Transcript: QB Daniel Jones

QB Daniel Jones

September 23, 2020

Q: Take us through the last few plays of the game. The play before the last play you throw a little check down to Dion Lewis. Was that a designed play or did you have the option of taking two shots to the end zone?

A: There were certainly guys running deeper. The situation there was an opportunity to get the ball closer to the end zone and get out of bounds and give us a better shot at getting in the end zone. The way those last plays work with the defense able to kind of zone off the end zone and spread everyone out, it’s a much better look for us to be closer and do it. To have the ball on the 10, we gave ourselves a good chance at that last play.

Q: Just to follow up, that last play with the four receivers, was that four routes in the endzone or was there somebody coming underneath?

A: Everyone was in the endzone.

Q: One of the things some of the coaches mentioned yesterday when we were talking to the position coaches was the lack of explosive plays. You’re obviously going to be missing two of your most explosive players. How do you find those big chunk plays now that Saquon and Sterling are out?

A: Tough to see those guys goes down. Those guys are both great players. I think when you talk about how we’re going to generate explosive plays, it’s the same process in executing our stuff. Regardless of who it is, I think you create those opportunities through everyone doing their job and the ball going in the right place against certain coverages. We have guys to make those plays. It’s about executing, it’s not about doing anything special. Those plays will come. Guys will break tackles, guys will beat guys in man to man and find ways to make explosive plays. We have to keep working on that and create some of those opportunities for us as an offense.

Q: You’ve had some very long drives this year in terms of play length. Do you need those explosive plays or can you get by with those 10 ,11, 12 play drives?

A: We can do it that way and we’ve shown the ability to move the ball. We’ve had some long drives, lots of plays, moving the ball down the field. That’s important to be able to do that and execute. You also need to be able to have the chunk and create the explosive plays. That helps an offense as well. Being able to do both of those things, being able to consistently execute and have those explosive plays, get those chunk plays, is a big part keeping a defense on their heels.

Q: People tend to reduce big pictures into little ones. With Saquon out, I guess the little picture would be the Giant offense is now Daniel Jones. How do you look at it?

A: We talked a little bit about generating explosive plays as an offense and everyone doing their job. I think that’s the way we’re going to do it. We have a lot of guys who can make plays. It’s about everyone doing what they have to do to execute as an offense. That’s the way we are going to be most effective. It’s not any one guy, it’s not a couple guys. It’s all of us executing to put the ball into position to score points to make those explosive plays and keep drives going. It’s not one guy or two guys, it’s the group stepping up and I’m confident we’ll be able to do that.

Q: What was it like to see Saquon on crutches? Did you have anything for him that can kind of help ease his pain a little bit? Any words of wisdom? Does a quarterback need any time to get comfortable with a running back like Devonta Freeman or do you hand the ball off to him and don’t worry about it?

A: It was tough to see a guy like Saquon go down. Someone who works as hard as he does, he does all the right things on and off the field in preparation to play. I think coming off the field and coming back to the locker room, he was the first guy we saw in the locker room waiting in the tunnel after he just had a devastating injury receiving some real tough news. He’s the first guy welcoming everyone in and encouraging everyone after a tough loss. I think that kind of gives you an idea of the type teammate he is, the type of leader he is. It’s obviously tough to lose someone like that. We’ll all support him and confident in his ability to attack this process and come through it a stronger player. That certainly wasn’t easy to see but he’s a fighter, he’s a tough guy. I’m sure he will come out of it stronger. With Devonta, he’s a great player. He’s played in this league for a long time. Just getting with him and helping him learn the system, making sure we’re on the same page and able to go out there and execute.

Q: I know Eli is not here anymore and he doesn’t necessarily know this offense. I’m just wondering what that relationship is like at this point? How much have you used him as a resource even dating back to the spring and the summer and into now the fall?

A: I still stay in touch with Eli fairly regularly. He’s someone who I’ve learned a lot of football from. Like you said, it’s not necessarily this offense, but he’s been in a number of them and obviously knows the game, knows the position real well. He’s a guy I can talk to and ask questions. He’s been extremely helpful in that regard. He’s someone I have a good relationship with, and he’s certainly offered his help and something I’ve used and certainly appreciate.

Q: Those two plays you made with your legs on the 95-yard drive. How much are the coaches encouraging you maybe to do more of that and to create. Especially the flip you made to Dion, that improvisation. How tough are those plays to make and how naturally do they come to you? That’s two games in a row now where you have had long drives extended with your legs.

A: You said it, I don’t think you can force those plays. Letting them come naturally and taking advantage of what the defense gives you, whether it’s getting flushed from the pocket or things breaking down, down the field. Getting a sense for that and making plays. I’m not sure it’s something that I’m necessarily being told to do. It’s expected of me to sense and have a feel for.

Q: Just wanted to go back to a response you had earlier about how everybody needs to step up and do their thing on the field to make up for the loss of Saquon. What about the off field stuff, the leadership, the comradery? Do you feel like you have to take on a bigger role or do anything more than what you’re already doing?

A: I don’t think so necessarily. I think I’ll certainly continue to try to lead and try to help us move in the right direction. I think it’s everyone stepping up, like it is on the field with our execution on the field. The football aspect of it, in terms of the team comradery, I think it’s a similar approach. I think we have a lot of leaders on this team. There’s only a few people who are necessarily captains but a lot of guys are leaders and a lot of guys are comfortable in that role. We’ll continue to rely on guys and guys will continue to step up and do that.