WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Conference Call, October 26, 2015
Q: How happy were you to see Rueben Randle come up with such a spectacular catch in a critical moment to help turn the tide in the game?
A: I was probably as jacked as he was. It’s kind of something that we talk about all the time. It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite things I have ever seen from him back in college. He made a catch exactly like that, in stride and everything, and just kept running kind of the same way he did. It was great to be able to see just such a big time play and such a big time moment by a big time player.
Q: Did you notice a lot of double coverage heading your way? Obviously from a receiving standpoint, it wasn’t one of your most prolific games but what was Dallas doing to kind of take you away in a lot of situations?
A: Like you said, they did a lot of double coverage, and rolling safeties, and things like that. This team is so explosive and so dynamic that it’s only going to last for so long before we just break out and just start making plays. I kind of think that’s kind of what the case was last night, the offensive line did a phenomenal job finding time for Eli [Manning[, and run blocking as well. Blocking monsters like [Greg] Hardy is not an easy task. I think the offensive line came and they put their best foot forward last night, Eli controlled the game, and I think we ran the ball very well.
Q: I know you said in the past that you would rather practice if you could, coach [Coughlin] was saying before that practice can make the difference. Do you feel not being able to practice that maybe you’re not as quite on the same page as Eli these last couple of weeks?
A: No, I definitely don’t feel like that, but I definitely think that practice helps. You get to see it before you see it and that’s just kind of one of those things, definitely understand as far as practicing and being on the same page, but I don’t think it was the difference.
Q: How did you feel compared to last week in regards to the hamstring with not practicing all week and going out and playing?
A: It’s kind of gotten better. It’s being able to recover, and heal up, and it’s definitely doing better. It’s just something that you just have to maintain it. It’s a maintenance job.
Q: How do you assess the second half? 19 offensive snaps, obviously you take the 17 points, two touchdowns, one with DRC [Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie] and then the kickoff. For you guys offensively, is it hard to assess where you’re at in the second half because you really didn’t get that many touches?
A: It is a tough situation for us going into the second half really only getting limited plays but just trying to make the most of them count. It’s something that I think Dallas did a great job at staying on the field and just driving methodically, and they did that long drive, and our defense came up with some stops on some long drives. They had some long drives where they scored as well, so they did a good job at keeping the offense off the field and it’s hard to maintain or establish a rhythm when you’re not on the field as much.
Q: You said before that it would only be a matter of time before this offense, this passing game, breaks out. What do you think is missing in the passing game right now? What do you think you guys are not doing that you haven’t been able to break out yet?
A: Just everybody being on the same page, everybody being on the same page, making contested throws, making contested catches, and just making plays. Bottom line is us as receivers, we have to make plays when we have opportunities. We got the W, so nothing is more important than that. I think things will come along when they come along.
Q: Coach Coughlin yesterday referred to the team as gritty and scrappy and that is its identity and then today he talked a lot about you guys just playing hard. Have you guys embraced that a little bit, maybe not being the prettiest team, but being a team that just finds ways to win?
A: I definitely think it’s in our character, as far as finding ways to win goes. It’s something that we do take pride in and there are games we look back on that are learning lessons. We have to just move forward from them, but you take it and you understand that you put yourself in the situation again and you try and learn and correct it. I think we’re doing that and it’s just one of those things where the road to construction is never really finished. We’re still building, and we’re still constructing, and setting our path to where we want to go.
Q: What do you view as the identity of this offense right now?
A: I think we have a very explosive offense, a very dynamic one, we just have to all be on the same page and get everything going.
Q: Given the game being tied at 20, how important was that kickoff return from [Dwayne] Harris and what was your reaction along the sideline when you saw that he broke free?
A: It was one of those times where you know you needed a big play, and a guy who’s been there plenty of times, I feel like, and they just stepped up big at such a huge moment in the game. I’m sure it’s a very good feeling to be able to run that back on Dallas, at such a huge point in the game, a pivotal point in the game, and along with Rueben Randle’s catch, probably the play of the game. I was just very happy to finally see him break one and Rueben kind of told me something before the play, saying, “This might be the one” and he sure enough called it. Everybody has confidence in Dwayne back there and it was great to see him be able to get one.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most? You’re going back home this week, your first game at home, what are you sort of anticipating from that?
A: I’m just looking forward to playing football. It’s another opportunity to get out there and establish this team and keep going in the direction that we want to go. It definitely should be fun and being able to go back home will be a fun experience.
