Wednesday Media Transcript: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

WR Odell Beckham Jr.

December 7, 2016

Q: How big of a loss is it when a guy like JPP goes down?

A: It’s definitely very tough. Especially coming from a guy that has come from hell and back, in my opinion. A leader on this team. Just someone you can count on day in and day out. Practice, game, whatever it was, he was always going to give it his all. It’s tough to lose a guy like that. Hopefully we will win enough games for him so that he can be able to come back and make an impact. It’s unfortunate, especially with what he’s already been through and what he’s been able to overcome already. It’s incredible enough. We all wish he was here.

Q: What’s the biggest difference between the Week 1 Cowboys defense and the Week 14 Cowboys defense?

A: They’re making plays. It has a lot to do with the offense as well. When an offense is rolling and they’re scoring points and holding the ball, the defense only has to come up with a few stops every now and then. The offense get’s the ball, they hold it for seven or eight minutes. It makes it a lot easier if the offense is controlling the game.

Q: How much do you need your offense to play that role?

A: You have to. This is a red-hot offense. Not taking anything away from their defense, but it’s a difference when your offense controls the game and the clock. You control the position of the field and pretty much control it all. They do a very good job at it. We need to do a good job of keeping the offense off the field and minimizing their attempts.

Q: What’s the right balance for you guys?

A: I don’t know. Just spread it around. Move it around and play fast. I feel like when you play fast, it makes it harder for other teams. They may make mistakes. Even if you play fast and make a mistake, at least you’re making it full-speed. I think it’s a lot harder for defenses to adjust and call what they want to call when the offense is moving at such a fast pace. I feel like the defense will worry about lining up more. Definitely have to find ways to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers. Like we’ve been preaching, we just need to be more productive on offense. Just have to be more productive.

Q: Ben McAdoo backed you up on the point of the officiating calls.

A: There’s really no point in talking about it. Nothing is going to change. You’re sitting there wasting breath.

Q: I was just curious of your reaction to him backing you up?

A: It doesn’t surprise me. Like I said, everyone knows what’s going on on the field. Everyone can see it. Stevie Wonder can see it. It just is what it is. You can’t do anything about it. There’s no point. I shouldn’t have even brought it up. It’s always a lose-lose situation. Either you’re speaking out on it and trying to defend yourself or the other way around in which you’re complaining. Either way it goes, I shouldn’t have ever brought it up. Nothing is going to change. No calls are going to be made because of what I say now. You just have to keep playing. You know what you’re going against. It’s the Giants against everyone. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Q: How much more of a burden do you feel the offense has now with JPP out?

A: There is still 11 other guys that play defense. Now it’s time for guys to step up. I was talking to Owa today. I said, ‘this is where you make your name. It’s your time to shine. We all know what you can do, and it’s time for you to go out and do it.’ I think he’s fully ready to go out and accept that role. Like I said, it’s unfortunate when a guy like JPP goes down. Someone since I’ve been here, I’ve looked up to. If I need advice, I’ll ask him for advice. Whatever the case may be, he’s always been there for positive reinforcement or constrictive criticism. Whatever you need out of him, he’s always been there.

Q: As an offense, do you feel there’s a burden to score more points?

A: If the offense was the only part of a football team, I would still feel that we need to score as many points as possible. It’s a lot harder to beat us if there’s 35 points on the board. That’s just always been my mentality. As an offensive guy, even when I watch. I was watching the Steelers play. They’re up on us and they’re going for it on fourth. It’s not a disrespect thing, it’s just I don’t want you to have a chance. I want to end the game. Our foot is on your throat, I’m going to step on it. I’m not just going to ease off of it. We need to score more points and be more productive. Just have to overall execute better.

Q: Is that the goal for this offense? Put your foot on someone’s throat?

A: I think that’s always been the goal. It’s just a matter of happening or not. To beat a team like this, that’s going to be the only way. Have to outscore them. Our defense has to make more stops than their defense. We have to do more on special teams. We’ll see what happens on Sunday. That’s a very, very good team that we’re going against. Just have to wait and see.

Q: Does it get any better than a nationally televised game against the Cowboys at home in front of your fans?

A: There’s not much more you could ask for. In the NFL, Sunday Night Football, going against the Dallas Cowboys, it’s pretty much everything. It’s a lot of fun. It’s awesome to be in these moments and opportunities. Hopefully we come out and play our best.

Q: Do you remember your last Sunday night game against them at home? Anything stick out personally?

A: Not that I can remember. Not that I can think of. I think last time we played them on Sunday night, we lost. That’s still what I remember. We have to come out. This is a playoff game for us in my mind. So are the rest of them. You have to win eight games. That’s how I look at it. You have to win eight games straight.

Q: You guys won opening night. No one could’ve seen them win 11 straight. How would you describe how well they’ve played and what they’ve been doing the last few months?

A: Execution. They’re executing. They’re getting it on third and fourth downs. That kills teams. They’re taking seven, eight minutes out of a quarter. That deflates a team. You’re sitting on the sideline biting your fingernails, sitting on the bench with your legs crossed waiting for your opportunity. By the time the offense gets back on the field, you know how this game works. There’s going to be some TV timeout, a double-TV timeout. It feels like you’ve been sitting around for 40 minutes just to go out there. At times, we’ve gone three and out. Then you sit back down and do another seven or eight minutes. When you do get on the field, you have to be productive. You can’t just give it back to them because the next thing you know the first quarter is gone. You can’t let it be that type of game.

Q: In Dez’s shoes, you have one catch for eight yards the first game. Does that sit with you when you play them the second time?

A: I wouldn’t expect him to come out here and have one catch for eight yards again. I know that for sure. I’m happy to see that he’s finally getting back to being a little more himself. Coming off a foot injury, it’s a mind thing. Every time you’re going to make a cut, you’re going to think about the position of your foot. If I make this cut, am I going to be able to sustain and hold? Be strong enough to come out? It’s a lot that goes into lower injury extremities. I’m just happy to see him out there snagging balls and scoring touchdowns. It’s something that he’s been doing for a very, very long time. Like you say, anytime you go against a team and you didn’t put your best foot forward the first time, you’re going to come back around with a vengeance.

Q: Did you talk about this with him?

A: No, it’s just we Scorpios, our mindsets are pretty much the same. He’s a friend of mine, like a brother of mine. I don’t even have to ask him. If I were to text him right now and ask him what he’s going to do Sunday, he’ll just say, you already know. It’s a hunger thing. I know he’s very hungry. They’re on a roll right now and I’m sure they don’t want to lose. We’re the only team that has beaten them. I’m sure that that’s on their mind, too. They feel that they could be 12-0. They’re going to try and come out and prove that they should be undefeated. It’s going to be a big challenge on Sunday.