Beason can't win with some. We have "dependable bodies", but they suck. Beason is an elite player when healthy. It isn't like his presence is keeping some Pro Bowler off the field.
I really don't get that take at all - for him to pack it up and go.
Everyone points to 2 years ago when he came and the defense turned aorund, but they ignore that we faced one backup QB after another for about a 7 week stretch, and then when we played someone with a pulse and needed the game couldn't get off the field on defnse.
And LOL at '56's response. No matter what injury he has, '56 always has some excuse for him.
That just a couple of years ago he immediately made an impact?
Jeez. Maybe during his three Pro Bowl years he just had a lucky stretch against mediocre QB's too?
Ironically, Some of these same schmucks probably cheered the LaVar Arrington signing
The time to do it was each off-season, when you could actually go and try to either improve the position via draft or FA. Instead they just look for guys "incase" he gets hurt, which doesn't improve anything.
I would also argue that the turnaround of the defense had more to do with Will Hill coming back from suspension than it did Beason, on top of playing against the likes of Tolzine, Freeman, Pryor, Barkley.
When they played the Cowboys and still had a playoff shot, the defense could not get the stop they needed.
Got embarrassed by San Diego. Ditto Seattle.
So his immediate impact came against mostly offenses who were starting guys who are 3rd string qb's right now, out of the league entirely, or switched to another position.
This however has nothing to do with injury excuses..I'm just trying to say that had this been anyone BUT Beason, the reactions would be much different..It's just a minor sprain according to his MRI, so since he's as healthy as he's ever going to be coming into a season, this should be viewed as a minor setback, that is, at face value and not in a 'here we go again let's get rid of him' mindset..
If it is indeed minor, then he should be back rather soon, be it a few weeks or not..Imo..
I'd be worried if it was to a prior area that required surgery
MookGiants : 11:13 am : link : reply
go back through that 2013 season after he got here and look at the QB's the Giants faced when he made an immediate "impact"
His primary benefit is as a run defender.
It's always something with this guy, when he comes back it will be something else. Since 2011 he has played in 24 games. Probably gotten through about 20 of them healthy.
I just don't get keeping this guy around each year and not finding a long term solution. He's already 30, even if healthy is he going to be that good of a player? The last time he was an elite player was 5 years ago, when he was a young man who was healthy playing every game. Age and injuries have taken a toll, why is it going to get better now?
The Giants set themselves up for failure by relying heavily on a guy like him. This wasn't a they had no choice, they certainly did have choices over the last 2 years and they have chosen to put all their eggs in his basket, with a mediocre Jameel McClain as the insurance policy. That's poor management.
Quote:
and seriously
MookGiants : 11:13 am : link : reply
go back through that 2013 season after he got here and look at the QB's the Giants faced when he made an immediate "impact"
His primary benefit is as a run defender.
So playing against 3rd string QB's wouldn't help the run defense? Pretty easy to stop the run when you are playing against a QB who can't throw the ball 20 yards downfield if his life depended on it
Kennard can play the Mike, though as a fan, I'd prefer the outside..Unga, if he sticks is another candidate..It's not, as you said, a position that hasn't been addressed..No one is asserting that Beason is our future there
if Kennard and Thomas can really make an impact we'd be in good shape there but it has to happen first...
He's on the same work schedule as Schwartz
BrettNYG10 : 11:38 am : link : reply
Beason hasn't played a full season since 2010.
In 2013 He played 12 games for the Giants after being traded by the Panthers and he played 3 games for the Panthers. His missed week was in between the trade.
and he had a heck of a 2013 season.
I think his 2013 is a bit overstated - mostly because we had dog shit at LB and having a competent LB (which I think Beason is) made a huge difference.
I think he's a decent starting MLB at this stage. We don't have superior alternatives at this point.
And instead opted to waste a pick on a Safety thinking he can shore up 2 spots for one.
Perhaps they were right.
I do not believe they were.