Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
November 30, 2017
Q: With their top two receivers out this week, how much of a threat is Oakland’s pass offense?
A: They still got a threat. I think everybody on their team is a 4.5, 4.4 guy. You still got Cordarrelle Patterson that gives them good minutes. The quarterback is smart with the ball, you still have your tight end in Jared Cook and you still have your run threats so it’s a difference, but it’s not much of a difference. I think you get the same game plan as far as them throwing the ball down the field vertically.
Q: With Janoris (Jenkins) out, is it you and Eli (Apple) on the outside?
A: No, I just go where I fit at man. I start inside.
Q: Did you think you would be here with the Giants and Eli Manning wouldn’t be the starting quarterback?
A: No.
Q: Does that take you back?
A: I mean that’s out of my control man. I only focus on what I can control.
Q: Have you learned to expect the unexpected this season?
A: Definitely, definitely. The way this season has been going man, with all the downs and downs. I can’t even call it ups and downs, it’s just been a whole lot of downs. A lot of injuries, a lot of role changes. Nothing can surprise me at this point.
Q: Does Jack Rabbit (Janoris Jenkins) fall into that category too?
A: Losing him? Yeah, that’s definitely a major down. The things that he can do, we definitely need him. So that’s definitely another blow.
Q: How do you put into words how this season has gone?
A: I couldn’t even tell you to be honest. It’s not good. It’s been a whole lot of downs than there has been ups. The main thing is, you just got to keep fighting, you know what I mean?
Q: When you look around on defense, is it hard to figure out who everybody is with all of the new players?
A: No. That’s the crazy part, you see new faces. You generally don’t see that many new faces like that. The season is long and there are guys coming in, but they’re coming in from everywhere so all you can do is just worry about yourself at this point man as far as just going out there and trying to finish.
Q: Do you introduce yourself to them?
A: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. You got to do that because they’re your teammates, you know what I mean? You just got to go out there with the mindset of just finishing.
Q: You could get a roster wristband to wear.
A: No, no, no. That’ll change every week too so it don’t matter man. It’s been a tough one. It’s tough. We’re still tough. We’ll see how it pans out.
Q: With Janoris Jenkins out, do you think Eli Apple can jump in and feel the void?
A: Easy, no question. You can’t replace a Janoris Jenkins. No, you can’t do that, but you can definitely go out there and do some of the things he does. Just go out there and be a ball hawk and make a difference.
Q: What kind of words of encouragement have you had for Donte Deayon?
A: I told him the quicker that he could get back to show people that he still can do it, that will be the best thing. Guys that are undersized tend to get overlooked especially when you have an injury you know, that’s never a good thing. So I tell him man, just come back bigger and stronger. We know he’s going to be ready because that’s just his mindset.
Q: You’ve had some high seasons and some low seasons. I could imagine this is near the bottom.
A: Yes, this is definitely one of the lower seasons. Only winning two games so far. All you can do is just keep going and see how it pans out week 17.
Q: Does that make you assess how much longer you want to do this?
A: No, no, no, no, no, no. Not at all. I’m not worried about that part. I’ll let that part fall where it falls.
