DE Jason Pierre-Paul
September 8, 2016
Q: How much are you champing at the bit to get out there on Sunday?
A: I’m very anxious. Everything takes time. Everyone knows what’s expected and what type of game is on the line. It’s a division game. I’m just ready. I’m prepared. I missed both games last year. I’m ready and I’m prepared. I’ve been preparing since last offseason. I’m just excited to go out there and play football.
Q: What are your expectations for this season?
A: My expectations are to go out and play some good football. To play some good football. Our front four, we’re anxious to get out there. With the chemistry we’ve been building this whole offseason, we’re ready to get out there and play.
Q: On the other side of the ball, Mike Sullivan was talking about how he’s not concerned with Eli’s preseason because the last time he had a bad preseason was 2011.
A: It’s preseason, man. It’s preseason. You get all the kinks and mistakes out of the way. That’s the game of football. Everyone is going to make mistakes. The reality is, how I play is that if you’re going to make a mistake, go full speed, 100 percent and it will take care of itself. I guess preseason we got all the kinks out of the way. You always make mistakes in football. You have 10 more guys running after it on defense. For Eli, he has the offense to help him.
Q: When you look at that Dallas offensive line, what do you see? How have they changed from a year ago?
A: They’re a good offensive line. One of the best in the league. They’re going against us this week. We’re going to bring everything we have. Give it 110 percent. I know my guys are ready to go and the defense is ready to go. We’ll give 110 percent. We’ll be running to the ball. This is real now. Every game counts, especially this one. It counts as two, everybody knows that.
Q: For a defensive end, how difficult is it to go against a rookie quarterback where there is not much film on him?
A: It’s hard, but at the end of the day, he played preseason. We have some film on him. He’s a rookie quarterback. We want to bring that pressure to him. It’s not what he does, it’s what we do.
Q: What did he show in the preseason that would cause you concern?
A: He’s one of those guys that takes off running. We have to respect that. Good at getting out of the pocket. We have to respect that. That’s what I saw.
Q: How different does it feel for you personally heading into the season?
A: I feel good. Have 16 games, going to try and be injury-free this year. You never know when the injury is going to occur in football. I’m just ready to play. It’s been a minute. I have the full 16 games. Hopefully I get the full, God willing. I’m just ready to go and play some good football with my teammates.
Q: They added Alfred Morris and the have Ezekiel Elliott. What do those two bring to their offense?
A: They have good running backs. McFadden is still there. I don’t know if he’s playing or not but they have three good running backs. We have to respect that. We have to play the run first and then play pass. Like I said, our heads are in the books. The front four, we’ve been getting after it. We have good chemistry together. It’s time. It’s time to go out there and show what we got. This is not preseason anymore. We have to get after it and play to our full potential, 110 percent. I’m giving 110 percent no matter what. I’m going out there and play full speed. Like I said, this is the game of football, you’re going to make mistakes. Everything is not perfect. This is why we play the game.
Q: You always preach stop the run first, is it more difficult?
A: Especially with the Cowboys. With the Cowboys you have to play the run. It’s football, you have to play the run first. You don’t play the run, it’s going to be a long day. It’s going to be a long day. They have a good offense. Like I said, we have to stop that run first and worry about the pass later. It’s all about studying. We’ve been doing a lot of that and I’m confident we’re going to go out there and stop the run.
