QB Daniel Jones -- August 26, 2019
Q: You have a grass stain on your pants from sliding and trying to make a tackle in practice--good idea for you to do that?
A: Probably not the best idea, but just trying to finish the play. You hopefully don’t have to be in that situation to begin with, but probably not smart.
Q: You’re going to start on Thursday. How different is that going to be?
A: I’m certainly excited, but I don’t think the preparation changes a whole lot. I think going through the week we’ll do the same things, and I’ll certainly do the same things to prepare myself to play, so in these last three games I’ve obviously known I’m going to play a good bit, so just the same preparation going into this week.
Q: This could be your last time playing for a while, does that make you try to make sure you get the most out of this opportunity?
A: Like I said, I don’t think the preparation changes for me. I think I’ll take the same approach I have these last few games, and not really looking forward to Dallas, just focused on this week and making sure I’m prepared.
Q: What’s the thing that you most want to get out of this one?
A: I think just seeing improvement. I think just making sure that I’m not making mistakes that I’ve made before, correcting things, and I think just being able to kind of measure improvement from the first, second, to third, to now the fourth game is the biggest thing for me. So, moving the ball and scoring points is always the goal, but I want to make sure I’m moving forward.
Q: How has this process been for you, from getting drafted to this point? Has it been easier, harder, or about what you expected?
A: About what I expected. I think I realized there would be good days, bad days, and a lot of learning—this is a big step for anyone, just adjusting to playing in the NFL, so it’s been good, but I think I realized there’d be a lot to learn, there’s a lot of things still to learn, but I think it’s been a good process so far.
Q: It seems like a large section of the fanbase wants you to play right away. What’s your reaction to all of the optimism from Giants fans about you?
A: I think, like I’ve said, my focus is on what we’re doing here, what I’m doing to help the team move forward, and I understand that there’s a plan, and that the coaches have a plan for that. So, I certainly trust that, and my job is to prepare myself, but also to help the team move forward, help the team prepare in whatever my role is, and I’m certainly accepting of that.
Q: You’ve admitted that you were aware back in April and May that it wasn’t a hugely popular pick with people, and now it’s a wildly popular pick with people. Are you aware with how quickly the tide has turned?
A: I haven’t paid a whole lot of attention to it. I’m not necessarily focused on that a whole lot. I certainly appreciate the support, but like I said, I’m focused on what we’re doing here and I’m focused on helping this team move forward.
Q: As a quarterback, you get a lot of praise when it’s good, and a lot of criticism when it’s bad. Have you come to expect that?
A: I think so. That’s part of playing the position, I think. You realize that, at whatever level you’re on, I think that’s something you realize early on. Granted, it’s a much larger scale at this point, but it’s the nature of the position and you have to accept that. Yeah, I think I’ve realized that.
Q: How have you felt about how you’ve performed this summer and the preseason. What’s your impression on how you’ve done this summer?
A: I think I’ve done some good things, and I’ve done some bad things. More than anything, I have made progress, I feel like, and that’s encouraging to me. When I look to where I was at Rookie Minicamp and OTAs, I think I’ve improved a good bit since then. Like I said, I think there are a lot of things to still work on. I am encouraged, but I realize there is still a lot of work to be done.
Q: Can you give us one example of one specific area where you think you’ve improved much? Like your first day here you had a bad read on a play, or can you give us an example of where you have improved?
A: I think a big part is getting used to different looks from a defense and how many different looks you can get, especially with our defense. I remember throwing a certain (pass) and making a mistake twice—throwing the ball where I shouldn’t have and seeing part of the field without seeing the whole thing. I haven’t made that mistake since I did twice.
Q: Twice in the same practice?
A: Yeah.
Q: Was that this summer or the spring?
A: The spring. So, I think things like that. A big part of it (is) learning the defense and learning how that corresponds with our reads and where the ball needs to go.
Q: Do you feel ready if you ever get called up down the line?
A: Like I said, at this point, I feel like I have improved and have made steps in the right direction. There is a lot to work on, but my job is to be prepared and I trust the plan.
