Transcript: WR Darius Slayton

WR Darius Slayton

September 16, 2020

Q: When a quarterback throws to you nine times in a game, is that simply a matter of you’re getting open, or is that something in the game plan that they’re going to go to you?
A: Definitely being open helps the quarterback be more inclined to throw the ball to you, of course. But every play, you have options within plays for him to throw the ball to different guys. Fortunately, he just chose to come my way nine times.

Q: Does this feel like a continuation of last year the way you produced?
A: I definitely think I’m off to a great start this year. Obviously, the goal is to be consistent and to keep building on this throughout the rest of the year.

Q: There was a lot of talk in the offseason that your eight touchdowns as a rookie was not sustainable. What do you have to say to people who would say that after two touchdowns in your first week?
A: I just try to go out there and make plays. I didn’t really know that was a thing to be honest with you. I just try to go out there and make plays and find my way to the end zone as often as possible. Hopefully I’ll be able to continue to find my way there the rest of this year.

Q: Quick follow-up. Joe Judge seemed very impressed with how Daniel (Jones) stood in there and took hits to make plays. I’m just wondering, obviously, you’ve played with him for about a year now. How much confidence does Daniel give you guys? Even in a drive that doesn’t end in a touchdown, in that 19-play drive, how much do you guys believe in him and why do you believe in him?
A: Tremendous amount. There are a lot of guys that once they take a shot or once they start feeling a little bit of pressure, they tuck and run or what have you. But DJ did a great job of standing in there all night, making throws, some throws under duress, some throws getting hit just as he’s letting go of the ball, and he was still really accurate and productive. That’s definitely something that guys rally behind, a guy that’s going to fight for you and stand in there and try to get you the ball no matter what.

Q: Building off what was just asked, do you ever see Daniel hang his head? Like after he throws that interception in the end zone or some other mistake, do you ever see him rattled? Do you, as one of his buddies, ever have to pick him up or does he bring it himself?
A: No, I don’t ever really see (that). He’s really steady, with the highs and the lows. Obviously, with the highs you get excited and obviously, anybody is going to do whatever with that. But I know he’s hard on himself. I know he wants to be perfect, but no, I think he does a good job of keeping himself even-keeled, moving on to the next play.

Q: One other follow-up. The noise in the stadium, how was that while you were on the field? Could you hear it? Did you not hear it? When you’re in the huddle, did you guys have to speak up and raise your voices at all, or was it just like being at a practice?
A: It was pretty quiet. It was really nothing going on in the stadium beyond us, so you could hear everything. It was a little weird scoring a touchdown and it was like crickets. Other than that, it was pretty quiet.

Q: What do you think you need to do to prove to people that you’re the “number one receiver” in this league?
A: I don’t know necessarily about that, but I definitely think obviously, like I said, being consistent. If I go out there and I make plays every week, week in and week out, and I help propel my team to wins, the rest will take care of itself.

Q: How much are you seeing like that when you face other teams? Or are you? Do you see teams shading in your direction or giving you more attention? Have you noticed that as you sort of progress there?
A: It’s game one, so it’s kind of hard to tell what the game plan is.

Q: I kind of meant a little bit even as last year went along?
A: Not so much. We have a guy named Saquon Barkley that they have to worry about all the time. That really helps a guy like me as far as that goes.

Q: I wanted to just follow up on something. We talk about your chemistry with Daniel Jones. Is that because you guys came in together? It just seems like you guys… every time you connect on a pass, it’s like you guys have been playing with each other for 100 years or something like that. I’m just wondering if there’s something to it? Are you guys reading each other? What do you think is behind that?
A: I definitely think the fact that we literally came here together from day one, whether it was rookie minicamp or what have you, we’ve literally been catching and throwing since day one. I think that familiarity is definitely there. I think it’s something that we’ll continue to build on.