Here’s what Giants coach Pat Shurmur said to the Atlanta media on Thursday:
On how the Giants are doing: "We doing like even if you would do if you won the game. We get back into the preparation, this week for Atlanta. The guys' spirits are good. We are just fighting through it. There are a lot of new things running parallel and the urgency to win a football game. We are doing everything we can to get our team in a position to do that."
On coach what offensive line coach Hal Hunter and assistant line coach Ben Wilkerson have to do to fix the problems: "I think each group is charged with the same thing. That is, get your players as good as they can play. Put a winning performance on the field."
On the Falcons running game: "I've always been impressed with the way that they move the ball and they score points. They certainly have a really good system. They find a way to make yards running the ball no matter who they are handing the ball to. Obviously, they've got dynamic weapons at the wideout position. They've got Matt Ryan playing quarterback and he's one of the best in the business."
On how Alec Ogletree is playing for the Giants: "Alec is doing a great job. He's a really great addition to our team not only on defense, but with what he adds to the locker room in terms of his leadership. I've been very impressed by him."
On the Falcons safety Damontae Kazee: "I think they are doing a good job of putting them in position to have success. I recognize the coverage concepts that they are employing. I think it appears to me that the safeties are fitting in with what they're trying to do. I think anytime you are adding new players to the back end of your defense you just want to make sure that they are first where they are supposed to be, looking at the things need to see. It appears like they are doing that."
On if the Giants have moved past the OBJ controversy: "Absolutely. We're done talking about that for sure."
On what his uncle Fitz Shurmur, the famed defensive coordinator, would think of today's pass-happy NFL: "I'm certain he wouldn't be happy about it, being a defensive coach. He was for no scoring. It's like anything. You do what you can to win the game. I think you are starting to see, and we are getting to that point, it's really unique, there are teams that have scored a lot of points and there are other teams that haven't scored a lot of points and have still won games. I think what is important is that you do what you can to win the game. Certainly, every time the offense goes on the field it's charged with scoring. We have to do a better job in that area, quite frankly."
On what he see how the Falcons are using Julio Jones: "He's an outstanding player. He's getting his touches. I don't over think that, quite frankly. If you've got a dynamic player like Julio. He's part of your offense. Even if he's not getting the ball he has an effect on the defense, which may open up things for other players. I think it's a team game. We all want outstanding and dynamic players at all positions ... we have to realize that sometimes defenses do things to take your stars out of it and that's when your other players have to step up."
On the Falcons pass rush: "I think they have an outstanding pass rush. They can get pressure by just rushing four. They employ their pressure packages good. They can get on the edge of your blocks. We can't let that happen. We have to hit them thick. We have to a good job of straining against them so that Eli (Manning) has time to throw the ball."
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