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Monday Media Transcript: LB Jonathan Casillas

Eric from BBI : Admin : 8/28/2017 3:28 pm
LB Jonathan Casillas

August 28, 2017

Q: The starters are probably not going to play a lot on Thursday, are you ready?

A: Not yet. Once we figure out who is going to be playing come September 10, who’s going to be on the roster, and as we approach that date, we’re going to be more and more ready. As of right now, we don’t have our team configured quite yet, so I don’t think it would be possible to be ready quite yet.

Q: What do you make of the defense not allowing a touchdown in the preseason?

A: So far so good. We’ve only had, collectively as a first team unit, a couple series together per game. Last game was a very solid outing for us, with the first couple series, but there’s still things we need to correct – missed tackles, gap integrity, stuff like that. We’re trying to take it to the next level, so we’ve got to keep improving and crossing our T’s and dotting our I’s, and I think we’re doing a good job of that.

Q: What’s your level of confidence in DT Dalvin Tomlinson since DT Jay Bromley probably won’t be playing on Thursday?

A: It’s there. I’ve seen some impressive stuff on tape. So, I think for him to play for us, I think we’re all ready for him to play. Whether it’s behind Snacks (Damon Harrison), rotating at the three, whatever it is. I’m sure he’ll be a solid contributor. It’s so early, we don’t have anything of his body of work besides college. So, it’s hard to say ‘he’s done this here’ when he hasn’t. From what I’ve seen so far, he’s very strong, he’s very physical, and we’re going to need that play from him.

Q: How do you think guys like LB Calvin Munson and LB Curtis Grant have responded to an increased workload?

A: Very well. I think Munson has seen, from playing on the third or fourth team, not getting too many reps to basically getting bumped up to number two, it’s tremendous what he’s been able to do this camp – Curtis Grant, too. He’s playing multiple positions -- Sam, Mike and Will -- and I think the transition for him for all the positions has been fairly smooth. Especially because it’s not easy to play any one of the linebacker positions, especially not all three.

Q: What would it mean for you to be a captain again?

A: It would be awesome. I mean, I was voted captain last year. I felt very accomplished by that, you know, with the locker room and first time being voted, with a lot of veteran guys I feel like I had to get that vote from. So, it would be great. I had it one time, it would be great to be one of the captains for the Giants, but I still consider myself a leader, I know a lot of guys do. So, if I’m not voted, I’ll still try to keep that leadership role.

Q: Is that a good thing to have a lot of leaders and a lot of guys to choose from?

A: Oh, for sure. On the defense alone, there’s like four, five, six guys that come to the top of my head. I can’t really be mad if it doesn’t happen that way because I know my role, and I think I play my role very well.

Q: How difficult of a week is it for the team knowing the cuts are coming on Saturday? Is that a tough transition for a team from now until September 10?

A: A little bit, because there’s really no week in the NFL like this fourth preseason/beginning of opening week. There’s nothing really like that at all, besides this time of the year. The worst day in the NFL is coming up, which is the cut day, and this year is different. We’re going from 90 to 53, it used to be in increments. I don’t know if we’re going to be prepared for that. There’s always some stuff that goes on – cuts happen where the days going on and someone gets pulled out of a meeting – just stuff like that. You hate to see it, it’s part of the game, and I’m not looking forward to it, that sucks. At the end of the day, it is a business, and we do have to figure out the right 53 to play for the New York Giants. This fourth game is going to be very important, and we’re going against the New England Patriots. So, we’ve got to strap it up and play your A-game.

Q: How much are you thinking about the Cowboys?

A: We’ve been thinking about them for a long time. We’ve been working. Everything’s been building for September 10. Whatever we’ve been doing come April, we’ve been building for September 10. All the preseason games were important, of course, but we’re all building for September 10. So, we’ve not just started with Dallas this week. We’ve been talking about Dallas – what they’re doing and how we think they’re going to attack us. So, we have been thinking about them a lot.

Q: Have you started watching film already?

A: For sure. 100 percent. Everybody.
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