Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo
December 20, 2017
Opening Statement: I’m not going to lie, I was chilly out there today. I don’t know how long you were all out there, but it was good to get on the grass. We play on grass this week. I know it’s going to be a little warmer in Arizona, but I think it was good for the guys’ legs. Try to get back out there again tomorrow. We’ll see how the weather is, but I thought we had a pretty good practice. Probably had a couple few more repeats than we should have. But, we’re just trying to get the football right. That’s what we talked about. So, having said that, I’ll just open it up.
Q: When it comes to Arizona and their quarterback change, what’s the biggest difference between facing Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert?
A: Like always, unless it’s a drastic change in the type of quarterback, we just defend the scheme. I think both Blaine and Stanton are very similar in that regard. One might be a little more athletic or they might run a few more movement passes, but Bruce (Arians) likes to throw the football. I know their running back is banged up a little bit, but I think the other guy is a big downhill runner that we got to worry about and they have skill all over the place. They have speed all over the place. So, we’re more concerned about the speed and the tight end skill and the scheme more than anything. I think Stanton has done a nice job in the game. He’s 9-6, I believe, in games he started, so he’s proven he could win in this league. So, he’s not a guy we’re taking for granted.
Q: Is your quarterback depth chart the same as it was now that you’ve got the game plan?
A: The depth chart hasn’t changed. You’re talking about ours right?
Q: Yeah, yours.
A: Our depth chart hasn’t changed, but I will tell you this. We have eight reps in practice where we go Giants defense versus Giants offense and normally Eli (Manning) would take all of those, but Davis (Webb) took six of the eight today. So, we’re amping him up a little bit. I’ve told you before that he’s always preparing like he’s going to be a two or maybe even play in the games. So, the preparation is the same, but we just wanted to make sure we got him some reps on the field.
Q: Will Davis Webb be active in a game?
A: As of right now, no. But who knows?
Q: Why did you want to give him more reps in practice then?
A: Just to give him some work. Give him some work.
Q: How did Davis Webb look?
A: I got to watch the (tape) – I can’t honestly say that. Can I be honest with you? When we’re doing – I shouldn’t say this because the guys will get mad at me -- but when we’re doing that period, my eyes are on the defense. And they should be.
Q: How did your defense do?
A: A couple good plays. A couple bad plays.
Q: RE: Giants offense vs. Giants defense in practice.
A: We like doing that because it’s hard to simulate the opponent you’re playing all the time and get good speed. So, at least that gives us eight plays of speed on speed. It might not be the exact looks we’re getting in the game, but it was good to have.
Q: Has Davis Webb ever taken one of those snaps?
A: Not to my knowledge. Now, we were doing some of that earlier, then Ben (McAdoo) kind of got away from it and I kind of brought it back and that hasn’t happened since we brought it back a couple weeks ago.
Q: So, you’re running the first team offense versus the first team defense?
A: Yeah. Exactly. Yep.
Q: Would you like to get Davis Webb into a game before the season is over?
A: I keep going back to it and I’m just being honest with you, I’m focused on winning the football game and to me, winning the football game is with Eli Manning and should it be anything else, that’s – I don’t know – probably something bad happened. I prefer to have Eli Manning in there winning. I’m worried about this game first. I know we have two, but that’s my preference.
Q: If you were ahead 38 now, would that be considered?
A: That sounds really good. That sounds really good. That would be a good situation to have. Good decision to make.
Q: Is it tough for you to balance doing what is best to win the game vs. the best interest of the franchise?
A: I want to do what’s in the best interest of the organization, but I do know the organization wants to win football games. That has never changed. That’s why when I say to you that my mind is on that, it truly is on that and we’ll do whatever we can to win the football game.
Q: Are you reaching the point where you’re close to shutting Landon Collins down with the injuries?
A: Have you seen him yet today? Have you asked him that yet? He’s still hopeful. We’ll see. We got to be careful. I’d like to congratulate Landon and Snacks (Damon Harrison) for their recognition – Pro Bowl recognition. That was good to see.
Q: What do you mean Damon Harrison?
A: Alternate. I believe that anybody that gets recognized Pro Bowl wise is a complement for them and to their teammates. So, I recognize them all together, to be honest with you.
Q: How do you shut down or deal with Chandler Jones.
A: Try to contain him and keep him from wrecking the football game. That’s what we talked about, because he is a game-wrecker. We’re fortunate Pat Graham, who’s with our d-line, had Chandler in New England. I don’t know if the insight will help us, but he’s a really good football player and he’s one of those guys we say that can wreck the football game. So, we always got to be concerned about him.
Q: A lot of people think Damon Harrison was snubbed when it comes to Pro Bowl. Do you think he deserves more recognition for what he does?
A: I do because – but I’m biased. I just think he’s one of the premier inside, interior linemen in this league. Now, I don’t get my eyes on all of the other d-linemen, so I don’t want to pass judgement on that because I’m certainly looking at more offenses than I am defense. But, I’d be hard pressed to say that there’s many that do as many things as he does for us. Now, I haven’t seen the other names. I just know I’m a Damon Harrison fan.
Q: Damon Harrison talked about getting more sacks and pass rushing opportunities this season and I don’t believe he’s had that many.
A: That position – it’s hard to get them. He’s not always in there in the third down passing situations. So, if we had him in there more in those down and distances, he might have more because he’s talented and he can get a middle push, which you need in pass rush. Helps the guys on the outside. Actually, last week he was in there on a few third down plays. So, maybe we’ll get more of those.
Q: Is there a chance that Davis Webb could be active this Sunday?
A: We’ll see. We’ll see. There’s always a chance, but we’ll see.
Q: How proud are you of Landon Collins getting the starting nod for the Pro Bowl with the adversity that he has faced this season?
A: I’d be proud of Landon even if he didn’t get the nod, to be honest with you, because I’ve told you he’s a warrior. He’s banged up with that ankle and other things and he’s still playing and still wants to go out there and play. He knows he hasn’t had quite the year he wanted to or any of us expected, but it certainly was good football and he loves to play the game and when he goes out there you can see it.
Q: If you had Damon Harrison in there on a pass rush play, even if he’s just pushing the pocket, would it help the outside guys, too?
A: Absolutely. We call that hidden production and we actually grade that. There’s many times, especially for tackles and guys that play up front, where they make it easy for the guys behind him to maybe make a tackle. The linebacker gets the credit for the tackle and gets the production, but might have been and a lot of times, it is Snacks. Takes on two blockers. That middle portion helps the outside rushers. So, that hidden production is really important. People don’t notice that on the outside, but we do. We recognize it.
Q: Did Jason Pierre-Paul have a setback?
A: No. He didn’t go today. Just normal wear-and-tear and body soreness. So, figured get him ready for tomorrow.