Week 14 conversation with coach Brian Daboll

Q: If Bobby Okereke doesn’t play, do you have an elected captain (Casey Kreiter) in uniform. How does this 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 voted captain doesn’t mean you’re not a leader.” Graham Gano, GVR (Guardian Greg Van Roten), (Guardian 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, who have good leadership.

Q: Will you send Casey to the coin toss alone?

Daboll: “I don’t know. Perhaps. Possibly. It’s not like they’re going to a street brawl.”

Q: (Wide receiver) Darius Slayton is the Giants’ candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year. At the start of the team meeting on Monday you had a presentation. Could you talk about this and Darius’ work in the community?

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

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

Daboll: “Yeah, from all the different things he did in the community. It was really good.”

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

Daboll: “That’s true. He was surprised.”

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

Daboll: “(Quarterback Derek) Carr is pretty important to them. Kamara is an exceptional player. He has been that way for a long time. He is effective in the running game and passing game. He can run it inside. He can let it run.” He has good visibility outside. He’s long been someone they want to get the ball early and often in a variety of ways, whether it’s a pass design or simply giving him the ball. He is someone we have to account for on every play.

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

Daboll: “This guy gets the ball out. They are a strong, hard-fighting, naked and action-oriented team. They let the ball run. They try to stay out of those long situations where it’s obvious they’re falling behind (passing). That’s when you…” He knows where he wants to go with the ball. He lost some key players, most notably Chris Olave and Rashid Shahed.

Q: Your depth chart only lists three wide receivers.

Daboll: “(Marquez Valdes-)Scantling is doing a good job for them. Carr trusts him on the field. He makes some good 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 damn good football player. He is versatile. He can play virtually any position he wants. He is strong. You hate to see someone go down the way he went down, especially the way he plays the game and “He’s a pretty unique player. I don’t think there are many players in this league who can do what he did.

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, (linebackers Demario) Davis and Cameron and Honey Badger (safety Tyrann Mathieu), who are very smart and instinctive. Those three guys are three good veterans.”