DL Dalvin Tomlinson
September 9, 2020
Q: Tell me about the whole process given the pandemic? What do you think it’s going to be like when you play your first game and there’s no fans in the stadium?
A: It’s certainly going to be different, of course. But I know the crowd noise, it helps a lot because we get so locked in on the field that it sounds like the fans are there even though you look up and it’s empty. You still get the feeling of somebody’s watching from the noise.
Q: Coming into this season, not a lot of folks are expecting a lot from the New York Giants in the NFC East. Everyone is talking about the Eagles and the Cowboys. Is that something you guys have talked about internally?
A: No, we’ve just been focused on the process. One day at a time. Just come give it your all each and every day, improve as a unit because all we can control is what we do.
Q: What is it like to be named a team captain? How much does it mean to you? Sometimes, captains are real, real, crazy rah-rah, talk all the time guys. I think you can try to lead a different way. Can you talk about your leadership and what being a captain means to you?
A: It’s an honor to be a captain. To have my peers and everybody vote me in to be a captain is a great honor, I guess you can say, because just to see all the other captains in the past are just great players. I always try to lead by example. I feel like I can’t be a captain if I don’t go out there and give it my all each and every day. That’s one of the biggest things that I feel like every captain has to do.
Q: The fact that there are a couple of new guys on the team who are team captains, which is unusual, what does that say about this team?
A: We brought some great guys in who come in every day to work with that work hat on. They just keep grinding. They have respect from all of us and everybody on this team. They’re great guys.
Q: You guys have a new defense, new scheme, new coordinator. You’re going up against a team on Monday that’s got a longtime established quarterback. Are you curious to use this as a measuring stick to see where you guys stand? Are you excited to get started with a new group. Just what’s your approach on Monday?
A: My approach is to just go out there and execute the game plan. What we set out to do, those are the things we’re supposed to do. I’m going to go out there and execute the game plan, have fun while we’re doing it and just be happy football is back.
Q: Does it feel kind of like a measuring stick for you guys as far as where you might be as far as building this new defense?
A: I probably wouldn’t say that simply because it’s football. Anything is possible. We just have to go out there and give it our all and play.
Q: When you’re in there in that tight phone booth with a guy like (Maurkice) Pouncey, how much video do you study of him, even going back to last year but previous seasons? You are head up a lot of the time. Just curious how much do you put into researching anything you can pick up on him on film?
A: Yeah, you watch a lot of film and you try to pick up all the tendencies from each offensive lineman, especially with their interior for me because I’m always on the inside. You always try to pick up as many possible tendencies and things that help benefit you in the game. I watch a lot of film on Pouncey and stuff like that. I’m super excited for this week.
Q: I know we’ve asked a couple of guys this and we may have even asked you a couple of weeks ago, but you mentioned the artificial crowd noise. Will you guys be curious to see how Monday night plays out? I know you’re focused on your calls in your huddle, but what you may hear from the other side of the line of scrimmage may kind of tip you off to certain things that maybe you’re not going to get under normal circumstances?
A: I feel like everybody is pretty excited for that part because you’re going to hear a lot more things you probably wouldn’t hear. But also as part of the game, you may hear some dummy calls, so you can’t always focus on what they’re saying. You need to focus on your call and execute that.
Q: If you look at the early injury report on the Steelers, (David) DeCastro seems to be somewhat of a question mark, Pouncey is the same way. Do you have to study two deep when you’re preparing for guys?
A: I always study two deep because the way the game is, injuries are likely because it’s a tough sport. You never know what’s going to happen on game day. I always study two deep, always make sure I focus on the main person first but you always have to prepare for the backup to come in and support them, too.
Q: Real simple question. I don’t think we really know, we haven’t seen this defense get out on the field. What is this defense going to be like? What are your expectations?
A: I just expect a physical defense. We just want to be physical across the board. That’s what we want to build our defense around, physicality.
