Big Blue Kickoff Live 6/27 | Giants vs 49ers Preview

Paul Dottino and Matt Citak talk to Jennifer Lee Chan, who covers the 49ers for NBC Sports Bay Area, about the Giants matchup in week 9 against San Francisco. The guys also talk about the Giants edge rushers and take calls from fans.

:00 - 49ers preview with Jennifer Lee Chan

27:30 - TEs and CBs

37:30 - Calls

45:00 - Giants edge rushers

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.

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Do it because you're on giants dot com.

Speaker 3 (00:11):
Do you know what I saw? New York Giant.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Crime and the Giants Mobile.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Seventeen fourteen, The Rials one tuck down. We are We're
all temper.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
They were part of the Giants Podcast Network.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Let's go on, Hell on the Buzz and Clase Dogs
hasn't hun And we welcome you to Friday's edition a
Big Blue Kickoff Live presented by Cadillac, the official luxury
vehicle of the New York Football Giants. So glad you
could join us now. Today we are going to do
our San Francisco forty nine Ers summer training camp preview.
As we know, we've been going through a series of

(00:44):
the Giants' opponents during the course of the past week.
We come to you from the Giants Podcast Studio presented
by Hackensack Meridian Health. Keep getting better and on the
line right now joining us and we are so grateful
for her time is Jennifer lee Chan, forty nine Ers
beat reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area in San Francisco. Jennifer,

(01:04):
thanks so much, and I can only say Tranny Camp
is going to be here before both of us know it.

Speaker 4 (01:11):
Yeah, already, it's like just a few weeks away. I
can't believe we're almost in July. Where did the off
season go? Already?

Speaker 2 (01:18):
For sure?

Speaker 4 (01:18):
For sure?

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Hey, I'm going to start this with something that just
happened a couple of days ago because brand and IUK,
who had suffered a serious knee injury last year and
he's trying to work his way back, was the subject
of some off season trade rumors, and then the other day,
I guess on social media he got a little snippy.
What is the situation right now with him and the Niners.

(01:40):
We know that obviously there was a contract issue, you
know before last season as well.

Speaker 4 (01:45):
You know, I think everything contract wise and with the team,
I think everything relationship wise there is fine. Obviously he's
recovering from an ACL injury and there was also MCL
and other damage in there. So it happened, you know,
week six last year. It's going to take a while
for him to get back to normal. But he was
out there at mandatory mini camp kind of as an

(02:07):
auxiliary coach. He's been in the wide receiver's room working
with the young guys that are there, and you know,
we just it'll remains to be seen how his recovery
is going when he's going to get back on the field,
but I expect that he'll probably start the season on
the pup list and will work his way back to
getting on the field.

Speaker 5 (02:24):
Now.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
I think I saw Piersall pulled something the other day too,
So it seems to me right now, two of their
lead guys, I know Jennings is also there, but two
of their high profile guys are a little bit of
a question morek coming in right.

Speaker 4 (02:39):
Yeah, the wide receivers room is really questionable altogether. I
mean Jawan Jennings obviously took over that wide receiver one
position last year with Brandon Ayuka and Deebo Samuel kind
of up and down, so this year it really is
Juwan Jennings. Ricky Piersall pulled his hamstringer had a little
bit of a hamstring strain during OTA's but he was
healthy enough to participate in mini camp. He was running

(03:01):
on the side field with trainers. He is expected to
be ready to go for training camp, so he is,
you know, a guy that they're looking towards to make
a step up. Jacob Kelling, who is primarily a returner
last year, is also a guy that they're looking at to,
you know, make progress to being more involved in the offense.
And then DeMarcus Robinson is a guy who really had
a lot of chemistry with Brock Purty and Mac Jones,

(03:23):
who is now brock Purty's backup. But DeMarcus Robinson is
facing a potential up to three game suspension for a
dui charge that happened in November last year, So we'll
see what happens there. So, yes, wide receivers, who's going
to be on the field very much in flux at
this point.

Speaker 2 (03:38):
Now, I wonder what happens to the DBO Samuel part
of the playbook now he's with the Washington Commanders. Did
the Niners try to fit somebody into that mold because
he had a very unique skill set? So did they
just decide that, Okay, that chapter doesn't exist anymore.

Speaker 4 (03:56):
I mean, I think as a wide receiver in like
for a player that's technical labeled as a wide receiver,
I think it's not going to happen there. But looking
at the running backs who now are more pass catchers,
they do have a couple of those. Isaac Garrendo is
known as a better route runner. Also, the guy that
they drafted, Jordan James, he's a guy who also is

(04:17):
a good route runner. So maybe the running backs as
opposed to the wide receivers take over that multi or
dual threat position. And then Christian McCaffrey looks really healthy,
He looks happier, faster, you know. I guess John Lynch
called him bouncy, so I was watching him. Obviously, no
pads on shorts and t shirts, but he looks like

(04:37):
he did before the twenty twenty three season. So maybe
that dual threat happens from the running back position as
opposed to the wide receiver position.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
I'm interested about what you said about McCaffrey because he's
been in this league for a while now we all
know how great he is. My goodness, he's one of
the top three all around backs in this league, at
least I still believe so. But he certainly has had
some wear on his tires, and he's had a number
of injuries over the course of time. Is there any
thought that they need to lighten his workloads on I mean, I.

Speaker 4 (05:07):
Think us outside the building always say that because you know,
you got to save him for when they really need
it at the end of the season or you know,
when games are close. But I know that it's really
hard to take him off the field and it's hard
for him to want to come up held. He never
wants to. He wants to be out there every single play.
But he's feeling much healthier than he was last year.

(05:28):
He was dealing with that bilateral achilles tendonitis. Last year.
He was really starting to look like himself when he
got into that Buffalo game when he had that kind
of really awkward tackle his knee hit the ground, and
then he had that PCL injury. So coming back to it,
he probably could have played at the end of the
year last year, but again they wanted to be careful

(05:48):
with him, and then there was no point in him
playing because it was a six and eleven season for them.
So he is looking healthy, he's feeling healthy. When you
spoke to all the US local media, he's like, feel
just like how I did before the twenty twenty three season.
So obviously they're being judicious with his reps. But he
was on the field every single practice that was open

(06:09):
to the media during OTA's mini camp and he looks great.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
Oh oh, that's certainly good news for Ninos fans. Now they
need to make sure they blow some holes for him. Though.
The offensive line right now, I don't know is there
much of a change from what we've seen before. I
guess there was the order Dane guard who left via
free agency Banks right right.

Speaker 4 (06:30):
Aaron Banks has left and then they're swing tackled. Jalen
Moore is now the left tackle for the kan City Chiefs.
Aaron Banks goes to the Green Bay Packers. So there is, yes,
an open spot at that left guard position, but it's
guys that they've had. So there's, you know, the room
that they have mostly guys that have been there for
a little while, and they're just going to have an

(06:52):
open competition. Ben BArch is a guy who they have
had in there as well. They really are not a
team that goes out and gets high priced free agentcy know,
Trent Williams is the guy who makes a ton of
money on the offensive line. The rest of them are
kind of guys that aren't really well known throughout the league.
But you know, I think when you look at I

(07:15):
think people were kind of down the offensive line performance
in twenty twenty four that were outside the building. But
John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan bull say, hey, we like our
offensive line, we like our center, We like how they performed.
When Christian McCaffrey's on the field, the offensive line doesn't
have to do as much. When he's not on the field,
they have to do a lot more, so they kind
of go in conjunction. So with a healthy Christian McCaffrey,

(07:36):
I think people are going to be much happier with
the offensive line performance.

Speaker 2 (07:39):
Well, you know, people outside San Francisco, and this is
no surprise to you, Jennifer, They all say, well, that's
a systematic running game anyway, you don't need to have
an as superstars on the offensive line. Although again Trent
Williams has had a very accomplished career. I don't want
to disrespect him in any way, but there's this assumption
that if you just have some capable bodies, you're going

(08:00):
to find a way to get this scheme to work right.

Speaker 4 (08:04):
And it all goes you know, it's all connected to
how the running backs perform. And then also you know
brock Purty, how fast does he get rid of the ball?
Is he holding down the ball? Whoever is back there
behind center, are they, you know, creating a situation where
the offensive line has to protect for two to three
seconds as opposed to a second or a second and
a half. I mean, those minuscule points of time make

(08:25):
a huge difference on what the job of the offensive
line has to be.

Speaker 2 (08:28):
So Brock Purdy is a richer man today than he
was some time ago. Just a little bit, just a
little bit. Do you see much of a change in
his approach, his attitude, his mentality.

Speaker 4 (08:40):
None at all. He is a worker, He's a preparer,
you know, from guys like and this is what I
found fascinating Sam Donald, who obviously took a huge job
being his backup and went to Minnesota had a great season.
I got a chance to speak to Sam Donald after
that and I was like, hey, you know, what did
you learn from Rock Party? You know it helped you

(09:01):
in your success? And he said the way he prepares
for a game. And I wouldn't think that a first
round pick like Sam Donald would say I learned how
to prepare from Brock Purty. But I think when you know,
maybe the measurables that you see at the combine, like
the arm strength and the height and all the other
things that you know, everybody outside the outside of teams

(09:26):
values and a quarterback when that is not ninety nine percentile,
that you find other ways to be successful. And I
think that's what brock Purty is. He is such a
stickler for the details. And sometimes and I'm not saying
this is Sam Donald, but I'm just saying, sometimes when
you get guys who have been where everything has been
easy for them from high school to college to you know,

(09:48):
their transition to the NFL it's been easy, they might
not necessarily do all the work. They might not necessarily
know the playbook as well as Brock party that you know,
dissects it. And the way he prepares really is something
that a lot of veteran quarterbacks, a lot of his
backups have said that they've learned from him because the
way he knows everything inside it out. When I see

(10:11):
him in the locker room, he's got papers in his hands,
he's you know, he's got his iPad in his hands,
He's going through everything that he has asked you with
the fine tooth comb, and that obviously shows up when
he's on the field.

Speaker 2 (10:23):
You know, That's the way Eli Manning was when he
was a young quarterback with the Giants, not that it
ever stopped, because he was as studious a QB as
I've ever come across a pros pro in every way.
And look, obviously everyone has doubted pro to every step
of the way. And even as he continues to move
forward in his NFL career and gets a big contract,

(10:43):
there are still people who say, well, he didn't deserve that,
so you know, keep the same approach. Why not?

Speaker 4 (10:50):
I mean, just look at his performance even though they
were six and eleven last year. All the different statistics
that he has had, you know, rating and completions and
how you know, his sack to interception to touchdown ratio,
all of those things are still really high even though
they had a six and eleven season. So you know,
there are issues with the defense last year, their issues,

(11:12):
you know, across the board last year. But if you
just take his statistics and how he operated as a
quarterback and a leader of the team, still upper third.

Speaker 2 (11:21):
All right. I got to go to the tight end
for a second here. George Kittle. Since he came into
the league, he was a guy who I was desperate
to get on the Giants when he came out in
the draft. So this is a sore spot for me. Okay,
the fact that I got to talk about a Hall
of potential Hall of famer with the forty nine ers
had a sensational season statistically last year. In fact, it's

(11:41):
almost like he's in his second prime, it seems, because
he had a little bit of a downer and in
a few years there with his stats and now they're
back up again. What do you see from Kittle? Is
he in fact drinking from the fountain of youth? Does
he look as sharp as ever and as dangerous as ever?

Speaker 4 (11:57):
Yeah, he really does. And he about his health and
he was you know, he's been up and down with it.
But after his rookie season, John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan sat
down with him and said.

Speaker 6 (12:08):
Hey, this is what you've got to do.

Speaker 4 (12:10):
You've got to And I think this says a story
for a lot of guys coming in the NFL. You know,
when you're twenty, your body is like a rubber band
and you bounce back and it's much easier to recover
when you're coming out of college. But when you're in
the NFL and you're going against guys who are faster
and stronger, et cetera. You know, it takes a lot
more to recover. It's more longer season, more games, more reps,

(12:30):
and so he's really found a way to take care
of his body. He does everything from cold plunges to
red light therapy to acupuncture to massage, Like he really
does everything he can to take care of his body
and get it back to what he needs to be
for a season. Now, that doesn't say that he's completely
healthy at the end of the season. I don't think
he ever is at the end of a season. But

(12:52):
this extra month of time off because they didn't go
to the playoffs, you know, they had an extra month,
and he said he's feeling so much better than he has,
better than any offseason since twenty twenty when they didn't
go to the playoffs. So I would expect another huge
season from him. He is a pretty security blanket. You know,
he's where he needs to be at all times. Great

(13:13):
run blocker, great pass protector. I mean, I don't think
there's anything that George Kittle can't do.

Speaker 2 (13:18):
No, I know, I know when he came out of school,
I knew it.

Speaker 1 (13:22):
Sorry, I know it.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
I want it.

Speaker 4 (13:25):
It's unbelievable.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
Tell me about it, Tell me about it all right,
let's flop at the defense now. I want to go
to the front seven to start off here because there's
a very specific question. They pick up Mike Keil Williams
in the first round. They get Alfred Collins in the
second round, two very highly highly thought after defensive lineman
in the draft. On the flip side to that, they
got the old guys there too, They got Nick Bosa,

(13:48):
they got Fred Warner, older guys in the front seven.
But Greenlaws now with Denver after getting hurt last year
and missing most of the season, he escapes to the Broncos.
What can we expect out of this front step.

Speaker 4 (14:03):
Yeah, along with wide receivers, defensive line is a position
that is very much in flux. But they do have
guys that can take over.

Speaker 3 (14:10):
Now.

Speaker 4 (14:10):
You know, we just watched them in shorts and T shirts,
so we'll see how they, you know, they are, once
they get the pads on. I talked to Chriscus Eric,
their defensive line coach, and he's like, you know, yes,
they all they all look good on paper, they look
good when they're out on the field. So we'll see
what happens when they get the pads on. That's, you know,
the whole everybody's emphasis was like, sure, they can look
good now, but once they get the pads on, that's
when it counts. Yes, Nick bosaon he would be really

(14:34):
mad if you heard that you called him the old guy.

Speaker 3 (14:37):
I don't want to get it mad.

Speaker 2 (14:38):
Don't tell him.

Speaker 4 (14:42):
That might be more motivation where they play the Giants.

Speaker 2 (14:44):
Oh no, no, no, we're going to this tape. We're
going to burn this tape, Jennifer, He's never going to
see it.

Speaker 4 (14:51):
So they did bring in Bryce Huff, who's the guy
who I think you know in Philly just wasn't put
in the right position. I think with his hand in
the ground, he'll be a little better on the defensive line,
just getting up the after the quarterback. I think it's
a better situation for him. Robert sala Is back at
defensive coordinators, who we know is exactly what to do
to get Bryce have to be productive, and you know,

(15:12):
it's just how quickly can those defensive linemen, the rookies
get up to speed with what Chriscus Herrick wants and
what the team wants them to do on the defensive line.
Mikel Williams has been on the field. He had a
little bit of a handstring tightness that he wasn't on
Mini camp, but we did see him do some work
on the field. The one that has kind of everybody
a little bit concerned, not completely concerned, but Alfred Collins

(15:35):
has not been on the field at all yet. He
had that calf injury that he went through during his
pro day, so we have not seen him on the
field at all, not even rookie Mini camp. The word
is that he'll be ready for training camp, but we
have not seen him in a uniform on the field
at all yet. So hopefully. You know, he's a guy
that gets healthy during the off season and does the
work before he gets to training him so he can

(15:57):
you know, hit the ground running. Another guy that they
drafted CJ. West. They took four defensive linemen in the
first five picks.

Speaker 1 (16:04):
CJ.

Speaker 4 (16:04):
West was out there. Looks like he could be a
rotational guy. So defensive line, you know, it's how can
they adjust, how can they be ready? And then at linebacker,
yeat that is also a question. Fred Warner obviously one
of the best to play the position. As you said,
Drake Greenlaw has has moved on, but de Winters is
a guy who's been around for a while. He looked

(16:27):
like he would be the second and you know, second
to Fred Warner. They also drafted the guy Nick Martin.
Not a huge linebacker, kind of looks like a safety size,
but he's very agile, great in coverage, so they're looking
to see what he can bring to the defense when
he gets going at training camp as well.

Speaker 2 (16:44):
All right, now we go to the secondary and Hufanga
is obviously a former Pro bowler and a guy who
was the leader back there at least from Afar often
injured and that was a problem. He was never you know,
I think once in his career he was available for
the entire season. And he's moved on via free agency.
So now what are they going to do in terms

(17:06):
of finding an identity back there? Who is the guy
they want to look to to lead that group.

Speaker 4 (17:12):
So Malick Mustafa was a rookie last year and he
really because of injury to Telenohufungo, who is now with
Denver with drag Greenla. Malik Mustafa suffered an ACL injury
at the in the last game, So we'll see how
fast he gets back up to speed. But he's the
guy that they really liked, hard hitter, great in coverage.

(17:33):
But he showed a video of himself on social media running.
When I saw him at mini camp, he was walking
around hanging out with the safeties, but he wasn't completely
straightening that leg. So you know, a little bit more
rehab needs to be done to get that full mobility
and that right leg.

Speaker 2 (17:50):
So former Giant Jason is a guy who.

Speaker 4 (17:53):
Also has has played a lot of reps at starting
safety as well. I'm sorry, yeah, I was going to know.

Speaker 2 (17:58):
I was going to say, as you were talking about
the injury with Malik, I was going to say former
Giant safety Jason Pennock went and signed a free agent
deal out there was Was he their emergency plan?

Speaker 1 (18:11):
No?

Speaker 4 (18:11):
I think he actually will. Between him and Richie Grant,
those are the two vets that they signed during free agency.
Both of those guys could be set to be starters
until Malick Mustafa is back up to speed.

Speaker 1 (18:21):
So JayR.

Speaker 4 (18:22):
Brown is a guy who had a great rookie season,
had a little bit of a sophomore slump, as a
lot of you know guys do, So it could be
Jay R. Brown, Jason Pinnock, It could be Richie Grant,
Jason Pinnock. Jyr Brown did have an ankle procedure during
the off season, so again he looked to be healthy,
not enough to be on the field during mini camp,
but he's a guy who I know they believe in

(18:44):
and could be also an option at starter once training
camp starts. So Malick Mustafa not sure whether he is
ready at training camp to be in team drills. But
Jayre Brown, Richie Grant, Jason Panok our guys that they
could have as their safeties.

Speaker 2 (19:00):
So where do you think the mentality is of this
coaching staff and of this front office with this Niners
team coming off a down year, they had a lot
of injuries. I understand all of that. Do they think
that this is part of a retooling year? They certainly
had to do a number of things in the draft.
We talked about it on defense more than anything else.

Speaker 4 (19:19):
You know, this this offseason has been I think a
rejuvenating one for the fort nine ers. You know, three
out of the last four years they went deep into
the playoffs, that played a lot of extra games, and
last year during mini campingotas you could sense the drama
of you know, Trent Williams holding out, Brandon and you
holding out. It was Christian McCaffrey as well, wanting a

(19:41):
new deal. So there was a little hangover from the
Super Bowl loss. This year, the young guys, the youth
that came into the roster really has kind of uped
the energy level. I think everybody's more positive. They're feeling healthier.
They had ale extra time off, and I think, you know,
this does not look like a six and eleven team
that's coming back. Still have lots of great vets that

(20:03):
have been all pros. You know, you spoke about him.
It's Rockberdy, It's Christian McCaffrey, it's George Kittle, Trent Williams.
You still have Nick Bosa and Fred Warner and Diameda
Lenoor has been you know, got that big contract last
year as well. So they have top flight players at
every level. So it's just getting you know, everyone back

(20:23):
up to speed. But the energy in the mood has
been so much better than I've seen it in you know,
the last couple of seasons, because they come back and
it's like they really have very little time off. The
season runs so late now compared to what it used
to be so the energy level and the attitude and
the mood has been really positive so far.

Speaker 2 (20:41):
All right, well, I'm going to move off the niners
for a second. If you have a couple of more
minutes with us, do you sure? Okay? I got to
ask you about George Kittle's tight End University. I know
you've been there a number of times, and you're there
again this year. The Giants said for their tight Ends
Man Hurts, Bellinger Johnson and also Fordoni there rookie out

(21:02):
of Nebraska. We're all sent to the George Kittle Travis
Kelcey tight End University thing this past month. So I'd
like to ask you you're there, you've seen it, You've
you've been, you know, reporting on it. What is the
what is the best benefit of these guys when they
go down to this this workout session.

Speaker 4 (21:23):
For one, it's it's camaraderie, building their network of people
that they can reach out to. And George Kittle is
the master of getting guys together and creating an environment
where everybody feels comfortable with everyone else to have a
resource of information and knowledge and so uh, it's it

(21:43):
was founded by George Hill, Travis Kelcey and Greg Olsen
and the three of them kind of create this workshop.
Now it's one day of classroom work and field work
and a lot of socialization of guys hanging out together,
but you know, they create this network so you know,
you can ask guys like Dallas Clark, was there, Logan Thomas,

(22:05):
guys that were veterans that Grob Gronkowski. So they are
not in the league anymore, they're retired, but that now
they are resources for these young tight ends to ask
questions of. Greg Olsen talks about, you know, how to
be a finesse route runner, and Travis Kelsey talks. I
mean I watched him talk about how when guys are

(22:26):
that big to you know, they have to slow down
their momentum to get out of their breaks. So learning
the little finesse tricks to being a better tight end.
George Kittle, you know, is one of the best run
blockers that's out there. And Kidah's a little a segment
of it about run blocking. So all these young tight
ends get to be able to ask questions of these

(22:46):
guys who have been in the league for a long time.
Future Hall of famers, you know, guys who watched the
league and have been involved in me. Greg Olsen is
such a great resource. Dallas Clark is you know, a
guy who did it for a long time. So these
young guys have access to these players. It's Day one
is kind of an opening reception, a ton of sponsors.
It's also a huge fundraiser. They raised almost a million

(23:10):
dollars last year and their goal was to raise a
million or more this year. And then they have a reception.
Day two is you know, classroom work. So they go
in and watch film and Greg Olsen, Rob Gronkowski, those
vets get up and talk about how they can be
better at their job. Then they get on the field
and implement all those things that they learn. And then

(23:31):
they have a concert where a ton of Nashville stars.
Caine Brown was one of the headliners and guest appearance
by Taylor Swift, Travis Kelsey's paramore, so she was out,
she came out for a song. Huge cheers for them also,
and then the next day they do a golf tournament

(23:53):
and so it's just a bonding between all of the
tight ends. Lots of positive work on the field and
then just resources for young guys and a lot of bonding.
So now you know, George Kittle's one of those guys
who reaches out to every draft pick that goes the Niners.
And now you know, any tight end in the league
has his phone number and they can ask him questions

(24:14):
and he's just so open and available to everybody who
needs help or ask questions. And there's no gatekeeping at
all from George Kittle.

Speaker 2 (24:24):
Now, as a media member, how much of all of
this stuff were you allowed to watch? Were you allowed
to watch the actual drills they did on the field.
I'm sure you weren't allowed in the classroom. I mean,
that would be ridiculous.

Speaker 4 (24:36):
I would think, Yeah, I've asked to be allowed in
the classroom just as a fly on the wall, no photos,
no notes, just to be there, and I was denied.
And if the work was in there though, so they
have access. But I did get to watch everything on
the field. Unfortunately, there was a lightning nearby, so for
the end of the team the field drills, they did
go to the indoor facility where there was no access.

(24:58):
But I've watched this several times and you know, they
huddle up Greg Olsen'll talk and then they'll go through
the drills that he's speaking about. And then Travis Kelsey
you'll speak and then they go through drills about what
Travis Kelsey was talking about. So, I mean there's a
ton of hands on work. There's also quarterbacks that come in.

(25:19):
Obviously a lot of forty Niners quarterbacks CG. Bethard, mac Jones,
Tenor Mordecai Brandon, Allen will Levis was there, So they
need quarterbacks to throw passes to them, so they're there.

Speaker 2 (25:33):
Well, you could have volunteered, Jennifer, Yeah, you could have volunteered,
just you know, getting a little extra work in.

Speaker 4 (25:39):
But it's a it's a full day from I think
about ten in the morning until about five o'clock at
night doing the classroom and then on field work. So
I got great stuff. And they get a couple of
local coaches to help them out as well.

Speaker 2 (25:52):
Well, it sounds like a fun time. Jennifer Lee Chan
forty nine is be a reporter for NBC Sports Bay
Area in San Francisco. Where can folks check out on
the internet to find some of your work as they
want to walk follow of the forty nine ers as
the season progresses.

Speaker 4 (26:08):
Yeah, I'm on every single media platform I think, so
it's Instagram, Twitter, I'm going to still call it that
threads Blue Sky YouTube. Jennifer Lee Chan and Jennifer L
E E C H A N all one word, all
the same handle. So, especially before they meet up with

(26:30):
the Giants, I'll be doing a Giants preview, so definitely
stay up to date on all Fournirs news if you
need to.

Speaker 2 (26:37):
That forty nine Ers game against the Giants will be
here at MetLife Stadium. That's week nine, November two. We hope,
we hope, Jennifer, with all due respect to the forty
nine Ers people out there, we hope this season is
not like the last few Giant seasons and that they
are still alive after Halloween, because quite honestly, it's been
a rough first half of the season for the Giants

(26:59):
for quite a long time. I do do expect them
to be better and perhaps when you come out here
from San Francisco, we'll have ourselves one heck of a
competitive football game.

Speaker 4 (27:10):
Hope so too. Always like a competitive game more than
a blowout.

Speaker 2 (27:13):
Jennifer, thank you so much for your time.

Speaker 4 (27:15):
Be well, no problem to you soon and we're back live.

Speaker 2 (27:18):
On Big Blue Kickoff live here on Friday afternoon. Our
number is two on one nine three nine four five
one three, We now open the phone lines up for you.
That was an earlier conversation I had with Jennifer lee
Chan from the NBC Sports Bay Area Sports Bureau. She
is the San Francisco forty nine Ers beat reporter and

(27:40):
had an awful lot of good information about the Niners,
who are coming off a really rough season. We know
they had several very important injuries that really sidetrack them,
but of course listening to her, we're getting the impression
that they believe they're going to get right back on
the horse this year and be another playoff contender. Be
that as it may. They do play the Giants this year,

(28:03):
and you know for a fact it's not going to
be an easy ballgame.

Speaker 3 (28:07):
Now.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
The other item that you heard her talk about with
us was tight End University. The Giants are well represented.
We mentioned the four guys that at least made a
pit stop if nothing else at tight End University and
Mett to me, I don't see how the Giants can
keep more than three. There seems to be some debate

(28:30):
at maybe keeping four, but if you do that, you're
gonna have to shave off a spot somewhere else, I
don't know that the Giants can afford to do that.
If it's three, it's a tough competition for that third spot.
If it's four, well then it's probably a little bit
easier to pick four guys, but it's gonna be quite

(28:53):
a battle.

Speaker 3 (28:54):
Yeah, I mean, if the Giants do decide to keep four,
you know, obviously you never know, and they have to
go with the training camp and the preseason, and guys
that maybe were not are not considered a big part
of the conversation right now could put themselves in the
conversation with some strong performances. But it does seem like
there's a little bit of a line between the top

(29:15):
four and then the next two tight ends that are
currently on the roster. I agree, But yeah, I mean,
it'd be hard to imagine them keeping more than three,
to be honest, because you get fifty three guys on
the roster. If you get four, just at the tight
end position where most of not always, but most of
the time you only have one guy on the field,
you're taking away the depth at another position. So I

(29:38):
can't imagine they keep more than three, And quite honestly,
outside of THEO Johnson at the top of the depth chart.
I know you and I might disagree a little bit
on this, but outside of THEO Johnson I think spot
number two, three, two through six completely up for reps.
I think it's gonna be a that is one of
the training camp competitions that I think is going to

(30:00):
be the most heated and most intriguing to watch, because
outside of THEO Johnson, I mean, the other guys all
kind of have different attributes that they bring to the game. Now,
I think Thomas Fedoni, considering he was just selected seventh
over in the seventh round, and showed some flashes of that,
you know, athleticism as to why he used to be

(30:22):
the you know, number one high school tight end recruit
coming out of high school. Before college, he was the
number one tight end recruit above of Brock Bowers, and
you kind of saw some flashes of that throughout the spring.
He made some really athletic grabs. But even him, he's
a rookie seventh round pick, I don't think you can
say that his you know, it's an absolute guarantee lock

(30:44):
that you know he will make it over let's say
Daniel Bellinger or Chris Manhertz, who obviously brings some veteran
leadership and veteran experience to that tight end room. So
it's it's definitely going to be a very intriguing training
camp competition to watch.

Speaker 2 (30:59):
I will agree with you as far as to say
that Johnson's the only guy who one hundred percent is
going to be here. I agree with that. I think
Daniel Bellinger is a very strong bet to be here.
You could disagree. I know John does. I don't know
how Lance feels. I think there is a wide open
competition for the three spot, and if there is a four,

(31:23):
it's certainly a wide open competition. I don't think that
there will be a four, So I'm with you on
that one. But I do think that, much like I
believe that Tay Banks does have a leg up and
it's up to him to blow the job at cornerback,
I think it's up to Daniel Jones to blow his
spot off this roster. I think that he's there unless

(31:45):
he flat out and loses it and screws it up.
That's how I feel about him. I think he's the
best all around, well balanced tight end on this team,
and so I think he's pretty close to being assured
of it. Unless he screws up in camp in the preseason,
which I don't think he's going to do. I feel
that way about Banks too, John and I had to

(32:06):
talk about this on yesterday's show. Somebody called up and said,
do you think there's really a competition there?

Speaker 6 (32:11):
No?

Speaker 2 (32:12):
Banks and Flot are not on an even playing field.
They are not. Banks is ahead of him. It's his
job to lose. Can Flott potentially beat him out if
he has a great camp and Banks screws up. Absolutely,
I think that could happen. But that doesn't mean it's
an equal competition for me. They're prodding Banks. They've got

(32:34):
to Fork, and they're prodding him, and they're making him
believe by perception that it could be an even competition
because they want to get the best out of him.
The last thing you want is take Banks to be comfortable.
He can't afford to be comfortable. He hasn't played consistently
well enough in his first two seasons to be comfortable.

(32:57):
You gotta find a way to drag out the best
out of him. And if your prod them and give
them the perception that Flot could be on his tail,
I think that's what the coaches are doing. I've been
around this game a long time. I've seen coaches do
this time and time and time again. If he screws
up and Flot plays well, Flot will steal the job.

(33:19):
I'm not saying he can't steal it, but I think
he's got to steal it. I don't think this is
an even race.

Speaker 3 (33:27):
Yeah, honestly, I'm not really sure. I mean, if we
go to the training camp and Deontay Banks and Cordell
Flott are splitting reps like they did in the spring,
then I would tend to kind of disagree with you
and think that, you know, at least in the coaching
staff's eyes, it's an open competition because.

Speaker 2 (33:42):
Let's see how the preseason game goes.

Speaker 3 (33:44):
Yeah, because in the spring they really did split reps,
right know, first team defense.

Speaker 2 (33:48):
I'm gonna get aware of that.

Speaker 3 (33:49):
You could be right that that was just sort of
maybe coaching staff's way of, you know, lighting a fire
under Deontay Banks. That could very well be the case.
I don't think you just obvi give up on a
first round pick two years into his career, especially when
it's not like the first two years have been so
catastrophically bad. It's been up and down. He had flashes

(34:10):
as a rookie that made everyone believe, all right, this
is you know, we have our number one corner.

Speaker 2 (34:15):
Now.

Speaker 3 (34:15):
Last year probably didn't go as well as anyone would
have hoped, but no one's giving up on him yet.

Speaker 2 (34:20):
So well, even John said that he admits Banks has
the higher upside and the more complete toolbox.

Speaker 3 (34:27):
One hundred percent. I don't think anyone's going to argue
that fact. It's just a matter of, you know, having
the tools is only so great, but you got to
know how to use them and use them well in
games in order to you know, solidify and secure your spot,
especially in the starting lineup. So I guess we're gonna
have to see in training camp whether or not that
is a real battle or not. I mean, I do

(34:51):
think they're going to give flot a chance to earn
that spot. Now, whether they're entering camp on completely even
level ground or if Deontay Banks might have a slight,
you know, advantage over cordelf Lot, we don't.

Speaker 2 (35:08):
Know for sure.

Speaker 3 (35:08):
We don't know.

Speaker 2 (35:09):
I agree with that, we really don't know for sure.

Speaker 3 (35:11):
But I do think both of them are going to
get opportunities to line up against the Giants starting wide
receivers and show the coaching staff what they can do.

Speaker 2 (35:19):
So, now, if if the Giants, and again I don't
think there's any way they go with four tight ends,
But if they did, what position do you suppose would
lose that spot?

Speaker 3 (35:33):
That's tough.

Speaker 2 (35:34):
It's very tough.

Speaker 3 (35:39):
I maybe.

Speaker 2 (35:41):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (35:41):
Maybe safety, I feel like you just carry the maybe
carry the start the top three, go with three. I'm
just trying to think of where you maybe be able
to steal a spot from just because as we saw
last year, Tyler Nuba doesn't need to come off the field,
and Javon Holland as long as healthy, doesn't need to
come off the field much as well. So maybe that's

(36:04):
a position where you could, you know, steal just having
a having an extra guy at that position on the
practice squad just in case you can elevate him on
game day if need be. But again, I would not
want to do that. I would want to keep it
at three, even though that might lead even though that
might lead to some not might will lead to some
tough decisions by the for the front office and the

(36:26):
coaching staff, I would rather keep it at three. At
tight end and have a little more depth at whether
it's safety or any of these other positions on the field.

Speaker 2 (36:36):
See, the one way you could do what you just
outlined that would make it easier to do is if
you did sign a veteran defensive back who has the
flexibility to play some safety if necessary. You know, if
you signed a veteran corner late in the summer during
training camp, and that guy had the ability to move

(36:57):
over and play some safety in a pinch, that would
make your scenario much easier. Yeah, I agree with that completely,
and there are guys who can do that. Yeah, it's
it's not unlike safeties in this league to be able
to pinch it and play some i mean corners to
play some safety when necessary. It can be done.

Speaker 3 (37:14):
Again, that wouldn't be like a let's start the game
with this veteran corner lining up at safety. That would
be if you know, in a pinch, two of the
safeties get hurt and all of a sudden, you only
have one safety left, and then you exactly slot that
ship that other guy.

Speaker 2 (37:28):
Over All, Right, let's get to the phones, because after all,
we do have a little bit of time left in
this show, and we certainly appreciate your participation at two
oh one nine three nine four five one three. You
can also, of course go to hashtag giants chat on
Twitter or x whatever you'd like to call it. These days,
people still call it Twitter.

Speaker 3 (37:48):
By the way, I still call it Twitter to.

Speaker 2 (37:50):
Be right, Well it's three oh. Here, it's three oh.
We'll still call on a Twitter, so we can go
to a hashtag giants chat if you like. But instead,
right now we are going to go to the phone
lines and let's see if we can go to our
first caller of the day. This is Freeze in Queens.
You're first down BBKL. Hello are you there?

Speaker 5 (38:13):
How don Hi?

Speaker 2 (38:15):
Hey?

Speaker 3 (38:15):
Yeah, what's going on?

Speaker 5 (38:17):
Everything's cool. That's a couple of quick questions. What about
the backfield? I know we got Gatherabull and Tracy and
we still got a singletary.

Speaker 3 (38:29):
Right, yes, he is still on the team.

Speaker 5 (38:32):
Okay, yeah, I was just thinking, how how you know,
would you think we'll see more split backs since that
we got you know, they want to get Scatherbull on
the field, or would you think they'll probably use them
as like a full back. This is kind of short
and stout.

Speaker 3 (38:47):
I mean, we have not yet to see much of
Camscattaboy throughout the spring. He did not really do much unfortunately,
so it's tough to say, you know how, we can't
talk about how impressive he's looked because we haven't really
seen him do anything on the field. However, based on
what he did last year at Arizona State, I mean,
he put together an absolutely special special season and showed

(39:12):
that he's capable of doing just about everything you need
a running back to do.

Speaker 4 (39:17):
So.

Speaker 3 (39:17):
Between Tracy, Skataboo and even Singletary, I think all three
of them are gonna see the field on a weekly basis. Now.
Some will obviously get more playing time than others, I
do expect, at least as of now. I think Tyrone
Tracy will lead that group in touches and snaps, but
Skataboo is definitely going to see the field, and quite frankly,

(39:37):
I think Devin Singletary is going to see the field too.
He's a veteran that this coaching staff very much trusts,
and they're not just gonna I don't think they're just
gonna ship him off to the bench and have him
sit there just waiting in case someone gets hurt. I
think they're gonna mix him in at least a little
bit to keep him, you know, in the mix.

Speaker 2 (39:54):
I'm curious when you said split where you're referring to
a split back pro set formation or were you referring
to just splitting the overall carries between the running backs.
What did you mean by.

Speaker 6 (40:06):
That bit of both?

Speaker 5 (40:08):
A little bit of both the formation, but they both
could be on to feel at the same time by
versus just one person and one person out. And you
know your regular formations when you do you know, single
back or whatever, you know, you give some breathing time
and it'd be like a rotates like how we had
a Bradshaw and Jacobs.

Speaker 2 (40:25):
Yeah, I'd be surprised if the Giants go with a
lot of split back formations. I think they'd rather go
with the extra wide receiver or go with the double
tight end set as opposed to using a two running
back backfield. I mean, the standard you know, pro set
of the nineteen seventies has pretty much gone the way
of the dinosaur. You know, nobody really uses that on

(40:48):
a regular basis anymore. And I don't necessarily think that
this team is going to be itching to do so.

Speaker 3 (40:55):
I will say though given the skill sets of both
Tyrone Tracy, they could do I'm scatted the Brian Dabele
Mike Kafkan. They definitely have the the option to run
that formation because if you have both of them on
the field, the opposing defense is going to have no
idea if you're a running the ball, and if so,
which of those backs are going to get the ball?

(41:16):
And b if they're if it's a passing play, which
of those guys are going to go out for a route?
And if both go out for a route. Those are
two very capable pass catchers that the you know, a
linebacker two linebackers are going to have to try to
match up and defend. So I agree we probably will
not see it too often, just because we don't see
it too often period. Even with you know, the Detroit

(41:38):
Lions with Jamir Gibbs and Dave of Montgomery, they barely
ever run that formation. So I don't know if we're
going to see it too often, but it certainly will be,
you know, in in the playbook and option if they
just suit decide they want to run it, because those
two backs especially are capable of doing basically anything you
need a running back to do.

Speaker 2 (41:57):
Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna build off for what match
just said, because he gave me a little bit of
an idea. I think the plays in which you might
see both running backs on the field at the same
time will not be a split back pro set. What
you would probably see is them line up maybe in
an eye and then pre snap motion, one of the

(42:18):
guys winds up motioning out of the backfield, and then
by the time the ball is snapped there's only one
guy in the backfield. I think that's more likely what
you would see, and plays when both of them are
on the field together.

Speaker 6 (42:35):
Yeah, either way will work.

Speaker 5 (42:36):
That's why I was saying, because if you align up
like a fullback, since you know, and the eye, then
like you know, like you said, the play player mob
the motion is a lot or he could do the
same from the split back formation and one motion out
or whatever. Whole bunch of confusion, you know all of that.

Speaker 3 (42:52):
Yeah, just like we even talking about on defense with
Shane Bowden being able to use all these a dressers
in a creative way to confuse opposing offenses. Brian Dable
and Mike Kafka have a lot of pieces on offense
that they can now use to do the same thing
to opposing defense is just confuse the heck out of them.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
I just have one requirement block it. Just make sure
you block it correctly.

Speaker 3 (43:15):
That's all I care about.

Speaker 5 (43:18):
Yeah, and last two quick points, being that this is
Jayla High is a big yes for High. You think
he'll be on the inside or he's gonna stay on
the outside. And the other last question is do you
think being that we have all these as rushers and debt,
do you think we'll see a lot of our sub
package will probably be the base package for the NASCAR,

(43:41):
like how we had K and Tuck and OC.

Speaker 3 (43:46):
And that's the last question, actually, Carl, thank you Freeze.

Speaker 2 (43:49):
Be well, well let's take these one of the time.
Let's go in reverse order. I think that to call
the NASCAR package two point zero to come back again,
they're not gonna line up quite like that because the
NASCAR package was four guys down. That's not what we're
going to see with this defense. I'm very pleased to

(44:14):
tell you that I believe Shane Bowen will shy away
from using Burns and Thibodeaux with their hands on the ground.
He did it a ton last year, I for one
did not like it. I did not think it worked
very well, especially when teams decided to run against it.
I am a much bigger proponent out of those guys

(44:34):
standing up. I think they're gonna do more standing up
this year. That's my anticipation. So in that regard, it
will look different than the old Spagnolo NASCAR.

Speaker 3 (44:47):
Yeah, I agree. I don't think it's gonna look like
that NASCAR package necessarily looked. But I will say I
think this group of Edgrushers, and you'll see a lot
of them, they have the potential gonna say they are
better because they have not all played together yet. They've
not all you know, had incredibly successful seasons together yet
like we saw those guys with fifteen plus years ago do.

(45:11):
But they definitely have the potential to be better than
that NASCAR package. The potential wow, not to asking a lot.
I'm not saying. I didn't say they will, but they
certainly with Abdua Carter, they have the potential because that
group didn't have a dexter lawrence, and I know dexter

(45:31):
lawrence doesn't quite necessarily fit in the quote unquote you
know NASCAR package fit because that was more like four
edge rushers all on the line of scrimmage, right, But honestly,
decks offer or gives you even way more of a
mismatch than any of those guys fifteen years ago did
because he's a three hundred and forty pound into your

(45:52):
defensive line and that's gonna line up at the nose
tackle and completely blow up the interior of your offensive
line on a nearly play by play basis.

Speaker 2 (46:01):
I'm gonna double check this a second now because I
want to just make sure I got this number again.

Speaker 3 (46:06):
While you look it up, I just want to give
you one stat. Yeah, this was the Giants now that
I rode up yesterday. Steve Palizzolo, yes, who formerly a
Pro Football Focus, and Sam Monson, also formerly a PFF
started a new podcast together and they were talking about
the elite of the elite on defense and they of
course mentioned Dexter Lawrence as one of the elite of

(46:27):
the elite, and they said they gave the stat that
since the start of the twenty twenty two season, Dexter
Lawrence has one hundred and three pressures one lined up
at the nose tackle position. And I know you may
not love the pressure stat but just bear with me,
it's a big number. One hundred and three. Since the
start of the twenty twenty two seasons. Of three seasons,
one hundred and three pressures just lined up in nose tackle.

(46:50):
Number two of pressures lined up in nose tackles. His
twenty twenty two is Vida Vey, very very talented player.

Speaker 2 (46:57):
He's at twenty three.

Speaker 3 (46:59):
He has eighty less pressures than Dexter Lawrence and Palozzolo
mentions when you get a pressure from nose tackle, it
is by far the most disruptive because you are blowing
up one, if not two of the guys on the interior.

Speaker 2 (47:12):
Line, especially when he weighs three forty.

Speaker 3 (47:14):
Yeah, and you're forcing the quarterback to evacuate the pocket
and go to one of the outside where you hopefully
have your two edge rushers waiting to take him down.
So like, it's not the NASCAR package of old. It's not.
And you know, I've seen plenty of people try to
compare it since the selection of Abdul Carter. It's just
it's not that unit. But and I've said this time

(47:36):
and time again, they have the potential to be very
special this year with those four leading the way.

Speaker 2 (47:42):
Understood about the two thousand and seven NASCAR tuck your Manura,
Freddie Robbins and Michael Strahan. I wanted to conform it
because I thought Freddy Robins had five sacks. He had
five and a half that year, and he was the
nose tackle in that front. Think about that, all right,

(48:03):
Think about that for just a second. Tuck you mean
your straight hand, Freddie Robbins. That's a very high high bar.
I appreciate you said potential. You didn't say that they
would match them. I don't see how they could do
that well in.

Speaker 3 (48:21):
Two thousand and seven. Obviously, Michael Strahan is a Hall
of Famer, obviously, but in two thousand and seven, his
final season, he was not the Michael Strahan of earlier
in his career. Understood, Were any of those guys all
pros in two thousand and seven?

Speaker 2 (48:39):
You know what, I don't. I don't know, Like, I don't.

Speaker 3 (48:42):
Think any of those guys in two thousand and seven
were as dominant as we have seen Dexter Lawrence be
these last three years. And I know that's just one guy, But.

Speaker 2 (48:51):
I guess my point is, you know, Freddy Robbins was
nothing to sneeze out in of course not you know,
I mean Freddy Reddy was really good.

Speaker 3 (48:59):
I think he is one of the more underrated Giants,
at least the last couple. Believe that, absolutely do.

Speaker 2 (49:07):
I believe that Freddie Robbins vastly underrated, but just like
Karee McKenzie was.

Speaker 3 (49:11):
But just in terms of this year's unit, Dexter Lawrence
at least going off of the last couple of seasons,
and we haven't seen Abuel Carter yet, but Dexter Lawrence
is the most dominant of the group right now. And
the fact that he's having that dominant performance coming from
the interior, that's going to help elevate the guys on
the edge, and they're gonna give them a lot more

(49:34):
opportunities to finish plays, get the sacks up, get the
sack numbers up. So Hey, again, this is no disrespect
to the NASCAR package, because the NASCAR package is what
won the Giants two super Bowls and some elite performances
by Eli and a couple of you know, pass catchers.
This was a whole team effort. But those NASCAR packages

(49:55):
were phenomenal. And I'm not saying that this year's group
is going to be better than them, because it wouldn't
be disrespectful to those guys. But they do have the potential,
Like we could be having a conversation seven months from
now being like this was the greatest Giants pass at
least of the last twenty plus years.

Speaker 7 (50:13):
There were no All pros in two thousand and seven
on the defense, but Justin Tuck went to the Pro Bowl.

Speaker 3 (50:19):
Okay, Justin Tuck is my favorite all time Giant. I
love Justin Tuck and I loved him since the day
the Giants draft. With no disrespect to those guys outstanding place.
Those were my favorite players on the Giants growing up.
But this year's this year's unity so has the potential.
Again we talk about potential. This is all on paper,

(50:40):
but they have the potential to be absolutely elite if
Abdul Carter can live up to expectations, Brian Burns can
stay healthy. Kaevon just kind of needs to just do
what he's been doing because I think he's been better
than people give him credit for. I agree with that,
and Dexter Lawrence again him also just continue what he's
been doing. If that I mean the Giants finished eighth
in the NFL and sacks last year, I know, and

(51:02):
that's with Dexter and Kaevon combined to miss ten games.
A Z's missed six games. They didn't have Abdul Carter
and Brian Burns played hurt almost the entire year. Now,
injuries are gonna happen again. But if that unit can
stay on the field for most of the season as
a group, I can't like. If they finished eighth in
the league in sacks last year, then what are they

(51:23):
gonna do this year? I hope? So, I hope.

Speaker 2 (51:26):
So I'm just saying you're setting the bar really high, really.

Speaker 3 (51:29):
But I'm just going last year not to mention year
two in Shane Bowen's defense, I hope. So everything on
paper has me thinking that this unit could be elite,
but could potential These are all hypothetical, it all, It
doesn't matter until they actually do it. On Sundays, starting week.

Speaker 2 (51:50):
One, Mark and Barbados, You're next on the program.

Speaker 6 (51:53):
Hello, Oh, hi, you guys. How you guys are doing?

Speaker 3 (51:57):
Hi? What's up? Mark?

Speaker 6 (52:00):
I'm good and I'm listening. And I can't believe that
Matt is being the optimist and Paul is being the pessimis.

Speaker 2 (52:09):
I'm just trying to pump the brakes a little bit
here because even though I think this has a legitimate
shot of being a top ten defense, and who knows, man,
if they go through the ceiling, they could maybe even
be a top five, you know, if everybody just rocks
it the way they can and plays the whole season.

(52:30):
There is I'm with Matt in terms of the potential
is there, But I don't want to start cooking the
sauce too early, you know, I just don't.

Speaker 6 (52:39):
Yeah, I understand. Well, I'll tell you I'm talking about
the defense. I mean, I had the pleasure of having
dinner with Cavon Tipoteau and Brian Burns last night nice
and had a chance to sit down and chat with them.
And did you pick up the check dinner right? No, Well,

(53:00):
the entity that it was hosting it picked up the
tap very nice. I just have to have a little
connection with that. So I was able to sit down
and chat with them and also Ethan as well and
a couple others. So it was, you know, discussion last night,
and they certainly are optimistic about the season coming up
for sure.

Speaker 2 (53:20):
Well I can just show you Ethan won't have any
sacks this year. That's a guarantee. There's no ceiling on
his number. He's getting zero.

Speaker 6 (53:32):
So the other thing I wanted, I mean, so I
wanted to say that, and I mean, you know down
here in Borrows. And the other thing I want to
do is contribute to that the four tight end, whether
to have four tight ends or not. And I actually
have four tight ends being being kept on for the
fifty three. But I mean, you know, who knows. But
I've got a whole I've got that to you, a

(53:53):
whole side. But I know that means that you got
to drop somebody off somewhere.

Speaker 2 (53:57):
So where are you're taking the spot from? Come on,
where you taking five receivers? You're gonna slice the receivers
to add a tight end?

Speaker 6 (54:06):
Yes, I think that they're well, I got the five receivers,
which are the four obvious ones, and then and then
Smith Marsa as I'm containing as a receiver. But all
the other receivers are all undrafted guys. So I'm thinking
that they will take the chance to put guys on
a practice squad. And there are well three guys have

(54:27):
been performing pretty well, maybe three or four. And you know,
basically if they need anything, it will take it off
the practice squad. So I'm I'm thinking the four tight ends,
so tightened that battle except for Johnson. As you guys
said earlier, I think, and because the skill sets to
each have and I don't think, I think, I just
feel that, so don't you won't make it to the
practice squad. That's my view, but I don't know. I

(54:48):
could be wrong. So and i got three three running backs,
of course, three qbs, and but I've got ten o linemens,
so I've got twenty five on the offense, okay, And
and I've got on the defense. I've got five d line,
five edge, five in tiered interior linebackers, six cbs and

(55:08):
four safeties. So that's twenty five again.

Speaker 7 (55:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (55:11):
Now, so you went with three running backs, which is
really curious to me. And then the other thing is
you don't have Bryce Ford Wheaton on the team, and
he was their best conor last year. I know, and
their emphasize special teams this year. This year, the Giants
are putting a significant emphasis on special teams. They signed

(55:36):
three or four really dynamite special teams players during the
off season, and they want to dominate on special teams.
That is part of this year's game plan is to
tilt the field and dominate on specials. I can't.

Speaker 6 (55:52):
I can't from the linebacker and I think some of
that might come from the linebacker group. On the secondary group.

Speaker 3 (55:57):
Well, it's no doubt it's gonna say if roster breakdown
that you just mentioned where to come to fruition, it
would I guess the Giants would be slotting like Chris
Board and Demetrius Flannigan fouls as the gunners right which
they've you know, Chris Bard has had plenty of success
in the gunner.

Speaker 2 (56:14):
He's on the heat.

Speaker 3 (56:15):
Yeah, he's on the team, and he easily could be
one of the two gunner spots. Yes, but at least
as of right now, I would think that Bryce Ford
Whedon might have a slight advantage over that that you know,
the second gunner spot.

Speaker 2 (56:30):
I'll say this, I don't think is a lot to
make the team, But to me, someone's gonna have to
show that they're significantly better than him. He's one of
those guys who I think has has a foothold on
it and would have to lose a job in order
to be taken off the fifty three.

Speaker 6 (56:49):
Yeah, I could see that. I could see that. I mean,
and I mean, as I went through the old lineman,
two of like, okay, nine, ten, I think they're gonna have.
I mean, when I go through the personnel, I'm not
seeing how it could really be less than ten. But
you know, again, I could be wrong.

Speaker 5 (57:02):
Given the competition.

Speaker 3 (57:04):
Well, nine is the.

Speaker 2 (57:04):
Common nine is the common number. But again nine, you
know what's gonna happen here. Ultimately, this is not I'm
not trying to be funny, but the players will dictate
how many are going to be kept at every position,
because if you have guys that are really performing extremely
well and also giving them special teams value, some of

(57:27):
those back end of the depth chart guys that we're
talking about are going to sort themselves out by their
play during the preseason and during training camp. And then
there's the always the injury factor, which I'll guess why
two of our receivers got dinged up. Well, I got
to keep a couple extra guys at least for the
start of the season.

Speaker 3 (57:46):
I mean, you know.

Speaker 2 (57:48):
That's so the point is it's gonna be hard. This
team is going to have a very hard time cutting
the backside of their fifty three. I believe that, I agree.

Speaker 3 (57:58):
I agree, which is a good that it's a good
problem to have.

Speaker 2 (58:01):
Good thing.

Speaker 3 (58:02):
Yeah, good problem to have. That has not necessarily been
the case in recent years, so we'll.

Speaker 2 (58:06):
Take it.

Speaker 6 (58:09):
Absolutely all right, Thanks some guys, Thanks for the time,
and enjoy the rest of the show.

Speaker 2 (58:13):
Thank you, sir, appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (58:15):
Thanks Mark.

Speaker 2 (58:16):
All Right, jot down the number for the next time
program comes your way. It's gonna be in a couple
of weeks. We got two weeks off here. They're shutting
down the production department for two weeks and then we
will return for a big blue kickoff live regular twelve
thirty pm time, and then once training camp actually opens,
we're going to probably push of the shows back to
two o'clock in the afternoon, one hour live. Here to

(58:38):
chat on the program, Matt before we go, anything on
the huddle of people need to know about In the
next couple of weeks.

Speaker 3 (58:44):
We have a bunch of huddles coming at while you know,
there might not be BBK, but we will be posting
huddles every couple of days. Pearson, you want to hop
on and say what's on the horizon.

Speaker 7 (58:54):
Yeh, So today we posted Mike Kafkun Shane Bowen audio
for the ride alongs. That's a really good conversation with
Sean O'Hara. We got tight ends next week, Abdul Carter's
defensive line coach, more assistant coaches, and then we got
more position groups to come the next week, offensive line,
defensive tackles, standalone, Dexter video, Dexter Lawrence. So a lot

(59:17):
to come, a.

Speaker 2 (59:18):
Ton of stuff on the Giants huddle and oh, by
the way, folks, just in case you've been sleeping for
the last twenty four hours, and I don't think that
you have, because let's face it, over the last few weeks,
every single Giants fan who I know has asked me
about training camp. They all wanted to know when is
one of those camp practices going to open up? When
are we going to get an opportunity to come to

(59:40):
training camp and see what the Giants are doing. Just
want to make sure you know. Go to Giants dot com.
Yesterday at about two o'clock, the posting went out that
the Giants first practice will be on July the twenty third,
and all the details in the information are there about
how you can try to apply for a free ticket
to be able to come to training camp, including the

(01:00:03):
thirteenth of July when the Jets come here for the
second of the two days that we will be practicing
with Gang Green.

Speaker 3 (01:00:10):
Yes, that first practice July twenty third, will be the
first open practice to the public. There are eleven total.
The first ten are all I believe it's the first
ten training camp practices. Then there's a little bit of
a break leading up to the first preseason game, that
game against the Bills, and then the following week is
the lead up to the Jets game. There are two

(01:00:31):
joint practices with the Jets, one in Floram Park one
here in East Rutherford. That will be the eleventh and
final open training camp practice to the public, and it
should be a fun one because all these every year,
the joint practices tend to be probably the best practices
of all our training camp because it's basically it serves.
I mean, this year it's after the first preseason game,

(01:00:54):
but it's one of the first times that the Giants,
the players get an opportunity to face off against players
that are not their own teammates. And as we see
throughout the spring, throughout the first couple of weeks of
training camp. Guys kind of get tired of going up
against the same players each and every day for hours.
They want some new competition. Last year, we saw that
the joint practices last year with the Lions, they were

(01:01:17):
some feisty practices. Oh boy, spirited, Sorry, spirited is the
word we use. And I'm sure these joint practices with
the Jets will be quite spirited again. I looking forward
to it. Can't wait or less than a month away
from training camp.

Speaker 2 (01:01:31):
I was just looking at the New York Jets website
to see if they had their training camp rules up,
because again it's the twelfth and the thirteenth. On the twelfth,
the Giants are down at Florham Park. On the thirteenth,
of the teams are here. I do not know yet
what the rules are going to be for the Jets.

(01:01:53):
I cannot find anything that indicates if they're gonna make
that available two season ticket holders. I have these sweet people.

Speaker 3 (01:02:02):
I don't think they've announced their training camp schedule. I
don't see anything like our announcement yesterday. I don't think
that they have done their announcement yet, so I just
to be seen.

Speaker 2 (01:02:12):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:02:13):
But last year the joint practice in Florham Park was
open to the public. There were fans there, yeah, but.

Speaker 2 (01:02:19):
It was for season ticket holders only, and then they
had a very select few small section I believe of
some giant VIP people or whatever.

Speaker 3 (01:02:28):
Last year was also a little bit later, and it
was the last week it was going to the last
preseason game. So maybe since this one's a week earlier,
I just don't know, maybe that will be open too.
But to not take any chances, tickets go available on
Giants dot com July tenth. Just not gone, and get
your tickets to the one. Anisthe Rotherford. You'd rather see
them come practice here anyway. Who wants to drive the

(01:02:50):
floora park.

Speaker 2 (01:02:51):
There's nothing wrong with going down there and cheering for
the Giants on the Jets practice feel it's true. But
just in case you can't get in here, folks, I'm
just saying they.

Speaker 3 (01:02:58):
Also don't want it. There's coming no here, No fans
take that's for sure. But in any event, folks, that's
going to do it. Now for the next two weeks,
we are on summer hiatus. We wish you a safe
and happy summer.

Speaker 2 (01:03:14):
We thank Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area
for coming on earlier today to discuss our opponent's summer
camp preview regarding the San Francisco forty nine ers. We're
coming to you from the Giants Podcast Studio presented by
Hackensack Meridian Health. Keep getting better and this has been
Big Blue Kickoff Live presented by Cadillac, the official luxury

(01:03:37):
vehicle of the New York Football Giants. Happy summer, everybody.
We'll see you in a couple of weeks.