Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning Transcripts
Tom Coughlin
Post-OTA #4, May 30, 2013
Fourth OTA. The fields are beautiful. It’s a nice, warm day. We need some heat and we got it. I’m not sure it was what they predicted, but it was nice to be out here, nice to have it not raining. We all know it went from 43 to 90 or whatever it was, which is normal for us. We’re glad to be out here working and we’re throwing a lot at these young guys and these young guys are doing okay with it, but as the clock runs down it gets close. It’s difficult to comprehend everything, but so far so good.
Q: Are any of the young receivers taking advantage of the fact that Nicks and Cruz aren’t here?
A: I would think they’re trying like heck.
Q: Any of them stand out to you?
A: On occasion. Collins has made a couple of plays over the last couple of days.
Q: Do you think Diehl is going to be more motivated now considering he missed half of the year last year?
A: He’s motivated all of the time. There’s never been a problem with that at all. He’s the most positive, optimistic guy… a full team player, anxious to overcome his nicks and get back on the field.
Q: Have you had any contact with Nicks?
A: I have not. No.
Q: Has anyone else in the organization spoken to him?
A: I can’t speak for anybody else. As far as I know, no one has.
Q: Are you disappointed he hasn’t been out here?
A: Certainly I am.
Q: Do you have any clarity on why he isn’t here?
A: None. Now at one point Hakeem told me that he was going to be here and then he was not here. Now the strictest interpretation, as everybody knows, is it’s a voluntary program.
Q: How do you balance that as a head coach?
A: How do I balance it? Not very well. It would be great to have all of our guys working and feeling good about the progress we’re making and that type of thing. That’s just from a coach’s perspective. You deal with some of this pretty much on a yearly basis and it’s a product of our system and that’s the way it is. I can complain all I want, but nevertheless, it is our system.
Q: Is it an unusual thing for a player to not let you know they’re here? Or do players come to you and say they’re not going to be here?
A: Most of the time if a guy is in the program and he’s going to miss, they’ll be sure to tell you.
Q: You brought in Kyle Bosworth and Chase Clement. What did you see from them?
A: We worked them out and we felt like they made a nice fit with Bosworth being a linebacker, special teamer and Clement being a guy that we could use not only as a tight end, but as a move fullback type guy. So multiple position guys plus special teams.
Q: Have Eli and Louis Murphy developed a connection?
A: They’ve made quite a few plays. They really have. When the receivers are on the same page and he’s very confident that they’re going to maneuver according to the way they’re supposed to and he’s been very, very sharp and he and Murphy have made some plays.
Q: Has Murphy shown you he’s a good student in terms of picking up the offense?
A: Yeah. He’s done a good job of that.
Q: How has Barden looked since he’s been back?
A: He’s gotten into it little by little and made some catches today.
Q: What have you seen from the receivers that are here?
A: It’s coming. It’s relatively early on and under the circumstances that we’re working with, it’s coming along. It’s going to take time. We have four quarterbacks working and they’re working with different exchanges of people and so it will take a little time.
Q: Do you like what you see from Bear Pascoe lining up at fullback?
A: We’re very confident that Bear, no matter what role we place him in, he does an outstanding job. We’re very sorry about Henry’s (Hynoski) injury. Henry’s a very optimistic young man. A day after he had the surgery he had three rehabs, so he’s ready to go. He’s trying to get ready to go and Bear has had opportunities to play in that spot, the B-Tight End and the Y-Tight End and he’s always done a nice job. He’s a guy that will learn it and he’ll be very much into what’s happening.
Q: Because you have Bear in that spot, does that lessen the need to go outside and bring in a veteran fullback?
A: If there’s a qualified guy, we would consider it. We do have training camp coming up. We know exactly how many we want at each position. We may or may not be there in some spots.
Q: A year ago David Wilson was fast and young. What’s the difference one year later?
A: He’s fast, he’s still young and he knows a little bit more about what he’s doing. He’s excited about his opportunities.
Q: Does Diehl have something to prove?
A: I hope so. Sure. It’s a great motivator. Everybody has something to prove.
Q: Has Rueben Randle made the progression you wanted to see?
A: He’s moving in that direction. He certainly has had many, many opportunities and if there’s a guy that really has a chance to step his game up and really show what he can do it’s happening right now for Rueben.
Q: With JPP and Tuck note here today, were you able to get a good look at the other defensive ends?
A: That’s the idea. There are some flashes. Some good things are happening. You’re restricted in that it can’t be contact. It can’t be the full contact, so the guys are doing pretty much the best they can with that. (Damontre Moore) has shown some good ability to get off on the snap.
Q: Tracy?
A: Tracy, Moore and a couple of these guys.
Q: Are some of the younger guys trying to walk a fine line with performing as hard as they can without contact?
A: It’s very hard to do. It’s not easy. Nobody said it was.
Q: Were you aware that JPP and Tuck weren’t going to be here today?
A: I was aware of both circumstances there.
Q: So it’s just a one-time deal?
A: Yes. I expect them both tomorrow, if that’s what you mean.
Q: Charles James made a good play.
A: He did. A nice interception.
Q: Is he one of those guys who’s flashing potential?
A: If you make a play like that, you’re going to get everybody’s attention and that helps.
Eli Manning
May 30, 2013
Q: How do you evaluate the passing game with some of your guys missing?
A: I evaluate with how we’re doing. I think we’ve had good days. I really do. I think the guys have stepped up. Rueben Randle and Jernigan and Louis Murphy and adding Ramses back into the mix… We have guys who are capable and have to play well and I think they’re doing a good job. The rules of OTAs limit certain things. It’s all off coverage. It’s all pretty simple defenses, but guys are getting open. We’re throwing the ball well, so I’ve been pleased with the way we’ve been looking the last few days. I think if we weren’t looking really sharp and not getting open or not being as effective offensively, I would be frustrated with the circumstances, but the fact that we’re doing well, I’ve been very pleased.
Q: Do you enjoy the time working with younger guys and guys you might not know as well?
A: Yeah. I think that’s what you need. You need other guys to step up and fill in roles. You never know what the circumstances are during the season. You’re going to need four or five receivers to be able to play at any time during the season who can play well for you. It’s been good work and getting on the same page and seeing young guys understand that we need them to play well and they’re going to have to play in the games and they’re going to be the starters sometimes and they’re doing a good job.
Q: At what point does it become critical that Cruz and Nicks are here to work with you?
A: It’s a tough situation. You always want everybody there and you want them back here for practice as soon as possible. I’m not going to say this is not an important time because I think it is, but it’s kind of a tough situation because what we’re doing is important. The guys who are here are working and we’re working hard and we’re competing and we’re trying to get better every day and that’s going to help us down the road.
Q: Do you start to imagine what it would be like to play games without Cruz if his contract situation isn’t resolved?
A: No. Right now my focus is on me getting better in my fundamentals and my decision making and all those things, throwing the ball accurately and working with the guys who are out there. If someone is doing something a little off, a little wrong, I’m going to try to correct them. I’m going to get in their ear and go tell them and talk to them about certain plays. If they’re doing things really well, I’m going to do the same thing and talk to them and praise them. I’m competing and everyday I treat it like a game and just make our offense and everybody out there who’s here working hard and get them where they’re doing things correctly and making plays for us.
Q: Have you reached out to Hakeem?
A: I haven’t talked to him in the last few days, so I don’t know what the exact circumstances are.
Q: Can you tell that Louis Murphy can be a fit for you in this offense?
A: Yeah. He’s come in and worked really hard. Back in early April, going over to Duke and working those days and learning the offense and asking questions and being here in the offseason, being there for routes and trying to pick up everything in this offense and so he’s got talent. He can really run, he can stretch the field and he’s got the desire and the commitment to be a good player and to bring another threat to this offense.
Q: Does it give you peace of mind that Nicks and Cruz were with you at Duke?
A: The thought of that was like a little pre-OTA practice. Just kind of work out some of the kinks and work on some fundamentals. Get used to catching the ball and throwing to each other in hopes of kind of having everybody there to give us a little jump start into our preparations of our offseason program. Hopefully, everybody will be back as soon as possible so we can continue to work and everybody can continue to make improvements.
Q: Did Hakeem say that he won’t be at OTAs?
A: No. He was here for workouts before OTAs started and throwing and doing stuff. I don’t know the exact circumstances of that.