Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey -- December 13, 2018
Q: How much has your unit improved since the season has gone on?
A: Incrementally, we’ve gotten a little better, and that’s the thing we strive. Our motto is continuous improvement, and that’s something that the guys see every day, and that’s what we try to do. Just go out there and every day and get better at something. Been very pleased now with the way these guys have played, and how they’ve kind of grown as a unit during the season. Just got to keep pushing, keep trying to get better. We still have a long way to go. We have some things that we need to clean up in the return game, but we just have to keep on pushing, keep playing hard.
Q: What is it that has allowed (K) Aldrick Rosas to be so consistent this year?
A: I think it’s mindset. I think he’s kind of shared with you guys how he approaches every kick. It’s just good or bad, and it’s about the next kick. He just focuses on where the ball is, put the ball down, let me kick it, and lock into that moment, stay in the moment. Once that one is gone, it’s gone, and on to the next one. I think he’s had some success with that. I think moving forward, it’ll be a formula he’ll stick with, and look forward to really good things from him.
Q: How much does the change of weather affect things?
A: Welcome to the north east (laughter). It is what it is. I think these guys – Aldrick being here last year, and just getting a nice fall and good season underneath his belt. Knowing that the weather is going to turn. We get out in it. We’ll go there today and hit a couple balls outside. We went out in it yesterday. So, it is what it is. It’s just life in good ole New Jersey.
Q: How did you look at (WR) Jawill Davis’ performance last week?
A: He’s on the right path. You look at what this kid has done, it’s incredible. This kid has never returned punts before. For him to do what he’s doing, he’s doing a tremendous job. I’m extremely proud of him. Every snap is a new experience for him. He just has to go out there and just keep doing what he’s doing. Catch the ball. When you catch the ball, get positive yards and he’s done a good job of that.
Q: He let one or two of them drop. How do you decide whether or not to go out and get those?
A: Each punter is different. (Redskins P) Tres Way, first of all, he’s a lefty. He can hit a different style ball other than the traditional ball. He’ll get that again this week. A lot of times, some of those balls you can’t get to. The one thing about punt return is, you’re getting the ball back. You would rather get the ball back as opposed to the ball bouncing off your head and they get the ball. That’s the most important thing we tell them. Obviously, we want to field all the punts, but if we don’t, it’s not the end of the world.
Q: So err on the side of caution type of deal?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Do they go into the stadium to practice kicks the week of the home game?
A: Yes, we always try to use the home field advantage to our advantage. That’s something we’ve done around here since I’ve been here the first time. Me and (Former Giants Kicker) Jeff (Feagles) used to go to the old stadium and we knew every nook and cranny about it – how the wind blew, where the dead spots were. We go over there and try to get as much work in there as we can.
Q: How does the new stadium compare to the old stadium?
A: It’s definitely different. It’s a calmed down version of the old one. The old one, it was different – wind swirled, and you really had to have a really intimate relationship with that stadium to really know it, and be in it every day. Even with being in it every day, it still would change on you, but this one is a little bit more calm, a little bit more tamed. It’s nowhere close as being as volatile as the old one.
Q: How often do you go over there? Once or twice a week?
A: At least once a week we go over there and try to get some work in.
Q: (CB) Antonio Hamilton, you’ve talked about how good of an athlete he is, but it seems like every week he’s making a big play on special teams. Why is he so consistently effective?
A: He plays hard. I think that’s Antonio’s biggest attribute, is that he plays extremely hard, and he knows what he is. He knows who he is. He knows his ability and he knows his role. He’s living up to it. He’s a hungry kid. He’s passionate about football. He loves ball, and I think it shows up on a game day.
Q: Seems like (LS) Zak (DeOssie) never makes mistakes. What comes to mind when you talk about him as a long snapper?
A: Knucklehead (laughter) – I love Zak. Me and Zak, we go way back. I had him as a rookie here in ’07, and he’s been a really good leader in the room. He’s really grown into that role. When you do a good job of being consistent and being a leader, being a good person, being a good teammate, you sustain that longevity of a career and he’s done a good job. Zak is a good man, and he’s really good for our room.
Q: Did you know back then that this kid would be doing this 10-11 years later?
A: Heck no (laughter) – when he came in as a rookie, he was not going to be our long snapper. We had Ryan Keele, who was our long snapper, and Ryan tore his achilles during training camp, and just so happens that Zak was a snapper in college. Obviously, his dad was a snapper. We had two different snappers that year. We had (former Giants DT) Jay Alford and Zak. I never would’ve thought that Zak, 12 years later, would be still be here long snapping. I thought eventually he’d go back to playing linebacker, but it is what it is. He’s made a great career out of it.
