Tackle Andrew Thomas
September 16, 2024
Q: With the offensive line, it seems that you've gelled pretty quickly together and are playing some pretty good ball. I know that's a complete softball question, but fair is fair. Do you feel that way about your group?
ANDREW THOMAS: I think we definitely had a better showing in the second game than we did the first one. There are still some things that we can improve on to allow us to be more explosive and score more points, but I'm definitely happy with the improvement.
Q: When you get to see what (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) does, what is your reaction? I know you have your own responsibilities during the game, but when you do see the plays he makes, what goes through your mind?
ANDREW THOMAS: It's exciting as an offensive lineman. You get to see him make plays in space and not just Malik, we have really talented guys on the outside. If we give (quarterback) Daniel (Jones) time, he can get it to our playmakers, and we can be explosive. We just have to be consistent with it.
Q: (Outside linebacker) Bobby (Okereke) was just on five minutes before you and said he thinks he was trying to do three quarters his job, a quarter somebody else's job, trying to make a play and if he just focused on his job, the Giants would have had a better result. I'm wondering if that's a team-wide message, if that has filtered into the offense at all? That seems like a show of leadership that maybe this team needs right now.
ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, the first thing (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs said when we had meetings today is basically look in the mirror and see what you could have done better as a player. It's really easy when things aren't going well to finger point. But the great teams, they stick together by looking in the mirror and seeing what each individual could do better. We’re doing that, I'm doing that as offensive lineman, and obviously our room, stick together and want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to help the team win.
Q: I think you've been 0-2 before. The Giants have been 0-2 nine of the last 12 years, and nothing has really come of those seasons. That'll wear down the fans, how does that not wear down the players, the prospects of 0-2 seasons don't usually go anywhere?
ANDREW THOMAS: I definitely understand the perspective of the fans, but for us as players, it's a new team every year. A lot of us haven't been there for some of those years, so we're just focusing on the next opportunity that we have. Obviously, we didn't start fast, 0-2, but it's a long season, so we're just focusing on Cleveland this week, trying to get a win, and we'll see if our things shake out from there.
Q: How important is it at a time like this for a team like this for the head coach to set the tone, or when you're professionals, do you have to do it yourself?
ANDREW THOMAS: When you say set the tone, what are you referring to?
Q: Just set the mood, set the agenda, try to right this ship…
ANDREW THOMAS: I think teams take on the personality of their coach, but I think the best teams lead themselves. Obviously, the coaches put us in positions to make plays, but it's really up to us. They don't cross the white line, so it's up to us to have the mentality to be dominant, physical, and execute. That's up to us.
Q: Do you almost feel like, comparatively speaking, just the balance that you're able to have from you to (tackle) Jermaine (Eluemunor) across the board kind of gives you guys, functionally you're able to kind of maybe going back to that idea of you're doing your one-fifth rather than feeling like you need to compensate for what may be your perceived weakness somewhere else on the line, and that's how you're able to put forth a performance that you did yesterday and continue to grow?
ANDREW THOMAS: I think it's all five of the guys. As you guys know, it takes all five to be a good offensive line. If one person has a bad play, then that play can be ruined. I think all five of us have done a good job of gelling together, getting on the same page there. Like I said, there are still things that we can clean up in our run fits and just setting together, (inaudible), things of that nature, but I think it's the whole collective.
Q: I just wanted to follow up on what you said about the best teams’ police yourselves. Do you feel like this team has enough policemen? Are you trying to become one of them? Because in the past, I feel like those guys aren't here anymore. The (Eagles running back) Saquons (Barkley), the (Packers safety Xavier) McKinneys, the (Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard) Sheps…
ANDREW THOMAS: I think we have a good group of captains. Obviously, the personalities are different than what we had before, but I think we have a good group of leaders and what we're working on now is just not being individuals as far as offense, defense, and special teams. Everybody picking each other up, playing together, because the only way you can be successful in this league is to play complementary football. So, we're just trying to be on the same page across all three phases.
