Giants Vs. Falcons: Justin Tuck Press Conference, 01.05.12

Q: Do you feel like the pass rush has improved the last couple of weeks?
A: I think the numbers show that. I think that we still have a lot of improving to do, but I'm encouraged by what we've been able to do the last two weeks.

Q: Health is obviously a reason, but what are the other reasons for 11 sacks in two games?
A: I think one of them is Osi is back. I think our intensity has turned up in practice. Like you said, we're starting to be as healthy as we've been all year.

Q: How important was the defensive front in the '07 run?
A: Tremendously. I think it starts up front with our defense. It's going to start with stopping their running back, Michael Turner, and hopefully getting in some situations that we can kind of dictate what they have to do. Obviously any d-line is better in that situation. A lot of that is on stopping their run.

Q: Do you feel like d-line can be a hallmark of this playoff run?
A: I don't see why not.

Q: You want to expand on that?
A: Yeah, we can do that. We just have to continue to get better. I think we've had two good days of practice so far. I think the biggest thing for us is learning what they want to do against us and watching teams that have similar d-lines or run similar systems as we do and see what they try to do to slow them down and having ways to combat that. So yeah, I think we can definitely make a lot of noise in this run. We're only going to go as far as where our quarterback and our d-line takes us.

Q: How did you guys turn this around when it bottomed-out against the Redskins? How instrumental was Coughlin and his attitude?
A: I think we just put our nose to the grindstone and kept working. Obviously, in this league you're going to have your ups and downs. It's just all about being persistent and I think this football team is very resilient.

Q: Any different feeling of coming into the playoffs after missing two years?
A: No. Every time you get in it's the same great feeling. I feel the same way I did in '07 when we made it. '08 for that matter, too.