Big Blue Kickoff Live 11/26 | Turning the Page to New England

Madelyn Burke and Lance Medow turn the page to the New England Patriots, talk about the Giants coaching change, and take calls from fans. 

0:00 - Turning the page to New England

15:30 - Calls

29:30 - Coaching

46:00 - Bringing energy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
It's time for a Big Blue Kickoff line.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Nobody can ever tell you that you couldn't.

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Do it because you're on Giants dot Com.

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Speaker 4 (00:12):
You?

Speaker 2 (00:13):
York Giant Crime.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
And the Giants Mobile app.

Speaker 4 (00:15):
Sev on tuck Down We All We're all Tappen, part
of the Giants Podcast Network's bunch of craz.

Speaker 5 (00:25):
Dogs has un Welcome to today's episode of Big Blue
Kickoff Live, presented by Cadillac, the official luxury vehicle of
the New York Football Giants. I'm Madeline Burke alongside Lance
Meadow m e d Ow. If you're form on social
phone number here is to A one nine three nine
four five one three, or find us on social media
using hashtag Giants Chat just to remind her. An archive
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(00:48):
on the Giants Mobile app, podcast platforms Everywhere and Giants
dot Com slash podcast. We're coming to you from the
Giants Podcast Studio, presented by Hackensack Meridian Health. Keep getting Better.
It's Wednesday, November twenty six, the day before Thanksgiving. Happy uh,
go out to the bars with all your high school
friends day.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Lance, I thought you were going to say, happy pre
Turkey day. That right to keep it as generic as possible.

Speaker 5 (01:12):
That too. I don't know. I mean, I feel like
this is one of those days where it's like, all right,
you're going home. Everyone's kind of getting together with the
with the vintage crowd, getting ready to eat all of
the turkey and stuffing and pie and all of that
good stuff and get ready to express what we're grateful.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
For and watch football. Maybe, Wow, express what you're grateful for.

Speaker 5 (01:32):
You a three game stretch, and when we talk about
what we're grateful for, let's talk about what's happening out
on the practice field.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
That is quite the transition. I gotta give you credit for.

Speaker 5 (01:41):
It's a hard pivot, you know that, Oh there's my exit,
you know, like sometimes.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
What's happening on the practice field.

Speaker 5 (01:50):
I'm grateful that the Giants are taking to the practice
field today. They got a long week Monday night football
against the Patriots, so as they have their first practice
of long week, news about the quarterback had interim head
coach Mike Kafka saying Jackson Dart still in the concussion protocol,
but he will be a full participant in today's practice.

(02:11):
So participating fully but still technically in the concussion protocol,
dexter Lawrence will not practice dealing with an elbow injury.
It's the same elbow that he injured last year that
kept him out for a big chunk of the season.
Those are the big headlining injuries right now. Kafkas said
that this quote should be the final step in the

(02:33):
concussion protocol. This week of practice again full participant still
in the protocol remains to be seen, but Dart and
Winston likely taken first team snaps as they get ready
to take on the Patriots in New England on Monday.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
Lands. I would think, given the fact that Jackson Dart
had last week to help with his recovery, that hopefully
all signs are pointing in the right direction that he
will pass through concussion protocol. I think it's a good
sign that Wednesday, to your point, it's a lengthier week,
that he's already at least labeled as a full participant Madeline.
So I think the extra day, the fact that he

(03:04):
had last week should at least give him a very
high percentage chance of being back under center. And I
think it adds a level of intrigue to this matchup,
not just because the Patriots have the most wins in
the NFL. But you're gonna have two young quarterbacks under center,
with Drake May at New England and then of course
Jackson Dart with the Giants, So that at least adds
a layer of interest at least from a big picture perspective,

(03:27):
even though both of these teams are on opposite direction.

Speaker 5 (03:29):
Lance as though there's not a layer of interest with
Jameis Winston at quarterback.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
Of course that goes without saying, but I guess, for
the future and what may lie ahead, I think these
are two of the younger, futuristic type of quarterback.

Speaker 5 (03:40):
And also too, when you take a look at what's
happened with the Patriots and their turnaround from last season
to this season. I mean the way that they you know,
kind of had their struggles in Drake May's rookie season,
they ended up, you know, losing their head coach or
firing their head coach and Gerrod Mayo and then now
they're ten and two, you know, barreling down the home
stretch of the season. To Eli Manning about this last week,

(04:01):
and you know, he kind of likened it to you know,
his brother Peyton's rookie season, there were three and thirteen.
Then their sophomore season, they're thirteen and three. Eli's rookie season,
they had a losing record. That his sophomore season, they
turned it around and they, you know, find some success.
So sometimes you just got to kind of learn throughout
the process of Okay, maybe that first season we're getting

(04:22):
together and figuring out what we got here. A lot
can change of the course of a season.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
Well, and also I think it depends on the stability
that you put around the quarterback, specifically Madeline if we're
talking about the signal caller and Drake May's case, I
think New England made two really good decisions. They brought
in Mike Vrabel, who has a good pedigree and a
track record of what he did at Tennessee and also
understanding New England's franchise and how they operate since he
played for Belichick. But he brought in Josh McDaniels as

(04:48):
his offensive coordinator, and I think that enabled Drake May
to take the next step after it was a revolving
door of play callers in the first few years. Now
Jackson dart Muller experience clearly this year he's to deal
with a lot of change. We'll see what lies ahead
in twenty twenty six, but that could do wonders for

(05:09):
a young play caller, and it could also have the
opposite effect. And not to go back into the archives,
but we saw it with Daniel Jones firsthand, right, Daniel
Jones was with Pat Shermer and actually had a productive
rookie year. Then of course they made a change and
Joe Judge came in and it was a completely different story.
So you got to walk that fine line at times.
And this is the nature of the beast when it

(05:30):
comes to the NFL. There's a revolving door of coaches
and personnel, and constant change happens. But I think you
got to look out for what's best for your young
quarterback because if you give him the stability, the talent
and the coaching, it could do a whole lot in
terms of its trajectory, Whereas if you go in the
opposite direction, you may get what exactly happened with Daniel Jones. Right.

Speaker 5 (05:51):
And speaking of stability and coaching, you know, you look
at the changes the Giants have made on the coaching
staff of course, really even Brian Dable of his duties
This week, Shane Bowen is out the door. Charlie Bullen,
the linebacker's coach, elevated to defensive coordinator. I know the
guys have talked about this earlier in the week on
the show, But when you look at a change in

(06:11):
defensive coordinator happening on a week that's a long week
going into Monday Night football, a little bit more time,
and yes there's a holiday which will affect things slightly,
but having more time to prepare, more time to dive in.
For Charlie Bullen, it's going to be beneficial as he
makes his debut as defensive coordinator on primetime.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
I think what can they be expected from a change
perspective is it's unrealistic they think they're going to drastically
change the scheme. I mean, they're this late in the
season that the scheme is the scheme. But I think
where Bullen can maybe change things compared to Bowen is
situational football.

Speaker 5 (06:43):
I think it's not scheme that's going to change its selection.

Speaker 6 (06:46):
Right.

Speaker 5 (06:47):
You know, you've got the same ingredients in the pantry.
You're just choosing when and where to use them perhaps
in a different way, you know, instead of Okay, starting
with this, you're maybe grabbing that one. And it's not
like you're gonna completely have a new selection of plays
or circumstances, but you might be using them in a
different way.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah. Where he picks his spots to play man to man,
Where he picks his spots to play zone. Does he
bring perhaps a blitz in a certain situation? Is he
more aggressive later in the fourth quarter depending on the
game flows. You know that lies in the decision making
of the defensive coordinator. But he's not bringing in a
savior off the street. He still has to deal with

(07:27):
the injury report and the ebbs and flows of what's
gonna happen during practice. But he can push different buttons
than Shane Bowen did. I think that could be a
potential change, But I don't see him revamping things drastically
to the point where they're going to be shuffling personnel
and it's going to have a completely different look. I
think he's gonna pick his spots and that will probably

(07:50):
be the most noticeable change.

Speaker 5 (07:51):
But I think anytime anything changes, something changes, right, you
change the personnel, whether so it's if it's Shane Bowen
in the front of the room, or if it's Charlie
Bullen just like you know on this so if it's
you know, you and dots or you and me or
me and s it's just there's when you change the
people in the room and the circumstance of it, the
energy shifts a little bit. Remains to be seen how
it's going to shift, especially a challenge when you're going

(08:13):
up against the New England Patriots and an MVP candidate
in Drake May, which is also another thing that is
impressive to see that Drake May has gone from you know,
a solid rookie quarterback to an MVP candidate in just
his second year in the league.

Speaker 2 (08:27):
And I think part of that is once again his
comfort with what Josh McDaniels is calling for. He has
protected the football. He leads the NFL in passing yards
per game and completion percentage, So I mean that's Tom
Brady territory. That's pretty impressive considering once again, I and
McDaniels are together for the first time after they made
the coaching change, and they brought in some talent around him,

(08:48):
not overwhelming town. I think he and Stefan Diggs have
built a really nice rapport they've had some semblance of
a run game. The defense has done a good job.
They've won nine in a row. They have not given
up more than twenty three points. So what you're doing
is Madeline. You're telling your young quarterback, you know, you
don't have to go out there and score thirty some
odd points a game. You can get twenty five, twenty
seven points and they'll be within striking distance of a victory.

(09:11):
And that matters because look at the giants defensive struggles.
The offense has to put up thirty some odd points
and they may not even feel comfortable. I'll do those circumstances.

Speaker 5 (09:21):
But also on the day before Thanksgiving things to be
grateful for. There was a period of time where five
year stretch, I want to say, where the Giants couldn't
eclipse twenty points. You know, there was a period of
time for many years where the Giants struggled to score
on opening drives. And now we're seeing that with consistency. Right,
We're seeing opening drive touchdowns on a regular basis. We're
seeing the Giants eclipsing the twenty point mark with either

(09:44):
putting points on the board. There's just different struggles now
that are coming from this team, and so yes, one
area gets fixed, you plug that leak, and you got
another one over here. You got to figure it out.
It's never ending process, but yeah, we're evolving.

Speaker 2 (10:00):
I think the biggest issue still with the offense is
it's a bit of Doctor Jekyl mister Hyde. First half
production has been noticeable in terms of an improvement, but
they're not scoring at the same rate in the second half.
There's been mixed results in terms of red zone production,
and you know that's why they have struggled to close games.
And we could sit here and point the finger at

(10:20):
various facets of the team, but you know, one way
to protect yourself from putting the defense in a position
where they have to close it out is you know,
you finish on a third quarter drive or you finish
on an earlier second quarter drive, and that puts more
pressure on the opposing offense. And that's still a hurdle
that they're trying to overcome. And you could look at
his last Lions game, Madeline, and I've got no problem

(10:42):
with them aggressively going for the points, but you had
nothing to show for that last drive. And there was
another drive earlier in the game where they got into
the red zone and they had to settle for a
field goal. If you flip that once again, it's not
saying that you're going to guarantee a victory, but for
what the Giants are dealing with right now, that would
go a long way in giving them at least more
of a buffer zone laid in games to say, hey,

(11:04):
the defense can give up a touchdown and it may
not be a backbreaker. Right now, the defense gives up
a touchdown, it's a backbreaker.

Speaker 5 (11:10):
Well, and also to your point where you said you
didn't have a problem with going forward in that circumstances.
With almost three minutes left on the clock, that's a
lot of time to not just take the points. And
so again, you know circumstances. I get you want to
be aggressive, you want to go for it, you want
to you know, in the moment, it seems like the
right idea hindsight is twenty twenty and a lot of
these calls and a lot of these circumstances, and.

Speaker 2 (11:30):
So well, the other way that I view it is
when you're two to nine, I think you can afford
to be more aggressive than under other circumstances. Not to
say that they're giving up on the season. But mathematically,
you know, they were right up against elimination whether they
won or lost that game. So where they are in
the season, Mike Kaffkat taking over, wants to maybe put

(11:51):
his stamp on the team. I could understand the decision
making yea necessarily.

Speaker 5 (11:55):
Be and inspire the players a bit, much like Week
one of Brian Enable's very first game against Tennessee when
they go for it.

Speaker 2 (12:03):
Yeah, they went for the two point conversion on the
two point.

Speaker 5 (12:04):
Co version, and it's like, I am showing you I'm
putting faith in my players on the field. And you know,
had it been fourth and one or fourth and two,
I would have been like, yes, perfect right, call, love it.
Fourth and six is a little bit harder in that circumstance.
But again, you're putting your faith in your players. You're saying,
I trust you to execute. Didn't work out that time?

Speaker 2 (12:22):
Well, and remember they had what a third and seventeen
earlier in the drive and they converted that so, but a.

Speaker 5 (12:28):
Third and seventeen in the middle of field is different
than a fourth and six in the red zone.

Speaker 2 (12:31):
No, without a doubt, I mean, because you have more
space to operate with it and I'll be the first
one to argue that.

Speaker 5 (12:36):
Yeah, the defenses.

Speaker 2 (12:37):
Yeah, but I think the problem with football analysis, at
least late in game, a lot of people would look
at it as well. They defense wound up holding the
Lions to a lengthy field goal that baits drilled. But
here's the thing. If the Lions are now trailing by
a touchdown six points, the play calling changes. For Dan Campbell.
They're not approaching that drive the same way. So I
disagree the viewpoint that, well, the Lions would have run

(12:59):
that drive identical and the Giants defense would have held.
There are so many other things that would have changed,
you know. I bring up the Marvel movie analogy. When
you change one thing, yeah, like other things are going
to be tweaked as a result. You don't just roll it.

Speaker 5 (13:15):
Over, right, No, I agree. However, I think the play
calling may have been different, but I think they still
would have been calling plays with the same effort of
getting down the field, and the Giants would have had
more territory to let their defense go to work. Instead
of having to defend from here to there, they can
defend from here to there because that's where they're trying

(13:35):
to stop.

Speaker 2 (13:36):
Well, you have a little bit more flexibility, to your point,
because they have to get into field goal range as
opposed to score a touchdown. So yeah, a little bit
more to leeway, there's no doubt about it. I just
in the big picture, I guess I was looking at
that more overview of the season as opposed to a
bubble within that game. If you're looking at it more
in a bubble within that game, I can understand, Okay,

(13:57):
take the points, make it a little bit more difficult
for the Lions, just the way the season has flowed,
the change in the head coach, where they are record wise,
I didn't look at it as once again a detrimental decision.

Speaker 5 (14:10):
Yeah yeah, And I think you know, it's it's all
it's all relative, it's all hindsight, it's all in perspective
of it all. And you know, at the end of
the day, the Giants are two and ten and they
are the first team eliminated from the playoffs, and so
the rest of this season is all right, let's put
it out on the field, let's see what we're working with.
And this is an opportunity for these players and these
coaches to put on film what they have not just

(14:30):
for this organization, but for all thirty two teams in
the league, because now it's like, all right, we're not
playing for a super Bowl, we're not playing for a
postseason birth. We are playing for our careers. And that
is the reason a lot of these players will be,
you know, putting their best foot forward. On Sundays, Giants
fans make sure to go and subscribe to the Giants
Hudle podcast. It features long form interviews with Giants players, coaches,

(14:52):
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A one nine three nine four five one three is
the phone number, let's go to the phone lines. Wilson

(15:15):
in Roxbury. You're on the line, Wilson. I'm sure you're
going to be telling us all the things you're grateful
for with so much joy today, aren't you wishful?

Speaker 1 (15:24):
Sucking?

Speaker 7 (15:25):
Hey Madeline, Hey Land, Happy Thanksgiving to you guys for
things to listen. Sports is a secondary dang just to
have fun. The most important things is that we have
a lot to be thankful for. And I say football
is something through pad the time.

Speaker 3 (15:39):
You know that.

Speaker 8 (15:40):
But but Land Man, if I would have, if I
would have played that lotto, would be a millionaire right now.
Because I told you this disaster, this dumpster fire, what's
gonna happen. I told you there's no way in hell
you led a head coach and general manager that won
night against in two years to draft a quarterback. What

(16:03):
they did, what did Giants do everything back was they
drafted a quarterback. Now you don't have the head coach,
you don't.

Speaker 2 (16:10):
Have this, and other teams have done that too, Wilson,
It's been a trend that I would argue, no, I
understand you're looking at it. But but no, no, I
understand that. But even going back to the season, I
remember we did multiple shows where we brought up that
a head coach and a general manager drafting a quarterback
does not guarantee job security. That actually is a false

(16:32):
perspective because the opposite has happened. Bryce Young is another
one the Panthers. Frank Wright. Frank Wright didn't even last
his full season with Bryce Young, so I could give
you multiple examples. Well, he's battled some injuries, but the
bottom line has there's been instability in Carolina. So we've
seen it with a lot of rookie Corns.

Speaker 8 (16:51):
Yeah, okay, let me ask the thing. Play with me
for a minute. But that's it complicate things?

Speaker 2 (16:57):
Does it complicate things in terms of moving far?

Speaker 6 (17:00):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (17:00):
I mean, like I said, I said it earlier in
the show with Magdalene. I said, ideally, if every NFL
team could find a way to follow an ideal script,
it would be stability for a young quarterback and not
having a revolving door of change that goes without saying.
Look at Alex Smith. Alex Smith had seven or eight
different offensive coordinators in his first seven or eight seasons

(17:20):
with the Niners. Why is it that Alex Smith didn't
thrive until he got to Kansas City because the Niners
changed everything constantly and Casey and Andy Reid it.

Speaker 3 (17:31):
Okay, I played with me for just woman.

Speaker 2 (17:34):
You've said that multiple times. I'm playing with you. We're
going paddleball in.

Speaker 8 (17:38):
Play with me for a minute. Okay, So now listen,
I like Mike Caska, I think Mike Caska has this
future in the NFL. I really do, because he's a
bright guy, he's a great shooter. Unfortunately, the optics of
what the Giants have been doing, there's no way in
hell that the Giants can give him the head coaching

(17:59):
John even if they want to, they can't because if
God obey he starts going through, that's it.

Speaker 9 (18:06):
It's over.

Speaker 8 (18:07):
So the Giants need, unfortunately, a coach with a resume
with a lot of teams. They don't want to go
Big Belichick, they don't want to go Nick seven. Fine,
there's only one name, and is Mike McCarthy. Now, what
happens if Mike McCarthy comes in that has won a
Super Bowl, that has won twelve games in a row
in Dallas, where Jerry Jones at his owner for three

(18:29):
for three seasons in the row, Right, what about Mike
McCarthy says to you, Hey, listen, you're not gonna win
with this kid. You're not gonna win with this kid,
this quarterback, this kid is not gonna last the season
ever because the way he plays and if frankly he's
not that good.

Speaker 2 (18:45):
Well, first of all, Wilson, let me jump in here,
listen to answer Wilson, hold on to answer your question.
And the same thing came up with previous Giants coaching staffs.
The first thing you do in the interview process when
you're talking to potential candidates is you asked them a
what do you think of the current roster and you
go over specific players. If during the interview process the

(19:07):
players that you like that you want to build your
franchise around the coaching candidate does not like, then probably
you're not going to hire that coach. So you're jumping
the gun, and you're getting to the point where they
wouldn't go down that territory with a potential coach unless
they are on the same page with respect to their
outlook of the personnel. So that's an easy discussion.

Speaker 5 (19:28):
It's also Wilson I will say for the guys that
what we are Yeah, And Wilson I will say, you
have two months of having.

Speaker 8 (19:37):
Quick you want the eleven games in three years? The eleven
games in three years. Mike McCarthy won twelve games in
a row for three years, and you're going to tell
a super Bowl head coach at super Bowl winning head coach, Hey, listen, Mike,
you want the job. This is your quarterback oither way,
I'm sorry, it's not for you. That's why we are
where we are.

Speaker 2 (19:58):
I'm not saying that, that's Wilson. So basically what you're
saying is is that a coach comes in, hypothetically speaking,
tells you they want to completely revamp the roster. And
first of all, there's going to be clearly financial repercussions
to doing that. So you're not going to all of
a sudden go immediately in the direction, but you would listen.
But if you like the personnel, then you're going to

(20:18):
stick with the personnel, especially if you have a quarterback
on a rookie contract, which is extremely valuable.

Speaker 5 (20:23):
Ken and also Wilson also to make a point of
the fact that, yes, resume is important, and I do
agree with you, you need somebody who's been there before, but
that doesn't always translate. I mean Bill Belichick, the Super
Bowl winning coach his last season with the Patriots four
and thirteen, right now with the unc tar Heels four
and seven. So yes, he's got a lot of talent
Bill Belichick and his little finger, but he's not really

(20:44):
executing in the same way. So all I'm saying is
that resume only goes so far, and we have two
months left of making this decision.

Speaker 2 (20:53):
Good luck convincing him of that.

Speaker 5 (20:54):
It's all right. I'm just gonna you know, like, listen, yeah,
I'm here for it. I get your chest. Well, somebody,
you gotta say, we.

Speaker 8 (21:01):
Would have winning franchise, but the Giants have won eleven
games and three years. You cannot do Obviously they're not
doing They're doing things the wrong way. So Mike McCarthy
that one of Super Bowl tells you, listen, that's not
You're never gonna win doing the doing that, doing it
this way. Let's do it my way, and I promise
you we're gonna win. You gotta go with what the

(21:22):
guy says. I mean, we have won eleven games in
three years, medaling well.

Speaker 2 (21:27):
I mean, once again, I respect it and Wilson.

Speaker 5 (21:29):
I am grateful for the call and the joy that
that Wilson brings to the show on a regular basis.
And want honestly, I respect the fire, you know, like
that's the thing. If you're not ten toes down this passionate,
are you even really a fan?

Speaker 4 (21:46):
Like?

Speaker 5 (21:46):
And I I respect that Wilson cares this deeply about
the team. To call in and express this stuff on
a weekly basis, and I agree, you know that something
needs to change. Is it Mike McCarthy? Maybe? Is it?
Is it a candidate that we haven't even considered yet,
because because again it's gonna be two months before we
actually have somebody in place about you know, the season's
gonna end, the interview processes are going to start. There's

(22:08):
gonna be people that perhaps are currently employed by other
teams that are no longer at that point, that are
in the in the rotation for that role. And there
might be a name that we're not even thinking of
right now that's in the mix. And so I think
at this point, sure we can pontificate about it all
we want to, but it's a little too soon to think, Okay,
this is who it has to be, because we don't
really know what all the options are going to be.
We don't know what the circumstances are going to be

(22:30):
come you know, end of December early January when that
process begins.

Speaker 2 (22:34):
Yeah, we don't know who is unfortunately going to maybe
lose their job elsewhere. That's, once again just the nature
of this league. There's always a surprise or too Yeah.

Speaker 5 (22:41):
About six eight coaching openings.

Speaker 2 (22:44):
About a quarter of the NFL turns over rate wise
on a consistent basis. So you look at when Vrabel
was let go from Tennessee Seahawks, part of ways with
Pete Carroll, I would say those were surprises, So we
don't know what's going to happen. But the Giants have
gone in a variety of different directs, and I would
say the results haven't been overwhelming. For example, they promoted

(23:05):
Ben McAdoo and that had mixed results. Okay, so that
would be like Kafka sticking with him. Okay. Then we've
seen them bring in Pat Shermer, And I understand Pat
Shermer is not Mike McCarthy, but Shermer had previous head
coaching experience.

Speaker 5 (23:17):
No he didn't. He did in the NFL.

Speaker 2 (23:20):
Cleveland was with the Browns. Pat Shermmer was with Cleveland Browns.

Speaker 5 (23:23):
Oh yeah, as a head coach.

Speaker 2 (23:25):
It was he was that coach, yeah, the Browns. So
that's an example of that. Joe Judge came from the
Bill Belichick coaching tree, where New England won religiously. Dable
did a great job in developing Josh Allen in Buffalo's offense.
So I mean I could sit here till all blue
in the face and a nauseam go over the pros
of a lot of previous Giants coaches based on resume
who they worked with, and the results have been similar.

(23:48):
So you come in and you say you gotta get
a head coach with X amount to previous years. That's fine,
and I don't think there's anything wrong with that if
they go down that hypothetical road. But to suggest that
it's a guarrant tea blueprint to win, and that you
should listen to that person and not have any substance
in who you already previously have on the roster, I

(24:09):
also think is a very small minded perspective.

Speaker 5 (24:12):
We've got some YouTube comments chiming in and be Goblin
saying happy almost Thanksgiving everyone, I'm most thankful for our
O line this year. I agree, Sean and I talk
about it on a regular basis that the impressive play
that we've seen from them. Honestly, I'm okay with Winston
going out there Monday with how well he played last week.
I'm all on board with Kafka if we keep seeing improvements.
Got to give a hat tip to Jameis Winston. I mean,

(24:33):
I know we've been gassing him up a little bit,
but I mean the fact that he came out there
and played the decisive way that he did. The execution
was incredible, and only two players in the history of
the National Football League have thrown for over three hundred
yards and had over twenty five yards receiving one. Tom
Brady to Jameis Winston elite company right there.

Speaker 2 (24:54):
So I'd love to know how many guys have actually
been targeted to even fit under that umbrella. Think that's
interesting waste?

Speaker 5 (25:00):
Why ruin a good story?

Speaker 2 (25:01):
I'm trying not, but I'm just looking at it. I guess,
so how many quarterbacks realistically have been targeted like Winston
and Brady?

Speaker 5 (25:07):
I guess I'm interest And also got to show some
love to Gunner Oschewski for also scrambling in the creating
time and making that incredible throw to Jamis. I mean,
that was Gunner's first pass in an NFL game and
this man accuracy.

Speaker 2 (25:23):
By the way, he completely downplayed that play after the game.
I know, I don't want to say that he didn't care,
but I loved his answer when he said, I get
more excited fielding a punt than I do throwing a pass.

Speaker 5 (25:33):
Which that was his response, which also too, if you've
ever filled a punt, though, it's such a unique experience.
You're just looking up here. It's like being John Snow
when everyone's coming at you and you're just like all
right yourself.

Speaker 1 (25:44):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (25:45):
J Fed forty nine forty two saying happy Thanksgiving from Canada.
We had hours last month. I don't see why the
Giants can't beat the Patriots. Honestly, I kind of agree
with you, Jfed. Also, happy belated Canadian Thanksgiving. That's in October.
That was a the week that the Giants have Thursday
Night football against the Eagles was the Canadian Thanksgiving. But

(26:06):
I do think the Giants of the Giants are the
best of the bad teams right now. Like, yes, they're
two and ten, but they are a competitive to intent,
they're an exciting to intent. They are in every single
one of these games, and in an alternate universe they're
ten and two. The Patriots, I would say, in an
alternate universe, could be like, you know, six and six. Maybe,

(26:27):
I don't know. I think there's a lot of they
kind of they have a lot of talent and Drake
May is playing very well, of course, leading the league
and passing. He's had over two hundred passing yards in
every single game this season. But there are moments where
the Patriots leave the door open, and so anything could
happen on primetime. You never know.

Speaker 2 (26:44):
Well, the biggest difference between both of these teams is
New England has finished successfully and the Giants have it.
I mean, that's the biggest separator between both of these teams.
I say this if you look it on average, Mandelin,
the majority of NFL games, ninety five percent of them
are decided by one pit session. So you're gonna have
to find a way to finish. And New England the

(27:05):
reason why they're on this nine game winning streak. Yeah,
they've played a lot of close games, with the exception
of they beat Tennessee thirty one to thirteen, they beat
Carolina forty two to thirteen, they beat Cleveland thirty two
to thirteen, and the Jets they beat by thirteen. So
out of these nine, five have been decided by one possession.
As I mentioned, nobody has scored more than twenty three

(27:26):
points against them, and they have found ways with Drake
May protecting the football, the defense playing sound and not
taking a lot of risk. But they've trailed, they've had
to rally. On paper, they don't have a bunch of
Pro bowlers. They just lost the left side of their
offensive line due to injury, though both of those stars
were rookies and have given up sixteen sacks combined, so

(27:48):
they haven't necessarily been smooth sailing.

Speaker 5 (27:50):
But you're not there the starters.

Speaker 2 (27:52):
You're noticing that they are going to lose two starters,
so that could create some opportunities for the Giants. Do
I think there's a winnable game? Absolutely, because New England
has it run away from the opposition, but also the
Giants have been in just about every game, so it
would also be surprising if the Giants all of a sudden,
we're not on Monday Night in the thickest things, when

(28:13):
I think they've done a pretty good job doing that
regardless of the opposition. So right now, the Giants right
just about every single game.

Speaker 5 (28:20):
Win, loser, draw, It's going to be a competitive game,
is what I feel like.

Speaker 2 (28:23):
I can guarantee your turnover fest of some sort.

Speaker 5 (28:25):
Yeah, unless I say the Saints game all over again,
which I would, I would be flabbergasted if it was
Giants fans with another impactful draft and free agency class
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(28:47):
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and get your season tickets for twenty twenty six, because
you know, fresh start. Why not Let's go back to
the phone lines two A one nine three nine four

(29:08):
five one three Jimmy and West Caldwell Online to Jimmy
has a response to Wilson Thanksgiving. Look at that save
you Happy Thanksgiving? Jimmy.

Speaker 3 (29:18):
Oh, I'll talk, thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm
a Giant fan for I'm fifty eight years old. I
heard the last call at Wilson. I get the passion,
I get all that I listen I like Mike McCarthy.
I would love for him to be my coach, but
I want to keep the kid. The kid is, the
kid is.

Speaker 6 (29:38):
He's got it.

Speaker 3 (29:39):
He's got it, and I'd like the idea. And I
don'tly hear anyone talking about it. Ohio State's defensive coordinator
will watch him Saturday afternoon. Matt Patricia as my defensive
coordinator would be phenomenal. This guy Gabel came in hired
that guy Shane Bowman. He did nothing. He cost him
his job.

Speaker 10 (30:00):
He should have fired.

Speaker 8 (30:01):
Him a long time ago.

Speaker 3 (30:02):
I mean, that was Davil's offense.

Speaker 6 (30:04):
They scored points.

Speaker 3 (30:05):
All year, all year, and the defense lost how many
games we should be seven and five, seven.

Speaker 4 (30:13):
And four, whatever it is, should have at least won
seven games.

Speaker 2 (30:17):
Well, I mean, listen, we could sit here in the
hypothetical world. And I'm not saying you're wrong, but I
mean there's a lot of teams in NFL history that
are doing the same thing and.

Speaker 5 (30:26):
That game, and there's also a lot of nuance involved
in it, and I think we forget sometimes in you know,
in this sphere of looking at it like, oh, this
guy's got to go, that guy's got to go. This is,
you know, a person's livelihood and a person's job, and
there's a lot more that goes into behind the scene.

Speaker 2 (30:41):
Was who calling the place?

Speaker 3 (30:43):
Calling the place?

Speaker 2 (30:45):
Was the offensive play caller all season? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (30:48):
Who was?

Speaker 6 (30:51):
Okay?

Speaker 8 (30:51):
So and we kept him?

Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yes, But I don't get it, Well, I lost you.

Speaker 5 (30:58):
I'm not getting Wait, why would I mean, why would
you know you don't fire an entire coaching staff midseason,
because then who's going to coach the team?

Speaker 3 (31:06):
Jimmy, I get it.

Speaker 10 (31:08):
I'm saying I would have went back and just kept
in there.

Speaker 3 (31:11):
For the rest of the year. I would have kept
table back, just get rid of bowling.

Speaker 6 (31:17):
Just they won't keep.

Speaker 2 (31:19):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, listen, we've seen teams do that,
and I mean, you know, we'll certainly let you go
on that point, Jimmy. Raiders, they just parted ways with
their offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly because that side of the
ball has struggled mightily. So I mean, we've seen it
go in a variety of different directions. The Giants felt
that it took more than just removing the defensive corner,

(31:40):
and they wanted to change ahead of the franchise. So
that's why they ultimately went in that direction, but clearly
the defense struggled. Clearly the defense has had its fair
share of issues in finishing games, as we've been discussing.
But as far as change here moving forward, you know
there's going to be a new defensive cooridator next season,

(32:00):
whether Kafka is the head coach or they bring in
somebody else, you know, somebody else is going to be
leading that side of the ball. And just a quick
response to the last caller, Also, Mattaline threw out the
name Matt Patricia and the big game Ohio State Michigan.

Speaker 5 (32:14):
Well, Matt Patricia was in the building interviewing for the
head coaching job with the Giants when the Giants went
with Pat Shechrmer and Patricia ended up with the Detroit
Lions that year, and so the building is well familiar
with him, not just on the football field, but also
you know.

Speaker 2 (32:28):
Well he's also from the Belichick coaching tree, and if they,
you know, needed more information, Belichick could certainly provide that.
But I think the bigger thing that sometimes gets lost
is if you have a head coach that doesn't have
a prior relationship with that defensive coordinator, that could be
an issue when you were a head coach, it's critical
and this is why a lot of franchises then they'll

(32:51):
they'll make recommendations of who to hire. Yeah, they're not
going to force a coach down the throat of a
headman because they understand trust is a big part of
being on a stack.

Speaker 5 (33:00):
Well in any vocation, whether it's coaching a football team
or running a marketing team or what have you. If
you're heading a team and if somebody's like, oh, this
person's going to be on your team, and maybe you
don't work well with that person or that person doesn't
work well with you, it's not going to work. So yes,
you can be encouraged and recommended people and say, oh,
this person comes from that person's tree, But at the

(33:21):
end of the day, if that chemistry isn't there between
the head coach and the coordinators, just like in any
other job, if you are running a team and one
of your employees doesn't essentially kind of fit into what
you're trying to do, then that's not going to work.
They could be very talented in their own right, and
so I'm only saying that to say not to dismiss

(33:42):
or to disregard any level of talent. It's just there's
a lot of nuance that goes into it, and I
think people forget that because they're so focused on, Oh,
this person coached with that person, so they must be
a godsend and all that. Yes, sure, but there's so
much more nuance that goes into it.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
And that's why, whoever is going to be the head
coach next season, if they have a prior relationship with
a Patricia or somebody else, you know, maybe that could
present itself. But it's just it's not a guarantee that
that all of a sudden is gonna come to fruition
at case in point, if memory serves me correctly, I
think Shermer, when he became the head coach of the Giants,
had an opportunity to hire Steve Spagnolo and bring him

(34:20):
back as the DC or keep him. And Shermer had
a history because they were both on the RAMS staff
together when Spags was the Rams head coach, Shermer was
his OC. And Shermer did not go in that direction.
He brought in James Becher, who actually they didn't have
a prior relationship. Shermer just liked when he went up
against Betcher. His defense has gave him a lot of trouble,
and sometimes coaches do go in that direction. But I

(34:41):
just wouldn't dismiss and overlook if there's no history, if
there's no relationship, as good as that coordinator may be,
they may shy away from bringing that person in because
there's not that established rapport.

Speaker 5 (34:52):
Right exactly two A one nine three nine four five
one three. Back to the phone lines, Lou in Pennsylvania. Lou,
you're on Big Blue Kickoff Live with Lance and Madeline.
How are you doing?

Speaker 3 (35:01):
Hey?

Speaker 11 (35:01):
Everyone?

Speaker 9 (35:02):
All right? If you're all?

Speaker 12 (35:02):
This just a couple of things through the coach and
the coach, and I think they buy Davel a little
bit too early.

Speaker 9 (35:13):
They should have given a little bit more time with Dark.

Speaker 13 (35:16):
But the next best thing is to have the offensive
coordinator that that was working for them for beginnings still there.
If Kafta doesn't get a job, I think either we
need to think about like a coach, like an old
school coach, like either Rex Ryan or even Chris Schula
from the Rams.

Speaker 12 (35:37):
The defensive coordinators like the Rams or they fly around
the field making place And I just don't think that
whatever new coach that's coming we need to keep all
the pieces that we have right now. So I don't
think like rumors are Thibodeau gang traded. I don't think
you should do anything like that.

Speaker 9 (35:58):
I think they should just stay put and let the
next coach that comes in make that call for the team,
because I know how a record is bad, but the
team that he doesn't feel like is a bad team.
It feels that you cannot get the balls to bounce
our away when we wanted to.

Speaker 5 (36:14):
So I agree with that.

Speaker 12 (36:17):
I'm happy with the team.

Speaker 9 (36:18):
I just if you can try to keep my calf
as an OC if he doesn't take a job somewhere else,
don't let that on line coach walk out of the door.

Speaker 2 (36:29):
Well, but I mean that's the risk once again you
take if you don't retain cast Let's say I mean
him and Carmen Brisillo or right now on the same staff,
right so that would be concerned you bring in a
new coach, though, keep in mind he may not want
that offensive coordinator.

Speaker 5 (36:43):
He may not want or he may respect that offensive
coordinator and that O line coach, but he may have
a buddy who that he's worked with before, that's you know,
on his couch and wants a job, and he might say,
you know what, listen, I respect what you've done here,
but I want to bring in the person who my
loyalty is to.

Speaker 2 (36:58):
I think, once again, I'll go back to my statement.
I think the worst thing that you could do on
any level of football is bringing a head coach and
force his staff on him. It's a terrible idea. So
if you're going to bring in a new head coach,
you have to give them the freedom to bring in
who they want on Steff. You can make recommendations. For example,
when Dave Gettelman was the general manager and you know

(37:18):
they brought in Shermer and Judge, there would be recommendations, Hey,
take a look at this DB's coach. He's done very
good work in terms of developing our corners. So you
have an interview, But that doesn't mean that that individual
is going to be forced into hiring that person.

Speaker 12 (37:32):
Right, all right, thanks, So take that defense, right Ryan,
that's my call.

Speaker 5 (37:39):
I have a good one an you as well, Thanks
so much, Lou. Happy Thanksgiving. The phone lines are lighting up,
so let's keep a cranking to a one nine three
nine four five one three. We've got Tony and Florida, Florida, Man, Tony,
Happy Thanksgiving? How you doing?

Speaker 4 (37:53):
Happy Thanksgiving to you guys. Just want to let you
guys know that I've been listening to all these calls.
I do think that they fired Dab a little too soon.

Speaker 8 (38:03):
The offense.

Speaker 5 (38:05):
Really hold on, Tony, you're breaking up? Are you? Are
you going? Are you driving somewhere?

Speaker 10 (38:10):
Are you?

Speaker 4 (38:14):
Maybe I should go outside?

Speaker 5 (38:15):
Oh there we go.

Speaker 2 (38:15):
We got your back.

Speaker 5 (38:16):
We got you back now, all right? Sorry, go ahead.
As you were saying, so, what.

Speaker 4 (38:20):
I was trying to say is that the problem is
the defense, a lack of motivation. They need a defensive
coordinated with motivation because these guys are flat in the
fourth quarter.

Speaker 6 (38:32):
Look at the offense.

Speaker 4 (38:33):
One side and penalties. Then you got Scatterboo be firing
their defense with the interception against the Eagles. And then
you got Jackson Dodd. He's fired up, and even Jamison
Winston is fired up. The offense is fired up, they're
ahead of the defense. Is the defense that cannot close

(38:54):
the game?

Speaker 2 (38:54):
Well, Tony, I understand what Les.

Speaker 4 (38:56):
Was saying that you know in the fourth quarter we
need to sustain the drive. That's true, but we lost
a lot of you know rookie pieces, you know, neighbors
and scataboo and even thought, the point is we need
a coach on a defensive side or maybe over wall
like John Gruden or something like that to help that.

(39:21):
You seeing what he did in the sideline, if you
remember pace, that's what they need. They need something like that.

Speaker 2 (39:27):
Well, but but Tony, let me let me just fight
back a little bit with your point. These are you know,
once again, these are professional athletes. If you need a
pep talk from a coach to get you to a
next level, I would argue you don't belong in the NFL.

Speaker 5 (39:40):
I don't know that pep talk is necessarily what he's saying, though.
I think I think all players are different players, and
understanding how to get the best out of each person
is valid, is valid, But I don't necessarily I don't
necessarily think Tony's sitting there saying, oh, we need a
cheerleader on the sideline. But it's somebody who understands how
to bring the best out of each individual. Whereas some
people need to be told you ain't whatever and have

(40:02):
that challenge, whereas other people need that positive reinforcement. I
think someone who is able to understand what these players
need to get them to rise to their best.

Speaker 2 (40:11):
That's coaching well, and I think that lies in the
positional coaches. For example, Brian Burns even talked about this
week that Charlie Bullen, you know, helped him change his
approach as to why his sack total has gone up.
You know, look at things a little bit differently. I
think the positional coaches have far more influence than the
defensive coordinator. To your point on maybe getting the most

(40:33):
out of an individual, but they've lost so many close games.
Think about what was on the line in that Lion's game.
It was the attitude of here we go all over again.
If you need a reason to go out there and
close the door at this stage, after everything you've been through,
then once again I would question whether you belong in
the National Football League.

Speaker 5 (40:49):
Yeah, and I and I agree. I don't think. I
don't think they need a reason. But I think it's
also being put in a position to succeed and put
in a position to use those skills at the well.

Speaker 2 (40:57):
But that I would argue, that's that to me that.

Speaker 4 (41:03):
Can I say something? Can I say something? Looking at
parts that the Lawrence Taylor when Lawrence Taylor wasn't playing good.
He put notes on his locker room, he said things
to fire him up to get that point. And you know,
certain players and that defense don't have it. They just
don't use that's part of coaching, and if they don't
have it, they need to go. But the point is

(41:25):
the defense will how they give up those plays Like
Jimi gives that's saife. He just stood there and watch
him go by and then he decided to run. I
mean that, you know, where is the motivation of them
making those tackles? I mean they just flash, they say
out there flat. That's part of coaching, and if they
don't have it, they need to go on the defensive
part of the ball games. But I'm just saying the

(41:46):
offense they're ahead of the defense. They're way ahead the
defense because they are motivated. Then they're executing the play.
The defense is not. And that's the problem we're happening
right now.

Speaker 3 (41:55):
Now.

Speaker 4 (41:55):
You're saying about, you know, getting a new coaches, So
for that, yeah, we do need some kind of motivated coach,
you know, to get that defense fired up because they
don't have it. That's flat. They just don't happen.

Speaker 5 (42:07):
I can see that too, Tony, and thank you so
much for the call. And I think a lot of
motivation to not only comes from being put in a
position to succeed or being you know, kind of put
in a position to feel the most confident about your
own skill set, but also from success right and when
you're not doing well, sometimes it's easy to kind of
fall into a slump. Also, I think the words that
a defensive player hates to hear the most on the

(42:28):
sideline or punt team get ready. It's like, wait a minute, already,
we just got back to the sideline. We just started
looking over what we're doing, and it's already time to
get back out there. And I think a lot of
times in the second half, like you were talking about
earlier lances, yes, the offense is executing really well in
the first half, sometimes falling off in the second. And
when that happens and the defense has to get back
on the field and back on the field, and things
fall off, it starts to fall apart, it starts crumble.

Speaker 2 (42:53):
Well, And that's why you can alleviate your defense or
what you're relying on them if once again you consistently
finish drives on the offensive side of the ball in
the second half. Balance in terms of the point about
that Jamiir Gibbs the run for the lengthy touchdown that
gave them the lead in overtime, The blocking was sensational
by Detroit. Now, you could tell me all you want

(43:13):
about maybe the lack of effort by the Giants, but
if you go back and you watch that play.

Speaker 5 (43:17):
Everyone went left.

Speaker 2 (43:18):
Everyone. I mean, the two tight ends got to the
second level. I'm on ross Saint Brown was able to
take on his blocker. I mean they executed that too perfection,
and that was a big reason why Gibbs broke out
and ran for the touchdown.

Speaker 5 (43:31):
But also that's not a play that was unique to
the Lion. I mean the Giants did that too, where
they were able to break open Tyrone Tracy for forty
two yards in that play too. So it's like you
get that blocking and executing successfully and you get the
entire defense to go one way, and then the ball
goes the other. There you go, then you break out
a big chunk.

Speaker 2 (43:47):
Well that's why to me, the area where they could
have prevented Gibbs was in the secondary. The angle to
take once all of a sudden Gibbs gets to the
third layer of that defense, that's on the safeties and
the cornerbacks, and that's where they were a completed group
right now, the best position to maybe bring him down.
And yes, he's still gonna get a big game, but
now maybe you stop him in the red zone and

(44:08):
you have to force the Lions to try to finish
that drive differently.

Speaker 5 (44:11):
The Giants official connected TV streaming app, Giants TV brings
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Big Blue fans. Giants TV is free on Apple TV, Roku,
and Amazon Fire TV, and on the Giants mobile app.
To A one nine three nine four five one three
is the phone number Jake in New York. Jake, Welcome
to the show. You're on Big Blue Kickoff Live with

(44:32):
Lance and Madeline.

Speaker 11 (44:33):
Hey, guys, how's it going. Thanks for taking mark.

Speaker 5 (44:35):
Call, thanks for calling in, and thanks for holding Yeah.

Speaker 11 (44:39):
Of course, So with honestly the team not being the
best right now, they're not actually playing bad football, it's
just unfortunate circumstances. Everything going on. There's been a lot
of negative on this team. I just want to know
what you guys have been thinking of just the overall
team morale between guys like Chamous Winston, who's always there

(45:01):
to have a good time, just laugh. Then you got
Dart and Scattaboo who are like like brothers, like just
goofing off, you know, just like It's granted they're not
winning all these games, but they are a fun team
to watch, and I want to know, like, what do
you guys think, just like of just the overall team around,
even though having one of the worst records in the season,

(45:25):
they're still running out there like like their little kids
playing football for the first time.

Speaker 5 (45:30):
I agree with that point, Jake, and I think, yeah,
you know, the record on the field is struggling an
in frustration for a lot of people, but you know,
there is a personality to this team that we haven't
seen much in years past, and there is a culture
building and you know, a youth movement. And when you
talk about Scatt and Dart and how they've come in
here and they don't carry that weight of the years

(45:52):
of struggle that the Giants have had. Yes, they are
understanding this season is not going quite so well, but
at the end of the day too, there is a
joy based upon the players that we have in this
locker room. And the player driven leadership in this locker room,
and a joy for the game. And I think that's
the reason that this team is still so competitive despite
the struggles to spite the record, despite the losses, And

(46:13):
that is something that is a tangible building piece. You know,
you're you're enjoying if you love your job. I mean, listen,
I get asked all the time, They're like, wow, you
know you've been covering this team for so long and
they keep losing. How do you keep smiling? How do
you I'm like, I feel so fortunate to be able
to cover one of the thirty two teams in the
National Football League, one of the most storied franchises. If

(46:35):
you were to tell me ten years ago, fit twenty
years ago, Hey you get to cover an NFL team.
They're gonna lose a lot of games, but you get
to be there, I'd be thrilled, thrilled. So I think
it's all perspective, right, not to say that, you know,
these guys are just happy to be here.

Speaker 2 (46:49):
No.

Speaker 5 (46:50):
I mean, of course they want to win, of course
they want to experience more success. But I think they
have a perspective of you know what, let's let's be
griful and enjoy what we're doing. And you know, especially
guys like Dart and Scott like spending time talking to
them like they just love football in a way that
is so pure and that's gonna that's gonna be something
to build on.

Speaker 2 (47:09):
Well, they're young, I mean they're in their first year
in the NFL. I think that's a product of you
don't know any better because you haven't been in the
league five or six straight years where you've all of
a sudden endured losing.

Speaker 5 (47:20):
I think a veteran Jamis has been in the league
a lot of years, he's still sparks show.

Speaker 2 (47:26):
I'm not I'm not disputing anything.

Speaker 5 (47:27):
I think.

Speaker 2 (47:28):
To answer the caller's question, I don't think there's any
issue with the morale of this team. I don't think
that's the reason why they're losing, because once again, I
think it's more on the lack of execution and x's
and oh's than you know, them needing to put on
a sports film to get motivated, like a previous caller
you know, was insinuating. I just I don't feel it's
fairy tale football. I think the reality is these guys
are professionals. I think a lot of these players understand

(47:51):
they're not guaranteed to be on the roster next year,
so they're probably auditioning to go elsewhere. They don't have
the big picture opportunity to say, oh, I could take
three or four games off, it doesn't matter. You can't
operate like that when you're in the NFL, and when
you're a young rookie, you also have the urgency of
I've got to keep showing improvement because they'll draft another

(48:11):
kid next year to take my spot. So I think
most NFL players are built with that mindset, and I
think the fact that there's a lot of young players
on the offensive side of the ball, that's why you're
seeing a very positive outlook. And I don't think that's
going to change because most of these guys, at least
who were drafted within the last year or two, will
stay on the team. And Jamis is just cut from

(48:33):
a different cloth, so you know, I mean, you don't
need to find out what's going on in his mind.
I think he's proven no matter where he's gone, he
loves football, whether he's the third stringer, the backup, or
the starter. I think that's been well documented.

Speaker 11 (48:47):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, I absolutely love the morale of the team.
Like honest season ticket holder, I've gone to a bunch
of games. I was at the Chargers game when they won.
It was the atmosphere was electric. Literally everybody was jumping, screaming.
It was like the most fun and it was awesome
because we watched everybody have fun. You know, I was

(49:09):
there when Malik got hurt and everyone was so high,
and then it shut down to a low. But we
got back up. You know, we cheered them. And then
you know, with darts injury, with a concussion protocol, and
now we have also Scataboo with his ankle. Everyone is
still showing up, still showing love, doing the best they can,

(49:31):
try to keep the team morale high because even though
rec like we're numbered wise bottom of the league, but
we're not losing pipe like low out games, like it's
like within a couple points. It's just unfortunate last minute
decisions that fall apart. But I feel like the team
overall morale is just what's really keeping them going.

Speaker 8 (49:50):
And hopefully with.

Speaker 11 (49:51):
This offseason, the office figures out what they need to do,
the team locks in on certain aspects that we're lacking.
Just keep watching film, really stuck, and I think by
next year we might actually have a chance of being
like a decent You know, we're not a bad team now,
it's just unfortunate situations that just keep making it. Also,
we have the hardest schedule, making it just so much

(50:14):
more difficult for us.

Speaker 2 (50:15):
Sure, but listen, no, Jay, I didn't mean to go job.
We'll let you go because we want to try to
speeze in a few more callers, I think, once again
pointing to the schedule, Remember, even if it gets easier,
and I'm not looking ahead that quickly to what they're
playing next season. Remember those are all records based on
this year. It's got nothing to do with how the
teams are going to pan out the following season. So

(50:36):
I wouldn't read too much into well, next year's schedule
be easier, and therefore, you know that will give them
a better chance to win games. Those teams who are
struggling this year are also working simultaneously to improve. That's
how the NFL works. It's just like the NFC East. Okay,
you could say maybe it's a little bit of a
down year for the NFC East. Well, the Cowboys Washington,

(50:57):
They're going to now be working this offseason to get
back on the winning track, just like the Giants are.
It doesn't operate where the Giants are the only team
looking to get better and everybody else stays status quo.
So that's why I wouldn't read so much into what
the potential of the schedule presents for next season.

Speaker 5 (51:13):
Yeah, yeah, and I think but even looking at the
remaining schedule this season and the success of the teams
that the Giants are facing that have had this season
is also valid point where yes, it's going to be
a tough stretch, but you know what, that's why they
play the games two A, one nine, four five one three.
Let's go back to the phone lines, Line three. Mike
in Massachusetts. Mike, you're on Big Blue Kickoff Live with

(51:33):
Lance and Madeline. How's it going, Mike.

Speaker 10 (51:36):
It's going great, guys. I'm enjoying your show.

Speaker 5 (51:40):
Thanks you again, thanks for listening, and thanks for calling.

Speaker 10 (51:44):
It's a pleasure, pleasure.

Speaker 6 (51:46):
Well.

Speaker 10 (51:46):
I've been a Giants fan for a long long time.
I've been watching Giants football for sixty years, and I
have to disagree with some of the callers saying that
Dable should have been kept on. I don't agree with that, he.

Speaker 6 (52:01):
Should have been back going.

Speaker 10 (52:03):
Him and Shange should have been go at the beginning
of the year.

Speaker 6 (52:07):
We should have.

Speaker 10 (52:07):
Had a new staff then.

Speaker 3 (52:10):
But it is what it is.

Speaker 10 (52:13):
But I have to say regarding Caaskar, I don't think
that he when he was calling the plays, I don't
think it was his his.

Speaker 3 (52:27):
Oh I got it.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
Mean he didn't have a chance to be as aggressive.
You're saying that it was he.

Speaker 10 (52:35):
Was running the offense that they won't want it to run.
He was wasn't like he was doing it, like he
was creating, you know, the plays because they will.

Speaker 6 (52:47):
I don't.

Speaker 10 (52:48):
I didn't see the creativity in his offense, you know.
And and everybody says, oh, he's a quarterback gurum, Come on,
I don't agree with that.

Speaker 5 (52:59):
He You don't agree with the fact that Dabel as
a quarterback guru.

Speaker 10 (53:03):
He said, yes, I don't agree that he is a
quarterback guru like everybody you know calls him. I think
he was made to look like one because of Alan
when he was in Buffalo. But yes, he didn't do
anything with Danny Dines.

Speaker 6 (53:23):
He didn't.

Speaker 5 (53:25):
You know, Listen, Mike, I will say, though you know,
Josh Allen still holds Brian Dabele in high regard. They
have a really great relationship because of the way that
Brian Dabile helped Josh Allen develop as a quarterback. I
have seen firsthand the way that Brian Dable not only
coaches the quarterbacks in terms of their retention and what

(53:48):
they see on the field, but also the certain nuances
of the game. We saw it in the preseason, Dabel
deliberately cutting the colms for Jackson Dart to put him
in that situation of Okay, how does this, how do
you handle this? Let me prepare you for things that
you might not even think about yet. Let me make
sure that you have these experiences under your belt that
may come up in some freak moment. And I want

(54:09):
to put you in the position to feel prepared, because
my coach thought about that in preseason and said, oh,
here's another trick. I'm gonna play on you and not
let you know and see how you navigate this in
a game that doesn't necessarily hold weight for the season,
but it's a great experience for you. Hey, I'm going
to have you go out for the coin toss. Hey,
I'm going to have you do certain elements of the
role of quarterback that are bigger than just reading the defense,

(54:32):
assessing the defense, going through your reads and throwing the ball,
you know. And so I do think that Brian Dable
thinks about things in a way that's very creative, and
that is not just that is outside of just the
realm of how do I make you the best on
the field, that in those moments between the lines, but
also just the entirety of your confidence in being prepared

(54:55):
for that moment.

Speaker 2 (54:55):
Mike, I think there's a distinct difference between being good
for an offense and the develop to a quarterback versus
the lack of success for a head coach and John
you can let him, yeh, We'll let you go out.
You look at Josh Allen coming out of Wyoming, there
were a lot of question marks about his skill set,
his completion percentage, his accuracy, and Brian Dable brought him
along to a point where, you know, he became one

(55:17):
of the best in the National Football League, especially after
his rookie year. So I'm not willing to dismiss that
just because of how he panned out as a head
coach with the Giants. He also did a good job
tweaking the approach for the Giants in twenty twenty two.
And I'm not saying that Daniel Jones was a prolific passer,
but at least made Danie'll think about his decision making

(55:37):
the interceptions went down. They leaned on him and Saquon
Barkley as a runner and that's why they were a
pleasant surprise and they made the playoffs. So I just
gave you two things that I think are well documented
on his resume that still bode well for him. As
you want to say a quarterback guru. I think that
term is used very loosely, but at least somebody that
has a good track record in helping to develop quarterback.

(56:00):
So I'm not going to bury that just because things
didn't pan out well as the Giants head coach. And
there are a lot of individuals that we've seen in
NFL history that are good coordinators slash QB coaches, But
it takes a different approach to be a headman and
be able to oversee an entire team and delegate responsibilities
and work with all different facets. That's why everybody's not

(56:22):
cut out to be that way. But once again, I
think you're meshing everything together where I think there's separation
factors that prove that he still has done a really
nice job in developing some talent in this league.

Speaker 5 (56:34):
And the perspective from outside is missing a lot of
detail from inside and a lot of elements that also
go into it. And I think it's easy to point
the finger out all this guy's in charge of this
guy's got to take the fall. But you know there's okay,
a million things that go into it. Yeah, we'll leave
it there, two A one nine three nine four or
five one three. We got time for one more call.
Let's go to Brian in New York. Brian, you're on

(56:55):
Big Blue Kickoff Live with Lance and Madeline. How's it going.

Speaker 6 (56:59):
It's going good. Happy holidays, guys. I love the show.

Speaker 5 (57:03):
Thank you for calling.

Speaker 6 (57:05):
Oh you're welcome. I just like to say I do
agree with the last caller on one thing. I think
Mike Kafka has been doing a great job and I
can see different as far as the play calling, it
looks a lot different to me when it comes to

(57:27):
like just just the the breakdowns of running past. To me,
it almost los fifty to fifty.

Speaker 2 (57:35):
I would say it even leans more towards the run.
I mean you're talking about they're running it nearly forty
some odd times the last two games since Kafka took over.
So I think that point is well taken. The other thing,
I'll let you continue, Brian, that I just wanted to
point out, and you're right about the last caller bringing
up I wanted to respond to this. When Dable's the
head coach and Kafka is the play caller, if Kafka

(57:55):
wants to go for it on fourth and six, Dable
has every right to say, Mike, we're not going for
We're going to bring out the punting you. Mike now
has the ability to say, well, I'm the guy, so
we're going to go for it on fourth and six.
Mike may want to run a trick play. Dable has
every right to say it's not the time to do
that right now. So there's no longer anyone standing in
the way of Mike hitting the green light or the

(58:16):
button to be a little bit more aggressive. So I
think if that's what you're noticing, Yeah, the dynamics have changed,
there's no doubt about it. You could be the play caller,
but the head coach still has the right to step
in and say I'd rather take this call or I'd
rather bring the punting unit out. So that has drastically changed.
There's no doubt about that.

Speaker 6 (58:35):
Absolutely, I agree with you one hundred percent. And the
one thing I've heard a lot of people criticized Kavka for,
and you know I obviously disagree is the call the
goal for it on that fourth and sixth to make
go for the touchdown because to me, to me, all year,

(58:57):
all year, I've seen the uh they take, they take
the three to go up six, and then the defense
just gives it up, and they haven't earned they have
not earned my my my confidence in closing out that game.
They have not done that all year. And if I

(59:19):
could just touch on like Cam Scantabou for one second here,
I mean like Cam Scantaboo, I mean I'm all about him,
so like I can really appreciate an athlete that goes
on ir and just doesn't like just sit by the wayside.
I love watching the clips of him on his new

(59:41):
Twitch channel.

Speaker 10 (59:42):
He's hilarious.

Speaker 6 (59:43):
He is my spirit animal. I love Cam scatter.

Speaker 5 (59:48):
One of the greatest things about Cam Scattaboo is that
he is so genuinely, authentically, fearlessly himself and and and
steps into that space and does so in a way
that people like, that's a rookie, but you know that
he really owns it whether he's on the field, on
the sideline, or on his Twitch channel. And I'm really
excited to watch him get back on the field and

(01:00:10):
bring it back to the locker room as well.

Speaker 2 (01:00:12):
One other things. And appreciate the fall call. Thanks so
much for giving us a ring, Brian.

Speaker 5 (01:00:16):
Thanks Brian.

Speaker 2 (01:00:17):
I just wanted to bring up before we wrap up
this conversation when Brian Dable was the head coach Matt Only.
This goes back to the decision not to belabor the
point about going for an on fourth and six. They
were going up in a tight game against the Chicago Bears, okay,
and the Giants. You know they left their offense out
of the field if you remember, Yeah, okay, and it
was a twenty four to twenty game, okay, And there

(01:00:37):
were situations where Brian Dable decided, you know, I'm going
to try to score points because I think it goes
back to the last Cohler's point, whether it is being
admitted publicly or not, if the track record of the
defense hasn't been able to make stop after stop. It
gets to the point where the head coach of the
offensive coreator is saying, I have more faith in leaving
my offense out there and trying to close the door,

(01:01:00):
and that opposed to putting in the hands of the defense,
where the old story is you do the same thing
over and over again expecting different results. It's a sign
of insanity.

Speaker 5 (01:01:07):
But in that situation, the Giants were trailing, correct, so
there are also opportunities earlier in the game, right right,
But when you're trailing by four, of course you're leaving
your offense on the field because with that is to
need the points. Whereas if you're leading and you want
to extend the lead by a handful, and you know,
there's a difference between Okay, we're leading, we want to
extend it to make it decisive, to make sure they

(01:01:28):
need a touchdown, versus, oh, if they get a field goal,
they could tie. It was I think it was more
similar to the ending of that Cowboys game, where it's like, okay,
you know, now they just need a field goal to
make it interesting, as opposed to putting them in a
situation where they had to go the length of the field,
which is the difference.

Speaker 2 (01:01:46):
No, I'm just saying that with Dable as the head coach,
I guess I don't think Kafka's mindset has just flipped.
I guess is what I'm saying. I guess He's been
around for other scenarios playing out where the defense has
been out of the field, that he's seen it firsthand.
I do think that this is just my personal opinion,
I think that has influenced how he handles late game

(01:02:06):
situations because he seed it and he saw firsthand how
it's played out, and unfortunately it is not bounced away
the Giants.

Speaker 5 (01:02:13):
Sure, Sure, And I think, yeah, being aggressive and perhaps
he picked that up from Dable. Perhaps that's just who
he is as a man. Being aggressive is something that
is a positive. But I do see the difference in
being aggressive when you're trailing versus when you're leading, and
being aggressive because it's a necessity to stay in the
game versus oh, let's instead of taking three, let's take
six or seven. You know, let's you don't want to

(01:02:36):
get greedy with it at that circumstance. Take this certainty
of points, especially when your team is struggling in the
ren zone and you you know, bounce the ball outside.

Speaker 2 (01:02:43):
Yeah, well no, it just real quick. I just I
chuckle though when I hear the certainty, Because Madamily, the
only thing I would disagree is I don't think even
a field goal is a guarantee. You know, who's to
say that, with some of their issues that they've had
in the kicking game this year, that you're giving them
the three points too. I mean, you could very well
miss the field goal even if you bring the field
go you in and out and then the Lions have
to go the lengthier distance on the field. But to

(01:03:06):
just give somebody three points, I don't operate like that,
Especially some of the hiccups that the Giants have had
on special teams this season. That's another thing to at
least consider.

Speaker 5 (01:03:15):
And with that we leave you because we are out
of time here, But thanks for listening to today's episode
of Big Blue Kickoff Live, presented by Cadillac, the official
luxury vehicle of the New York Football Giants. Big Blue
Kickoff Live is part of the Giants Podcast Platforms Everywhere
and Giants dot Com slash Podcasts. For Lance Meadow, I'm
Madeline Burke. Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you
next time. Happy Thanksgiving,