Tackle Andrew Thomas
Q: How are you feeling going into Week 1, especially after everything you dealt with last season?
ANDREW THOMAS: I'm excited. It's a new team. Obviously, it's the first game of the year, so we're trying to make a statement, come out and get a win.
Q: When you look at the way the offensive line performed last season, how much of a statement do you want to make here in Week 1?
ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, it was a lot of things that we dealt with last year, but we're putting that to bed, have a new group up front. We're trying to be dominant, be physical, protect (quarterback Daniel Jones) DJ and open holes for the run game.
Q: You've got a lot of new names and faces here. Obviously, you work on some of that during training camp. How do you feel the communication level is at this point?
ANDREW THOMAS: I think it's going well. We have a lot of veteran guys that played a lot of ball in this league, so it's not hard. We're on the same page.
Q: With (Head Coach Brian) Daboll calling the plays, how different is that for you guys as a line?
ANDREW THOMAS: It's not different. It's the same scheme. We have a saying, 'he calls it, we haul it.' Whatever's going on, we try to execute that play.
Q: What is sort of the whole mindset when you look at the offensive line as a unit, as you start this clean slate?
ANDREW THOMAS: Just to be aggressive in the run game and be on the same page. That's the biggest thing, not cutting guys loose and protecting DJ like I said earlier.
Q: When it comes to the run game, obviously, (running back Devin) Singletary behind there now. What's the biggest difference in the way he runs versus (Eagles running back) Saquon (Barkley), and does it change anything for you guys?
ANDREW THOMAS: Obviously, different type of backs, but Motor's done a great job for us getting downhill. He makes really good cuts in the hole. He does a great job for us with pass protection, too. That goes unnoticed sometimes, but he's done a really good job for us.
Q: The Vikings will show some eight-man pressures, even make contact, then drop. As you guys try to set your protections up, how do you try to go about figuring out who's actually coming and who the dummy guys are so you get your protections?
ANDREW THOMAS: It's all about your rules and your communication. We don't know exactly what they're going to do, but we try to read our keys and follow our rules. That's the only way to pick up blitz zero and those different pressures.
