The Giants have never lost at Cowboys Stadium, going 4-0 in the billion-dollar football showcase opened in 2009.
Heading into Sunday’s season opener at the newly named AT&T Stadium, the Giants know they can win there because that’s all they’ve ever done. Yet Antrel Rolle, a part of the past three Giants wins in Arlington, Texas, says that cannot be their mindset.
“Confidence is one thing, but that means absolutely nothing,’’ Rolle said Tuesday on his first weekly WFAN spot of the season. “Every year and every game presents its own different set of challenges. Us winning in that stadium I guess four or five times straight means absolutely nothing when you talk about this Sunday. It’s gonna be a different setting, a different team, a different mindset, so we’re going to have to go out there and put the hammer down on them once again.’’
In order to put the hammer down, the Giants need an improved defensive showing from what they had in 2012. Though he’s hurting from the loss for the season of safety Stevie Brown, Rolle said the defense “has a chip on our shoulder, to go out there and prove who we are, to be a dominant defense on a consistent basis and to instill fear in our opponents.’’
Rolle’s take on some of his teammates on defense:
On cornerback Prince Amukamara: “My expectations are extremely high for Prince. I told Prince man to man, I said, ‘Listen, you can be as good as you want to be,’ and I mean that. With his skill set, with his size, with his physicality, you can be as great as you want to be. You can be one of the best corners in this league, hands down. But you have to trust in yourself, be confident each and every play you step out on the field, and he’s been showing exactly that.”
On cornerback Terrell Thomas, who missed the past two seasons following the second and third ACL tears of his career: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Terrell Thomas. He reminds me a lot of myself, a guy who can play multiple positions and can excel at any position you put him at. A guy my heart has been heavy on and I was just wishing for the best for Terrell Thomas. I sent him a text after they made the final roster and I told him I’m just so proud of him and I’m just so ecstatic right now, the moment I get to embrace this season with Terrell Thomas by my side because he’s one of the better professionals I’ve ever been around in this game.’’
On rookie defensive end Damontre Moore: “I think Damontre can have a huge impact on this season. He’s a young guy, he has a lot to learn, but one thing about him, he has a motor. Honestly, there’s a lot of times in practice where coach has to slow him down because he just goes all out and he’s just so dominant and coach is like, ‘Listen, just tone it down a little bit, you don’t want to hurt your players.’ We really have to get on him as veteran guys to show him how to play and how to practice. I’m excited to see what this guy can do.’’