Super Bowl XLVI – Tuesday, January 31, 2012(on how the Patriots and Giants are different from Week 9) “I mean it’s a lot of weeks in between Week 9 and where we are today. A lot of new players are on the field because of injury-wise, but I just think both teams are playing at a different level — a very high level. Everybody has corrected what they did in the beginning of the season. I think we are a much better, improved team on what we were in Week 9, as well as them. I think it will be a real good challenge for us this weekend, but we’ll be up for it.”
(on playing at a high level this season against the opposition’s top receiver) “We did a lot of work correcting what we did last week. When we start work this Wednesday, we’re going to find out how we’re going to match up and if we’re not going to match up. It’s kind of hard to match up with how they do because they line up people anywhere. You just have to be cognizant of where their playmakers are at at all times; know where they are on the field, and hopefully, disrupt some timing between the quarterback and the receivers and that will help us out.”
(on his journey from Louisiana to the Super Bowl) “It just shows you that it’s a blessing. You always make the best of every opportunity and thank God for the opportunities that he puts in front of you, the good and the bad, because it’s a learning process. I’m enjoying it and embracing all the opportunities and all these moments.”
(on how far he’s come in his career) “I just think sports in general is humbling in itself. The way the game goes, by the wins and losses. You can be good this year, and another guy can be better the next year. So, I always try to keep myself even-keel with a humble attitude from the beginning, not taking it too big with the highs, not going too big with the lows, just trying to be even-keel, and I think everything else works out for me.”
(on how much a strong pass rush helps defensive backs) “I had a coach — Coach (Nick) Saban — that always told me, ‘If you show me a good defensive end, I’ll show you a good cornerback.’ He just said that to say that it goes hand in hand. For a rusher, you’ve got to have a good back seven. I think what we did — everything didn’t start out as smooth as we would have liked it to, but it’s not a perfect world. So, I think we did a great job of getting better all year long, and I think our secondary is doing great, doing wonderful. I think we’re one of the best secondaries here. We might not have started the season that way, but we are great.”
(on if the team has a chip on its shoulder because of its slow start) “I don’t want to say that because we go to work every day to get better. It doesn’t matter what happened the week before, the day before, whether we had a great game or a worse game. We’re always coming out to get better and better. I think that’s what drives and motivates us to be the great (defensive backs) that we are or the great front that we are.”
(on whether there was a turning point to the Giants’ season) “No sir. We just always, I think this team had good character and good chemistry between us. We never bent; we never pointed fingers at each other. We just kept getting better and better. It doesn’t matter what happened the week before, we always wanted to correct the mistakes that happened and make ourselves a better team. It wasn’t smooth throughout the season, but we gathered around, kept fighting, kept fighting and kept fighting. We’re sitting here in Indianapolis today, so we’re not going to change anything.”
(on what he learned about his teammates’ response to pressure) “I just think it defines character in each individual player, the resiliency of the team. I think the younger guys are like, ‘OK, they’re not pointing the finger or putting the blame on anybody. They’re just trying to correct the problem, whatever it is.’ We’re not being personal with it, we’re just trying to correct the technique, and if everybody buys into it, it makes us a better team at the end of the day. We’ve been doing it week to week, and we’re here in the last week of the season.”
(on the Patriots’ use of tight ends and slot receivers) “They have a great quarterback controlling everything. They have a lot of great skill position guys that can be a game-breaker at any given time. So I just think as a defense, we have to be fundamentally sound and know where their playmakers are at all the time.”
(on if the Patriots’ offense is different because it can create a big play that starts underneath coverage) “It doesn’t matter. If we control where the playmakers are and are cognitive of where they are, I think we can throw some of the timing off between the quarterbacks and the receivers. It doesn’t matter. You’ve got to be close to whoever is catching the ball, whether it’s a tight end or a running back out of the backfield.”
(on the controlled playing conditions inside Lucas Oil Stadium) “I think everybody will like this, coming from those two cities and getting beat up with the weather. Actually, we were blessed this year to have great weather, but nothing to point your finger at. You know what type of weather it’s going to be. We have a lot of players from the South, so we love this kind of weather, being inside or being at the 70-degree temperature.”
(on the progress of the Giants’ passing game) “We practice against those guys every day. … They get to see us every day in practice and the style of defense that we like to play. We try to be physical with the receivers and throw the timing off between them and the quarterback, so they get to go out there and use that against opposing teams. Victor Cruz, (Hakeem) Nicks and Mario (Manningham)—I think they had a great year between the three of them, and (quarterback) Eli (Manning) doesn’t show any favorites. He just wants to get the ball to the open guy. He’s been doing that since I’ve known him, and I’m from Louisiana, so I’ve been watching him play like that for years.”
(on if the team has shifted to an offense that prefers the pass over the run) “I think we do what we have to do. It doesn’t matter what’s going on. I think everybody wants to be a physical team, and you start that with the run up front. I think you still have to start with the running game and the balance with the defensive and offensive line.”
(on what he sees in Patriots QB Tom Brady) “That’s one of the best. I’m kind of biased because I think Eli (Manning) is the best, but I think (Brady) is a great quarterback, and he knows how to get the ball to his playmakers. He also has a good, a great, coach (Bill Belichick) that’s helping him out. That doesn’t go unnoticed. I just think he’s a great player, and he’s going to get the playmakers the ball and let them make plays, and we have to challenge that.”
(on how to cover Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski) “We’re going to do it like we’ve been doing it all year long. We’re going to try to put some hands on him, throw the timing off between him and Brady, and be cognizant of where he is at all times.”
(on Patriots WR Wes Welker) “He is a talented receiver, and they work the slot really well. He knows the coverages, so we have to be cognizant of where he is at all times. … Slot receivers are becoming a big thing. Quarterbacks like (Tom) Brady and (Green Bay QB Aaron) Rodgers, they can find people in those areas and they will be the closest to the ball.”
(on the difference between this week and the last time the Giants were in the Super Bowl) “I think it’s easier to prepare. We have a couple of guys on the team that can tell guys what to prepare for media days and the week itself. People think there’s so many festivities going around for the Super Bowl, but they’re not for us, not for the team that’s playing in the Super Bowl. So, you just try to get all the family stuff situated the week before and try to make the week as smooth as possible. It’s a business trip for us, and we want to get a ‘W’ and get home.”
(on the team’s prayer huddle before each quarter) “More and more people are part of it. It started out with (defensive backs) praying before each quarter. You can’t knock anybody for getting in a prayer, so a couple of linemen started coming in and linebackers. … We just try to keep that strong faith in the locker room.”
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