Defensive Lineman Dexter Lawrence II
Q: Do you feel these Giants-Cowboys games seem to always come down to the trenches, the line of scrimmage? Do you feel, (outside linebacker Brian) Burns is here now, and your offensive line seems to be playing the best, from a team captain standpoint, are the Giants better suited now, in the trenches, to handle the Cowboys than they've been in years past?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I feel like, like you said, every year it comes down to the trenches. I don't think we've slacked in other years in the trenches. They just beat us as a team. This year, having new additions, I think we could be better. I have confidence in us to go out here and win this game and that's the message on the short week.
Q: Do Giants-Cowboys games, I know they mean more, do they hit different? Like, are you more sore after a Cowboys game? Is it more physical than a regular game?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I'm the wrong person to ask. I'm in the middle of every play on every drive, so every game feels like 60, 70 car crashes to me. And that's just being real.
Q: I think you're the right person to ask, because you take the biggest collisions.
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Right, so every game feels the same to me, is what I'm saying. I can't say that the Cowboys hit more harder than another team, because I'm always opposing my will, so that's what it is.
Q: How do you process that game the last time you guys played here a year later? Is it something that still bothers you?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I honestly forget about it, unless somebody brings it up, then I'm like, 'Oh, that did happen.' But last year is last year, this is a new year. I'm ready for Thursday, and that's what I got to say.
Q: You guys haven't sacked (Dallas Cowboys quarterback) Dak Prescott the last four times you guys have played the Cowboys. Obviously, I would assume that has to change for you guys. Do you feel like that has to change for you guys to have a chance?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: That's going to change. I feel like we can get after him pretty good. We just got to hone in on the plan and execute it well.
Q: What is it about their offense that catches your attention?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: (Dallas Cowboys quarterback) Dak (Prescott). He's a special quarterback. We got to do a good job rattling him and getting to him. He has a quick trigger, so we got to do well in the back end covering, making him look at his second option, third option. We got to do well up front getting to him.
Q: What do you think makes him (Dak Prescott) special?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: He's a big dude. He can run. He likes to sit in the pocket, but when he evades, he's also dynamic throwing the ball down the field. We just got to make sure we keep him in the pocket and bring him down.
Q: Will it work in your favor that they're struggling to run the ball?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yeah, that's the main thing, a key if we can stop the run. Making it second and long, third and long. That's the key to stop the run.
Q: Are you sick of losing to them (the Dallas Cowboys)?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I'm sick of losing to anybody. I don't hold more weight on one game than the other. They all hit the same. They all count the same. I want to win regardless. It doesn't matter against who or how we win. I just want to win.
Q: The bar is incredibly high for you. Did you feel like last week was one of your best games?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: You all ask me questions like… I don't know. I don't know. I don't look at the stats at the end of the game. I don't look at the praises. I don't look at nothing. I just prepare for the next week. Because at the end of the day, the goal is to win the Super Bowl. My stats don't matter. If I have none and then we win, then I'm happy. It doesn't matter to me. I just want to win.
Has some high praise for Chatman - calls him “special” and “a leader” already. I was already pulling for this kid, but now I’m really pulling for him and it fired me up, hopefully he builds on his strong Browns game.
Full Dex Interview - ( New Window )