NYG Postgame (vs. Redskins) Transcripts: TE Evan Engram -- September 29, 2019
Q: (inaudible)
A: That’s the thing, we can’t get complacent. Definitely not satisfied, we’ve got a long season left. We have to continue to find ways to improve and just keep building on these last two weeks.
Q: What has Daniel (Jones) done for this offense in terms of rejuvenation?
A: He’s just been himself. A lot of people doubted him, he heard it all, and we definitely heard it all. I don’t think it affected him. I think it pissed me off more than him (laughter). He just comes in and is being himself. He’s making plays. He’s trying to improve, and he’s definitely bringing a great energy to our offense and to our team.
Q: What do you think when you see him running with the ball?
A: He needs to learn how to slide feet first (laughter). I love the fight, and it was a huge play, but we have to practice on sliding.
Q: It seems like his ball, and this is nothing against Eli, but it seems like it’s in the right place for you and (Sterling Shepard) Shep, and soon Golden (Tate), to catch and run with it. Is he just always putting the ball out in front of you guys like that?
A: Yeah, he’s very accurate. He takes pride in making sure that we’re comfortable as pass catchers, and he’s always communicating with us, definitely throughout the week of preparation, on where we want the ball and stuff like that. It’s something he works on, something he takes pride in, and something that he’s going to keep improving.
Q: How much has he changed the feel of the team in general? You’re 2-2 now.
A: It’s definitely a group effort. I wouldn’t say (just) him. Obviously, he’s brought a great energy to our team and has played his butt off the last two weeks, but I think it’s a group effort that we have fought. We’ve stuck together, believed in each other, and fought it these past two weeks. We also know that there’s a long season left, so we have to keep finding ways to improve so we can have more days like this.
Q: Would it be fair to say that he gave you a spark and now everybody is feeding off it?
A: He asked the same question. Yeah, he’s definitely brought something special to our team. He works his butt of for it, so it helps us. We have to go out and play as a team at the end of the day. As long as he comes in and does his job, and we come in and help him by doing our job, we can keep it rolling.
Q: What did you think of your buddy Wayne (Gallman)?
A: He showed up today. He showed up. He prepared all week, he was ready for this moment. He’ll tell you the things that he could’ve done better as well, but that’s just the nature of him, and the nature of this team. That’s the thing, we all believe in each other and we’re very proud of him. We have to keep going and keep improving.
Q: You can have mistakes on offense, especially rookies. Daniel had two interceptions this game, it happens. Did you see any change in him after those mistakes when you get back in the huddle after those possessions?
A: No, you can definitely tell he was a little pissed off at first, but that’s the thing— he brings the edge. He wants to be perfect. We understand that’s not going to happen, but he kept his cool, kept his composure, and stayed in the moment.
Q: How does the play of the defense, especially all of the takeaways they got today, help you guys on the offensive side of the ball?
A: Huge. All of the heat they were taking throughout the season, they came out and played their butts off today. We have to be better at the end of the game for them. We had a couple three and outs to put the game away and put them on the field more than they needed to be. But they played their butts off today and we have to continue to be better as an offense to keep putting them in position to do what they were doing today.
Q: As a guy who scores a lot of touchdowns, what did you think of Jabrill’s leap into the crowd?
A: Oh, he jumped in the crowd? I didn’t see that. Me and Pep, we went at it all camp. We talk about it all of the time how much better we made each other. I was very happy to see that and I’m looking forward to the more he’s going to get.
Q: I think this is the first time in your career you’re at .500 in the season.
A: Wow, yeah. It feels good. We have to keep going and keep getting better.
Q: Usually by the end of September things are pretty down around here.
A: Yeah, it’s been tough the past two years. Definitely just have to keep finding ways to get better. We cannot get complacent, can’t be satisfied. We have to find ways to get better and get above .500.
Q: What were those battles like with Landon out there?
A: He was holding me a couple times. He got called on holding (laughter). It was fun, it was good to see him. Glad he came out healthy, and I hope he stays healthy and continued success.
Q: Did he see you weren’t pepped up by things, you didn’t really hear his name a lot?
A: I have a lot on my plate, so I wasn’t really paying attention to that. I mean definitely coming back to where you got drafted, a home game, he was probably amped and was ready for it. Like I said, I had a lot on my plate. I just wish him continued success and health.
Q: Were you guys going back and forth?
A: Not really, there was a holding call that we talked about a little bit, it was all cool.
Q: With Golden Tate coming back this week (inaudible)
A: I can’t wait for him to get back. I know he’s itching to get back on the field with us, it will be good to have his presence back on the locker room, presence back on the field. We have to do our best as an offense to get him caught up to speed with everything and get him going so he can be ready Sunday.
Q: How exciting is it to be 2-2?
A: It’s 2-2. We wish we were 4-0. It’s definitely good the way we fought back after being 0-2. Like I said, can’t be satisfied or complacent. Just have to continue to get better and keep stacking wins.
Q: When your rookie quarterback comes off the field after back to back interceptions, are you interested to see what his mindset is?
A: I wasn’t worried at all, it was two good plays by the DB. You definitely didn’t see any panic in him, I wasn’t worried at all, we were focused on driving the ball down and scoring. He bounced back, handled adversity and got the job done.
Q: He was the same when he got back in the huddle the next drive?
A: Yeah, he didn’t waver. He stayed true, kept his composure and kept fighting.
Q: Did you see anything when Daniel scrambled 16 yards, you were running your route?
A: I was on the sideline, it was a great play. He fought through, that’s just him, that’s his edge, that’s his heart. He just has to learn how to slide feet first.
Q: When you are watching that play, you are expecting a sack at some point?
A: I was excited to see him break through, but I was bracing like that when the defenders were closing on him, but a big play for us.
