S Jabrill Peppers -- November 8, 2019
Q: After the Detroit game, you guys were all restless to turn this around. How much more so are you feeling that way and that kind of urgency going into a game like this?
A: There’s a sense of urgency every week. We still feel the same. We’ll turn this thing around.
Q: You’re from here. What does Jets-Giants and this kind of opportunity mean to you?
A: Growing up, it was a fun game. But now I’m at this level, week in and week out, the goal is the same—get a win, prepare like you’re going to win, and go out there and play your best football.
Q: It’s kind of being billed as the battle of “Let’s see who the worst team in New York is,” because of the records of both teams. How much does that bother you?
A: I don’t pay attention to stuff like that.
Q: (Sam) Darnold has been very inconsistent. When he’s going right, how dangerous can he be and what problems does he pose?
A: He has phenomenal arm talent. When things are going right, they’re going right. When it’s not, it’s not. But he’s a guy you’ve got to respect back there. He can change the game, and he has guys around him that can change the game as well.
Q: It looks like (Jamison) Crowder has become his go-to guy, he’s certainly a dangerous guy in the slot. What’s the trouble in trying to deal with him?
A: He’s definitely been a guy for them, but we’ve got a good game plan and we’re going to go execute it.
Q: You typically bring a lot of energy in here. You seem different right now. What’s different?
A: I’m good, baby. Just focused.
Q: Coming off an NFC East loss over this weekend, what message do you want to send to Giants fans playing the Jets this weekend?
A: We’re preparing like hell to beat the Jets. That’s really it. We don’t really try to talk too much until we start putting good stuff on film.
Q: Has that been a conscious decision of everybody together that, “Hey, we don’t want to talk. This is how we want to approach it?”
A: You could say that.
Q: Is there still time to turn the season around with a win like this?
A: We’ve got six games left, you tell me.
Q: When you look at the defense, is it simply a matter of getting those big plays under control?
A: That’s it. In the League, you’ve got to win the explosive plays. This is a passing league, we’ve got to stop the run first to have the opportunity to rush the passer. We’ve got to limit those big plays and get off the field on third down.
Q: In terms of stopping the run, what kind of different qualities does Le’Veon Bell have than some of the other elite backs in this league?
A: I think we’ve played a fair share of some of the best backs in the league. His patience, he’s a big guy, people don’t think he is as big as he is because of the way he runs. He’s 6-1, 6-2, 230 (pounds) but he moves like he’s 5-10, 180 (pounds). His nimbleness, he has a great center of gravity. That’s a guy you have bring your hips through and wrap up when you go to make the tackle. (We need to) gang tackle, 11 to the ball. His cutback vision is exceptional, so you have to have great gap integrity and be sound with our techniques in our run defense. He’s a great back, but we have played great backs. We know what we have to do, we just have to go out there and do it.
Q: The reality is their offense has struggled, how much do you view this as an opportunity where you say we can get right as a defense?
A: I don’t really pay attention to that, it’s the National Football league. That’s the stuff you guys pay attention to. It’s not about who the best team is, it’s about who executes the best on that day. They went out and executed well against Dallas and got the win. Last week, they didn’t execute as well and didn’t get the win. That’s all it comes down to. We aren’t really paying attention to numbers.
Q: When you were a kid, did you ever go to a Jets-Giants game?
A: I did.
Q: What was it like?
A: It was fun.
Q: Who were you rooting for?
A: I didn’t really root when I was younger. I was too young. Half my family was Giants fans, the other half was Jets fans. It was cool to go.
Q: You hate losing, don’t you?
A: I do.
Q: How do you deal with it personally?
A: I have my methods. Since I’ve been in the league, I’ve been on the short end of the stick too much, so you definitely have to have ways to keep yourself sane, grounded, but keep playing your best football.
Q: How would you describe how you have handled five straight?
A: It hurts, but nobody is going to feel sorry for you, you can’t get down on yourself. You have another opportunity week in and week out.
Q: You forced another turnover the other day, you guys had two as a defense. Did you feel like you put your team in a good position at points in that game?
A: We lost, so obviously not in a good enough position.
