Q. Can you take me back to one year ago today, basically, when you were handed the playbook for the first time and you started looking through it, what you thought of it, and then today when you get the same playbook, is it almost like getting a test that you took last year and you know pretty much all the answers now? What is the difference between these two years and getting handed that playbook?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, last year at this time, you are trying to learn everything for the first time. There's a lot of information, a lot of early memorization, the basic information of the system and kind of learning the alphabet, learning the first step.
So you know, this year, obviously, we got a little bit of a jump start there, knowing the system, but you're always learning and you're always adapting, seeing what's new, helping the newer guys learn, so in some sense you start over again and you don't want to overlook anything or skip any of those critical steps.
Q. How much is new? Last year all of it was new basically. This year, you know, 75 percent you kind of know or is it less, more? What's your sense of that?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I mean, it's tough to say where we'll end up. I think something Dabs has talked about since he got here is we're always growing and we're always evolving, adapting and how it looks today will be different than how it looks a week from now and a week later and as we get through the off-season program. We are always adding stuff, taking things out and adjusting here and there and that's the process. You're always trying to learn and keep up and stay on top of it.
Q. Obviously Saquon and Dex aren't there. Saquon was obviously -- his contract was tied quite a bit to your negotiations. You know he's unhappy; we know he's unhappy. How much did you guys try to, I don't know, work your contract situations together so that this might not happen with Saquon and was this your worst-case fear when you guys were going through that?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I mean, everybody's got their own situation, and I'll keep the conversations we had, you know, those are personal conversations. Obviously he's a good friend of mine and good teammate and I'm hoping for the best for him and like I said, there's a business side to all this. He's a great teammate, great friend. Everyone in the building knows that, and I'll support him -- yeah, support him through it all.
Q. I don't know if you saw today but I'd like to ask your reaction, I don't know if you saw Jalen Hurts just signed a monster contract for something like $50 million a year. What's your reaction to that knowing that you just got your number, what's your reaction to his number and to knowing that you guys are going to be going head-to-head in this division for a long time?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, congrats to him. Happy for him. He is a heck of a player, had a great season last year obviously and certainly deserves it. So I'm happy for him, and yeah -- but our focus is here and on those guys, but certainly happy for him.
Q. You recently had an opportunity to work out with some of your new teammates. Can you talk about what you've learned about them so far and how you think they are going to help make this offense better?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I think did was great to get the guys together and get on the field and spend some time around each other. I think all the new guys you can tell just how excited they are to learn the system and to be here and be part of the group and how eager they are to get started. It's good to get that energy from all of them. That's certainly the case with each of the guys, and they all bring something different. They all bring a certain skill set that we'll look to use the best we can and from my perspective, I'm trying to learn them to get on the same page to communicate here how they see things, how they want to run certain routes, how they see themselves getting open and then work through it so that we are seeing it the same way and moving forward together. So I'm excited, excited for each one of them.
Q. This is going to be another new center for you. I think you've had a different center every year you've been in the league if I'm not mistaken. Is that unsettling for you or how do you make that work so the process is smooth?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I mean, I think it takes a lot of time. It takes time in the film room, classroom, talking, getting on the same page with our pre-snap IDs and protections and in the run game, too. And then time on the field in kind of a more game like situation where you go through it and you're communicating and working on the center, quarterback exchange and all those pieces there. It takes time, and I'm excited for each of those guys who could be stepping in. We will put in the work and make sure we're ready to go.
Q. When you look at your off-season, do you break it down differently over the course of the last couple years? What do you need to get out of it? Do you kind of set hurdles or markers where you know you know by a certain date you want to have this in place for yourself, and then let Dabs and the coaching staff handle what's going on with the team or do you try to stay on their timeline as far as what's going on? Like you said, you know the playbook and what you're installing. Do you have to worry about getting so far ahead of the rest of the group because you're so comfortable in what you're doing?
DANIEL JONES: I think Dabs would be the first one to tell you, he likes to move fast and keep a high pace to our installs, to our learning process and always kind of pushing everyone to keep up. I'm trying to do the same thing and help guys learn, especially the new guys, help them learn and adjust to it all. We are all doing that together. You know, so I kind of follow that, follow what everyone else is doing so that we are all learning and all on the same page and I think that's the best way to learn and kind of build that chemistry as you go.
So yeah, like I said, Dabs keeps a pretty fast pace to it all, so I don't have to worry about getting too far ahead.
Q. Do you feel like you're in a better position this year to keep up and maybe you're pushing the guys as much as he is?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I think so. Like you said, I think last year at this time, you're trying to learn the very basic part of the offense, the simple language, and memorizing a lot of those terms having learned them now, you're a little bit further ahead. Definitely in a better spot.
Q. You've spoken to Saquon a lot more recently than we have. I know you can't divulge specifics of conversations, but wonder what you feel like his approach to this off-season has been and what is his state of mind given his contract situation but also trying to put in the work and get better?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, he's got a good mindset. I think he's taking care of his business and making sure he's in shape, improving and working out hard and I think he's doing all the right things as you'd expect him to do.
Q. I know it's only day one of the off-season but for you, being franchise quarterback, leader of the team, when two of your best players do not show up, they are both contract-related situations, who knows how long it drags, is that a concern to you? Do you view that as a concern that two of your best players are not here and therefore that could impact the team and your ability to perform and win games down the road?
DANIEL JONES: You know, like I said, those are business situations and those guys have to go about them how they see fit. So I certainly respect that. I think we all do. Knowing those two guys, they are team first guys and they are great teammates to everybody, and everyone in that locker room has a tremendous amount of respect for both of them.
So you know, that's team business and I'm not going to comment any more on that.
Q. Curious, what do you think of -- we haven't spoken to you since, really, I guess all the free agent signings. So curious what do you think a player like Darren Waller and a dynamic tight end like that can add to this offense?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I mean, I think he's a clear mismatch, one defense has to worry about how they are going to account for him, how they are going to cover him, who they are going to put on him and how they are going to play it. I think that just adds an element to our attack and gives the defense something else to worry about when you have a guy that big, that strong who can move like he can and open up the field. Just gives him something to worry about. We'll be able to move around, use him in certain places and take advantage of his skill set.
Q. From a team leader perspective, people have asked you about the Saquon and Dexter things, but you as a team leader, the quarterback, do you feel like when these kind of things happen, that you have to sort of manage the locker room and make sure those things don't carry over into the locker room? Is that something you have thought about this spring and maybe have to do something in that regard?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I mean, I think we got great guys in the locker room and mature guys who understand that side of playing in the NFL and understand the business side of it, and you know, I don't think that's a concern within our team. Like I said, those two guys are excellent teammates, stand up guys that everyone has a ton of respect for.
So in terms of it all dividing the locker room and making anyone feel differently, I think that's out of the question. Everyone has a tremendous amount of respect and understands that piece of it. We are all mature and we understand that.
Q. Jordan took my question but I do just have one on Waller, when you look at him and the idea that explosive plays find him, he finds explosive plays, you guys didn't have very many explosive plays a year ago; in your mind, are you envisioning this big tight end who is a mismatch who can run and fly and do all of this changing your offense?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I think he's certainly a big piece of it and he brings a lot of that ability and like I said, he adds something for the defense to worry about with his skill set and his athleticism and how he can get open and get behind the defense.
So yeah, I mean, I think it would be a big part of what we're going going forward and it's only the first day of phase one so there's a lot of work to do, and you know, we have a lot to get done before we play a game so we are focused on what we are doing right now.
Q. I've thought a couple times since the season ended about how happy Saquon was for you in that moment when you secured the playoffs, that Colts game and everything else and he was happier for you that day for many reasons. Have you had a moment, I'm not asking the particulars, necessarily, unless you'd like to divulge them, but have you had a moment, not player to player, but friend to friend, when it comes to you and Saquon and your relationship over these past -- you know, I'm talking about obviously this time period of this off-season?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I mean, we've spoken a good bit. I've seen him a good bit. Yeah, I won't go into the personal details of the conversation but yeah, we've spoken a lot, kept in touch, and like I said, I'm hoping for the best with the situation.
Q. Just wanted to ask about how big it is for you to have continuity at offensive coordinator this season with Kafka getting a couple job offers, and with Shea returning, what that means for you?
DANIEL JONES: Yeah, that's huge. Both those guys coming back and for all of us, you know, being in this system for a second year and being able to kind of take the next step in a lot of things we've done, and you know we won't look past anything or try to skip steps but just knowing where we are and continuing to learn, continuing to evolve, but with the same foundation and a lot of the same people in place.
So definitely gives us a little bit of a head start.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports ....
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports