Big Blue Kickoff Live 10/21 | Broncos Wrap Up

John Schmeelk and Howard Cross wrap up the Giants vs Broncos game, discuss the play of Jaxson Dart, and take calls from fans.

0:00 - Giants vs Broncos preview

7:40 - Calls

17:50 - Special teams

26:00 - Jaxson Dart

43:30 - Defensive backs

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
It's time for a Big Blue Kickoff line. Nobody can
ever tell you that you couldn't do it because you're
on Giants dot com. You know what I saw do
your Giant track and the Giants Mobile ass whatdun Down World,
part of the Giants podcast network that's.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Going Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of Big
Blue Kickoff Live, presented by Cadillac, the official luxury vehicle
of the Giants. I am johnsh Well, joined by the
well dressed Howard Cross and the Hacking Sack and Marity
Hell podcast studio. Keep getting better, Howard, I haven't done
a show with you, and know it feels like forever. Man,
I got to do five minutes on the pregame show
have every week, but that's kind of it.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
It's been a while, man, it's been a while you've
been I don't know. I'm trying to get in here.
I'm working on it.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
It's true. Usually the problem when you come in you
work on Tuesday. Usually I'm the one that steps out.
You come in for me, so we don't have a
chance to work together. But now we can, which is great.
And the last time you got a chance to work
with Lance, You're welcome for the upgrade. Happy to help.
I had a chance to talk about the scale unfortunately
yesterday for an hour with the fence.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
So let me.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
I'm gonna give the floor to you. Give me your
main takeaways. You kind of had a data to think
about it a little bit. What were you thinking about
and what are your main takeaways walking away from this?
Just catastrophic tough loss on Sunday.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
Well, first things first, you know, you have to be
encouraged by the way the offense played and the way
they were able to keep bouncing back and keep striking,
keep scoring points. They scored thirty points. Again, Dart did
a good job. You know, he's out there without his
top receiver. He's out there without you know, a few guys.
You know, his second receiver is down, so he may
do with what the guys he did. The tight ends

(01:42):
came to play, they showed up, had a couple drops
early on, but made up for with some big plays
later in the game, which really helped out. Of course,
the running game has been getting better and better. I
like the way they're running the ball. Kind Of curious though,
why they haven't been running that outside run with the
two tight end so to Thomas's side as much as
they do it right. They're kind of a right hand,

(02:03):
right handedness about them when they run the ball.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
They ran a couple of pitches to scatter, but you're right,
I think they were to the opposite of the tight
ends side, right.

Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, so that's that's very interesting to me. But you know,
but I don't call play that, just like you're just
trying to figure that, you don't know. I don't want
anything to do with that. And then from a defensive standpoint,
for for three quarters, they looked like the best defense
in the league. They looked for look look phenomenal. Then
you know, then all of a sudden a day, Bill
goes down, and and and Hollands go down, and it

(02:33):
looks different. Not that not that their backups or or
are that much worse or any something like that, but
it definitely was that you could tell it was a
difference in the secondary guys getting open, uh, and they
were going at the guy that that that came in
to replace him, So that that kind of hurt a
little bit. And I was hoping that they could figure
out a way to to step up, you know, maybe

(02:54):
do a little more press give him, give him a
chance for somebody with the top. But it was very
obviously they Dave said, Okay, well, if he's out, let's
go at the guy that he that replaced him, and
that's what they did.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
And I didn't sence Howard, and you give me a
better idea from the sideline. I rewatched a game on
Monday morning. Again, I didn't think there was a huge
shift after the lead in the type of plays they
were calling and the type of defense they were running.
I just thought a I thought, honestly, the guys on
tape even looked like they were gassed a little bit.
And I just thought the execution in that fourth quarter

(03:27):
on an individual basis just just was not great.

Speaker 3 (03:29):
I mean, you know, you're in my high stadium, Like
if you got to get three and ounce, you gotta
get quick stops, you gotta be able to you know,
get plays.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Done, which they did again.

Speaker 3 (03:38):
But when you when you miss one and the play
extends if it and I'm not talking about like a
thirty yard bomb or a forty yard but I'm talking
about like just a first down, a couple of first downs, right,
two more first downs, and all of a sudden you're
looking to the sideline to see who's coming in to
get you, and just a jock from the field to
the sideline, you can see guys like gasping for air.
I'm like, okay, I said, they're getting tired. They've got

(03:59):
to find a way to get one more stopping. And
that's the big thing when you're when you're in that situation,
you have to be able to get that one stop
to get yourself off the field so everybody can catch
your breath again. But if you don't, it just piles
up and piles up, and it just overwhelms you.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
It really does, you know. I purposely did not go
through a lot of the positives yesterday because I didn't
think fans wanted to hear any positives yesterday. And and
understand that we saw they're all very upset, and you
guys can still be upset today. Give us a call.
We're here for you. I guess it. So a couple
things about Dart's game. I did not think in the
second half he was great. He made a couple of
big plays, but I thought not the best, but the

(04:35):
things that really encouraged me about his game. And I
don't think I brought this up on yesterday, Sean, I
want to make sure I got it in today. Was
three big plays in the game, and I didn't. I
had to be reminded about the Tracy run. The Tracy
run and the two deep passes to Bellinger. He had
the forty yarder for a touchdown, then the twenty yarder
on the sideline. On all three of those plays, Howard

(04:56):
Dart checks into that play pre snap.

Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, so he se he's.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
Something from I think on the two pass plays to Bellinger,
I think he caught the Broncos and cover three on
both of those and they kind of attack that cover
three corner on both those plays. And then Hufanga crashed
down from a single high safety.

Speaker 3 (05:12):
Spot and allowed they.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Tighten to get behind him. But that's I think really
good to see out of a rookie quarterback that he
can diagnose pre snap what the defense is showing. By
the way, a Bronco defense that does disguis thing vance
Joseph does some funky stuff with his defenses.

Speaker 3 (05:27):
They do a good job they do.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
So I just want to tip my cap to Dart
for those two pre snap decisions to get the Giants
into good plays that two of them turned the touchdowns
and the other one was another explosive.

Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah, And the only thing I would tell you about
Dart is that once he gets outside the pocket, he's
got to be quicker with the decision, like, Okay, there's
nothing here.

Speaker 2 (05:45):
The two of the sacks he took, he rolls to
his right and he's out of the pocket. Hollur, Yes,
it's an easy throwaway. Or there was even a checkdown
the field Johnson on one of them that I think
he could have thrown.

Speaker 3 (05:57):
But I think that the reason why I don't want
him to get hurt. And I'm looking at him holding
it and hoping holding it and hoping holding it and hoping,
and somebody's gonna run from the backside full speed and
it's gonna be ugly.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
It reminds me in the first half on the other
side when bow Nicks rolled right and I don't know
if he didn't see Brian Burns, he didn't see him,
and then Burns absolutely obliterates him.

Speaker 3 (06:20):
You got you gotta be able, You got to be aware.
I know that you don't. Because they did disguise the
defenses very well. They did do a good job of
bringing a lot of different players, But you gotta be
aware where these guys are. That that's why, that's why
the interception happened. He's out there, he's out there. He's
out there just throwing away. That's all you got do is.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
Or in that position, just take the sack or I hate.

Speaker 3 (06:39):
To say it, run as far as you can, is
slide or that. But that's the only thing that I
you know, that's the only thing. And I know he's
looking to make a play, and I know he wants
to make a play, and I and I feel that
youth and that energy. I got time. I got time.
I got time. You don't have time, like when you're
out there and you're outside of your tackle, you are

(07:01):
out there by yourself. Be careful, kid, And that's that's
the only thing. The words I think that's.

Speaker 2 (07:06):
Anything else you want to touch on in the game.

Speaker 3 (07:08):
Before I get to the calls, I want to hear
these college I have to say, I've been ready for
this and I had I listened to it all day
yesterday I was at a charity event. I was like, okay, yes, sir, absolutely,
questions a thousand questions, a thousand questions, and I'm sure
the answers zero answers zero.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Well, let's le's see if you could do better today.

Speaker 3 (07:25):
I'll try.

Speaker 2 (07:25):
All right, let's put to Walter all the way out Omaha, Nebraska.
He's gonna join this first time big blue kick off. Walter.
What's up? Man?

Speaker 3 (07:32):
What was going on? John?

Speaker 4 (07:33):
And our Uh? Hey, you know listen, man, I just
you know the thing is, you know that with infurying
it as a fan, it's just you know, the hit
they hit Dave Bowl. And let me start by saying this. Uh,
you know that after that first year, I was sold
on day Bow and even right now in so many instances,

(07:56):
I still want I wanted to be Dabel, you know
what I mean?

Speaker 5 (08:00):
Me and and I think you.

Speaker 4 (08:03):
Know, like listen, a lot of you know.

Speaker 6 (08:06):
Play calling offensively during that game. I understand it was
a tough game, which I'm fine with the offensive play call.
I think from the coaching standpoint of day Bo, I
think those delayed games, you know, and and that moment
especially U that the last delayed game. You know, why

(08:28):
isn't he right on the referees hip ready to call
the time out seeing the play.

Speaker 4 (08:33):
Cock dwindle away, dwindle away, dwindle away, and and he's
he's not right there on the hip that that's my
concern about yesterday.

Speaker 6 (08:41):
But you know, when it when it's a loss like that, there's.

Speaker 4 (08:45):
There's enough you know, blame to go around everywhere. And
the kicker situation, what do we three years in a row,
we've we've lost.

Speaker 6 (08:56):
Games to to you know, further the.

Speaker 4 (09:00):
Kicking thing, I don't know whatever it was. I think,
you know, after after Wink left, I think, you know,
I hate to use the word and I but I
think management.

Speaker 6 (09:12):
Noodle nooded days.

Speaker 4 (09:14):
Like you know, where was the aggressive day?

Speaker 6 (09:17):
That was, you know, chewing.

Speaker 4 (09:18):
Players out for not doing what.

Speaker 5 (09:20):
He had coached them all week to do.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
Davil threw it on a third and five when the
non aggressive thing would have been to just run the
ball into the ground, and he put the ball in
his rookie quarterbacks hands and let him make make a play.
I mean, I think that's being pretty aggressive.

Speaker 3 (09:34):
No, and he's definitely at Actually, actually, you know, Walter,
stay with us.

Speaker 2 (09:40):
Howard is on the sideline for everything.

Speaker 6 (09:42):
As I said, no, Walter, real quick.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
It is to Howard one Walter. Howard's on the silent
for every game. So how tell us what what is
Abel like on the silent.

Speaker 3 (09:51):
He's a maniac. He is definitely chewing players out there.
You know, the networks are doing a good job of
not showing him as much because a lot the last
few years they were like right on a new coach,
They're showing all of his mannerism and stuff. They're not
showing him when he's really getting after guys as they
did before, and that it's ugly.

Speaker 6 (10:16):
Yeah, listen, like I said again, like I said, from
the offensive side, I have no issues about the play calling.
You understand what I'm saying is, but you know, I
just I've been you know, I've been listening to you know,
the beat writers and everybody, and it's like you know,
they owe everyone has has has blaming this. So the kicker,

(10:40):
the kicker situation. We could have had a more qualified
kicker in here. It's been two weeks. There's been whether
is it three three miskicks in the last two weeks.
So this mismanagement and more than that, I would say,
the mismanagement of the roster. We've we've got people pool

(11:00):
that holdovers because the organization does not want to let
go certain players that that that were at a certain
Cachet for for draft pick Hiatt. We we we've got
people that people are just sitting on the bench for nothing,
all of these things for nothing.

Speaker 2 (11:21):
Hold on one second. Two weeks ago, Jaal and Hyatt
draws a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone
that helps you win a football game. And this week
in the fourth quarter, he runs by Patrick sir Tan
the second split's the deep safety and is open on
a deep post that it could potentially win the game
in regulation if Darth doesn't overthrow them.

Speaker 3 (11:42):
He's contributing. He's you know, been I guess forced in
the action, but he's definitely contributing. He's always wanted to
be there and he's he's trying to do it. Now.

Speaker 6 (11:52):
Listen, fair enough, fellas.

Speaker 4 (11:54):
All I say is the production out of Hyatt for a.

Speaker 6 (11:58):
What is this is his third year now, the third
year person on this on this franchise. Look at look
at Wandel. Each year Wandlle gets so much slack about
all we we can do better, and and the winter
we everyone's always itching to replace Wndelle's steadily year after year.
This kid is grinding, doing what he has to do, and.

Speaker 4 (12:22):
Only doing what what the play call allows him to
do this.

Speaker 6 (12:25):
There's certain enough.

Speaker 4 (12:26):
Players that are hungry enough that deserve to be.

Speaker 6 (12:29):
On this organization.

Speaker 4 (12:31):
Thanks, uh Neil, all of these all of these people.

Speaker 6 (12:36):
The organization is holding over putting on us year after
year after year and and expecting us all we were
just giving and the granted everyone deserves time, but we're
holding onto these players and they're holding spots and that
they're doing nothing for us. We got a healthy scratching neal.
We got Banks and and and flop flat is the

(13:00):
clearly since the Spring has out played Banks, but to
save face, they're gonna go ahead and push certain players
on us and losing games.

Speaker 4 (13:10):
How many games did Banks cost us this year because
they didn't want to go ahead and get and get
off of Banks?

Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, but in all fairness, let me ask you a question.
So the roster gets set, the Banks is like your
third your third corner. Uh, he's the guy that's gonna
be the back to back up to the to the
two starting outside guys.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
Frankly, really, if you want to count, you phillips at him.
He's really more like your fourth corner.

Speaker 3 (13:30):
Phillips is a slot guy. Yeah, correct, Okay, So Banks
is your Banks is your third corner. That's that's that's
your depth and your rotation. You release Banks. There's no
other corner out there that's at that level. If he plays,
he plays well. If he doesn't play well, then you're
then you're struggling. But that's why he's your third corner.
He's not your he's not on the field with you
the whole time. So what do you who you're gonna

(13:53):
get like you need another player.

Speaker 6 (13:57):
That's not for me to determine when when when When
they're putting together the roster each end off season, that
that's for them to get healthy enough competition in here
for the have depth at.

Speaker 2 (14:11):
I can tell you who the guys are. Do you
want to see Nick Jones out there as your third quarter?
Do you want to see our Green out there as
your third corner?

Speaker 3 (14:20):
No?

Speaker 2 (14:20):
No, no, no no again no no, no, no, no, but no.
My point is making is that you keep guys on
the roster because they're very talented and you think with
coaching they can elevate their level of play.

Speaker 3 (14:30):
Nick Jones and R.

Speaker 2 (14:31):
Green are good football players. They're really helpful on special teams.
But again to Howard's point, I'm trying to back up
what you're saying, Howard, you have these guys that have
a certain level of talent, and I'll throw Evan Neil
into that conversation as well. There are only so many
guys that are that big that can do the types
of things that these players can do if they correct

(14:53):
some of their technique issues, which you're holding them back.
So you want to keep the guys are all these things.
But Walter, my point is that no, no, you're fine.
But I think the point we're trying to make if
they do what you're saying, and you decide to let
go Jail and Hyatt, let go of Evan Neil, let
go of the banks, you're not finding another wide receiver
that's running a four to three. You're not finding a

(15:14):
corner that has the size and speed accommodation for three.

Speaker 6 (15:18):
If you're if you're not catching the ball, you're not
having no separation. You're not you're not you're not breaking
off the routes. You're just straight line and people onto you.
Every time Hide's in there.

Speaker 4 (15:30):
They're like, oh, okay, it could be a deep shot.
You see what I'm saying, and then it just onto.

Speaker 6 (15:35):
Him and if he is not running screech free.

Speaker 4 (15:39):
He's you know, well he has I lie about that.

Speaker 3 (15:42):
He has caught some uh, he's caught a few other passes.

Speaker 2 (15:48):
It's just thank you, Walter, appreciate the call man. Good stuff.

Speaker 3 (15:52):
And I understand like the frustration of trying to trying
to replace players that you know that happened to have
to get in the game, and they may not make
the players you want to make our Somebody that you're
seeing standing on the sideline, You're like, well, why is
he standing on the sideline? He should be doing it.
But rosters are constructed. You need extra bodies, and you
can only have fifty three million active at a time.

Speaker 2 (16:10):
And again, I think Walter would have a better argument
if those guys he's referencing Howard were playing full time
snaps not producing, and somebody that you thought was better
was sitting on the bench behind them. That's not what
we're seeing.

Speaker 3 (16:25):
Or sitting outside. And you could say, okay, if we
could get that guy. I can understand that, yes.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
Correct, but that's not what we're seeing here as anything.
And look, we've seen this in prior regimes where they
forced guys that aren't playing well into the lineup to
play even though they're not able to do it. I
give them credit for having maybe guts is the wrong word,
but making the tough decision to make Evan Neal inactive.
He was your first round pick. Yeah, and that is

(16:51):
not an easy thing to do.

Speaker 3 (16:53):
And to be fair to Kneel as well, you know,
he played well in the preseason. He did. He played
really well in the preseason at guard. So you know,
it's just you got other guys at guard.

Speaker 2 (17:03):
They played the guys that were better players.

Speaker 3 (17:05):
They brought guys into play guard. They're good at guard.
And you know, even though he's playing better at guard,
you gotta get in live.

Speaker 2 (17:13):
You gotta play the guys that are giving me the
best chance to win. And I think that's what the
Giants for the most part have done here.

Speaker 3 (17:18):
Absolutely from what I've been able to as a standpoint, definitely.

Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, no, Howard, I'm with you.

Speaker 3 (17:22):
All right.

Speaker 2 (17:22):
Let's go to Jason and Newaven. Jason, you're up next time,
Big Blue kickoff Live.

Speaker 3 (17:27):
Oh, how you guys doing. What's that?

Speaker 7 (17:28):
Man?

Speaker 5 (17:29):
Good?

Speaker 3 (17:29):
Good?

Speaker 8 (17:33):
Yeah, Sunday was tough man. Instead of this week of celebrating,
let's think about this for a minute and I want
to speak to my Giants fan. Go ahead, we have
our QB one, which is half the battle when you're
trying to turn your franchise from a laughing stock to

(17:54):
respectable and then onto playoff contender. So I want to
leave it at that. That's my first point. But my
frustration is instead of celebrating Dark going into Denver and
for three quarters, not just him, the offensive line, Theo Johnson,
even though his drops are starting to get me aggravated,

(18:15):
but overall he had that big touchdown. You have Bellinger,
the offensive line, Tracy Burns. Instead of celebrating those guys
and celebrating the effort they put into really dominating the
Broncos at home when you really think about it as
a rookie. Instead of celebrating that, we're talking about the

(18:36):
loss and the implosion. And I'm not looking for you
guys to agree with what I'm saying. We all have
our difference of opinions. But my aggravation is two things.
I'm sure mister, I don't know how to say his name,
the kicker. I don't want to screw his name up. Yes,
here's my issue right now. I'm not in practice. I'm

(18:59):
not behind the scenes like you too are, of course, right,
so I can only go off of what is what
you guys note me, you guys, but what the team says.
Apparently he won the kicking job in practice.

Speaker 2 (19:10):
Okay, and Jason, by the way, for the record, we
don't see regular season practices either. We're so so we're
going off the same information you are once you get
to the regular season.

Speaker 8 (19:19):
Okay, all right, no problem. But from what my understanding is,
And like I said, I'm not asking for you guys
to agree or respond to whatever. But apparently he was
the backup kicking Rutgers who kicked sixty three in college.

Speaker 3 (19:33):
That's correct.

Speaker 8 (19:35):
He missed the extra point last week, came back this
week and missed too. While we have a veteran kicker,
and I get it, he wondered he lost the Well,
at least he's at least in my opinion, he's done
on this level. And to me, to have a kicker

(19:56):
cost us again And and I don't.

Speaker 3 (19:59):
Want this man.

Speaker 8 (20:00):
It's not just him. There was just blame all around.
But to miss two extra you know, points, man, that's
as a fan, that's that's hard to stomach. When other
guys put their blood sweat and tears into putting this
position to win the game. Second, then I get off
the phone. You know, I've been a big proponent of Gable.

(20:23):
I actually like him as a coach. I like how
he goes about his business. I like how he's developing Jackson.
The team seems to really play for him. You don't
really hear a lot of stories about any kind of
anarchy in the locker room. You don't really hear that.
So I'm rooting for him. But Sunday really really questioned me.

(20:43):
And I'll leave it at this. You know, in basketball
and football, most most professional sports, especially those two, no
lead is really safe. Even though we were up in
that game, I never really felt comfortable right and to right,
and the players didn't execute. I give that, I will

(21:04):
say that, but man, I just felt like that coaching
style of just playing not to lose nine times out
of ten comes back to by you.

Speaker 2 (21:12):
But they didn't know Jason, in all seriousness, how do
you think they played that game not to lose?

Speaker 3 (21:18):
All right?

Speaker 8 (21:18):
Let me let me, let me let me respond to that,
and I'll come with this. Right that that drive where
Jackson threw that pick right so predictable and I don't
care what nobody tells me.

Speaker 7 (21:31):
That was such a.

Speaker 8 (21:32):
Predictable You ran, you ran out of a not even
with a full back in the backfield. You ran, mister
Scattabo twice, right.

Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yeah, you have to run the ball twice? No, no, no,
it was the first of all. It was third and five.
So they got two yards and three yards on the
two runs.

Speaker 8 (21:49):
All right, Okay, so I'm wrong on that, all right?
Three whatever? Two and three yards?

Speaker 3 (21:54):
Right right?

Speaker 8 (21:55):
Denver had how many timeouts?

Speaker 2 (21:57):
They made them use two of their timeouts on those
first two?

Speaker 5 (22:00):
Okay?

Speaker 8 (22:01):
Why on earth? And this is in my opinion why,
And I guess and Jackson did play well, But in
my opinion, you don't put your rookie quarterback in that spot. Yes,
he threw that pick. It was a bad decision, no
doubt about him. But why are we throwing on third
and five with Denver having one to time out where

(22:21):
if you run the ball and punt they have to
drive the field. No, but they have to get on side.

Speaker 2 (22:28):
Okay, Jason's Jason that that that's a fine argument, and
and I understand where you're coming from with that, but
that's not the point you made. You said they were
playing not to lose, not to win. By throwing the
ball there, you're trying to if you complete that pass,
game over. They have no chance of winning. The game
is over. By throwing it there, you're actually calling plays

(22:51):
to win the game by running it more aggressive to
the ball.

Speaker 8 (22:54):
Yes, I get that point. Yeah, you were aggressive at
that moment. You know why, because you have to be
aggressive at that moment. My thing is, if you play,
if you called, if you call the game like you
did in the first half. Yeah, there might be some mistakes,
but I'm never a proponent of taking your foot off
the gas. That's just what I saw in the game.
I know you guys may not agree, and that's fine

(23:17):
because I know I gotta get off the air. But
I just didn't like some of the play calling. I
didn't like that pass on third and five when Denver
knows you have to throw the ball to get a
first down, so you know what they do simulate the pressure.
Dart is still a rookie, and he fell for it.
He saw it right into the linebacker when yes, that's
his fault, but he should have never been in that position.

(23:37):
You run the ball, make them burn that time out.

Speaker 9 (23:39):
You punt.

Speaker 8 (23:40):
Now, if they score and they get the on side,
you know what you tippy had. But I feel we
gave them that game, So I'll take it off to no.

Speaker 3 (23:48):
Jason.

Speaker 2 (23:48):
Look, if you think that's the more prudent strategy, I
get the argument. I'm not gonna We talked about this
lot yesterday. That's fine, but they were aggressive. They were
trying to win the game by completing the pass.

Speaker 3 (24:00):
Yeah. But what he's saying, and this is what a
lot of fans are saying to me Yesterday's like, if
you run the ball, they called their time out, you
punted down the field, then they have to drive the
link to the field and get two scores.

Speaker 2 (24:09):
Oh and Howard, I think that's correct. I don't disagree
with that.

Speaker 3 (24:13):
That's what they're saying, but.

Speaker 2 (24:14):
I feel like his initial point is contradicting his.

Speaker 3 (24:16):
It is contradicted. But you know, in the in the
in the backlash would be like, you know, if if
they did score twice, then everybody's like, well, why didn't
you just throw the ball and third down? So it's
it's one. It's like chicken in the in that situation,
like if it play works, you're a genius. Play it
doesn't work. What were you doing? That's that's how it
is every week.

Speaker 2 (24:33):
By the way, one other thing I want to bring
up that I don't think we talked enough about yesterday.
How good was the Giants offensive line in that game?

Speaker 1 (24:39):
Yesterday?

Speaker 3 (24:40):
They played pretty well. They played pretty and.

Speaker 2 (24:41):
They've been pretty good for two three since Andrew Thomas
has been back full time, playing every snap, they've been
very good.

Speaker 3 (24:49):
Been very physical. Then their test is coming up this
coming week, but they've been very they're very physicals, very
good front and very confusing in front of that because
you didn't know who was coming half the time, and
that that they did a good job of recognizing, uh,
who was coming, to identify the guys really quickly. No
free runners, no one you run on one player, that's right.
But outside of that, No, they did a really good job.

Speaker 5 (25:10):
No.

Speaker 2 (25:11):
And I think you just you know, as much as
as much heat has that as that group has taken
over the course of the last ten years on the show,
I feel like when they play really well and they
have the last three weeks, acknowledge and you got to
give them some credit. You got to give the big
guys some love. All right, back to the phones, at
UH two one nine three, nine four five one three.
Let's go to uh. David Cranford is up next, I think, right,

(25:32):
Johnny Mack, let's go to Dave. What's up?

Speaker 3 (25:34):
Man?

Speaker 4 (25:35):
Hey?

Speaker 7 (25:35):
You doing? John? Hey doing? How or Man?

Speaker 3 (25:38):
Great?

Speaker 7 (25:38):
Talk to you guys, John, glad you're feeling well? Thanks,
happy about that, wondering how you were doing.

Speaker 1 (25:43):
So we're all good.

Speaker 7 (25:44):
Plad about that.

Speaker 2 (25:44):
Thank you.

Speaker 7 (25:46):
So you know, I'm not I'm I'm really not trying
to be a homer here, just like you know, Hey,
everyone relaxed. But but you know, but I have to
say we got our relax Ironically, I actually think that
coming out of this game, I'd be a lot more
concerned if I with Denver coming out of the game

(26:08):
in terms of what the Giants were able to do
against them, and and yes, the Giants down the stretch
back up DB's you know in the secondary they they
got exposed. You know, the ball, the film, the tape's
gonna find.

Speaker 2 (26:26):
You when youtically like this, David, I don't want to
lose Dame Belton into that. I thought he actually did
pretty well when he went in there for Holland. I
did not think he was at fault. On any of
those really passes down the field.

Speaker 3 (26:39):
To be honest with you, no targeted one person.

Speaker 7 (26:43):
Johnny bring up a great point and we might need
him again on Sunday, So one hundred percent.

Speaker 9 (26:48):
Right, he definitely deserves you know, so like of.

Speaker 7 (26:53):
Course in a game like that, like and I think
it has everything to do with expectations and and where
the franchise has been at for you know, unfortunately a
long time, but particularly last year. There was just some
unwatchable football last year unfortunately for lots of different reasons.
But you know, you go into this year and my

(27:15):
expectations for Jackson Dart were just to get the guys
some experience and hope to see some things that you
could build upon, and he has far exceeded all of that.
No one wants to say this because it's it's it's
like we're bolting, but when you think about the slight comparisons,
you're seeing more and more about him and Josh Allen

(27:36):
and obviously the day Boat connection Josh Allen for two years, guys,
like going into his third year, not not just two years,
but going into his third year, there were big concerns
about his his accuracy.

Speaker 2 (27:53):
Josh Allen was a lot more raw as a passer
than jack I mean, just look at a number of
passes those two players three in college, Jackson Dorr probably
threw two or three times as many passes as Josh
Allen did. Kiffin so in the SEC versus Wyoming. So yeah, no,
Dave absolutely, And look, I think I don't love the

(28:14):
comparison just because Josh Allen from a size perspective, is
a Africing alien and I think that just makes him
very unique. And look, I'm with you, Darts. Do's a
lot of things to work on. He's a rookie. There's
a lot of things to get better at. But I
think the natural quarterback instincts you've seen has to get
you excited. Howard, And I think the other thing I

(28:35):
talked about, some of the pre snap stuff that he's done,
I think that has to get you excited. And just
his his overall play. He just makes plays. And going
into this game, I never thought, Dave, in a million years,
the Giants offense would score thirty two points against that
Broncos team. No, I didn't think that. I didn't think
it was possible unless there was like a special team's

(28:56):
touchdown or defense. These are real. I think the field drive, he.

Speaker 3 (29:01):
Did a good job. He did a good job identifying
and identifying the front, being able to pick up some
of the blitzes, checking into the right play a lot
of the times, and giving himself some time, you know,
to find the guys down the field. Get that. That
is all the things you want from your quarterback, and
it's very impressive.

Speaker 7 (29:16):
And John, I think you also brought up and Howard
as well. The you know, I think one of the
most remarkable parts of the game was not just the
offensive line. I mean, I think what what Andrew Thomas
did somewhat expected, I mean, still still impressive, but the
interior of that sense of fining to hold up against

(29:36):
you know, that defensive front of Denver that a good.

Speaker 2 (29:41):
Player, that Allen's a good player, and he was a really.

Speaker 7 (29:44):
Good player, and for them to be able to hold up,
I mean, I hope they keep having babies, you know,
draft guys with pregnant wives. I don't know, it's it's
it seems like it's working for them. So I would
just leave you with this one last comment to get
your your thoughts and then let you go. That is
the only negative I could see coming out of this
game is is if Jackson Dart starts to feel to

(30:12):
take on too much, he has got to continue to
stay right with what he's doing with his with his preparation,
with how he's preparing, with how he's playing, and and
you know, not feel the burden of a game that
they should have won. I don't think there's any question
about that. He played well enough for them to win.

(30:34):
The offense played well enough for.

Speaker 3 (30:35):
Them to win.

Speaker 7 (30:36):
There were you know, you can and and could we
could we wait to the off season to analyze our
our our coaches, like like, I'll get it, I'll go
hard at him, I'll be critical of them. But could
we if we're going to go game to game by
calling for people's jobs and people getting fired, I think

(30:58):
it's it's it gets a little bit ridiculous. Let's let
the games plays himselves out and then have that analysis
and conversation. So love to get you guys thoughts on.
Thanks for listening.

Speaker 2 (31:10):
Thanks appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (31:11):
First off, Jackson Dark drove the ball down the field
with seconds with seconds to go and scored a touchdown
put him in position, you know, the passing inference, which
still I'm not really sure why the ball was on
the two and not on the goal line, but anyway,
your interference and end zone and you market that far out.
I'm not gonna say anything, but he drives a ball

(31:33):
down the field, they score a touchdown. He leaves the
field with less than a minute to.

Speaker 2 (31:37):
Go, thirty seven seconds.

Speaker 3 (31:41):
And that is what your quarterback is supposed to do.

Speaker 2 (31:45):
Thirty three. The Broncos first place from scrimmage was at
thirty three seconds. The touchdown would score at forty seconds
on the clock.

Speaker 3 (31:53):
So this young man played with the idea that hey,
look we're not losing. I'm gonna put it on my shoulders.
I'm gonna take it all the way down. And he
did exactly what he was supposed to do. He doesn't
get to play defense too.

Speaker 2 (32:02):
You want to go back to the Josh Allen comparison,
It's like Josh Allen when people say he can't beat
Patrickholmes in the AHC title game. Well, he gave his
team a lead with eighteen seconds to go. It's not
his fault. They gave up two passes for a game.
What he field goal.

Speaker 3 (32:14):
If you do, if you do all you can do,
do you just leave it on the field, I'm very
proud of for that. As far as like the whole
coaching thing, you know, I think Dart is really flourishing
under day ball, and I think that they have a
great connection. They have a great relationship, and I think
he's only going to get better. I think they're gonna
win some games that you know already they had opportunity

(32:35):
to win games they weren't supposed to be even in
They've been close, so close, and I think the two.

Speaker 2 (32:40):
First placed teams in the Charges and Eagles, and they
almost beat a four win team in Denver.

Speaker 3 (32:44):
Yeah, they're and they're going to start converting some of
these some of these games into wins that you know,
every team's not gonna be able to the muster thirty
plus points. If they keep scoring thirty points, that's going
to beat some teams.

Speaker 2 (32:54):
And you want to mention the development with with with Dabel,
I want to give Mike Kafkis from credit here too, Howard.
He's the offensive coordinator and when the league numbers went out,
and you can speak to this being a former tight
end yourself, they turned this into a three wide from
a three wide receiver offense into a two tight end
offense almost overnight it.

Speaker 3 (33:13):
You know, you have a you have a huge package
places where you where you run twelve personnel. But this
time what they've done instead of where you said the
three wives, they've just kind of converted it into like, Okay,
we're gonna make one of you guys gonna be the
split guy. You're gonna you're gonna play either wing right
behind the tight end and the twelve personnel. Are you
gonna go outside and play play on the outside edge?

(33:34):
That's that's gonna be one of the two things you're
gonna do, and you're gonna run the offense out of it.
Instead of it being three wives, though, we're gonna squeeze
down and run the exact same plays with two tight
ends right in front of them, and it's hard for
defense to identify it because they're running almost the same plays,
but it's a different personnel in front of them.

Speaker 2 (33:49):
And I think the fun thing for me, Howard, is
that Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger are pretty much interchangeable
in those two roles. Both guys can do everything, which
gives you some fla flexibility would I.

Speaker 3 (34:01):
Like and I'd like the fact that they're both proficient blockers,
and that is helping the run game tremendously. You know,
when you're coming off to the edge and when they're
running balls to the edges, when you had two tight
ends out there, basically doubling the edge guys back and
getting to the second level. That that's a hard thing
to do when you're playing defense if you're a cornerback
and you're looking at a running back running full speed

(34:21):
with nobody in front of you to slow them down.

Speaker 2 (34:25):
All right, let's go to Ross all the way out
in California. Ross, what's going on?

Speaker 3 (34:28):
Man?

Speaker 9 (34:30):
Hey, how are you going.

Speaker 3 (34:31):
To do it? Very good? Great?

Speaker 9 (34:34):
Well, I'm a longtime New York Giants fan. I go
back to Frank Darkington all right, Ron Johnson, Bob Tucker.

Speaker 8 (34:43):
Anyway, Ross, I have a question.

Speaker 2 (34:44):
Are you Are you the same Ross that called us
like for like probably like you were a pretty normal
caller about like eight or ten years ago, right, Is
this the same Ross or No?

Speaker 9 (34:54):
Probably not?

Speaker 7 (34:54):
Okay, I don't think so.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
That is. I'm pretty sure we had a Ross in
California back then.

Speaker 4 (35:04):
Yeah, I just.

Speaker 9 (35:05):
Kind of discovered you guys it was me. But I
have called in about the Giants it might have been
your show. But anyway, I go back to, like Phil
Simms when they drafted him at a Moorhead State, and
to me, I I only have seen when we played
San Diego and when we played Philadelphia. So I'm pretty

(35:28):
lucky as far as you know what, I've been able
to watch out here because they don't cover him every week.
So you guys know much more about the ins and
outs of play to play that I do. But I
will say this Jack and Dart, and also I should
say Howard, I'm a Notre Dame fan. Only I only
wish CJ. Carr was playing for your son the year

(35:51):
last year. But yeah, he was a lot of fun
to watch your son I'm talking about. He was a gamer,
you know, like he played through Yeah you know what
he played through. I mean everyone plays with injuries, but
that kid was tough. But then anyway, yeah, so when

(36:11):
I go back to seeing how the Giants drafted Phil Simms,
it was sometimes shortly.

Speaker 4 (36:15):
After jokes Ar Chick.

Speaker 9 (36:17):
I don't know if you guys remember him, but it
was not the greatest the Giants ever had. And so
when they got this guy Simms, it was like who
is this guy? And he got that crap kicked out
of him. He had no offensive line for his like
first I would say three years, and then all of
a sudden, they started drafting linemen and really good guys

(36:38):
and really built an offensive line for him to excel.
And I'm thinking that's what I'd like to see with Dart,
because I saw Dart when he was at USC and
then he went to Kiffen. But when he was at USC,
they were just coming off from Caleb Williams is like,
you know, heisman guy. They just they wanted another heisman,
you know, and it's like, sorry, but that doesn't come

(36:59):
along very often. So I've seen him his whole college
career basically, and when he came to the Giants, I
had such renewed energy because I knew what he could do,
and I knew Kippen was a great quarterback developer. He's
very creative for offense. So yeah, so I'm thinking, you know,

(37:19):
like Jackson Dart, the energy that he brought in. I
don't know if San Diego was that first game he
started or not, but it was instantly a different team
that I saw out there than what I have been
seeing for years, because you know, the Giants never understood
how to draft it once Wellington Myra stepped down, as
I forget it. The Sun's almost like the Steinbrenner syndrome.

(37:40):
But anyway, yeah, Wellington, Moraw, George Young. You know, these
guys that were in management really run a tight ship
and knew how to draft. And so I'm not seeing
that from these guys until this last year. Because I
loved Scataboo. He's from my alma mater, sack Stady started
at and then went over to Arizona State, you know,

(38:04):
and so I know him a little bit. So when
he when they drafted him, I was saying to draft
him in like the second round, like come on, because
I knew how great he was, right, And so he
gets to the fourth round and they got him. I
was like, Okay, the Giants are back at drafting, because
look at what Philadelphia has done in their drafts, like
the last seven years or so.

Speaker 4 (38:25):
They took so.

Speaker 9 (38:27):
Many great, great picks, and now you're seeing the benefits
of all that work of drafting.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
Ross. Look, there's no question you have to draft well
to be successful to national.

Speaker 3 (38:36):
And you have to and certain teams get it right
every year, and certain teams have a struggle and it's
also where you picked too. You start to value guys differently.
It's a lot.

Speaker 9 (38:49):
But what I'm liking is, you know, just this last year,
if they can keep up like drafting and really getting
some offensive linemen that are of renowned coming out of
college that can play behind Gart or in front of Gart,
I think we're going to see a lot of good
things that are going to come. Like they've focused on defense,

(39:09):
and I'm a guy that always believes in defense first,
but you know, like you also have to have this
balance to it, and so I'm just hoping that they'll
do the offensive line idea and really, like you guys
are saying, and you're probably right that our offensive line
has been looking good. I want superior guys, you know,
like I want to build it from the draft starts

(39:31):
young enough to grow with them, you know. Yeah, now
appreciate the call.

Speaker 2 (39:36):
Man, no, thank you very much. Good stuff. And look,
nothing helps a quarterback better than a really good offensive line.
I agree with that. And how look, we're going to
be in a bit of a crossroads here with this
offensive line group this year. Now you have Andrew Thomas
on the contract for a long time, John Michael Schmidt
will just have one year left on his rookie contract
after this year. This is year three for him, right.
Jamine I Allumino is a free agent, Greg Ben Rowan's

(39:57):
a free agent, and John Runyon Junior one year left
on his deal. So you're looking at four or five
guys that are gonna be the free agents after this
year or after next year. So you drafted Marcus bow,
why don't we both have high hopes for it.

Speaker 3 (40:11):
No, he's gonna be a player.

Speaker 2 (40:12):
But I have I would be very leery of letting
a guy like Jermaina Luminar walk out the door, who's
been a very very good right tackle for them.

Speaker 3 (40:20):
Well, here's the thing, Jackson starts a rookie. So you
got that rookie contract, so you're gonna be able to
fit some pieces in where you need to fit some pieces.
You can go out and draft some guys to grow
to grow your line and your defense as well. But
because he's in the rookie contract, that's going to help
you know, develop players around him and get players around
him to help him play. As I say, the others,

(40:41):
the others outside of the quarterback will be easier to
come and deer with a rookie contract for.

Speaker 2 (40:47):
Your quarterback, and you have to take advantage of the
window right on.

Speaker 3 (40:51):
That's when you build your team basically when you redo
your well, you once that quarterback is in and he's
he's playing, well, you got all your guys kind of set,
and then he gets his next contract and.

Speaker 2 (41:01):
You got three years until he hits that fifth year option.
And the fifth year option is reasonable. It's not cheap
anymore at the quarterback position, but it's reasonable. Yes, So
you have three or four more years now. And the
Giants have not backloaded a lot of contracts, so it's
very the way Joe Shane does his contracts. It's not
like they're the Eagles where they put a bunch of
like these voided years on there where you got the

(41:22):
money all pushed back in all these contracts. The Giants
tend to have pretty balanced contracts like Burns, Andrew Thomas,
Dexter Lawrence. Those are guys that they're getting paid decent
base salaries. But it's not like they're coming up with
forty five million dollar cappits right like you're gonna have
with some of these guys and neighbors. You got two
more years on his rookie contract with him, and then
you have the fifth year option for him. So you're looking, Howard,

(41:45):
You're exactly right. The next three years you're gonna have
to spend that money, build your team to row some
signing bonuses around, and spend the cash and the money now,
because eventually, when you gotta pay Jackson, you gotta pay neighbors.
You're gonna want to do another contract. Vanrew Thomas eventually
longs and stays healthy.

Speaker 3 (42:03):
But you also can You've got three drafts, correct, you
got three drafts between now and then to determine who
you can get. Who you who you're gonna replace, Who's
out there this bet you might be looking and go, oh,
this guy plays guard. He's like one of the best
guards in the country. We can get him at this
pic got him. Okay, Now I don't have to pay
so and so this much money because I got a

(42:23):
guard that comes in. It's gonna come in play right
right from the jump.

Speaker 2 (42:26):
And this could be a very It's funny this draft
class hour going in. Everyone's like it's gonna be an
awesome tackle class. But now everyone thinks the tackles are
gonna have to move into guard. Like even maybe your
guy kid in Proctor, Alabama is massive. He might be
a better guard than a tackles. So I think it
might end up being a really good guard draft because
everyone wants to move the tackles into guard.

Speaker 3 (42:44):
Yeah, there's gonna be some guys out there. They're gonna
come in, gonna be they're gonna be long time starters,
and they'll be on rookie contract. So you got you
got a big You got a big opportunity to build
your team really quickly, to have some success for not
just one or two years, like six or seven years,
because you got everybody, you know, the salary cap managed
just properly.

Speaker 2 (43:03):
And look, that's why you have to draft. Well, that's
having good players on rookie contracts. There are a few
things more important to putting together a really good NFL
team than that. Just look at the Troit Lions.

Speaker 3 (43:17):
Is Yes, the younger your team is, the better you
are because the contracts are.

Speaker 2 (43:20):
Like Howard, you couldnt be more correct about that. All right,
let's go to James and Philly. He's up next, James.
We're going to be in your neck of the ones.
It about six days. Howard's excited. He loves hanging out
in the parking lot with the Eagles fans before the game.
I don't, well he is, but.

Speaker 4 (43:40):
Fans, you want to run across.

Speaker 2 (43:43):
What do you got to James.

Speaker 4 (43:44):
I've been a Giants fan for since the LT so
I go through a whole lot of crap here in Philadelphia.
I was going to the top of the world last
week and now I got to here a bunch.

Speaker 5 (43:54):
Of crap this week.

Speaker 4 (43:57):
But my thing is, I wanted to talk about it
defensive backs. It's like, I don't know saying as things
that we.

Speaker 5 (44:04):
Got the two we got the two picks, I mean
the two uh pick.

Speaker 4 (44:08):
Ups with hollering at a debo, but it's just seemed
like they're on They're not on the same page most
of the time to me anyway, and like the way
they the way they just seeing the during the game.
It's just too many, especially when when the.

Speaker 5 (44:22):
Team's run that cross across the fields, like somebody's always
cheating and getting them big third downs and whatnot. And
then uh, like the Dollars game and the game we
just had, you got thirty one seconds, no way, let
no guy test, no no deep end route right right there,
now the way uh the defense was explained.

Speaker 4 (44:44):
By by a linebacker saying they had the uh, the
two little rovers back there, but Holly, they not come
up and when they see that guy hit the middle Coluncker, Okay,
you protecting the outside because you don't want them to
get outside and get out of bound.

Speaker 5 (44:58):
But like two weeks, I mean it was not two.

Speaker 4 (45:00):
Weeks in a row, but the Dallas game the same thing.
It's like seeming like to me that our offensive bet
is not on the same piece. And I kind of
feel like when we had Zeroon Henderson, our d bets,
although they wanted the talented as the dbats we have now,
they always seem to be in sync.

Speaker 2 (45:19):
Well, James, what I would say to you about those
two plays, while they looked similar at the end of
the Dallas game, at the end of this game, the
coverages that were called were very different to your point,
and Tiky and I talked about this in the postgame show.
It was a Mandaman call with two what they're called
robber safeties in the middle of the field, which basically
is how doing those safeties are reading the quarterback trying
to get in the passing line right absolutely, and it

(45:39):
looks like to me when I went back and I
watched it, and I love to get Howard's taken. I
haven't talked to you about this yet. Nuban is on
the offensive left side of the field if you're the offense,
and he's very concerned with Courtland Sutton. Courtland Sutton is
one on one with the ante Banks and he runs
a little in route. It's almost like a little skinny
post type of thing under Mims. So when Nuban's doing

(46:02):
on that side of the field, he ducks in underneath
that rat to prevent that throw from getting in there,
which means Phillips ends up being one on one with Mimes.
And it's odd, Howard, I'm not sure how much you've
looked at this again, but he's running with him, but
he's not attached to him. He's like Phillips is kind
of jogging next to Mimes, but he's not. He's like

(46:22):
giving them like two or three yards like side to
side cushion, which is odd, which is why that passes
allowed to kind of get in there exactly.

Speaker 5 (46:29):
That's what I was talking about, Like they.

Speaker 4 (46:31):
Don't they don't be sticky to the receivers in that situation,
and I understand, Okay, you want to just rush.

Speaker 5 (46:37):
Oh they rushed.

Speaker 4 (46:37):
I think they rushed three on that player or whatever.

Speaker 5 (46:39):
Three guys.

Speaker 4 (46:41):
I mean, like even let your linebackers get back into
that throwing lane.

Speaker 5 (46:44):
Because it was like a straight dark bomb.

Speaker 4 (46:47):
It was like, I mean a straight pass. What like
it was a looping pass or if a linebackers in
the line of side of.

Speaker 5 (46:54):
That pass, you can knock it down.

Speaker 4 (46:55):
They didn't like he.

Speaker 5 (46:56):
Threw it up over anyone. He just threw it straight
down down the middle. Ever, I think you get a
little more stickier or.

Speaker 4 (47:04):
Put more pressure on the quarterback one or two.

Speaker 3 (47:06):
I think Phillips would have gotten a defensive holding call
just before that, just right.

Speaker 2 (47:11):
Around that time, he had gone a pass interference on
a ring possessions earlier.

Speaker 3 (47:17):
So basically he's trying to give him room because he
doesn't want to be the guy that gives them, gives
them the first down right there and stops and stops
the clock.

Speaker 4 (47:24):
That's you can't play scared in that situation. You got
to be going there.

Speaker 3 (47:32):
I totally agree with you, but you gotta go play.

Speaker 4 (47:35):
Yeah, that what happened happened, you know, But once he
touched the ball, and you get he touched the ball,
and now they're running up unlike our kicker. The kickers
to make field.

Speaker 5 (47:47):
Run down there.

Speaker 2 (47:49):
Thank you, James, appreciate the call. Man, Uh your take
on that on that play you were just talking about.

Speaker 3 (47:55):
I just I just think that he got got himself
in a situation where he was like running behind me
and trying not to rab him to get to get
the call when he was trying to be close to him,
but he was too far away from him, uh to
get to play. And once these guys cross inside and
hits a dip dip under to get get back and
get back in phase. Now he's running extra hard, not
just to get in face, but just to get close
enough to him to cover him. And I don't think

(48:17):
people realize how hard that is that when when they
run these crossing routes up when the play comes off
and the receivers cross, they're trying to rub the defenders
off of each other. Sure, and they're basically rubbing them. Early,
he dipped under it perfectly. But now he's got a
run to get himself back in face with the with
the receiver to make sure he can defend the play
and he just wasn't there when the ball came out.

Speaker 2 (48:38):
Let's go to Jonathan and Westchester. He's up next, Jonathan.
What's going on?

Speaker 4 (48:42):
Hey, how are you guys?

Speaker 10 (48:43):
We're good, you know, I think, like everybody, I was
frustrated by the outcome of the game on Sunday, But
you know, after letting a little bit of time pass
and taking a look at the big picture, you know,
I can't be I can't help but feel happy about
Art and the offensive production. You know, if you told

(49:04):
me before the season that darts first start would come
against the Chargers, so arguably within the toughest stretch of
a tough schedule, and that Dart would be two and
two in his first four starts, with thirty four points
against Billy and thirty two points at Denver, I mean
I would have signed up for that in a heartbeat.

Speaker 3 (49:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 10 (49:24):
And then you know, you compare it to the last
two years. I mean, this is a giant you know,
back to the fact we've averaged about sixteen points per game,
which was thirtieth in the league in twenty twenty three
and then thirty first in the league in twenty twenty four.
So you know, Darts averaging close to ten points per
game above that. I know it's the small sample size

(49:45):
you're talking about four games, but still, I mean, and
he's doing it with no kicker. You know, we've we've
missed three extra points in the last two games, and
on top of that, we've been in field goal position
a number of times and having attempt at the field goal,
so the points per game would be higher, you know,
on top.

Speaker 4 (50:02):
Of that, and no Molik neighbors, so you know, kind of.

Speaker 10 (50:07):
Have to take a step back and be excited about
the direction that at least the offense is heading.

Speaker 3 (50:12):
It.

Speaker 10 (50:13):
Wanted to get your thoughts.

Speaker 3 (50:14):
I'm definitely excited about the direction office heading. And they
scored thirty points a game. It's something that we didn't
see for a while. I think we scored thirty points
maybe once over the last two years, maybe twice that way,
and it just didn't look the same, and it looked,
you know, it looks stuck. It looked like we were
trying so hard and things weren't happening. And now it
looks you see, a thirty five is like, okay, we're
going to get this third and five. We're in a

(50:35):
manageable third down position third and eighths and third and
nine is in this last game or even manageable, So
the office doesn't look stuck. The offensive line looks better.
And I've been telling people for years, when the offensive
line starts to play better, everybody else is going to
look better. And they're like, oh, well, you know so, no,
you don't know. It's it. If the offensive line plays better,
everybody looks better. The quarterback looks better, the run game

(50:56):
looks better, receivers look better. Even the defense looks better
because when the office line plays better, they keep the
offense on the field longer, they score more points, and
the defense gets arrest. So, yes, the offensive line playing
well has really elevated this team. Dart's doing a great job,
Scott Boo's awesome, But the offensive line has really really
come a long way and they've done a great job.
And again I'm saying that now they have a stretch

(51:20):
of really tough teams to play, the Eagles will be
at full may. They will be fully loaded when we
see them this coming week.

Speaker 2 (51:27):
You know, it's funny they talk. You know, we've been
through the toughest stretch and I was joking about this
fit who I was talking to. It just shows you
how and we say this at the time you talk
about how tough the schedule is going to be, Well,
you got the Chargers without both their starting offensive tackles, right,
You got the Eagles without Jalen Carter and Quinny and

(51:47):
Mitchell for most of that game, right, And Philly just
wasn't playing well at that point either. To mean totally
honest with you, that's good for me. No, absolutely, So
you talk about how stuff that struggle is going to be, well,
maybe it turns out that the toughest stretch is one
that's coming when you're at Philly. The Niners, who are
being playing really well despite all their in reason, brock
Party is probably gonna be back by then, I would think.
Then you have the Bears who have played well, the

(52:09):
Packers who are really good, and then the Lions who
are awesome. So it doesn't get any easier anytime.

Speaker 3 (52:14):
I says are in first place basically.

Speaker 2 (52:16):
And the Lions it might be the best team in
the National Football League right now.

Speaker 3 (52:19):
Absolutely, so, yeah, it's gonna be a stretch.

Speaker 2 (52:20):
And then, by the way, and everyone thought at the
start of the year, at least you get the Patriot game.
That's gonna be a bit of a break that first
week at the you know, December, right, prick to Todd, First.

Speaker 3 (52:30):
Patriots are playing very well. That that quarterback has done
a Drake May has done a great job. The coach,
he really, you know, knows how to get his team
together and get them going. And they are. They're really
looking good. And the defense is playing well too.

Speaker 2 (52:42):
In fact, I believe I gotta check what the what's
the Bears record? Are they at five hundred or they
three and three? Johnny Mac check that for me. I
think they're three. I don't I think the next six teams.
I think all teams, all six teams are at least
five hundred, if not better.

Speaker 3 (52:56):
Yeah, we got we got good schedule, we got.

Speaker 2 (52:59):
A good game. Is an interesting way to put it.
Um let's try I use that word necessarily, but yes,
it is. It is certainly challenging. I will say that
for sure. Two one, nine, three, nine, four, five one
through one. Ormind everybody. The Giants Foundation whilst a five
K race and kids run presented by Quest this Sunday,
October twenty sixth and non Am a met Life Stadium
that proceeds will benefit the Giants Foundation. All participants will

(53:21):
receive a commendative T shirt and after the race stay
for a post race festival with appearances by Giants legends
and a live DJ righterster Now at giants dot com
Slash five k. The Giants Foundation is a five oh
one C three nonprofit corporation. I know Tiki is going
to be there, so you get a chance hangu with Tiki.
You got at the five K, and you do. And
by the way, I did confirm this after I set
it on yesterday's show and said I'm pretty sure this
is true, and it turned out to be true, so

(53:42):
I was right. You do get to finish the race
in the end zone at Giants Stadium, all right, met
Life State. So so you run around and you run,
you finish the race. I guess you run up the
tunnel whatever it is, and you run into the stadium
and the finish line is in the end zone. So
you get a chance to be on the field at
metlan Live Stadium, which is pretty cool.

Speaker 3 (54:01):
I'm still trying to figure how you're going to run
into the stadium.

Speaker 2 (54:03):
I was thinking about that too. It's not like there's
a tunnel like the old team.

Speaker 3 (54:08):
I know exactly what they're gonna do. They're going to
run through the where the buses come in and let
the teams.

Speaker 2 (54:12):
In, you know what that you have the ramp up
and then then that goes.

Speaker 3 (54:17):
Right onto the right. Yeah, yeah, that's gonna be it.

Speaker 2 (54:20):
Yeah, I think you're probably right.

Speaker 3 (54:22):
You can't run around the inside the stadium.

Speaker 2 (54:24):
Yeah, because if you go in by met Life Central
where they have the fifty yard line, there's no clear path.

Speaker 3 (54:30):
No, you got they're gonna run in. They're gonna run
right out there and go right. That's the only way
to do it, to run through a door.

Speaker 2 (54:35):
And so, folks, not only do you get to run
on the field, you get to see the loading dock.

Speaker 3 (54:40):
You say, you run right by the locker room.

Speaker 2 (54:43):
Yeah, you're right. It actually is right over there the
locker rooms. So, and there's a four and too by
the way, thank you, Johnny Max. So the next six opponents,
all of them at least four and two or better,
all good teams, all could be playoff teams. So it
does not get any easier.

Speaker 3 (55:00):
Giants are playing spoiler for the next six games. We're
trying to spoil everybody's part.

Speaker 2 (55:03):
They're going to be underdogs in those games.

Speaker 3 (55:05):
So I think we're underdogs for the rest of the year.

Speaker 2 (55:08):
They have the Raiders on the schedule, oh thank god.
And we will see where the Vikings and the Cowboys
are too when you get to those final couple of
games of the year, and we'll see where that's at.
But and when the Commanders are frankly, they have not played.
They have not played particular.

Speaker 3 (55:23):
Yeah, they've really they really didn't do Little Daniels any
favors by you know, they thought he was just going
to have the same season year in and year out.
You got to get him some protection. You gotta give
him some we they tried.

Speaker 2 (55:34):
They got let me in there from the left ackle.

Speaker 3 (55:36):
Yeah, he's still getting getting sacked live well.

Speaker 2 (55:39):
And it's funny. The thing we were worried about with
him coming out right is he was so slender and
he's a smaller guy, not in terms of hype, but
just in terms of stature, in terms of being broad
and thickness. And we're seeing some of those injuries.

Speaker 3 (55:50):
Now because they're hitting him in the legs. You're right,
if you get hitting the legs like you need all
your pads on that he's got out their games. I'm
like many pads, bro.

Speaker 2 (56:00):
I haven't. He wears like punter pads. It's crazy right now,
I'm with you. I haven't rewatched that Dallas commander Jame
I was going to do that either tomorrow. And I
did see the replay of his injury though, like he
got twisted up like I thought it was gonna be
knee injury. When they said it was a hamstring, I
was actually a little surprised.

Speaker 3 (56:17):
Yeah, he just it's just again, so many guys hitting him,
like Larimer tunseells great, Jeremy tunsls. Maybe you get more
guys out there for him. He's not just going to
be able to do it.

Speaker 2 (56:29):
Let's go to Scott in New Mexico. He's gonna wrap
us up today. Scotty do.

Speaker 11 (56:33):
Hey, John Howard, Uh, I don't usually get on as
much as I used to. I'm dealing with some medical issues,
so John.

Speaker 2 (56:41):
I'm sorry. That's got I hope you're feeling better. And yes, thankfully,
I am doing very well.

Speaker 11 (56:45):
Okay, I tend to. I guess I'm from the Bill
Parcells school. Your record is what you are, and I
just wanted to review something with you. It's not that
I have a personal upfront against Brian Dabele. But here's
his record since he joined the Giants the club itself

(57:09):
is twenty thirty seven and one and eleven and thirty
in the past forty one games, five and nineteen in
the past twenty four games, and have dropped seven straight
road games, including two where they had the lead with
less than a minute left. That's the reality. And I

(57:30):
think in the game against Denver of the Giants on
two possession players had less than seven yards. You're not
going to win football games at all with that kind
of record, and with the way the games are turning out.
And though I like Brian dabel as a person, my

(57:51):
question really is is he the right coach based on
the record I'm looking at now when I watch the games,
I'm like you guys think, for example, Howard your idea
of the two tight end set really worked. I think
they compliment each other. I like that said, I like
the replacement for Miffer Schmidt, thought he played very well. Yeah,

(58:15):
I think the oppositive line is good. Secondary is questionable,
but the real key for me, Unlike Detroit which lost
all four of its corners of safeties and start the season,
you see how good they are. But the real key
to me is you have to lay the blame at
the coach's seat, and we keep skirting the issue. I

(58:35):
just read you what the record is, and you can't
look away and say, hey, you know, each individual game
is going to have its own nuances. I think Jackson
Dart is going to be great. I think he's a
good quarterback. He's going to learn. I think Scatterbull was
a great pickup. But all that being put aside, you

(58:57):
can't escape from what the record is.

Speaker 2 (59:00):
Scott and Scott, you're right. No one is making believes
that the record the last two and a half years
has been good. It hasn't been. We know that, and
ultimately you're judged on winsor losses. But I'll let Coward
kind of attack the larger crux of your question.

Speaker 3 (59:15):
I think what you have to think about this is
that when they came in, they were trying to fill
the team h and they've been constantly trying to get
all their guys in. And one thing that a coach
always that usually happens. The coach usually has his quarterback.
So up until now, he's been playing with what he
what cards he was dealt now.

Speaker 2 (59:35):
In fairness, Davill and Joe Shane did choose to resign
Daniel Jones.

Speaker 4 (59:40):
But again, and we all know what Daniel Jones.

Speaker 11 (59:42):
Is doing now.

Speaker 3 (59:46):
Offensive line, yes, and.

Speaker 11 (59:50):
If you don't have an offensive line doesn't really.

Speaker 2 (59:52):
Matter, Scott. It's almost like, hold on a second. It's
almost like what's going on around the quarterback matters, and
by the way, what's going on a running back matters too.
If you look what Saqua is doing in Philadelphia this year,
because it's the same player, same organization, all of a sudden,
you lose some offensive lineman and the running back looks
a lot different.

Speaker 11 (01:00:09):
I agree, but you can't get around the issue that
there's one person who controls the players. I know my
Compka I think is a very good play caller, but
responsibility is Brian Dables. He has the ability to change plays,
he has the ability to say what he wants, et cetera,
et cetera. I'm going to end this on a play

(01:00:33):
that happened in his second year with Brian Dabel and
Daniel Jones. I think the Scurgan stallus was forty to nothing.
And I may be wrong, but I think it was
in any event, he left Daniel Jones in the game
at a fourth quarter with virtually no time left. In
his press conference, he said he was asked the question

(01:00:54):
why did I leave my starting quarterback in the game,
and he said, well, I wanted to see if I
could start something or we could initiate something, which to
me was in basilic because each game, as you know,
is different. Even if the Giants would have scored, it
wouldn't have made any difference for the following week. So
I sort of soured on Brian Dabele right then because

(01:01:15):
I didn't think that was a wise coaching decision, but
the record bears it out, so I'm not trying to
I apologize if it seems like I'm trying to say
Brian dabel is the key to all of this mess,
but he is the head coach, and it's about time
we stop thinking about individual players and what they do, because,

(01:01:36):
as you know, the book stops with the head coach.
And that's really the only point I was really trying
to make. And I don't think that making a change
and coaching, whether it be copco or a be Shane Bone,
is unnecessarily a bad idea. Thank you, Scott that's just
my thinking, and so that's why I want to just vent.

Speaker 2 (01:01:53):
That and Scott, that's why we're here. We appreciate your calling,
your opinion.

Speaker 3 (01:01:58):
Final thoughts, coaching is You can respond to that too
if you like, Yeah, you know, coaching is coaching. I
do understand what he's saying. I think that this year,
especially with this schedule, there was not a lot of expectations.
I think the winning too. Beating to the tougher teams
and playing some other teams right down to the wire,
it's I guess you, Okay, there's no moral victories, but
they're gonna be some wins in this season. They're gonna

(01:02:20):
be a lot more wins than we're expected. I think
we were scheduled to have one, maybe two wins, and
it wasn't against these two teams. So I think that
that you're gonna see more and more guys make plays.
I think they're going to score up and they continue
to score with thirty points a game. Other team's just
not gonna be able to do that. I don't care
how you know, who's playing in the secondary, who's doing whatever.

(01:02:40):
You're gonna see more sacks by Burns. You're gonna see
more sacks by Thibodeau. I think Dexter is getting closer
and closer to being Dexter again, because you know, he
didn't he didn't go through all training camp and he's
just playing himself back into shape and everybody is like,
how long does it take to play back in shape
at that size? It takes some time and you know,
them just not the place to play yourself back in
the shape.

Speaker 2 (01:03:00):
But or is it? I mean, you you really get
your lungs a nice workout in.

Speaker 3 (01:03:04):
That high and high out, that's not the place you
want to be. So but as for everything else, I
think that I think they're headed in the right direction. Uh.
I know fans don't like hearing that, but I think
they're heading in the right direction. That makes them a
huge stride so far.

Speaker 2 (01:03:17):
Hey, look and Howard the bottom. And I'll close with this.
The past is the past. The records the record. We
know what it is. Ultimately, whatever decision has made, the
decision is going to be based on what's best for
the organization moving forward, what gives the team the best
chance to succeed in the future, and that's what the
best decision is.

Speaker 3 (01:03:36):
And I will say this Jackson. Dart said it best,
he goes, we are here, we're winners. We're going to
try to win as many games as possible. We're not
here for the sins of the past. We're here for
what's going on now going forward. So with Dart and
Scatterboo and and Burns and all these guys that are
really ready to go now, look at these guys for
what they are. They're they're they're strapped, they're scrappy, they're fighting,

(01:03:56):
and like I said, they're just a play here, a
play they're away from for me. You know, they've cleaned
it up. There's not as many penalties. You know, one
more play here or there. They got to pull up.
They're gonna pull it off. And that's what they're talking
about right now in the locker rooms, trying to figure
out a way to get Hey, we need one more step.
Can you take one more step? Get your hand up?
No question? Is this fun? Man? I appreciate it. Brother.

Speaker 2 (01:04:17):
I mentioned the Giants Tottle podcast also, Draft season is
back live this week. We had a recorded one on
last week which was great with Dave Sivertzen talking about
ranking the position groups in the draft. This week coming
up tomorrow or is it later on today? Actually, Pearson
should be cutting it right now. Mike g Renner from
CBS Sports joins Tony Pauline and I talking NFL draft,
So make sure you check that out. He is his

(01:04:37):
top fifty list out and we had a chance to
talk to him about that and to talk about his
most recent mock draft. It's October, however, the mock drafts
are coming, Buddy Lucky. The Giants are not really right
now concerned about tankathon dot com or anything like that,
just trying to win some football games. Here, roll tied
and we'll see how you're By the way, I have

(01:04:58):
a couple questions for you. Okay, one, my love, what
do you think about hi as a running back PROSPECTU?

Speaker 3 (01:05:02):
Notre Dame's running back Jeremiah Love is probably the top
running back in the country. Didn't get as much, it's
not getting as much loves as a kid from last
year at that played out of Boise. They went to
the Raider Gentry. But I think Jeremiah Love has speed.
He has he can cut, he can catch the ball
out of the backfield. He's a big kid. He's not

(01:05:24):
like some little, you know, little guy or he and
he's long, so he once he gets out, he has
home run speed. So that's those are the things that
make him kind of scary as a running back.

Speaker 2 (01:05:37):
Monster game vers USC on the weekend too, all right,
and then give me your best Alabama prospects. Who are
you excited about seeing coming out?

Speaker 3 (01:05:44):
I think it's gonna be interesting to see if ty
Simpson comes out. I think it's close to close to
his last year.

Speaker 2 (01:05:50):
Yeah, and he is, like I think more experience to
the quarterbacks always better.

Speaker 3 (01:05:54):
Though it's more experiences better. But if if Alabama winds
up somehow some way getting into the playoff and they
get close to winning the national championship, there will be
a lot of scubble about about him being the Heisman favorite.

Speaker 2 (01:06:06):
I'm sure Alabama will also make sure they take care
of food besides the court. Well, you know, it's like
sometimes you make more going back to school than you
do in the draft.

Speaker 3 (01:06:14):
That's true. But but I will I will say this
about all of that. I think that the SEC has
has the gap is shrunk very much now that everybody's
getting paid. About that. So it's like there's some big schools,
some big donors, some some places out there, Like, to me,
Arkansas should be the number one team in the nation
of Walmart, Tyson Foods and all that stuff. But there
are other schools with other you know, Oregans got Nike.

(01:06:36):
It's just I have no idea.

Speaker 2 (01:06:37):
I mean, Texas is all the oil money, yeah, Texas Tech.

Speaker 3 (01:06:40):
Yeah, they spent.

Speaker 2 (01:06:43):
Texas A and M all the money they spent. Absolutely,
how about.

Speaker 3 (01:06:47):
You, like, he's I think I think it's gonna it's
got He's got to get more into the season. I
think he's had some really good games, but he had
a couple, you know, Yeah, that's.

Speaker 2 (01:07:01):
Absolutely.

Speaker 3 (01:07:03):
I watched a lot of college football, so yeah, I
spend my saturdays like in front of the TV or
some bars somewhere, got games everywhere, Like could you put
this game ouver over? You're like, who do you know?
In that tence? I justn't want to see who's gonna win, like,
because I'm very invested in going to the playoffs and
bammle me in there. So you watched all these other teams.

Speaker 2 (01:07:18):
To see that was a heck of an interception.

Speaker 3 (01:07:22):
Second, great game, Great game game.

Speaker 2 (01:07:24):
How about Jamiller a running back, He's come back. He
was a little banged up.

Speaker 3 (01:07:27):
That's that's the issue of running backs. When you're banged
up a little bit early on, can you last throughout
the season?

Speaker 10 (01:07:33):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (01:07:33):
Are they going to do? They have enough guys around
you at running back that you can continue to run
and can a coach figure out a way like do
you want to win, coach or do you want this
kid to to advance his career? And that's kind of
you You do want both, But that's kind of where
you are when when you when you when you got
a kid that's that's so valuable running back that you're like,
can you go today like that?

Speaker 2 (01:07:53):
You should never ask a kid that it looks like
Hill on the boors at least lowered the temperature a
little bit on the cushion that he's been sitting on.
It is off.

Speaker 3 (01:08:00):
Oh, it's totally lord temperature on the fish. I also
think that you know, he is like he's kind of
getting over the saving hangover now, like he hit the
save and hangover the first year.

Speaker 2 (01:08:10):
He's also building the team in his image, right, this
is kind of what he wants it to be.

Speaker 3 (01:08:13):
Well, he can't be know, Well, you got one guy
that's like screaming and yelling and going crazy. And you
got a guy that looks like he's very calm. It
takes a little bit for the fans, the team and
everybody in the press to get used to seeing that
on the sideline.

Speaker 2 (01:08:25):
A little bit different Howard All, who's a pleasure man.
Johnny macne see some much, should I? So let's wrap
things up here on Big Blue Kickoff Live, presented by Cadallaite,
the official luxury vehicle But Giants coming to you from
our podcast studio, brought to you by Hackensack and Mardine Health.
Keep getting better For Howard Cross, I'm John schmult And
by the way, you can find Draft Season on all
your favorite podcast platforms Giants YouTube Channel, Giants App and
Giants dot Com.

Speaker 3 (01:08:45):
Slash podcast.

Speaker 2 (01:08:46):
Will see you tomorrow, o'harah and Burke at twelve thirty
for Wednesday's Big Blue Kickoff Live as we turned the
page to Philadelphia