CB Prince Amukamara
Postgame vs. Atlanta, September 20, 2015
Q: On the play before their last touchdown, the 30-yard gain down the sideline, was that a situation where you get pushed off on that at all?
A: I’d have to look at film. I can’t recall, but Julio is one of the best wide receivers in the game. And I feel like I’m starting to be one of the best in the game. It was good on good, he just made a play. It was a good throw and catch.
Q: Were you supposed to have any help there?
A: No. They were throwing slants, and a dart is a one-step in, and they’ve been throwing that a lot. I just had to make better judgment. I was playing for that. He just released outside and Julio is 4.3, 4.4 guy. If he has one step, and no one gets hands on him on the line, he’s going to go. That was the case.
Q: Did you not look for it because you knew he had the hammy and he had to really push it to go deep all day?
A: No, not at all. He was running good, he was stopping on a dime, so he looked 100 percent out there.
Q: Most of the day you guys kept him to the short stuff, kept him in front of you. Did you feel like that was really successful despite the number of catches?
A: Right, yeah. I feel like we did a pretty good job on him the first half. I think the second half he was starting to heat up. On that play with me, he just made a play.
Q: When the pass was released, you were too late already?
A: Just by his release, I could tell he was getting the ball so I had to hop on my horse. Then I tried to play with his arms to slow him down, but he’s a strong guy. Matt Ryan, I don’t know if he overthrew him, but he put it out there, and Julio had to lay out for it. It was a good throw and catch.
Q: Did you talk with DRC at all?
A: We came in at halftime and he was there. I read that he was done, he said that he was done. I haven’t talked to him after the game.
Q: Defensively it seemed like midway through the second quarter, third quarter—there was a point where you guys forced three straight three and outs. Did it feel like you guys were starting to get the defensive rhythm that you didn’t have in Dallas?
A: Yeah, I felt like we were starting to be in sync, I felt like we were playing great. I don’t think we got a turnover this game, and that’s what we pride ourselves on. We just have to get more hands on balls. We have to get back to finishing. Coach Coughlin always preaches finish and I think this team needs to get back to that.
Q: This is the second straight game where finishing was a problem. Obviously Dallas looked like it was wrapped up. This one kind of got away in the fourth quarter. What’s been the issue with finishing?
A: We’re just hurting ourselves. In the NFL, anytime you don’t put a team away or you give a team a chance, there are great quarterbacks, there are great receivers, there are great playmakers and they’re going to take advantage of that. We just have to do a better job closing out games.
Q: You had said before the season you talked about 0-1 becoming 0-2 becoming 0-6. Do you keep worrying about that right now?
A: You just hear the chatter. We have like (Jonathan) Casillas who came from the Patriots, but he was with Tampa Bay. We have a lot of guys that aren’t used to this little slump that we have. I’m just there to encourage them, say, “Hey, the Giants are a winning organization, too. Just keep your head up, we’re going to get it going. There is light at the end of the tunnel.” We hope.
Q: You see guys hanging their head during the game?
A: No, never seen that. I think all three sides of the ball, I think everyone was fighting until the end. Coach Coughlin is always bringing up his mottos, his phrases. He always says just keep playing. We had a phrase this week. A tennis star had a tattoo on her arm, and it said, “How high is the mountain?” She answers it on her tattoo and says, “Don’t worry, keep climbing.” So that was our mindset. Coach said keep playing, the refs will tell us when the game is over. I think for the most part, we did a good job of that.
Q: Short week is tough physically, but is it good mentally to get back?
A: Yeah. I think it’s good to learn from this tape real quick and then get onto the Redskins. The media has been blowing up my must-win statement. The reason why I said must-win is because I believe every game is a must-win because we’re trying to win as many games as we can. The division games, it’s just more sugar in that game. It’s just more sweeter because our number one goal is to win the division. This game against the Redskins, I think the Redskins beat the Rams. This game against the Redskins, we need to get a win in the division. I feel our division is up for grabs. Is Dallas and the Eagles playing this week? They’re playing right now? So we’ll see how that turns out. It’s going to be another big week for us.
Q: Did Julio Jones just shift into another gear going down the sideline?
A: Yeah. Yeah, he did. My game, I like to get hands on guys on the line. Any guy, you just let him run free, and I have to turn up to run and this guy already has a step. Especially with a guy like Jones, who is already s 4.4, 4.3 guy. he’s going to keep going. I didn’t get hands on him, and he just kept going. So like I said, anytime you don’t get hands on guys, these guys are fast.
Q: Looked like Trumaine McBride came on the blitz. You guys were blitzing and you were left one-on-one?
A: Right. We did call a blitz that play. Like I said earlier in the year, I said I think our strength is in the back end. When the game needs to be called, Coach is going to put it on us. We expect that.
Q: Would you have expected some deep help in that situation?
A: No, not at all. It wasn’t designed for that.
Q: I know the play wasn’t designed or the coverage wasn’t designed. Would you have expected that coverage would have been called?
A: No, Coach always preps us and says, “Hey, get ready to compete. I’m getting ready to call this.” So we knew what the situation was.
Q: That was Spags who said that?
A: Yeah.
Q: Isn’t that a lot to ask for a guy like that with the game on the line, streaking down the sidelines?
A: There’s seven million reasons why that’s not a lot to ask. Let me think about what I’m going to say so I don’t put a foot in my mouth. First of all, I was drafted first round to be that guy. The Giants are paying me to be that guy. Definitely expected. I always say the highest paid guy on the field should never get help. You’re not going to double-team that guy. In that situation, I don’t expect that.
Q: What if he went to the other side? Were you going to follow him no matter what?
A: No. The game plan was to stay. I think (Jayron) Hosley did a great job, too. There’s no reason to travel.
Q: How big of a loss is DRC on Thursday, if that’s the case?
A: DRC is one of our best corners, one of our best defensive players. You want all starting 11 out there, but like I said, I think Hosley’s been doing a great job. We have some great backups this year. Trevin Wade has been licking his chops, he’s excited to get in. I think we’re going to be able to hold our own.
Q: Do you get tired of going 0-2 and trying to fight your way back?
A: When you think about the big picture, yeah. But when you just think about the next game, no. Especially when it was 0-2, and it easily could have been 2-0. The games are so close, but I think if you keep dwelling, it’s poisonous.
