SHANE BOWEN: Let's get started.
Q. How challenging would it be picking a cornerback starter between Banks and Flott that they were never healthy at the same time?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, I mean, there were a lot of reps throughout. I know they both missed a little bit of time, but there were a lot of reps throughout. They both have done a really good job when they were out there.
So I think there was enough to go off of. Unfortunately, we did lose them for a week or so, both guys, but able to get back out. Again, I look back to last year and kind of what we went through in that position going into week one and the moving parts. At least it was a little bit earlier than what it was last year at this time.
Q. Do you anticipate playing just one? If so, want to tell us who?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, we'll find out on Sunday.
Q. Could you play both?
SHANE BOWEN: We'll find out on Sunday. We'll find out on Sunday, so we'll see.
Q. Have you ever had a rotating cornerback position where you are basically two series here, two series here, whatever it may be, of guys? Have you ever done that throughout a season?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, I'm just trying to think. In my history, I don't think I have. I don't think I have. Just based on where I've been and who I've had at those spots. You know, a lot of guys have always had to play. It's the nature of the league. I mean, it comes up I guess, but I don't really know about that right now.
Q. Does it make sense to sometimes handle a position situationally? This week this guy works better for us; next week there's a matchup, the other guy works better. Or, no, I want --
SHANE BOWEN: That's a good point. It's a matchup league. It's a matchup league. I mean, I think every week you're trying to do that, whether it's positionally, corner, front-wise, whatever that might be, trying to find the best matchups that work for us and put these guys in favorable positions.
So, yeah, absolutely. I think week-to-week it's something you look at.
Q. You obviously knew that Carter was an explosive player when you drafted him. Is there something about his skill set over the summer that surprised you or part of his game you didn't know he had that he showed?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, I think like you see the explosiveness, obviously rushing the passer. He's a really good athlete, too. He can bend, the flexibility, everything that comes with it, which we've all seen from Penn State.
I think there's a violence to him. Like the explosiveness comes out in that form too, which is probably a little bit more than what I was expecting, to be honest. He's done everything we've asked of him, continues to try to improve, continues to practice hard. So excited about him. Excited to see him out there Sunday.
Q. I'm sure you're eager just to unleash this pass rush. When you have a guy as mobile as Daniels, how much does that impact your approach as far as you want to dictate to him, but if you go too aggressive, he can burn you?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, no doubt. I mean, it's a really good offense, and I think obviously the playmakers they have, the scheme causes issues, it's 11-on-11 football every single play. It's a fine line.
We've got to be able to rush the guy, but we've got to make sure we're coordinated, we're all on the same page, we're executing and not leaving big creases, easy edges for him where he can just take off and get vertical on us.
That's the biggest thing. When he has the lane and can get vertical, he's a tough tackle in space, tough to bring down with just one guy. So I think it just goes back to our rush coordination, making sure we're coordinated, understanding how the guy next to me is rushing, how it all ties together where we can hopefully minimize and shrink some of the windows. Like, you rush four. There's six gaps, right?
Just by a number count, there's going to be a couple of places where he can escape if he needs to. We just have to make sure we do a good job of constricting those spaces where it's not inviting for him.
Q. What did you think of your run defense this summer, and how different are they to defend against the run without Robinson not being that running back room?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, man, I feel like we've improved. I do. I like the additions we've made. I think those guys up front have developed a little bit as well just in terms of what we're trying to do in the run game. I think the linebackers have done good. I think Bobby and Micah and Moose, all three of those guys have done a good job. I'm encouraged where we're at right now.
It's going to be a big challenge this week. I mean, it's, like I said, 11-on-11 football. They've got a lot of different schemes, a lot of window dressing. They got Deebo now, what they do with him. So there's a lot to it.
But hopefully our fundamentals hold true, we can play physical up front, and not let it affect us too much, but we're going to have to be sound, we're going to have to be discipline and making sure we're in the right spot, because it's going to take everybody in the run game this week.
So we'll see. What was the other part of that?
Q. Just how different their back field is to defend without Robinson. It sounds like you expect maybe Deebo to factor in there.
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, we'll see. Just his history, what he has done in San Fran at times, it wouldn't surprise me. I think the rookie Croskey-Merritt runs hard. They obviously have some confidence in him. Ekeler has done it a long time. McNichols played against us last year. So we'll see.
They have a plethora in that room of different guys. They're all a little bit different. Obviously they feel confident in those guys enough to let Robinson walk. So I'm sure they're going to be ready for it.
Q. I would imagine that as a coordinator, when you look at your depth chart and your starters and say, we have three or four things I'm really worried about, that's a challenge. But what about conversely as a coordinator, if you look up front and say, I got a lot of guys that I got to figure out how to play, can that be a big challenge too, because you've got to get it right with that rotation?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, it's a good problem to have, first of all. But as a staff, I think we sit in there and try to find ways to put these guys in the best positions where they can have success.
Again, it's unique. They're all going to play, but you have three edge guys. I'm sure you're referring to that and just how we utilize those guys. They'll all be in there. I think that will evolve a little bit as we go, too.
One of those guys is a rookie. It's going to be his first game, so what does that look like and where he's at.
A little bit back to your last question. The matchups week to week, what are teams doing to us, what's their scheme? That plays a part in it as well in terms of our versatility, so to speak. I think it's going to be an evolving thing as we go kind of throughout the season.
It's a good problem to have. It's a really good problem to have. That's on us as a coaching staff to be creative and find ways to utilize all three of them.
Q. As a coordinator, after the game is over, do you really want to avoid looking through the tape and saying, why didn't I have -- you know, versus instead of saying I should have him out there, that kind of thing?
SHANE BOWEN: Again, we can all be the arm chair quarterback in certain situations. Hopefully we find a way to get the guys that we think best suit us in that situation and have conviction on it.
We spend a lot of time here throughout the week and going through all those scenarios, those situations, what we're playing to what, vice versa, who is in the game. You've got to have conviction. Ultimately, if it doesn't work out, you're probably kick says yourself come Monday, but at the same time when it does, hopefully you're feeling pretty good about the decisions you made.
Q. Talent-wise, what are your expectations for this group this year?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, going into week one, I think it's make the plays you're supposed to make. Let's make sure we're in the right spots, we know what to do, we're playing fast, playing physical, and when we get an opportunity, let's make those plays. When we get a one-on-one block, let's find a way to win our one-on-ones.
Don't got to be anything spectacular. Again, we don't know how they're going to play us, how things are going to change based on our personnel as well, so that's a little bit part of the chess game in-game just how they're attacking us based on how we're defending them.
But don't feel a need to go outside the framework. You're going to have your opportunities. Make sure we're making our plays when we have our opportunities and continue to improve week in and week out.
Q. With the talent that you have, Giants need this group to be a top-10 defense, top-5 defense. What do you think when you hear that?
SHANE BOWEN: I think I'm focused today on figuring out how we have a great practice for Washington, right? I'm focused on today. I'm focused on getting ready for Sunday. All that stuff will take care of itself.
If we can keep the focus on the opponent this week, on what we got to do out here for however many snaps we get at practice and continue to improve, continue to learn, that's the end game. That's the end game result for me, right?
Hopefully we can continue to do the things day in and day out and approach the process the right way where hopefully we can achieve those things, but the ultimate goal is let's make sure we focus on today and improve and do what we need to do come Sunday to find a way to be 1-0.
Q. The legacy of this franchise is built around defense with L.T. at the center of that. How do you talk to your guys about trying to be a part of that or trying to advance that?
SHANE BOWEN: Yeah, I think what Dabs did this offseason, bringing those guys in, hearing from the offensive side and the defensive players, that we had L.T. in here and a bunch of guys speak to the team, speak to the defense.
Embrace it. Embrace the tradition. We want to make those guys proud of us and proud of the way we play and live up to the standard that they set here. That's part of it. When people think of the Giants, they think of really good defense. We're trying to do everything we can day in and day out throughout the process to get to that level and have some of the success that they had.
Q. Charlie had brought up just really throwing a lot at Abdul during the course of the preseason and seeing how they handle it. HOW do you balance that pulling back for game time, and then just what have you seen what you're able to do?
SHANE BOWEN: I think some of that's going to be told on Sunday. I really do. We've got to be mindful of it.
Again, emotions are going to be high. They're going to have a lot of energy. They're going to be ready to go and just making sure we don't overload him too much with all the other stuff of game one, what we're seeing, everything that comes into play in a game, that it doesn't paralyze them before the snap, right? I don't want these guys out here thinking too much.
We've got to do what they're comfortable with. We've got to find ways to build that confidence hopefully throughout training camp and this week so they can go out there and play. The last thing we want to do is have too much where these devise are timid or unsure, and then their ability doesn't show because of it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports