DE Jason Pierre-Paul
September 16, 2017
Q: If LB B.J. Goodson can’t play, what will that mean for the defense?
A: If he’s not able to go, the next man has to step up. That’s the game of football. B.J. is a good linebacker, but at the end of the day, in this game of football you have to stay healthy and injuries occur.
Q: Is it surprising that LB B.J. Goodson was able to make an impact so quickly?
A: 18 tackles. That’s a lot of tackles. Hopefully, he’s able to go and we’ll see come Monday. Monday night.
Q: What does this game mean for you guys after losing in Dallas?
A: Really, it’s just one game at a time. It’s a must-win game. Every game is a must-win game. Otherwise you wouldn’t be in the NFL. This game here, we’re going to polish up what we need to polish up, play some good defense, offense and special teams can control their side of the ball and that’s basically it. Go out there and play some good defense.
Q: Did this week seem even longer regardless of the extra day with the way the first game went?
A: No. not really. Everybody has been on point. Everybody has been doing what they need and have to do, doing what they have to do. Learning their assignments and it’s onto the next game.
Q: Has it been made clear this week not to overanalyze the loss?
A: It was only Week 1. It was only Week 1. Now it’s Week 2. We put that game behind us and it was only the first game, so we have a lot more games to go. This week, we went out there, we practiced hard and did everything we had to do. Now, we just have to go out and execute what we need to do on the field.
Q: How important is it for you to keep Matthew Stafford in check?
A: He’s a good quarterback. He passes the ball very quick. He knows how to read blitzes. You have to respect that when it comes to a quarterback. He will get out on you if you’re not patient and do what you have to do. Other than that, we’re just going to go out there and play some great football. He’s going to have to do what he has to do and we’re going to do what we have to do as the defense to try to stop him.
Q: Has the defense been talking about how Matthew Stafford is the highest paid player in the league?
A: Not at all. It doesn’t matter to us.
Q: What do you think of the Lions’ tackles?
A: It doesn’t really matter who we’re playing against. I think OV [Olivier Vernon] looks at it the same way. We don’t really care about who we’re going against. We’re just trying to do our job and our assignments and we’re trying to do it the best way we can. It doesn’t matter what tackle we’re going against.
Q: Would it mean a lot for the whole team if WR Odell Beckham Jr. can play?
A: Odell is a special person. He’s the best wide receiver in the league. At the same time, we have to do what we have to do if he can’t go. For the offense, that’s their side of the ball, so they have to do whatever they can if he was in every play and if he wasn’t in every play. So, they have to come out and put up some work or something. I’m pretty sure they know that and if Odell can’t go, he can’t go. Only Odell knows if he can go.
Q: Is WR Odell Beckham Jr. a guy that lifts the whole team?
A: Yeah, of course. I feel like anybody with a special talent lifts up the whole team. You can’t look towards one guy to lift up a team. That’s not what ‘team’ is. ‘Team’ is every guy coming together and playing together as one. We can’t depend on one guy, otherwise you’ll never find yourself in the same place. Odell is a special kind of player and hopefully he is able to go, but if he’s not, the next guy has to step up. That’s basically what it is.
Q: Do you have to keep an eye out on defense for guys getting frustrated at the offense?
A: Not at all. They go against us. One of the top defenses in the league. At the end of the day, they have to go out there and execute. They have to execute. We can’t play for them as a defense. As defense we have to defend our field. Even if the offense does end up turning over or whatever, it’s our job to give the ball back to them. However way we do that, creating turnovers – we had zero last week – that’ll change the whole game. Six points – that’ll change the whole game. We have to do a better job on defense and that’s what we’re striving for this week. It’s only game two. First game, win or lose, is to prove what you can do, but the second game is definitely to see what you got. It’s a big week.
Q: Does the home opener mean anything extra?
A: Definitely. All of the fans are going to be ready and excited to go. It’s going to be a big one. My son is going to be here, so it’s definitely going to be a big one.
Q: Did you see any of the guys from the Super Bowl XLII championship team in town?
A: I saw [Justin] Tuck. I saw Tuck two days, maybe three days ago. That was the only guy I saw in here. I was just graduating high school. So, it was a long time ago.
Q: Were a lot of the Super Bowl XLII players here when you started like Fred Robbins?
A: No. Not necessarily. Defensive lineman weren’t still here. I don’t know Freddy. I never met him. Seems like a cool guy, but I was just graduating high school.
Q: Were you a fan of the Giants when they won Super Bowl XLII?
A: I never watched. I really never watched football. I never had a favorite team. To this day, never had a favorite team.
Q: When did you start playing football?
A: It was 11th grade. I won a Super Bowl too.
Q: When did you first see the David Tyree catch?
A: The first time I saw the Tyree catch was when they played it when we were headed to a Super Bowl and they played it and showed us and it was a pretty cool catch. Pretty cool catch.
Q: Would you have tackled QB Eli Manning on the David Tyree catch in Super Bowl XLII?
A: Most definitely. He’s not throwing that on me. That’s the first time I saw Tyree catch and then witnessed another one with Mario Manningham.
Q: Have you talked to Michael Strahan?
A: I wasn’t here when Strahan was here. He’s definitely going to be there. Strahan is a good dude. Good dude. You have the reunion going on and those guys are going to be out there. Get to see the new team and we’re going to be amped. I’m going to be excited. Pull this win off for these guys, for us, the fans.
