Transcript: Head Coach Brian Daboll

Head Coach Brian Daboll

June 14, 2023

Q: This is the last time we’re going to be talking to you before summer break. What do you expect from your guys in the next six weeks or so, and what do you do? What do you have on the agenda?

A: I would just say for those guys to come back ready to go. Be in shape. Make sure they're being safe out there over the couple of weeks. Rookies have a little less time than the vets. But come back ready to go, both mentally and physically.

As far as myself, I get a little bit of downtime, but then you're right back at it. Making sure you're reviewing schedules and training camp practices and getting a head start on some of the opponents. So, get a little bit of downtime. Don't do a whole bunch.

Q: I don’t think we ever asked you about the joint practice with the Jets. (Jets) Coach (Robert) Saleh said the other day that you guys aren’t going to do that. Is there a reason for that?

A: Yeah, we just thought this year we're going to take a break. They're practicing against a couple of teams, we’re practicing against Detroit and then we play each other during the year. So, we’ll kind of get together next offseason and probably start it back up.

Q: What do you think of the quality of your depth overall? Do you think it’s better than it was a year ago?

A: I'd say it’s probably tough to tell right now. We have a lot of work to do, a lot ahead of us once training camp starts. The guys have been working hard. The guys that we have here have done everything we've asked them to do, and I think we’ll have better answers for that once we get out there with pads on.

Q: What was (former Giants head coach Bill) Parcells’ message to the team after practice yesterday and how do you think it resonated?

A: I think that'd be a good question for the players, but they were definitely listening. I think all the coaches were. It was great to have Coach Parcells here. He talked a little bit about accountability and adversity. Good message for the team and for the coaches.

Q: What does that mean to you?

A: Oh, it was great. He’s obviously an NFL legend, a Giant legend, and just to have him out here I think was great for everybody.

Q: What have you been able to glean from your team throughout the spring? I know you said guys don’t win or lose jobs now, but I’m sure you can take something from the spring of what kind of roster you have.

A: Well, I think one of the most important things in spring is the strength and conditioning. I think those guys have done a good job with that. And then the chemistry that you build with one another, not just on the field, but off the field, getting to know one another. We’ve signed a bunch of new free agents; we have the college guys coming in. So again, it's been a good group to work with. Time will tell here as we get started in training camp.

Q: Do you see a more talented roster when you look out there than maybe you did last year?

A: I think time will tell. Every year is a different year. We’ll see as it goes.

Q: As a guy who’s called plays, what is it like when your team is running the ball well? Does that open up everything in the offense?

A: For us, each game is different. There’s been times where I've called plays and haven't run the ball an entire half. I think that was close in a playoff game. It was close. So again, we're going to try to do whatever we need to do as we figure out our team, as we go through training camp. That's how we approach. It might not be the same as every team, but that's certainly how we approach it.

Q: As far as last year with your defense, you were low ranked in run defense. As much as (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale) wants to do everything, how much if you can’t stop the run does it make everything more difficult?

A: Again, I think each game is different. Some games there's a lot of rushing yards against you and you can still find a way to win. Again, we’ve got a lot of areas to improve on, not just in that area and not just on defense, but on offense and the kicking game. Those are some of the things we've talked about here that we're going to have to work on once we get pads on.

Q: Do you have a message to your guys in terms of the difficulty of the schedule?

A: We're not there yet. My message is, ‘Let's go out here and have a good day today.’ You don't get ahead of yourself. Every year is a different year. Every team is different that you play. So, what you did last year really has nothing to do with this year. Your focus has to be on your individual improvement, your collective improvement and just keeping a day-to-day approach.

Q: A lot of coaches when they have a successful season or some success, they protect the next year against overconfidence. How much do you feel you have to do that? You were very adamant at the owners’ meetings about, ‘Hey, what did we really accomplish? We got smashed in the playoffs.’ How much do you keep that in mind as you go through this whole process?

A: I just think you have to restart and build your team from the ground up. Again, it's like we say during the season, what you do one week has nothing to do with the next week. What you did one year has nothing to do with this year. So, we have to have the right mindset of improving each day. Again, as individually, coaches, players, staff and as a group. That’s where we keep it. We don't get too far ahead of ourselves. There’s a lot to work on, a lot to improve on and that's what we're trying to do.

Q: Have you noticed a chemistry or a bond between (quarterback) Daniel (Jones) and (tight end Darren) Waller?

A: Yeah, I think they're getting comfortable with one another. The new guys that are coming in, I think (wide receiver) Parris (Campbell) has done a good job with that as well. But again, we take it for what it's worth.

Q: How about off the field?

A: I think that’d be a good question for those guys, the two of them.

Q: (Wide receiver Isaiah) Hodgins jumped right and was very productive for you guys last year when he got here. How much will it help him this year to have this base?

A: Yeah, again, he wasn't a rookie, he had some familiarity with it, but I think anytime you're in the second year or the third year of a system, you have some experiences to draw from. It doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be better or you’re going to be worse, because you have to go out there and do it all over again.

Q: What are you going to do the next six weeks? Are you going to get away from football?

A: No, I'm not going to do a whole bunch. You get away a little bit, but it's a different position than being a position coach or coordinator. There's always stuff that comes up. So, I think it's important to take a little bit of downtime, but you can't get too far away from it.

Q: Darren Waller mentioned that player input is welcome in the offense here. Why is that important to you?

A: Players are the ones that win the games. So, I take all input from coaches, from players. Again, maybe there's a route that that he ran, maybe it wasn't last year, but maybe it was three years ago that he feels pretty comfortable with that we don't have, and it'd be worth taking a look at. Those guys know themselves pretty well, particularly the good players that have done it for a while. So again, maybe that's not everybody's approach, but that's certainly ours.