October 13, 2025 • 9 mins
Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas speaks to the media Monday from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Just what are your first impressions of this Broncos VENs.
Obviously we saw what they did to the Jets this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yeah, obviously one of the most talented defenses in the league.
They have a lot of guys up front that create
have it and they play really well in the back
end as well, and I think their coordinator puts them
in great positions and make plays. So for us upfront,
we just got to trust our technique. It's a tough
environment to play in, so communication is going to be important.
(00:29):
Went in early downs to avoid some of those starting
long situations. That's our mindset.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
As an offensive mindan doe, you kind of get excited
to face another Obviously you face the great pass rush
with these giants, but do you kind of get excited
to see another strong pass runs to kind of you know,
not maybe not test yourself, but just the challenge you're
trying to sol them down a little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Of course, speaking for myself, I know I'm a true
competitor and the rest of the guys in the room
as well, and we want to play against the best,
and right now, I think the Broncos have the most sacks,
the most pressure, so they're one of the most talented
groups up front, so we were definitely excited for the challenge.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Atti, China, Andrew, how are you?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Where are you good?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Thank you? I have a couple for you.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Just sticking with the Broncos defense for a moment unless
something changes.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I believe you're probably going to see Nick Bonito, who
lines up often against the left tackle.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
I don't know how far you've gotten into studying his game,
but what makes him so difficult of a defender to
kind of, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Keep a day?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, I will say first his explosiveness. He does a
really good job of getting off the ball. He has
good band at the top of the rush. But a
lot of the speed guys normally they don't have great power,
but what makes them unique is he can power rush
as well. So you have to be ready for both.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
And then for.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
You personally, I mean, you'll be back now, I think
something like three games. Do you feel like you are
quote unquote all the way back? I mean your numbers.
I don't think you've given up a set. I think
your pressures have been very low this year, or do
you feel like there's still more that you have to
do to get all the way back?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
As a perfectionist, I'm always trying to get better, regardless
of what stats may say. There's things in the first
few games that I played that I want to clean up,
and I'm going to do that to put my team
in a good position.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Anything in particular you still want to clean up.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, some of my run fits my pad, level my
hands and passed pro and then just just finish it
in place.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Thank you and all shorts. Hey Andrew doing.
Speaker 5 (02:36):
After missing the time that you did coming off a
serious injury. Are you a little surprised or pleasantly surprised
that you hit the ground running. You know, you played
limited in the first game and every snap since, and
that your production and performance has been so high.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
I wouldn't say I'm surprised. I followed the plan that
the trainers and the staff have for me. I think
your work. I played a lot of ball, so I
wasn't unsure of you know, how I would respond. I
would say the thing I was most worried about was
just being in shape. I think that's the hardest thing
to get back, and I definitely felt that the first
game playing all the snaps versus Chargers. But I think
(03:15):
I know responded pretty well to that, And like I said,
it still thinks I'm trying to get better at and and.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Do you know the best teams? And you know you've
been around for all the best teams.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
You kind of know week to week this is what
they are, right, they run the ball, or they throw
the ball or they you know whatever, they are the
best teams. They don't always win, but you know what
they are. Do you know what this Giants team is?
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Yet?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I think we're still building our identity. Obviously we have,
you know, a young quarterback plan and I think he's
done a good job for us. But this is just
the beginning part of the season. I think you know
your identity by consistent play. What you do consistently, that's
who you are. So we're just trying to focus on
doing the things necessary to win consistently, especially up front.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Is unpredictable?
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Is unpredictability difficult for a play? You know you have
a rookie back there who can be unpredictable.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Is that good?
Speaker 5 (04:04):
Or is that you know you kind of don't know
where he is all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Or is that you got to roll with it?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I mean, he's a football player, and what we talk
about up front is this block to the whistle. He
can make a player at any time. Obviously we don't
always know where he is, but we're trying to strain
through the echo of the whistle and allow him to
make plays.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Thank you, I appreciate it, Brian dun Lady Andrew, thanks
for doing this. Man.
Speaker 6 (04:32):
Yep, I'm curious what you thought of the receiver play
you guys got obviously without Malik and Darius.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You've been here a long time, you know that.
Speaker 6 (04:44):
You know when guys get down, everybody says next up,
next man up, but it doesn't always happen. And you
had guys like Wandale made a huge play like a
wide receiver one type play, and then little Jordan came
up with some big plays. What'd you think of the
way those guys stepped up.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
I think they did a great job. I think first
coming into an environment, you know, it's a big time game,
big time moment, and they embraced it. But I want
to speak more to the effort as well, Like if
you watch some of the players just blocking down field
that we had on the perimeter, like those guys they
bought in. Obviously, the game plan was to run the
ball and be dominant up front. But those guys they
(05:19):
bought into it and then made plays when their name
was called. And that's what you need to be good
in this league. You're going to have injuries. People want
to go down, So like you say, next man up mentality, You're.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
Not a big pat yourself on the back guy, but
I'm about.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
To ask you to do it.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
Like, do you like they they always say, like the
best players in sports like make other guys better. Do
you feel like, yeah, obviously you've been really your numbers
are really good since you've come back, But the Giants
offensive line is also really good since you've come back,
And like, I'm going to assume that's not a coincidence.
(05:54):
Do you take pride in the idea that, like, your
returning has also made the four other guys next to you.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Bet.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I think the beautiful thing about offensive line is it's
a unit. It doesn't matter how well one person is playing,
it's about all five. And I think the cohesiveness, like,
obviously I missed a lot of time last year and
miss training camp, but for us to get on the
same page as quick as we did speaks a lot
to those guys, And like I said things that we
still want to clean up, but I've been impressed by
(06:21):
how we played.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
And We'll take two March or on.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
What's up, Beno, what's going on? Good? I'm curious the
vibe around the team, at least outside the building is
significantly different.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It just deems different.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
It seems to be have more life, right. I'm curious
you've been there a while, what's it like internally and
how different is it from any other point maybe that
you've been there.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I can't lie. It feels great to get a prime
time win, but the reality is that that's just one game.
If we lost that game, it will be the same mentality.
But with forward is we've got to win win the
next one, and that's the juice that's around the building.
Obviously we have, you know, confidence that's building, but you
have to go out there and prove it each week.
So you know, last week is over on to Denver,
(07:14):
a really good opponent. So we're just trying to you know,
prepare ourselves for that.
Speaker 7 (07:18):
And how much does the young quarterback change the field
of the team. I mean, you know, you obviously have
a rookie quarterback. He's in there, he uses his legs
a lot, and he puts his head down, Like how
much does that as a whole change the field of
the team from.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Your perspective, Yeah, I think Jackson's done a great job.
He puts strained on the defense, like you talked about
with his legs play making ability, but I think he's
done a good job of just understanding the play calls
like this offense is not easy to learn. He's done
a good job with that. Just being vocal in the meetings,
you know, talking to the receiver, trying to get everyone
on the same page. I think that's what I've been
(07:54):
most impressed by.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
That's fun, Art Stapleton, he drew.
Speaker 8 (08:03):
I'm sure you know throughout your career there hasn't been
a game that you haven't stepped on the field saying,
you know what, we're going to go out.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And dominate tonight. That's the mentality.
Speaker 8 (08:12):
That's what you want up front, you individually, you collectively
to I know you want to look ahead, but what
does it mean Thursday to be able to now turn
on the film, watch whatever you watch in that game
and know that you accomplished the mission for one game
that you went out and dominated a team that essentially
has made a living of that for the last five, six,
(08:35):
seven years, especially.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Against you guys.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, the beauty of our division. Normally the teams that
you know make it to the playoffs, so win that division,
they dominate the Lina scrimmage, and for us to do
that it felt pretty good. A lot of work, you know,
has been put into that. But like I said, we've
got to continue that. It's not just one week. We
have to be consistent with that and you know, respond
when we don't play as well.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
How does that manifest itself?
Speaker 8 (08:59):
I mean, is it just as simple as production or
do you guys feel it as a unit as the
game is going on, you know, when you're when you're
dominating the way you thought you were going to, is
it one of those you know, do you pinch yourselves
and say, man, we got to keep this going. I mean,
we've got to ride the momentum here. How does it
kind of manifest itself in in a game scenario.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I think we've always had the mentality to do that.
I don't think we ever have a lack of effort
on this team, But I think it just comes down
to execution. Beating a guy across from you and you
know you're playing with the right technique, you're being physical,
and the effort that I talked about, when all three
of those come together and you get those results,
Just what are your first impressions of this Broncos VENs.
Obviously we saw what they did to the Jets this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yeah, obviously one of the most talented defenses in the league.
They have a lot of guys up front that create
have it and they play really well in the back
end as well, and I think their coordinator puts them
in great positions and make plays. So for us upfront,
we just got to trust our technique. It's a tough
environment to play in, so communication is going to be important.
(00:29):
Went in early downs to avoid some of those starting
long situations. That's our mindset.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
As an offensive mindan doe, you kind of get excited
to face another Obviously you face the great pass rush
with these giants, but do you kind of get excited
to see another strong pass runs to kind of you know,
not maybe not test yourself, but just the challenge you're
trying to sol them down a little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Of course, speaking for myself, I know I'm a true
competitor and the rest of the guys in the room
as well, and we want to play against the best,
and right now, I think the Broncos have the most sacks,
the most pressure, so they're one of the most talented
groups up front, so we were definitely excited for the challenge.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Atti, China, Andrew, how are you?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Where are you good?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Thank you? I have a couple for you.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Just sticking with the Broncos defense for a moment unless
something changes.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I believe you're probably going to see Nick Bonito, who
lines up often against the left tackle.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
I don't know how far you've gotten into studying his game,
but what makes him so difficult of a defender to
kind of, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Keep a day?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, I will say first his explosiveness. He does a
really good job of getting off the ball. He has
good band at the top of the rush. But a
lot of the speed guys normally they don't have great power,
but what makes them unique is he can power rush
as well. So you have to be ready for both.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
And then for.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
You personally, I mean, you'll be back now, I think
something like three games. Do you feel like you are
quote unquote all the way back? I mean your numbers.
I don't think you've given up a set. I think
your pressures have been very low this year, or do
you feel like there's still more that you have to
do to get all the way back?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
As a perfectionist, I'm always trying to get better, regardless
of what stats may say. There's things in the first
few games that I played that I want to clean up,
and I'm going to do that to put my team
in a good position.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Anything in particular you still want to clean up.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, some of my run fits my pad, level my
hands and passed pro and then just just finish it
in place.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Thank you and all shorts. Hey Andrew doing.
Speaker 5 (02:36):
After missing the time that you did coming off a
serious injury. Are you a little surprised or pleasantly surprised
that you hit the ground running. You know, you played
limited in the first game and every snap since, and
that your production and performance has been so high.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
I wouldn't say I'm surprised. I followed the plan that
the trainers and the staff have for me. I think
your work. I played a lot of ball, so I
wasn't unsure of you know, how I would respond. I
would say the thing I was most worried about was
just being in shape. I think that's the hardest thing
to get back, and I definitely felt that the first
game playing all the snaps versus Chargers. But I think
(03:15):
I know responded pretty well to that, And like I said,
it still thinks I'm trying to get better at and and.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Do you know the best teams? And you know you've
been around for all the best teams.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
You kind of know week to week this is what
they are, right, they run the ball, or they throw
the ball or they you know whatever, they are the
best teams. They don't always win, but you know what
they are. Do you know what this Giants team is?
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Yet?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I think we're still building our identity. Obviously we have,
you know, a young quarterback plan and I think he's
done a good job for us. But this is just
the beginning part of the season. I think you know
your identity by consistent play. What you do consistently, that's
who you are. So we're just trying to focus on
doing the things necessary to win consistently, especially up front.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Is unpredictable?
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Is unpredictability difficult for a play? You know you have
a rookie back there who can be unpredictable.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Is that good?
Speaker 5 (04:04):
Or is that you know you kind of don't know
where he is all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Or is that you got to roll with it?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I mean, he's a football player, and what we talk
about up front is this block to the whistle. He
can make a player at any time. Obviously we don't
always know where he is, but we're trying to strain
through the echo of the whistle and allow him to
make plays.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Thank you, I appreciate it, Brian dun Lady Andrew, thanks
for doing this. Man.
Speaker 6 (04:32):
Yep, I'm curious what you thought of the receiver play
you guys got obviously without Malik and Darius.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You've been here a long time, you know that.
Speaker 6 (04:44):
You know when guys get down, everybody says next up,
next man up, but it doesn't always happen. And you
had guys like Wandale made a huge play like a
wide receiver one type play, and then little Jordan came
up with some big plays. What'd you think of the
way those guys stepped up.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
I think they did a great job. I think first
coming into an environment, you know, it's a big time game,
big time moment, and they embraced it. But I want
to speak more to the effort as well, Like if
you watch some of the players just blocking down field
that we had on the perimeter, like those guys they
bought in. Obviously, the game plan was to run the
ball and be dominant up front. But those guys they
(05:19):
bought into it and then made plays when their name
was called. And that's what you need to be good
in this league. You're going to have injuries. People want
to go down, So like you say, next man up mentality, You're.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
Not a big pat yourself on the back guy, but
I'm about.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
To ask you to do it.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
Like, do you like they they always say, like the
best players in sports like make other guys better. Do
you feel like, yeah, obviously you've been really your numbers
are really good since you've come back, But the Giants
offensive line is also really good since you've come back,
And like, I'm going to assume that's not a coincidence.
(05:54):
Do you take pride in the idea that, like, your
returning has also made the four other guys next to you.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Bet.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I think the beautiful thing about offensive line is it's
a unit. It doesn't matter how well one person is playing,
it's about all five. And I think the cohesiveness, like,
obviously I missed a lot of time last year and
miss training camp, but for us to get on the
same page as quick as we did speaks a lot
to those guys, And like I said things that we
still want to clean up, but I've been impressed by
(06:21):
how we played.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
And We'll take two March or on.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
What's up, Beno, what's going on? Good? I'm curious the
vibe around the team, at least outside the building is
significantly different.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It just deems different.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
It seems to be have more life, right. I'm curious
you've been there a while, what's it like internally and
how different is it from any other point maybe that
you've been there.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I can't lie. It feels great to get a prime
time win, but the reality is that that's just one game.
If we lost that game, it will be the same mentality.
But with forward is we've got to win win the
next one, and that's the juice that's around the building.
Obviously we have, you know, confidence that's building, but you
have to go out there and prove it each week.
So you know, last week is over on to Denver,
(07:14):
a really good opponent. So we're just trying to you know,
prepare ourselves for that.
Speaker 7 (07:18):
And how much does the young quarterback change the field
of the team. I mean, you know, you obviously have
a rookie quarterback. He's in there, he uses his legs
a lot, and he puts his head down, Like how
much does that as a whole change the field of
the team from.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Your perspective, Yeah, I think Jackson's done a great job.
He puts strained on the defense, like you talked about
with his legs play making ability, but I think he's
done a good job of just understanding the play calls
like this offense is not easy to learn. He's done
a good job with that. Just being vocal in the meetings,
you know, talking to the receiver, trying to get everyone
on the same page. I think that's what I've been
(07:54):
most impressed by.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
That's fun, Art Stapleton, he drew.
Speaker 8 (08:03):
I'm sure you know throughout your career there hasn't been
a game that you haven't stepped on the field saying,
you know what, we're going to go out.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And dominate tonight. That's the mentality.
Speaker 8 (08:12):
That's what you want up front, you individually, you collectively
to I know you want to look ahead, but what
does it mean Thursday to be able to now turn
on the film, watch whatever you watch in that game
and know that you accomplished the mission for one game
that you went out and dominated a team that essentially
has made a living of that for the last five, six,
(08:35):
seven years, especially.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Against you guys.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, the beauty of our division. Normally the teams that
you know make it to the playoffs, so win that division,
they dominate the Lina scrimmage, and for us to do
that it felt pretty good. A lot of work, you know,
has been put into that. But like I said, we've
got to continue that. It's not just one week. We
have to be consistent with that and you know, respond
when we don't play as well.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
How does that manifest itself?
Speaker 8 (08:59):
I mean, is it just as simple as production or
do you guys feel it as a unit as the
game is going on, you know, when you're when you're
dominating the way you thought you were going to, is
it one of those you know, do you pinch yourselves
and say, man, we got to keep this going. I mean,
we've got to ride the momentum here. How does it
kind of manifest itself in in a game scenario.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I think we've always had the mentality to do that.
I don't think we ever have a lack of effort
on this team, But I think it just comes down
to execution. Beating a guy across from you and you
know you're playing with the right technique, you're being physical,
and the effort that I talked about, when all three
of those come together and you get those results,
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