Safety Jason Pinnock
Q: Tell me about what the possibility here that you guys could have to face (Dallas Cowboys wide receiver) CeeDee Lamb with a bunch of injured corners. What kind of stress would that put, knowing that he plays mostly in the slot and (cornerback Dru) Phillips, (cornerback Nick) McCloud and (cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson) are banged up?
JASON PINNOCK: It'd be a challenge, regardless. But our personnel, we believe in all of our depth, really. I don't have too much on that.
Q: The NFL's such a week-to-week league. Everybody overreacts to one game, whatnot. How sure are you guys that you found something that will work, that isn't just like, 'Okay, this worked against the Browns,' but you guys found an identity on defense that you think you can carry forward?
JASON PINNOCK: Every game is different, so that's tough. That's a tough thought process to carry over week by week. Personnel is different, schemes are different, injuries, healthy, whatever. That's a little tough. It's going to be different.
Q: Take me back, if you can, to the Cowboys game last year. How much did that sit with you, the 40-0 Week 1? How much did that sit with you? Does it still sit with you? Are you the kind of guy... (Head Coach Brian) Daboll said each guy's different. Are you the kind of guy that wants to remember that and that feeling that you had in your stomach that night to use it moving forward?
JASON PINNOCK: For me, personally, I don't hold it too much. I'm a person every game I act like it's the Super Bowl for me, for myself. It's the Super Bowl. But, of course, you do remember. I think everybody will remember home opener being beat like that on primetime TV. But, again, as far as our defense, I think it was 17-0 before we hit the field. Never get too high, don't get too low about the situation. Just ready to go.
Q: I just imagine that would be one of the more difficult nights of your football career.
JASON PINNOCK: Yup, yup.
Q: One other thing about the Cowboys. Does Cowboys week feel different at all? You've been around a little bit. Giants, Cowboys. Does the whole Cowboys thing feel a little different?
JASON PINNOCK: I wouldn't specifically say Cowboys, but division games, for sure.
Q: What does division games mean? We know what they mean as far as you play them twice. It's important. But as far as familiarity, importance, how does it feel different to you?
JASON PINNOCK: We know each other best. In the NFL there is small room for error, and division games, it's even heightened. Just like you said, they're familiar with our schemes, we're familiar with theirs. They're familiar with our personnel, we're familiar with theirs. And just the tradition and history behind division games, hyped up and everybody wants to win.
Q: Do you go into a season… You're focused on your team, obviously, and your job, but do you go into a season, especially with division games, and think, 'Oh, I think they're really good. I think they may struggle. They got a new quarterback.' If so, what's your sense of the Cowboys so far this season?
JASON PINNOCK: I think within the division, you're more on high alert within their personnel and draft stuff or all the off-season acquisitions and stuff. But I don't look at it too different.
Q: Three games into the season, if I said you will be sharing the team lead with sacks, you would have said what?
JASON PINNOCK: I would have believed you. But I think everybody else, they (would've been) probably a little shocked.
Q: You and (defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence II), is that one of the few things you guys share? You guys aren't going to share a lot of stats, are you? Sacks is one of them, huh?
JASON PINNOCK: I would say that's going to be one of them.
Q: We all know how you guys left the field with the fans the last game, the first home game of the season. What do you want to show them when you come back here to MetLife Stadium on Thursday night for the first time since that opener?
JASON PINNOCK: Truthfully, it's more about showing ourselves. It may be a corny response, but it's just how we feel in this building. Not really trying to prove people, like the non-believers, trying to prove them wrong. We're just trying to prove to ourselves in this building and our loved ones who believe in us that we're right.
Q: You have a lot of young guys on the team. This is their first time getting a taste of this Cowboys-Giants rivalry, right? So, what do you tell them about this?
JASON PINNOCK: First time for everything. Just glad most of them young bucks got the first game jitters out and just don't make it any bigger than the last three weeks.
Q: I just had a question about (quarterback) DJ (Daniel Jones). You've been around your professional career here in New York, so you know the level of scrutiny and whatnot, and I'm sure you hear the criticisms he gets. What impresses you about the way he handles that? What's your level of respect for the way he handles that?
JASON PINNOCK: Very high because I'm not aware of it. I don't look for it within myself on the internet, and I'm sure not looking for as far as negative connotation towards DJ (Daniel Jones). He doesn't let anybody else know that if he is affected by it, we don't know. I think that's what leaders do, don't show when you're hurt.
Q: Are you at all concerned about the secondary with the number of injuries? (Nick) McCloud, Adoree' (Jackson), Dru (Phillips). It seems like they're falling lately.
JASON PINNOCK: No. Honestly, we stressed that, being young, in the offseason understanding, going into the year, that we would be young and that everybody has to be ready. That's just what it is. It's a violent, fast, physical game. We're always ready. Next man up mentality. Not too worried.
Q: To win, to make a run for the playoff, there are teams you got to beat. I would think Dallas and Philadelphia are two of them. For Dallas, you've lost six in a row and 13 of 14, I think. How do you change it?
JASON PINNOCK: It's a new day. That's the only thing I can really say. With that, my analogy goes towards my big brother. We joke about this all the time. It's sort of like, he probably beat on me for 12 years, but that 13th, I'm going to bust your ass. It is what it is.
