Dabs’ Digest: Week 14 conversation with Coach Brian Daboll

Q: If Bobby Okereke doesn’t play, you’ll have one elected captain (Casey Kreiter) in uniform. How does that loss of veteran leadership impact the team in the locker room and on the field?

Daboll: “We still have veterans. Just because you weren’t elected captain doesn’t mean you’re not a leader. Graham Gano, GVR (guard Greg Van Roten), (guard Jon) Runyan (Jr.), (center) John Michael (Schmitz, Jr.), (wide receiver) Wan’Dale (Robinson), (inside linebacker) Micah McFadden, (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, (safety Tyler) Nubin, even as a rookie. We have guys that have good leadership.”

Q: Are you going to send Casey out for the coin toss by himself?

Daboll: “I don’t know. Maybe. Potentially. It’s not like they’re going to a street fight.”

Q: (Wide receiver) Darius Slayton is the Giants’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. You had a presentation at the start of the team meeting Monday. Could you talk about that and about Darius’ work in the community?

Daboll: “It’s a great honor for Darius. He didn’t know it was coming. We put a little video together for him. With him doing all the volunteer work that he does in the community, he’s a strong pillar in the community. Great young man. It’s important to him to use his platform to help other people. He’s a good player for us and he’s a good person.”

Q: So, you basically had a highlight tape of him?

Daboll: “Yeah, of all the different things that he’s done out in the community. It was really good.”

Q: He said he expected you to put on an inspirational tape and then realized it was all about him.

Daboll: “That’s right. He was taken aback by it.”

Q: I don’t know if there’s an NFL player as valuable to his team as (New Orleans running back Alvin) Kamara, who has 616 more rushing yards and 27 more catches than anybody else on the team.

Daboll: “(Quarterback Derek) Carr is pretty important to them. Kamara is an exceptional player. He’s been that way for a long time. He’s effective in the run game and the pass game. He can run it inside. He can run it outside. He’s got good vision. He’s been an explosive player for a long time. He’s someone that they want to get the ball to early and often in their script in a variety of ways, whether it’s screens, whether it’s some pass design or just handing him the ball. He is someone that we’re going to have to account for every play.”

Q: Carr has a 103.3 rating and has been sacked seven times in his nine games. Since 1970, there’s been only three other instances in which a quarterback had a 100+ rating and fewer sacks than games played: Peyton Manning twice (in 2004 and 2006) and Dan Marino once (1984).

Daboll: “This guy gets the ball out. They’re a heavy, boot, naked, play-action team. Run the ball. They try to stay out of those long situations where it’s obvious drop back (pass). That’s when you can earn the right to rush the passer. He knows where he wants to go with the ball. He gets it out. He’s lost some key players, receivers (notably Chris Olave and Rashid Shahed).”

Q: Their depth chart lists just three wide receivers.

Daboll: “(Marquez Valdes-)Scantling is doing a nice job for them. Carr is trusting him down the field. He’s making some nice plays.”

Q: What do you think the loss of Taysom Hill (who is listed as a tight end, but also runs and throws the ball) does to them?

Daboll: “I think he’s a heck of a football player. He’s versatile. He pretty much can play any position he wants. He’s powerful. You hate to see anybody go down the way he went down, particularly the way he plays the game and the type of player he’s been. He’s a pretty unique player. I don’t think there’s a lot of players in this league who can do the things that he’s done.”

Q: How is (Saints defensive end) Cameron Jordan playing in his 14th year?

Daboll: “He’s a good player. They have some veterans on their defense, (linebacker Demario) Davis and Cameron and Honey Badger (safety Tyrann Mathieu), that are very smart, instinctive. Those three guys are three good veterans.”