Outside Linebacker Oshane Ximines
Q: I believe it was you who was flying across the other way when (Safety) Julian (Love) made that interception, right?
A: Yeah.
Q: What did you see on that play and what happened? You got banged up on that play?
A: Yeah, I was supposed to be rushing that play, but (Ravens Quarterback) Lamar (Jackson) – he mishandled the snap, and kind of got out of the pocket. I noticed I was never going to get to the quarterback, but I saw the fullback just standing there wide open. So, I'm like, 'I'm just going to go try to make a play on that,' because I saw he was about to throw it to him. I tried to get there the best I could. Love, he was the best man, he got there first. I kind of tweaked my quad a little bit on that play. But I'm alright though.
Q: You guys have gotten so much credit for what you've done in the second halves and fourth quarters, especially. But of course, that means in the first half sometimes things don't go so well. Can you put your finger on why that might be and what you guys need to do to be better at the start of these games?
A: I can't really put my finger on exactly what it is. I just try to come in and do my job to the best of my ability. But Coach (Head Coach Brian Daboll) always preaches coming out to a fast start, and I feel like as long as we stick to our one plays every time and mentality and just try to maximize every single play that we have, I think that we'll be alright.
Q: Obviously, coaches are always careful about when they're talking to us and you guys about not getting too ahead of yourselves no matter how good the record is. When you are talking amongst yourselves, do you remind yourselves within your own room that '5-1 is great, but you've got to keep it in perspective?'
A: We just try to make sure we're putting one foot in front of the other, not looking too far down the road and making sure we're maximizing every practice and every rep that we get before the game and staying focused and trying to keep the wins coming.
Q: You were a rookie once upon a time. What do you think about the way that these rookies are playing? (Outside Linebacker Kayvon) Thibodeaux, (Safety Dane) Belton had a huge role. On offense, you've got (Wide Receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) and (Tight End Daniel) Bellinger scoring. What kind of lift has this rookie class given you, really on both sides of the ball?
A: I love this rookie class, not just on the field, but off the field and in the locker room. They've got great energy. They come to work; they come ready to work every single day. All those guys, they made great plays, and they stepped up big in this game. They all contributed to the win, and I'm proud of all those dudes. We're just going to keep them rolling, keep them going so they can keep making those plays and we can keep getting those wins.
Q: I don't know if you were in the locker room. Where you there when everybody gave an ovation to Thibodeaux?
A: Yeah, I was in there.
Q: What was that all about? Why was everybody cheering? I've never seen that before. Why him? Why did he get that kind of reaction from everybody?
A: It was a big day for him because he got his first career sack. It's a moment that we all shared with him, and we're all going to remember that together. It was a big moment for him, and we all love him there in the locker room. So, we all just wanted to show him some love on his big day. It was a big play, too. You know, a strip-sack to win the game – it doesn't get much bigger than that. He had a great play; we were all happy for him.
Q: Coming into training camp this year, you knew that you had (Outside Linebacker) Azeez (Ojulari), and you drafted Kayvon first. Did you wonder at all how much playing time you were going to get this year? And so far, you've had more than you've ever had and maybe contributed to these six-games-in more than you ever had. How has that been for you?
A: I knew I was going to work my tail off coming into camp just to get a spot on the team. I really didn't wonder about playing time and other things. I just tried to come in and maximize every day I had, every opportunity that I had. That's been working for me. I'm just trying to stick to that and not worry about the other things I can't control.
Q: Were you actually worried that you weren't going to make the team?
A: I tried not to think about it. I just tried to do my best every day.
Q: How aware are you and do you think your teammates of where the Giants are? Standings, division, conference, things like that?
A: I mean, really when you look at that, none of that stuff matters, honestly. We still have a long season to go, and no matter where we are now or what the record is, it doesn't matter. We've still got to come out and play this Sunday coming up. We're just trying to stay focused on game planning and just do what we've got to do to get ready for Sunday.
Q: If I asked you to give me the records for all the teams in the division, could you rattle them off for me? Or could you not?
A: I probably could (laughs).
Q: Will it matter at some point? At some point it begins to matter, right?
A: Of course, but it doesn't matter if we don't take care of business on Sunday. That's what we're just trying to focus on.
Q: If you want to give me the records, I'll listen. But I don't want to put you on the spot.
A: (Laughs).
Q: I've kind of listened to Dabs (Head Coach Brian Daboll) and you talk about the records and focusing on the next game. You mean to tell me you haven't looked at the schedule and seen that you have the Jags (Jacksonville Jaguars), who are 2-4, the (Seattle) Seahawks, who are 3-3, the (Houston) Texans, who are 1-3-1, and Detroit (Lions), who's 1-4, coming up and you haven't imagined being 9-1?
A: No. We're just focused on the next game, which is Jacksonville. We just try to stick to that and try not to look too far ahead.
Q: Do you know your nose is growing a little?
A: (Laughs) It probably is, I don't know.
