WR Odell Beckham Jr. -- November 29, 2018
Q: The past couple weeks, the offense has averaged close to 30 points per game. Does that give you all a renewed optimism about the rest of this season?
A: I think we just started to put it all together. Unfortunately, it was during the time that it was. It was a little later in the season, but we all put it together now. There’s definitely something there. We just got to continue to grow it and develop it.
Q: Is it a little taste of what you and (QB) Eli (Manning) are capable of?
A: I don’t really know. Just like I said, we’ve been putting it together lately, besides the last game. That’s definitely something to look forward to.
Q: Did you have to talk to Eli at all about the second half of the last game?
A: We’re all on to Chicago. Any questions about anything yesterday, or two weeks ago, or a year ago – I’m here to talk about Chicago.
Q: When facing a great player like (Bears DE) Khalil Mack, what can you do to help Eli in the passing game?
A: Just try and make plays. I felt like I was so prepared this year. Not to say I feel like I’m having a bad year, I just don’t feel like I’ve done as much as I can. Just the little things. Working on the little things. Get open fast. He’s as advertised, he’s worth every penny, he’s a force. Run, pass, while he’s sitting on the bench – he’s a problem, wherever he’s at.
Q: Do you feel like it’s not quite the year you wanted to have?
A: Yeah, I don’t feel like it’s quite there. Each year I come in, 1,000 yards is a minimum. I don’t look at it like, oh, I need to get 1,000 yards. My season starts after 1,000 yards. Trying to see how many yards I can get after 1,000. Ten touchdowns minimum. That’s just the goal. For me, this year I came in with a mindset of being efficient. When I was in college and making plays. It’s third and 11 – being able to hit this first down, keep this drive alive. Just being effective and efficient. Like I said, it’s not like a down year. My numbers are still my numbers. I guess that’s where my mindset is different than everybody else. I expect way higher of myself. I’m trying to reach 2,000 yards. I’m trying to go for 20 touchdowns, 100 receptions is tatted on me. Those are goals that hopefully in my career, in my future along with championships, winning, because numbers really don’t mean anything without winning. You can go home with 300 yards in a game with an L (loss). It’s not going to feel good. So, it’s really all about winning, and I just feel like I could’ve had a better year so far, but this is where I’m at. I just got to deal with that and just pushing to keep getting better day-by-day, working your craft. That’s all I can really do.
Q: Is it fun to go against a former teammate in a game? (Bears CB Prince Amukamara)
A: I haven’t really got a chance to go against any former teammates, but I love Prince. Prince was like a brother when he was here. I honestly can say I love Prince. That’s like my guy. I have to try to stay focused while I’m in the game with him lined up across from me. He’s always been a good corner, but it’s just Prince. I don’t know how else to explain it. It’s Prince, and he’s there, and he’s just a goofy guy. I’m going to have to snap that early in the game, and just be able to compete against him, and I know he’s excited as well. So, it should be fun.
Q: Has he talked trash to you? (Amukamara)
A: No, I’m sure he will when we get out there Sunday. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just like I’ve been in this locker room with him. Like I said, he’s like a brother to me. I’m going to have to take all the joking aside when we get out there, and just go out and play.
Q: His goofiness is actually an advantage for him on Sunday?
A: I guess so (laughter). I guess it is. It’s a tactic. I’m just going to have to just rid that early in the game, and just be able to compete and have fun.
Q: What’s your thoughts on the amount of interceptions they’ve been able to accumulate?
A: They’re 8-3, they’re playing at a high level. They got one of the best defenses in the NFL, in the world. He’s a problem. You got (Bears S Eddie Jackson) EJ back there on the back-end. You got (Bears CB Kyle) Fuller, you got Prince, their linebackers are good. (Bears DE Leonard) Floyd is over there. They’ve got a team, they’ve got a squad. Their offense is playing at a high level. They got some guys making plays. It’s not easy. Also, they only punt the ball only 2-3 times a game. They’re playing at a very, very high level. I think in the division, they’re obviously first, but on that side, they’re first. It’s definitely not going to be easy.
Q: Do you have some plays to get open early?
A: To be honest, when you’re playing receiver, the race isn’t between you and the DB. It’s always between you and the D-linemen, and once I can learn and understand that, it helped me conceptualize more what was really going on. If he’s getting up the field, you don’t have to cut the route shorter, but you do need to be sharper, and you do need to be there on time. If not, getting open just a hair second earlier, but making sure you’re at where you’re supposed to be at. We got a tough task on our hand. We got to deal with 52 and the rest of those guys.
Q: What’s the mindset now for the rest of the season?
A: Keep winning games, that’s it. You never know what can happen. I wanted to win all eight. That’s not what happened, but there’s no giving up. There’s no quit, not from me or anybody in here. We just got to win these last whatever games, and see what happens.
Q: What do you cling to for hope that this organization can turn things around?
A: This is a winning organization. They’ve won in the past. We just got to trust the process, and at some point in time, the goal is to obviously hang a banner, and raise that trophy. All you can do is be optimistic and keep pushing forward and getting better.
