Oct 042016
 
Orleans Darkwa, New York Giants (October 3, 2016)

Orleans Darkwa – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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TUESDAY BEN MCADOO CONFERENCE CALL…
New York Giants Head Coach Ben McAdoo addressed the media by conference call on Tuesday to discuss the team’s 24-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings:

McAdoo: I’ll start with a little bit about the defense and what we did well. Our first and second down run defense, stopping the run, was adequate. I thought our defense hung in there and gave us a chance to stay and hang in the ballgame. What we need to work on is our red zone defense. We were 0-for-3 there. Third and fourth down conversions, we were 50 percent. We had a drive really after we cut the score to seven. There was a big drive in the game. We enabled them to extend the lead.

On offense, what we did well, I thought our offensive line handled the noise. Zero sacks. We did have a false start, but we handled the noise well. I thought some running backs stepped up to fill the void of the loss of our number one and number two backs. Had a nice night. Some things we need to work on. We need to complete the ball better. Teams make it tough on us. They make us go a long way. We need to do a better job there. Five of six series in the first half, we stopped ourselves with penalties and other errors. We need to make the contested plays and connect on third downs. We were poor on third downs.

Special teams, what we did well, I thought we held a couple of explosive returners in check in the kicking game. What we need to work on, we need to handle the ball better and field the punt.

It’s a short week. It’s not going to get any easier for us, like I said last night. Playing at a tough venue against a good opponent. We need to have a great week of preparation in a short week.

Q: You mentioned that you guys didn’t take advantage enough of one-on-one matchups yesterday. When you reviewed the tape, what did you see there?

A: I think it’s a combination of a little bit of everything. A combination of the call, possible throws, possible reads, one-on-one matchups and making contested plays. I don’t think you can ever just say it’s one thing. I think it’s a combination of a lot of things. Again, give the opponent credit, that’s a pretty good defense.

Q: When you go back and watch the tape and see that Odell doesn’t get targeted until 22 minutes into the game, is that something you have to correct? How do you go about that?

A: Well, first thing is we have to be smart with the quarterback and his decision making. You don’t ever want him to have to force balls. That can make a lot of things worse. At the same point in time, it’s my responsibility to make sure a playmaker like Odell has the opportunity to touch the football. We’re going to continue to work at it.

Q: How do you do that? What kind of ways can you make that happen?

A: I’m not going to give you an answer to that question. That’s a game plan type question. We have to keep him in our thoughts.

Q: Were you concerned at all with what Odell said after the game about officials “targeting” him? Is that something you will talk to him about?

A: I think as an offense we need to get all the penalties and turnovers out of our play. We need to execute better as an offense and understand that the penalties are drive killers. They hold us back. We need to eliminate them from our play. Every game is officiated differently. Not all crews officiate games the same way. You have scouting reports on officials just like you do on opponents. We need to understand how the games are going to be officiated. You usually find out pretty early.

Q: What did you see when you went back and looked at the tape on that penalty?

A: I saw contact on the boundary. I thought it was going to be offsetting. They called it one way. We accept responsibility for it and we move on.

Q: Does it concern you that your player reacted like that? Especially that he has had a history of this?

A: He did not have any unsportsmanlike conduct penalties last week. The one yesterday was one that we have to eliminate from our play. We can’t have 15-yard penalties. One 15-yard penalty in a close game is usually enough to cost you a game.

Q: Odell told ESPN that he’s not having any fun right now with his role. What is your response to that?

A: I have no response.

Q: Is it concerning when your star player is coming out and saying that he’s not having any fun?

A: When we execute better, spread the ball around and everyone gets their opportunities, we’re going to have some fun. Until we execute better, hang onto the football and eliminate the penalties from our play, no one is going to be having any fun.

Q: I know you talked about how it was just one penalty, but Odell and Rhodes had other run-ins on the plays after. Was it a distraction?

A: No. It was not a distraction. Two competitive players playing the game.

Q: You guys were the only game last night and everyone is talking about Odell Beckham today. Do you recognize that this is something that you’ll have to deal with and talk about as the season goes on?

A: The most important thing for us right now is to eliminate the penalties and play as an offense. When we do that, our offense is going to have an opportunity to come to life. Right now, we’re sixth in the league in offense and we’re not executing anywhere near where we are capable of executing. We need to eliminate the mistakes, the penalties and the turnovers from our play so we have chance to showcase the type of offense we can be.

Q: Odell also said that when I’m communicating, I’m not getting the opportunity to contribute. What do you think he means by that exactly?

A: He’s a talented player who works hard in practice. It’s important to him. His teammates are important to him. He wants to win and he wants to make an impact.

Q: Do you feel like he’s unhappy that he’s not getting the ball?

A: Yes. He’s one heck of a player that wants the football.

Q: Are you guys looking into adding any type of free agent as a defensive back? Are those conversations happening?

A: Our conversations on the roster are ongoing. We worked out some players last week. We’ll look at that when the week unfolds.

Q: Do you think you have to make a move on a safety or are you optimistic Nat Berhe will be ready?

A: We’ll see. I don’t have anything new to report on that. He’s still in the concussion protocol. I’m confident in the players we have at safety right now.

Q: Are you going to talk to the NFL about what Odell said about officials potentially targeting him?

A: I’ve not been a part of any discussions like that, no.

Q: Do you have an update on Larry Donnell?

A: He’s in the concussion protocol.

Q: No other serious injuries coming out of that game?

A: Just some bumps and bruises. Nothing to report.

Q: Do you like the chances of getting at least one of your cornerbacks back this week?

A: I would like to think so. We’ll see how it goes. DRC will be limited and Eli will be limited when we hit the field tomorrow.

Q: The Dwayne Harris fumbled punt, is that just a mistake or just completely careless?

A: I do not consider it completely careless. He’s a player who wants to make an impact in the football game and do what he does best. That’s making plays on special teams. He’s very aggressive doing so. We just have to make sure we field the punt first.

Q: Do you have any intentions of talking to Odell about some of these things that he said?

A: Odell and I talk every day. We’re around each other all the time. We speak a couple times a day on different things. We’re always going to have conversations.

Q: Do you think you need to air anything out with him in regards to the targeting by the officials comment?

A: All conversations I have with Odell will be private.

Q: Eli said the penalties are brought upon by Odell himself. Is that something that you have to address with the both of them together?

A: I think that we need to get the penalties out of our play. Eliminate the turnovers, execute better as an offense. That’s the most important thing for us to be focused on right now.

PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES…
The New York Giants have once again re-signed quarterback Logan Thomas to the Practice Squad and terminated the Practice Squad contract of linebacker Deontae Skinner.

Thomas was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. The Dolphins claimed Thomas off of waivers from the Cardinals in September 2015 and the Giants claimed him off of waivers from the Dolphins in June 2016.

Skinner was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New England Patriots after the 2014 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Patriots (2014-2015) and Eagles (2015-2016), the latter waiving him on August 22.

NOTES…
The Giants fell to 23-37-1 on Monday nights, including 15-28-1 on the road and 2-3 vs. the Vikings (0-2 in Minnesota).

QB Eli Manning’s 25 completions increased his career total to 3,796, and moved him past Vinny Testaverde (3,787) and into ninth place on the NFL’s career list.

WR Odell Beckham has not scored a touchdown in a career-long five games.

WR Sterling Shepard caught four passes for 30 yards. That pushed his season total to 20 receptions, a record for a Giants rookie in his first four games. Beckham held the previous mark with 18 two years ago.

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The Giants return to practice at 4:05PM on Wednesday.

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Eric Kennedy

Eric Kennedy is Editor-in-Chief of BigBlueInteractive.com, a publication of Big Blue Interactive, LLC. Follow @BigBlueInteract on Twitter.

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