Jon Jansen (OT, #76)
On what made Michael Strahan such a difficult
match-up:
"The thing that Mike did well was that he understood
the game of football. He wasn’t just out there chasing the ball. He
was setting you up for the next move, the third and long, or the end
of the game when it mattered most. You always had to be smart against
him, and he was a guy that could play the run or pass at the same
time."
On whether he is convinced that Strahan won’t be
returning:
"I’ll be convinced at half time of the Thursday night
football game if he’s not out there."
On how much he enjoyed the battles with Strahan:
"I enjoyed them a lot, and if he’s not returning, the
game of football will be different without him. He was a personality
in New York, and a terrific player that made plays."
On the possibility that Strahan’s replacement could be
former Redskin Renaldo Wynn:
"I know. I saw that he signed up there so I look
forward to seeing him and being reunited one way or another."
On whether the intense heat during OTAs serves as a
warm-up for training camp:
"A lot of the guys that have been here understand what
camp will be like. What it is going to do is prepare the rookies and
other young guys that haven’t been here. It will get their minds
accustomed to what it will be like, but they have to prove that
they’ll be ready."
On how far along the offense is in learning the new
playbook:
"We are as far along as we are at any point during
this time of any coaching installation. Right now we have to go out
and build on the things that we have done well, and correct the things
we haven’t. And that’s a process that will continue through OTAs and
into training camp."
On what he appreciates most about Ethan Albright:
"The thing that I appreciate most about Ethan Albright
and Danny Smith as coach is that they give us so much material in the
locker rooms. Having a guy like Ethan allows you to not have to think
about that position. You don’t have to worry about the plays he is in
on because you know that he is going to be automatic, and he’s going
to get the ball to the holder with efficiency and accuracy."
On where Albright belongs on the team:
"He’s like a kicker. We joke with him that he’s played
as many plays in 14 years as we have played in one or two years, but
he is a great guy in the locker room. He has been my roommate ever
since he has been here, so we have a special relationship. You really
count on guys like Ethan, Rock [Cartwright], James Thrash to go out,
and not necessarily recognize what they do, but you just know they do
their job every time."
On the improvement he has seen in Jason Campbell’s
learning process:
"He has done a great job of getting with Coach Zorn,
and learning what Coach wants out of the offense and Jason’s
technique. We won’t see a completely different quarterback because
there are a lot of thing Jason does naturally well, but there will be
little things in term of his technique, efficiency, and leadership
that he will feel more comfortable with in his second full season of
starting."
On the improvements he would like to see in himself
and the offense over the next couple of days:
"In the OTAs we practice a lot of pass protection
because you can’t be too physical without any pads on. For me, it’s
getting in a rhythm of pass sets, getting back in the rhythm of
football, and being comfortable working with Randy [Thomas] and the
offensive line unit. For our offense, it’s all about getting the
timing down, getting a rhythm, and getting the feel of moving the ball
down field, getting first downs, and staying on the field."
Stephon Heyer (OL, #74)
On dealing with the heat:
"It’s steaming out here today. If we were in pads, we
would be in trouble. I think a lot of us pushed through it and we did
pretty well."
On playing against the retiring Michael Strahan:
"[He is] just a great athlete and a good player. For
him to be an old guy he still had a young mans heart and motor. It was
good to go against him and I am glad I had a chance to go against
him."
On the intimidation of playing against Michael Strahan:
"It was up there. I watched him growing up as a kid when he was
making sacks and making a name for himself. It was eerie to be in
Giants Stadium on a cold night going against Michael Strahan. It was
great and probably one of my most memorable moments."