Big Blue Kickoff Live 7/29 | Day Two of Padded Practice

John Schmeelk and Paul Dottino discuss everything they saw at the second day of padded practice, talk about having versatility on the roster, and take calls from fans.

:00 - Second day of pads review

17:35 - Calls

23:00 - Youtube questions

26:00 - Roster versatility

32:45 - More calls

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

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

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Speaker 2 (00:23):
That's going on.

Speaker 3 (00:26):
Hi, everybody, Happy Tuesday.

Speaker 4 (00:28):
Welcome to Big Blue Kickoff Line, presented by Cadillac, the
official luxury vehicle the Giants.

Speaker 3 (00:32):
I am John Smelk. He is Paul Latino.

Speaker 4 (00:33):
We're taking your calls at two A one nine three
nine four five one three hashtag Giants Chat on Twitter.
Here's to give me a water when you get a
chance to thank you. I appreciate that. And we are
going to talk about what happened at training camp practice today.
Second consecutive day of practice, Paul, second consecutive day in pads,
and it was a hot one, my friend, more so
than yesterday.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
I mean, it really was a scorcher out there. And
you know two things that have a result of a
scorching daylight. That number one, obviously you're just sweating bullets
and you're drinking as much as you can. The other thing,
is it really tires you out. The longer you're out
there and that kind of heat, the more it SAPs
your energy and just drains you. But I thought it

(01:13):
was a relatively good practice. Not a ton of highlight
plays early on, but then some more later on in
the practice. Bottom line is these players get a breather tomorrow, John,
they don't have to go out there on the field tomorrow.
They don't go back out until Thursday.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:29):
Basically what Brian Dable has always done, he won't have
these guys practice for more than three consecutive days. So
this has been the third consecutative practice, so co prepatted.
The first one was Jaell's. They'll be off tomorrow, then
they'll be back at it again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
We're happy to be in the very air conditioned Hack
and Sack. I'm ready health podcasts. You'll keep getting better.

(01:49):
So Paul a couple pieces of news from practice today
on the league. Gambers did leave practice with an injury.
As you can see from all the Beer reporters out there,
they're saying it was a shoulder injury. All I could
tell is that he was holding something upper body. So
Giants have not made any announcements on that, but the
beats all seem to be reporting that it does not
appear to be serious or does not appear to be

(02:11):
a lot of concern about it. But it is worth
noting that he did go down on during a run
play during practice and was helped off the field.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
To give people an understanding of what we look for
when we're here and there is an injury that occurs,
Usually if you see a player very angry when he
slams his helmet down, or if he leaves the field
on a cart obviously, or if he leaves with a
towel over his head and you can see him visibly
angry and demonstrative and upset, chances are it's probably more serious.

(02:41):
But when a player is able to walk off fro
under his own power and does not look like he's
visibly very agitated, usually that means the injury is more
of a minor concern and not very serious. So Neighbors
did come out of practice, did not participate in the
latter half, but again, and I did not get the

(03:01):
opinion from watching him that he seemed very animated or
upset about it, And that's about the only sniff that
I could possibly add to this. That's that's the kind
of thing you learned from experience, from watching these things.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
Yeah, so hopefully he's okay. Something to keep an eye on.

Speaker 4 (03:20):
We're out here from Brian dable Get until Thursday morning,
so I imagine we're not gonna know anything until then. Jalen
Hyatts still not back there doing team stuff, while the
Robinson also got the day off today again after that
collision a couple of days ago. So that's kind of
where they are injury wise. But you mentioned Paul. Not
a ton of highlights another skataboo. Oh and camp Scottapoo
did not practice today.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
He's sure lower body sworders.

Speaker 4 (03:42):
Yes, and I believe he did do individual though, right, Yeah,
but that was but he did not do team that's correct, correct,
So not a ton of highlights. Again, it was a
lot of early down stuff, first and second down running
the ball, and then some play action stuff. Just not
a ton of passes and passes down the fields. Not
a ton of wild plays.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
No, not really first half for practice John and the
team drills. There was a nice play by Wilson who
rolled out to the right and hit Daniel Bellinger for
a touchdown in the first half of practice. I thought
that was the one flash play and I thought.

Speaker 4 (04:12):
It was just a really good play action fake. Wilson
really sold it. He hit the ball when he rolled out,
and someone clearly thought it was a run because Bellinger
was wide opening the end zone.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
Well again, sometimes there were miscommunications. There may have been
a miscommunication in the secondary. Maybe someone was supposed to
pick him up. We don't know. Maybe it was just
because of the fake. But it was sweet and of
course Bellinger hold it in. I thought in the list
about midway through, Tyrone Tracy had a nice run behind

(04:42):
Evan Neil. He cut it back to the right correct
and he went for about forty yards. Really nice play.
And it was Neil who, by the way, did speak
to the media. Will get to that in just a bit.
Neil clearing a pretty nice hole in the run game,
which is what he does.

Speaker 3 (04:57):
And Tyron Tracy talked about it.

Speaker 4 (04:59):
How he is he moves stuff is yes, he said,
I believe he was going to use a different word
but decided to land on stuff and by that he
means people. Evan Neil and Evan Neil spoke to the
media today as well. Paul just a large man, he said,
that's what gives him his advantage of strength. We saw
him hold up against Elijah Chapman bullrush during pass rush,
one on one stuff, and he's just a large man.

(05:21):
He moves people and that's gonna pay dividends in the
run game, especially at guard where he is now.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
Folks, I will say this for all of you who've
been down on him, and understandably so. He's had injuries,
he's been inconsistent. I get all of that. The one
thing about Evan Neil so far during this offseason is
that according to the coaches and his teammates, and now
according to him, because we finally heard him speak today,
he's all in on doing everything he can to resuscitate

(05:49):
his career and if it means moving to guard, whether
it's left guard or right guard, he is all in.
He said all the right things today during his media session. John.
In fact, I thought it was probably his most pleasant,
most effusive media session maybe that he's had since he's
been here.

Speaker 4 (06:05):
I mean, I've always thought Evan does a nice job
with that stuff. I never thought he was had bad
media availabilities. A couple of you not the first person
that have said that to me today. I've always thought
Evan's done a nice job with the media, to be
honest with you. So but yeah, I think he's very comfortable.
I think he just wants to Look, he knows this
that they didn't pick up his fifth year option, right,
he knows this is the last year of his rookie deal.
He knows he has to play well. And I think

(06:26):
he's trying to be a good teammate, which was Brian
Dable said he was when they asked the move to guard.
There was no complaints, there was no like hesitation, And
I think he's just trying to show that he's all
about the team. And look, if he knows he can
succeed at guard. Have you seen what guards have been
getting paid in the National Football League? Pretty good money, Yeah,
twenty plus million dollars a year. So yeah, if he
becomes a really good guard, that's a win.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
So yeah, I don't want to ever say that Evan
Neil was poor to the media, but he seemed a
little bit more relaxed and maybe a little bit more
energetic today than what he usually was. And again, justifiably so,
because he's doing a nice job. Some other plays maybe
that we saw late in practice. I had three or
four others that I marked.

Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, go ahead place.

Speaker 2 (07:06):
I had Wilson on a right roll out to Smith.
Morsett made a diving grab down near the goal line.
That was pretty good. Dart hit the Jordan Humphrey in
the right corner of the end zone.

Speaker 4 (07:18):
Another back shoulder for you special.

Speaker 2 (07:21):
Well, you think I'm not going to mark that down.

Speaker 3 (07:23):
Well you didn't call it a back shoulder.

Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well, because I was about to say it was. I
believe what Green was beaten on that back shoulder. He
was there because it was a back shoulder. He couldn't
make the play we've seen.

Speaker 4 (07:35):
I think that's probably been Dark's most consistent throws since
he's gotten here.

Speaker 2 (07:38):
He seems to like that. Next time I get a chief, he.

Speaker 3 (07:41):
Did a lot of on this, so it's not surprise
that's on his college tape.

Speaker 2 (07:44):
Next time I get a chance to, like just meet
with him for a minute or two, I want to
talk to him about that, because it's a beautiful thing.

Speaker 3 (07:50):
I also liked.

Speaker 2 (07:52):
Let's see here. Tommy DeVito had a touchdown pass in
the corner of the end zone to Cambri that was late.
I thought that was nice. I also had had a
really terrific pass breakup. I'm sure you had this one too, John.
This was Banks on a Winston passed at dulcicch yep.
Banks knocked it away. That was really well timed, beautiful, beautiful.

Speaker 4 (08:13):
Pass me I was left sideline yep.

Speaker 2 (08:15):
And then the last one that I wrote down, that
was kind of a splash play at the very end,
Wilson hitting Darius Slayton for a touchdown.

Speaker 4 (08:21):
Flat was right there, crossing along the bend of the
back of the end.

Speaker 2 (08:25):
Slot was right there, and Slayton went and reached down
made the catch for the score. Those those were the
highlight place.

Speaker 4 (08:31):
For me to Those are my highlight plays as well,
So I have nothing to add to that. I was
watching the O line D line one on one, so
I'll give you some of my highlights on that. I
mentioned that Neil had a good up against Chapman on
that bull rush. Then unfortunately he got out d a
Carter one on one a couple of times. Oh well, oh,
they put Carter in at defensive tackle. It wasn't like
these dominating quick you know, Neil did not have a

(08:55):
chance type of deals. But Carter did work his way
past them on a couple of those kind of high
five that towards. I think there's a respect between those
two guys. So it was good to see him. You know,
if I'm having no I'm thinking, are they not playing
tackle anymore? So I don't have to see guys like
Bill Carter, Like isn't it wasn't that the whole point
of this now, But again that that's how my mentality's

(09:16):
probably given that NFL play. I'm sure he was like, yeah,
this is great. I get the challenge, I get to
face the best guy, or I'm thrilled about it. So
they had a couple they they had a good back
and forth on a couple of reps. Jermaina Luminor and
Brian Burns went against each other three times, kind of
a back and forth. Burns won one or two, the
lumin Or maybe one one of them, so that was
a fun back and forth. Lumitter had a good rep
against a duel Carter. He slowed him down. James Hudson

(09:38):
was back and forth. Keevon Thibadeau again used length and
power a lot on his two wins late in the
late in the drill. I thought he had a couple
of good reps. John Michael Schmidz had a couple of
good stops. Natcho did get him once, but I thought
he had a couple other good ones along the way.
I mentioned Hudson. I thought josh A Zudu uh Thibodeau
got him on the last rep of the session on
a quick inside moving Zudu had to just overset him

(10:00):
outside a little bit.

Speaker 3 (10:01):
Otherwise, I that a Zudo had.

Speaker 4 (10:03):
Two or three really nice reps during the period. He
was good. I mentioned Burns and Carter, so uh, there
was one other one that someone had a good bull
rush oh Alexander and had the good bul rush against Runyon,
but otherwise he got stopped at a couple other ones.
So back and forth. I thought this was more even
steven maybe slide edge to the defense. Okay, then it

(10:24):
was yesterday. I thought the offensive line kind of got
the best of the period. So I thought it was
a good back and forth in the one on once
interesting about Carter.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
I was doing a TV interview with Kiwanuka. I missed
the O line d Lions. I was glad John was
able to get over there to see it, but k
I asked him specifically about Carter. I said, you know, Matthias,
you were so versatile. You played all the line positions,
you played strong side, linebacker, you were all over the place.
You were up, you were down. We keep hearing that

(10:52):
they're going to do a bunch of things without dual Carter,
and he's done a lot of stuff at Penn State.
But as a rookie, how hard is that to make
the jump into the NFL and to be given that
entire salad bar right out of the box. And he
just started laughing.

Speaker 4 (11:08):
He goes, that is hard, which, by the way, and
if you talk to Kiwi now, like he'll he never
said this when he was playing, but he'll tell you, like,
my career could have been a lot different if I
actually got the play where I was supposed to the
whole time.

Speaker 2 (11:20):
If he had been just at defensive end the whole time,
he would have put up some nice numbers, he would have.
I think it was it was for the team that
they moved him, and he always.

Speaker 4 (11:30):
Did what was good for the very similar to the
same we have Bill Garter showing up and Burns and
Thibodaul already here. When Kiwi showed up. It wasn't just
two guys ahead of him. I know Kiwi showed up,
it was oh see, it was Tuck Straighth was here
as well. That was his final year was and then
JPP eventually showed up to play edge as well. So
it was a bit of a crowded room to get
him into his traditional defensive end spot.

Speaker 2 (11:52):
So so not only did I talk to him about
the way to use carter and obviously the challenge that
he's going to have as a rookie, which again key
we said, it's a monumental challenge. I did ask him
about having quote too many pass rushers, and what is
it like for you as a guy who knows there
are so many other guys who are in your role

(12:13):
and you're gonna have to split snaps, You're gonna have
to share snaps, and now you have to mentally adjust
to that that you're not gonna get the bulk of
the snaps. You're not gonna be the guy who's in
there every play to set somebody else up. And he
said that is also a mental adjustment that you have
to make. You have to understand that everybody's got to eat.

(12:33):
Everybody's gonna get a certain amount of reps and it's
better for everybody as a whole, for the team if
everybody takes fewer snaps so that they all get an opportunity.
He said, it's gonna be an adjustment. Carter's gonna have
to understand that there will be some times he's gonna
be off the field that he wants to be on.

Speaker 4 (12:51):
Yeah, and I think I have to figure that part out.
We also as the mediavals, we have a full bank
of calls here. We're gonna get to you in a second.
We mentioned Neil. We were from Tyron Tracy. After practice
he talked about Evan Neil and his and again he
talked about what we kind of talked about in the spring. Paul,
I always like when the players mirror what we say
on the show.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
I guess it.

Speaker 4 (13:09):
Makes the stow that we actually have half of clove
what we're talking about half the time. But how him
and Scataboo and Singletary, it's not gonna be like, all right,
this is the goal line back, this is the third
down back, this is your you know, first and second
down back. They all do everything. So my guess here, Paul,
is that we're gonna see a situation where all right,
this series, this one's yours, this set of downs, this

(13:30):
one's yours, because it doesn't seem like, you know, maybe
on the goal line you'll see more scatterbuy than the
other guys. But I think they're like Singletary in those
spots too. I think they trust them all as past protectors,
as Tracy said. As Tracy said, they trust them all
as receivers. So I think it gives them a lot
of versatility with who they're gonna use when since all
three guys can do everything you.

Speaker 2 (13:49):
Need, there are a lot of options on how you
can break this thing down because of the abilities of
all three of those guys. And I'm gonna tell you,
I'm gonna add this again. And I've mentioned a number
of times Eric Grayby and Hurt has really impeded his
chances of making this team because if the Giants go

(14:09):
with four running backs, Dntay Miller wants a spot John.
He runs hard, he runs fast, he looks like he's
reading the holes even better now that he's in his
second season. If there's gonna be a fourth running back,
don'tey Miller certainly is gaining some ground on the spot. Now,
what is he gonna do in the preseason games, we'll see.

(14:30):
I mean, are you are you married to three? Orre
you married to four?

Speaker 4 (14:33):
How do you feel if I'm keeping four tight ends?
I don't know how I'm keeping four running backs.

Speaker 2 (14:37):
That's gonna be hard to do, very hard to do.

Speaker 4 (14:39):
I I with this way, Paul, if you're keeping four
running backs, is that fourth running back ever getting a
jersey on game day?

Speaker 2 (14:46):
No?

Speaker 4 (14:47):
So what do he keep? Four?

Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah? Yeah?

Speaker 4 (14:49):
Now if you get to a spot where your fourth
guy is so good in preseason games that you don't
think you can get him onto the practice squad and
I know you love him that much and you don't
want to lose them, then yeah. But let's be honest.
Is there room to play anyone? There's Singletary, Scataboo, and Tracy.

Speaker 2 (15:09):
Is really not Heck is really not.

Speaker 4 (15:11):
I wouldn't be shocked if we end up. And this
is not me knowing anything, folks, It's just me talking.
So do not report this or aggregate it, Like would
it shock you if you got to the end of
the camp and Scataboo and Tracy have been so good
that teams start calling about Singletary if they need a
veteran running back. Would that shock you if teams I'm
not saying the Giants would answer and say, yes, we'll
move them. But would you be shocked if other teams

(15:32):
would call and make that call because they respect Singletary
and they could use them.

Speaker 2 (15:36):
No, I would not be shocked. He's an accomplished NFL
back who's done a lot of good things for the
player for playoff teams got the way to the player
and he's a pro. Yeah, So no, that would not
shock me if somebody showed interest in him. Yeah, I
think that running back room the book is yet to
be written there and there are different ways they could go.

(15:57):
But I see your point. The fourth running back is
not going to get a jersey. Now. The problem, of course,
is a can you get him on to practice squad?
If you like what Miller's doing? Can you get him
on to practice squad?

Speaker 5 (16:09):
Number one?

Speaker 2 (16:10):
And then number two? Even if you get them there,
mighty get plucked. There's always running backs, you know how
they get hurt, John, they get dingked, And even if
you need somebody for two or three weeks, you know
you're gonna want that other guy.

Speaker 4 (16:22):
To your point, how does he do in the preseason,
Because that's what's gonna dictate whether or another team tis
to pluck him.

Speaker 2 (16:27):
Yep, yep, all.

Speaker 4 (16:28):
Right, you're goada do some phone calls. Let's go all right,
two on one nine three nine four five one three.
Just a reminder, run or walk with Giants Legends. The
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(16:50):
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while you're there and you want to see this Giants
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out individual tickets as well. You can find it all
at giants dot com slash tickets. All right, our first call,

(17:10):
the show was on specifically for Paul. I want to
go to edit, North Carolina ad what's going on?

Speaker 6 (17:16):
Hey, what's going on, guys? How you doing. I appreciate
the job you guys do every day.

Speaker 3 (17:20):
Thank you? What do you have for asspreciate you?

Speaker 6 (17:22):
Yeah, So I know it doesn't get talked about a lot,
but in realistic football terms, fantasy football is a big
part of the popularity of football. And I'm a Giants fan.
I'm in fantasy football draft. Assuming elite neighbors is the
first person you could get. I would like Paul to
pick first, if it's okay, and say who he think

(17:44):
I should take on my fantasy football team for the Giants,
and then John if you would pick another person.

Speaker 3 (17:50):
Sure, this is aside from neighbors who you think might
be really high production wise from this Giants offense.

Speaker 6 (17:58):
Correct, okay, and I've taken a lot of tyrone Tracy
stops so far?

Speaker 4 (18:02):
All right, Paul what he got? Well, Paul's in six
leagues this year, by the way, so he's ready to go.

Speaker 2 (18:07):
You don't believe that for a second, do you? He's
an eight h zero tyrone. Tracy had over a thousand
yards of combined yardage from scrimmage last season. So it
would be very hard for me not to tell Tracy
because quite Frankly, are you afraid though.

Speaker 3 (18:24):
That Skataboo might cut into his production?

Speaker 2 (18:26):
Well, he might, And to be frank I've said on
this program before I could definitely see Scattaboo was a
touchdown gobbler.

Speaker 4 (18:34):
Yes, I've told you that he could hoard touchdowns. And
by the way, they're also going to throwing passes out
of the backfield. Yes, So if you have a running
back and this is your point ed, if you're late
in the draft, and if you know what running back
is gonna get goal one carries and catch a lot
of passes, it's a lot of free points, especially if
you're in a PPR league. You know.

Speaker 2 (18:50):
I do believe that when push comes to shove at
some point during the season, and I don't know how
early it's going to be, I think in key spots,
scout who's going to be number two ahead of Singletary.

Speaker 4 (19:01):
I do believe that I would not be surprised by that,
and I would give you I'm gonna give you THEO Johnson.
I think he's a guy as a flyer later in
your draft. I believe he is going to be an
eighty percent of the snap tight end type of guy
they like him as a blocker and a receiver. He's
a big target for Russell Wilson. Now, the problem is

(19:22):
that Russell Wilson does not throw over the middle a
ton in those short intermedia there, so that could limit him.
But he's so big and tall he might be able
to get him the ball anyway just because of his size.
So Wilson has not historically thrown to the tight end
the bunch when he was in Seattle, So that's a
little bit of a worry for me. But you know, Slayton,

(19:43):
if he's gonna be like your fourth wide receiver, that's fine.
I mentioned my thoughts on Scataboo. I think those are
the guys I would I would consider taking.

Speaker 6 (19:52):
Hey, John, is it okay to ask Paul one quick?

Speaker 7 (19:55):
One?

Speaker 4 (19:55):
Of course?

Speaker 6 (19:57):
So Paul, I know you go back and I mean
you always call out the teams like just off of knowledge,
which is crazy to me. But you guys have seen
Abdul Carter. I know it's just you know, shirts and
there's no pads, But like, is there anybody that Abdul
Carter reminds you of Paul that is a past giant player,

(20:18):
that he has that twitch or he has that move
or he has that I think that reminds you of
some of the other guys.

Speaker 2 (20:24):
I've said this before, and I know John has a
perspective on this too, and thank you.

Speaker 3 (20:28):
I appreciate the call, Nagats.

Speaker 2 (20:29):
I've told a lot of people, and I've mentioned it
to the former Giants who we've seen a training camp,
and they've all agreed that they saw the similarities. He's
got the body type of Pepper Johnson. When Pepper played here,
thick neck, you know, broad shoulders, very boxy. You've mentioned oc,
OC wasn't quite with the thick neck in the box.

Speaker 4 (20:48):
Well. I would more compare him to OC in terms
of pass rush style, and that's fair, Yes.

Speaker 2 (20:54):
That's fair, because he's a pass rusher and Pepper was
not as much of a pass rusher. He was more
of a hulking, athletic, physical, smash mouth kind of backer.
But but the frame, the body reminds me very much
of Pepper Johnson. I even told Peper that the other
day when he was here. But his athleticism and his

(21:15):
ability to have range and to cover a lot of
the field reminds me of Jesse Armstead. So when you
combine Armstead's range and athleticism and quickness with Pepper Johnson's
body who was much more bulky. Not that he didn't
have athleticism because he could cover backs, but that is

(21:35):
quite a unique combination of talents.

Speaker 4 (21:40):
Two one nine, three nine four five one three two
to one nine three nine four five one three? Are
you more of a full PPR league half a point
PPR League's what are you usually playing?

Speaker 2 (21:49):
Folks? He's really something, isn't he now ppr's points perception.

Speaker 3 (21:56):
Yes, yes it is.

Speaker 4 (21:57):
It is points.

Speaker 2 (21:59):
Hey, I got it?

Speaker 4 (22:01):
Five?

Speaker 2 (22:02):
Nice? That's that was a reach.

Speaker 3 (22:05):
How did you know that that was a reach?

Speaker 2 (22:08):
That was really a reach? But at least I got it.

Speaker 3 (22:10):
I'm shocked and impressed.

Speaker 4 (22:13):
Well, maybe you are on les and you're just not
telling them.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
No, No, there's no facade here on that one, Joe,
I think.

Speaker 3 (22:19):
There's a facade.

Speaker 2 (22:20):
No facade.

Speaker 4 (22:21):
One YouTube comment I want to get too quickly from
Virtual Speaking Podcast Virtually Speaking Podcast. Should we be using
neighbors on run blocking plays?

Speaker 3 (22:30):
Yes, you have to.

Speaker 4 (22:32):
Everyone's got a block, boys and girls. It's football. You
out there running the ball, numb one wide receiver?

Speaker 3 (22:37):
You got a block?

Speaker 2 (22:38):
Like?

Speaker 3 (22:39):
Sorry, you can't put guys in bubble wrap. They gotta
play football.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
I got a question for you. Do you want some
nice running plays turning into big running plays? Do you
want that extra ten to fifteen yards downfield when your
running back has the opportunity to get into the second
and third levels of the defense. Yeah, if you do,
you better tell your receivers the block. It's pretty simple.

Speaker 3 (23:03):
Oh, I did not see this.

Speaker 4 (23:04):
This is interesting, FREDI aiden think good to see Paul
Tatino get some throwing action today during practice. When a
couple of balls went towards the sideline and need to
throw them back into play, says, you throw a nice spiral.
Should be considered as a backup quarterback.

Speaker 2 (23:18):
Not happening.

Speaker 4 (23:20):
I didn't notice.

Speaker 2 (23:21):
Did I appreciate it?

Speaker 3 (23:22):
They do to throw the ball back to the end?

Speaker 2 (23:24):
I did. I did. In fact, one of them. I
had to go hit Tim Slayman, the equipment manager, and
I knew it was too far away. The ball was
wet and slippery, and I knew I wasn't going to
get a good throw on it, so it was short.
I landed a couple of yards short, but it wasn't.
It was a nice spiral, but hey, one thing I
could do, folks, I never actually played the game. I've

(23:46):
studied the game as long as I can remember, since
I was a kid, but I never played organized football.
I don't like pain, Okay, that's what it comes down to, John.
I don't like pain and the physicality of the game.
While I love watching it, it's not something I have
participated in. Here's what I will say, though. Man, when
I was growing up intramurals and street ball and stuff

(24:06):
like that, people always wanted me because I could throw
that spiral. I had a nice and I could spin it.
I could really throw a good spiral, and so because
of that, people always wanted me on the team because
I could throw it. But that's a lot of years ago.

Speaker 4 (24:22):
I say, Well, when that ball does go to the sideline,
there was a lot of pressure because everyone looks at
you and they're waiting for you to mess up. Oh no,
they just want you to have a bad throw, worse
than anything in the world. That to your point, you're
out there, you're sweating, you haven't thrown it all. Oh
and it's the ball is slick. I will I avoid
Like the ball comes in my direction, I get the
heck out of the way. I don't want any part

(24:42):
of throwing that ball back because you know why, no
good could come of it, because your arm is never
gonna look good because people are watching Russell Wilson throw
passes and Jackson dart and God forbid something slip. So
you throw a duck, you're gonna hear about it for
here in a week. For a week, I didn't.

Speaker 7 (24:57):
Want to know.

Speaker 4 (24:57):
I didn't want to throw it, but nobody came over
to get I had a throw it.

Speaker 3 (25:01):
But but I.

Speaker 2 (25:02):
Will say, I will say one thing about about that though.
You know the funny part about it is Avers Roper,
who used to work in the media relations department here
with the Giant. You were here with Avis right for.

Speaker 3 (25:11):
A couple of years before he left for the NFL.

Speaker 2 (25:13):
Of course, Avers took great pride in his arm. Oh
he had a good arm. He did, he did, he did.
He had a good arm, absolutely had a good arm.
And he never passed up an opportunity to a throwaball.

Speaker 4 (25:25):
Backer well as was also like six three and like
two fifty, absolutely large man. And I'm not six three
six two, probably six two. All right, let's go to
Cliff in New York. He's up next.

Speaker 3 (25:35):
Hey, Cliff, Hey.

Speaker 4 (25:37):
Guys, what's up?

Speaker 3 (25:39):
Can you get off speakerphone?

Speaker 4 (25:40):
Cliff? It sounds like you're calling us from a submarine
or an airline.

Speaker 3 (25:43):
Hangers, that is much better.

Speaker 4 (25:46):
What do he got?

Speaker 8 (25:47):
That's that's what happens when you pick up the handset.
I'm delighted to hear that everybody's got multiple skills on
both sides of the ball. I'm just wondering if that
gives us an edge or if everybody else is doing
the same thing.

Speaker 4 (26:03):
In terms of one.

Speaker 8 (26:05):
Players can on both DL and OL can play different
positions and well, I mean.

Speaker 4 (26:13):
Cliff, I don't think that is impact about other teams
are doing. I think it just gives you more versatility
in building your roster. If you know a guy can
play guard and tackle, it gives you a little bit
more flexibility that way.

Speaker 2 (26:22):
Look at it this way. You know they're going to
be injuries right too. You know that. So the more
flexibility you have, every coach will tell you the better
he's going to sleep at night because it gives him
more options as opposed to oh what do we do now?

Speaker 8 (26:37):
Well, that's what I was thinking. It gives them options.
When he gained plans and during the game. I mean,
he can come up with things they haven't seen before
on film. It seems like he could do that for
maybe four or five games before they can catch up
and see what's going on with these different ways that
they can use guys on both sides.

Speaker 2 (26:54):
Well, I think that's one thing that Jason Seahorn used
to tell us all the time about whenever you play
the Saint Louis Rams and Mike Martz's offense. Martz had
so many different things that he could do with his receivers,
his backs, and his tight ends. You know when Kurt
Warner was there and they were the greatest show on turf,
and he would say it didn't matter. And John, this

(27:17):
is true, Seewone would say you could watch three or
four games and still not have a clue as to
what he's doing on offense. Because Mars was that creative
in terms of being able to mix and matches at that.

Speaker 3 (27:28):
Year, that sea one interesting.

Speaker 2 (27:30):
Yeah, see One really studied this stuff and he's like,
you watch three or four games, it doesn't matter. It
doesn't matter because Mars is going to show you something
on Sunday that you haven't seen on tape. He always
had the ability to swap guys around in all different
ways and have them do different things.

Speaker 8 (27:48):
Oh, that's what I think we might have going. Man,
it sure sounds like it to me, especially to get
the jump on people in the first quarter of the season.
You know, nobody knows what anybody's doing the first game.
I'm thinking of Belichick used to talk about this all
the time. Nobody knows about the first game. But once
you got something down on tape, suh, it becomes easier
to prepare and play during the game.

Speaker 4 (28:10):
Well, Cliff, one thing we're seeing too. They are moving
the wide receivers around too, like guys are inside outside.

Speaker 6 (28:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (28:15):
So yeah, that's a good thing.

Speaker 8 (28:17):
Why can't Wanda run down the field like Hyatt?

Speaker 2 (28:20):
Now?

Speaker 3 (28:21):
One thing?

Speaker 2 (28:22):
One thing, John and I were on a seminar with
the NFL yesterday. Remember what they were talking about pre
snap penalties. Pre snap penalties have gone up exponentially in
the last several years here in the league. Last year
they were over an average of over six pre snap
penalties per game, according to what they told us on

(28:42):
the NFL seminar yesterday for the broadcasters. And they're saying
to all the officiating crews, when you go around to
camps this summer, make sure you emphasize to your team,
to your teams, your coaches, and your players, we're calling
this stuff. You guys better to clean it up because
we had a ton of them last year. And it's

(29:05):
not like they're gonna stop calling it. They want teams
to clean up that pre snap penalty stuff, and we're
seeing more motion now than ever. It's it's tricky. The
more you do that, the more you put yourself in
position to potentially get called for a flag.

Speaker 8 (29:23):
Well, I just like our chances to get the jump
on people, and you know people by the way, talking
about the strength of the schedule, you know, when somebody's
considered a good team, if not an elite team, they
have a record of like eleven and six or twelve
and five, that means they lost six games and they
lost five games. I don't think they always lose to

(29:45):
teams in their weight class in that situation. I just
think if we come out like Gangbusters, I think it
could it could really be something, even if we have
to sit without Andrew, because they've made enough of improvement
to get by without him a little bit better.

Speaker 4 (30:03):
Thank you, Cliff, appreciate the call. And look, starting the
season strong important, Yes, even more important than.

Speaker 3 (30:07):
That starting games faster.

Speaker 4 (30:11):
Yeah, the Giants have been trailing. I mean, Warren Sharp
had this in this podcast I think is coming out
Friday for us. He does a great job with the moves.
I think I got a lot. I don't have nohm
off hand, but the bottom line is that the Giants
have done worse in the first halves of games than
like any other team, like almost since Dable's gotten here,

(30:32):
and they just start team so slow. And I know
I've heard Dable will talk to his team about starting
faster in these games. Like, if you're gonna use the
get the most out of what this defensive front can
do rushing the passer, you gotta get some leads. You
can't be constantly playing from behind. If you want to
use play action on offense to let Russell Wilson do

(30:52):
his thing like he did in Seattle. Can't do that
down fourteen points in the second quarter. You gotta start
faster offensively.

Speaker 2 (31:00):
Yeah, for sure. You know they give us bless you.
They give us a game book, which is a play
by play description that the statisticians print out after every
game and every NFL stadium John. How many times have
we looked at that game book getting ready to do
the radio postgame show, and one of the stat lines
they have in the game book is time that the

(31:24):
team led, time of the game was tied, and how
much time on the clock was when the team was trailing.
Invariably invariably every week it is totally lopsided against the
Giants in terms of time on the clock trailing.

Speaker 4 (31:42):
All right, I got some stats here for you. I
looked it up. This is off of teamerankings dot com.
Hopefully this is okay.

Speaker 2 (31:47):
What do you got so?

Speaker 4 (31:48):
Twenty twenty four season, only one team averaged fewer points
than the Giants in the first quarter. That was the Bears.
The Giants average two point one points per first quarter.
The few goal you know, the other the top teams
and everyone out of the bottom half is like above
four points per first quarter. Twenty twenty three, the Giants
were last in the league in terms of first quarter

(32:12):
points one point five points for first quarter in the
twenty twenty three season. Let me give you the twenty
twenty two season, and that was a year where the
Giants actually played well. They made the players, they won
a payoff game, right. Well, that year in the first
quarter of games, the Giants, see, they were a little
bit better that year, No, they weren't a little bit,

(32:34):
but not much. Two point eight points per game. That
was fifth worst in the National Football League. In twenty
twenty two, well, that.

Speaker 2 (32:40):
Was the year that Jones, I believe, led them to
six come from behind fourth quarter victories.

Speaker 4 (32:45):
Even twenty gonna go back to twenty twenty one. The
year before that two point one tied for worst. That
was before Dable got here. So it's something that they
need to do a better job of, whatever that is.
And I'm hoping that the changing quarterback will that a
little bit. Maybe that was a Daniel Jones problem as
much as it was a something else problem. But you

(33:05):
got to start the games faster, and hopefully Russell Wilson,
who's seen everything and maybe doesn't need as much time
to figure out what the defense is doing, can get
these games and the Giants offense off to a little
bit of a quicker start.

Speaker 2 (33:17):
Yeah, no question, John, I'll back that, no question.

Speaker 3 (33:21):
All right, let's go back to the phones.

Speaker 4 (33:22):
Are two one nine three nine four five one three
Our buddy ab duels in Minneapolis. Abdul what's up man,
Long time they'll speak.

Speaker 7 (33:29):
Guys.

Speaker 4 (33:29):
We're good.

Speaker 7 (33:30):
I've been I've been treating with the past few days.

Speaker 3 (33:32):
I'm sorry to hear that.

Speaker 7 (33:33):
I'm kind of It's okay, I'm really so. I'm I'm glad.
I'm doing some positive stories about how the O line
is coming together, how Evan Neil is them good at guard.
But that's lead me to worried that our run defense
is once again going to be an issue.

Speaker 4 (33:53):
The run defense today, Abdul, was actually pretty darn good.
Uh Day one. I thought the Giants ran the head.
They broke a couple explosives, which I'm sure the defensive
wasn't happy with it. I think they maybe had two
runs all of practice today that went for more than
ten yards. Maybe the run defense today was actually pretty good.

Speaker 2 (34:11):
Now, I would add one thing Abdul. Brian Burns told
us yesterday in his media veil. We were there for that, right, yeah, yeah,
he said to us. It's hard mentally because you want
to get into the play and all you can do
is contact and thud and it's hard for these defensive players.

Speaker 4 (34:27):
Not to tackle.

Speaker 3 (34:28):
And the other part of it too.

Speaker 4 (34:29):
I'll give you, Abduel very briefly, Dexter Lawrence is not
doing very much team stuff at all. No, all, they
don't have their best defensive tackle in there either. Anyway,
I didn't mean the drop. I apologize ah hard.

Speaker 7 (34:39):
Well, you guys just led me to a point of mind.
Once again.

Speaker 5 (34:43):
I'm not sure if the Giants did enough of the
offseason to get that back up nose tackles or the
second defensive tackle, because once Dexter is off the field,
because he can't play every single snap, sure there's a
pacipitous fall in talent from the defensive line. And we know,
we were all hoping that this offseason there would you know,

(35:04):
you know, and once again where.

Speaker 7 (35:06):
And he said they can't really tackle. But I'm just
really worried that that might because we have this great
pass rush, but we can't use the pass rush if
they're never in pastwick in situations.

Speaker 3 (35:16):
I can tell you a duel.

Speaker 4 (35:17):
They I feel good about him, but the coaching staff
feels even better about him, and that's where robertson Harris.
They think he is going to be a huge help
in that regard. I'm not sure if he's going to
be the backup nose necessarily. I think he's more of
like the three or five technique type of player, but
he is. He's Chris Canty sized, he's huge, he's gigantic.

(35:38):
He's going to be good against the run. Nacho has been.
He remember he was the three tech last year. I
think they're using him more as the backup nose in
the spring, So I think that will give you a
little bit more consistency at that spot, and then you
hope Ledbetter, Jeremiahleedbetter comes in and he can help in
that regard. Darius Alexander can develop as a rookie. I
think he's probably for based on what Dable said today,

(36:00):
he's gonna be a little further along.

Speaker 7 (36:01):
Like I really haven't heard. I've heard that he's kind
of struggling. He's not looking too well. Actually tweeted to
me saying that he actually he's improving. But I really
haven't heard his name much. You know, I've heard he's.

Speaker 4 (36:13):
He's been pretty good. He's been pretty good in the
one on one pass rush drills. He's shown off some
really good power and length in those drills, and even
Dable said today he shows a lot of natural pass
rush ability. I'd be lying Abduel if I was focusing
in on him and what he's doing on these run
plays and these rundowns. We're watching from the sideline, so
a lot of time what's happening in the middle of

(36:35):
the defense of and offensive lines. It's hard to see
because the guys all mashed together. You can't really isolate
guys and how they're doing in there. So I'll be
honest with you, I'm gonna try to go back and
watch some of the practice stuff tomorrow because we don't
have practice, actually have some time in the morning to
get some work done. But I have not watched him
in run situations yet, but he has definitely shown past

(36:57):
rush promise in those situations.

Speaker 2 (36:58):
I think the other guy who's kind of a sleeper
here and he has not done a whole lot so far,
but he's got a little time yet. It's still Jordan Riley.
Andre Patterson likes him.

Speaker 4 (37:10):
John Well, he better get there and yeah, and the
problem is to this point he has not really shined
a whole lot in this training. It's a crowded room,
so you better start shining. He better start getting it going.
He's got the body to be the backup nose tackle.
But but he needs to consistently bring it every single

(37:33):
time he's on the field. There's still a month or
so to goo. There are three preseason games to go.

Speaker 2 (37:40):
He better set the alarm clock off because Jordan Riley
is gonna have to If he's got any chance of
being that backup nose, he's gonna have to make it happen.

Speaker 9 (37:50):
Now.

Speaker 7 (37:51):
Well, one more thing, is it true that Elida Chapman
had some full back.

Speaker 4 (37:56):
Hey, you know what?

Speaker 3 (37:58):
Thank you that duel I forgot to mention that in
talking about practice.

Speaker 4 (38:01):
Yes, they was used as a battering ram full back,
which I think, given his stature, leverage and strength, I
think is a position that could work really well for him.

Speaker 2 (38:11):
Very interesting to see how that will will turn out.

Speaker 4 (38:13):
And we did get one or two offseason calls about that,
if I recall, I forget what callers called about it,
but yeah, I mean they hadn't used them there yet,
but they did today.

Speaker 2 (38:21):
He had done some of that at SMU. Yep, you know,
and he wants to He's eager to do it well.

Speaker 7 (38:27):
As a long term Giants fan, I'm you know, there's
certain years that you just have a gut feeling that
won't turn out so well. I'm really excited about the
energy that I'm fearing about and feeling and seeing so
far in the first week of this training camp, and
help continues to grow and get better. All right, thank
you guys stick.

Speaker 4 (38:46):
Here now, I've always good here for me. Man appreciate
the call Scott Young. This question off of YouTube again.
You guys do a great job with the comments. Thank
you for tuning, tuning in and putting your questions in there.
Scott Young wants to know Dex are not getting a
ton of reps. How's the middle of the defense looking at.
It's the run that's been a very weak point, and
that was similar to what Abdul just asked us today.
It was better. I thought the run defense day did
a nice job. There was not a lot of room

(39:08):
to move for the running backs in the middle of
that line. So I think day two in pads better
than day one.

Speaker 2 (39:13):
We did not mention DJ Davidson earlier.

Speaker 3 (39:16):
He went down with an injury. It looked like he
limped a.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
Little bit as he came off, so he was a
bit banged up. Today he is bigger, by the way
than I've ever seen him before.

Speaker 4 (39:26):
But I did not see a helmet, slam or towel
over his head. So by the Paul Datino injury meter,
I think we feel better about that, right, I.

Speaker 3 (39:34):
Agree, it's very unscientific. Yeah, that was That's about as
unscientific as you can actually.

Speaker 2 (39:41):
But yeah, he is definitely bulked up. He has a
much wider, thicker frame than he's had in the past.
And he's obviously involved in that competition too.

Speaker 4 (39:51):
Okay, we got sergeants seventy seven. Haven't heard much on
the kicking game. That's been a problem in the past
few years. How we look in We had a few
kicks at the end of the first few days of practice,
but not much too. I've been so locked in on
the padded stuff the last two days. Have they kicked
it all the last couple of days?

Speaker 2 (40:07):
Paul, Well, the gano did some kicks today at the
very end, but nothing really to speak of. And they're
not you know, they're not forcing these kickers to kick
fifty five yards at the beginning of training camp, right,
that's not happening either. So and and they're going to
try to keep Gilling in as minimal punting situations as
possible because you don't want to burn his leg out

(40:29):
either or get him hurt. So there's really not much
to say. I will I will add one other item though,
for you, and that is when Graham Gano is healthy.
And I know in each of the last two years
that hasn't been the case, John, But when Graham Gano's healthy,
he's as good as any kicker in the league.

Speaker 4 (40:45):
Yeah, we just haven't seen that in a bit last years.
He's been hurt. So I think he was pretty good
in the last year. He got more consistent once he
got back and got healthier.

Speaker 3 (40:52):
Yeah, he was fine.

Speaker 2 (40:53):
He was once he got back. I will say Mcatammany
is working his butt off, really really working his barb
and if he's practice squad again, I wouldn't be shocked. Well,
he has the international exemption exactly. I did check on
that that is true. He does get that exemption again
this season, so they could carry him on the.

Speaker 4 (41:11):
Practice without them taking up a spec.

Speaker 9 (41:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (41:13):
All right, a couple more calls before we say goodbye.
You can give us not the call if you want
a two on one nine three nine four five one three.
Jeff and Mayne is up next.

Speaker 10 (41:19):
Hey, Jeff, oh, hey, afternoon, general. Thanks so much for
taking my call, what do you have for us? So,
I think there's gonna be a lot of close games
this year, and the difference in some of them, I'm
thinking could be a big play in return game and
by the same token, not tumbling it. And so I
love Gunner Fleski the acquisition reacquisition of him. I love
Smith Marsette, but I think if we had a good,

(41:42):
a great third returner, because it's a long season, that
would make us even stronger.

Speaker 6 (41:46):
And I'm liking Dante Miller.

Speaker 9 (41:48):
He's five to.

Speaker 10 (41:48):
Seven, I think, like a bowling ball and real fast.

Speaker 6 (41:53):
What do you guys think?

Speaker 10 (41:54):
And are they have they even been practicing returning kicks
and punts?

Speaker 3 (41:58):
Yeah, they have.

Speaker 4 (41:58):
They they didn't do much turn game the first couple
of days of practice this year, but they've done more
in the last couple of days. Dante Miller to your point, Jeff,
and I think it's a good one body type athleticism
skill set. He's made in a lab to be a
good kick returner speed, kickoff kick returner.

Speaker 2 (42:18):
Speed's ridiculous.

Speaker 3 (42:19):
And he does go back there.

Speaker 4 (42:21):
When they do those drills, but that can't be his
main role. If he's gonna take up a fifty three
man roster spot, so he's gonna have to contribute on
coverage teams or in another way along with the return stuff.
As you know again, is he gonna and we'll see
if Gnerald Schefskin We should have mentioned that the Giants
did resign or just signed Gnerald Schefski. You mentioned that
yesterday show briefly Special Team's Ace's back. So it'll be

(42:44):
interesting to see how they mix Miller in with those
other top three backs pall which we talked about keeping
four backs. If he keeping four tight ends, that could
get very tough.

Speaker 2 (42:54):
Yeah, I mean, we've got the preseason still to sort
some of this out. And of course there's always going
to be in injuries that are going to force you
into a position where you're going to have to keep
X number of these guys an x number of these
guys too, you know how many you keeping a certain drawer.
Injuries are always going.

Speaker 3 (43:11):
To impact that.

Speaker 2 (43:12):
I will add this though, you know, when you look
at the return game to me, all right, and I
know I've emphasized special teams a lot here in this offseason.
I've really harped on that a lot. To me, when
you've got Slayton, You've got Wandel Robinson. I know Washington
has been doing a lot of returning here too, John

(43:34):
during the during the camp BLI can even do some
of that stuff. I don't necessarily know if Washington or
Bla going to be here, but if you had to
put Robinson or Slayton back there in a pinch, they
could do it. Honestly, you know, do you do you
really need a quote third return guy on the team?
You really don't.

Speaker 4 (43:53):
And Tracy could do it too, by the way, Yeah,
sure he could a lot of names that Thanks Jeff, Jeff,
you got something else for us? Or no?

Speaker 10 (43:59):
Well, yeah, I just hate to see putting a starter
back there because I remember, you know what happened with uh,
you know, a couple of starting defensive back over the
last few years.

Speaker 6 (44:07):
And uh but all right, well thanks a lot of appreciate.

Speaker 3 (44:10):
Yeah, appreciate, Jef Fabok.

Speaker 4 (44:11):
That's why you have Smith Marsett though he's not a starter, right,
That's what's that's insane with Gunner if he makes the team,
those are two guys that that's what you're going to
the pending now. But it's hard to have, you know,
But the things that Gunner does other stuff. Amir Smith,
Marsett once one del On he was the next guy
up at wide receiver for this.

Speaker 2 (44:27):
He's been getting more wide receiver.

Speaker 3 (44:29):
He has been so and he's held the ball, he's
caught it.

Speaker 4 (44:31):
He's done a nice job. All right, Uh, this is
on a similar topic, So I'll go back to Virtually
Speaking podcast on YouTube. Who should you sign as a
wide receiver from free agency? Considering how many injuries we've
seen in training camp? Never thought I'd say this, but
should we bring back Obj? Should be be worried about
Hyatt who was still not back on the practice field. Look,
you've had some injuries, Bryce Ford, Wheaton, Hyatt has not practiced,

(44:53):
while the Robbins has missed a couple of days. So
I understand where you're coming from on that.

Speaker 3 (44:56):
That makes sense.

Speaker 4 (44:58):
I don't know where Obj is in terms of how
well he can run anymore. That's something that Paul and
I just just don't know. If you look at the
Frisian wide receiver list, you have some other guys that
have been more productive in recent years. Keenan Allen's a
free agent, Amari Cooper's a free agent. I know we
got a Gabe Davis call the other day. He's still
a free agent. Nelson Agilore, who's still a good player,

(45:20):
he's a free agent. Tyler Boyd is a free agent.
So you got a number of guys in there that
have had recent success in the National Football League.

Speaker 3 (45:29):
So, look, could you think about picking up a receiver?

Speaker 4 (45:32):
Sure? I think they like their four undrafted free agents there.
You have little Joe Humphrey, you have Zach Pascal. I
don't think you're at the point yet where it's a
situation where your numbers are low to the point where
you need to bring new people in. I think they're
happy to split the reps among the guys that are here.

Speaker 2 (45:47):
I would assume the guys you just mentioned, John are
all going to be very selective oh as to where
they go.

Speaker 4 (45:53):
Any they don't want to be a depth piece on
a team, they won't have a chance to play.

Speaker 2 (45:56):
Yeah, they're not coming in anywhere to be a four
or five.

Speaker 4 (46:00):
I want to be at least the three and make
like a league minimum, right, correct, So so you got
to have two to tangle, right, So you may say,
wouldn't it be nice to add one of these guys,
But they're not necessarily going to reciprocate that interest.

Speaker 2 (46:13):
So, and I will say this, by the way, I
believe that one of the reasons Gonna Ozchewsky was signed
so quickly after Ford Wheaton got hurt is because the
Giants wide receiver room has been banged up and he
knows the playbook.

Speaker 4 (46:26):
Yeah. No, I agree with that. Good point. All right,
let's go to our buddy Wilson in Roxbury. We even
here from Wilson in a while at least I have it.
Maybe Paul's talk to him. Wilson, what's going on.

Speaker 11 (46:34):
Man, Danny Poli? How are you now? I haven't called Danny.
I had just been listening and listening and listening, so
we appreciate it.

Speaker 7 (46:41):
I couldn't take it.

Speaker 11 (46:42):
I couldn't take it any more. So listen anyway, before
I start, after today, negative Wilson is gonna go through
like a darkness retreat, you know, to Hyawaska. So after today,
no more negativity.

Speaker 3 (46:52):
How about we start today? How about we start that
right now?

Speaker 11 (46:55):
Well, because I gotta I gotta hammer you, and I
gotta tell you, Danny, I'm a little bit pointed in you,
and I'm gonna tell you why what fully well, I'll
tell you, give me a minute, Pully setting yourself up
to be hammered by me, like Golly by the guy
and Floyd, but all the guys that actually don't see
everything as rainbows and roses. Because I got to hear again,

(47:18):
man that Russell Wilson is bringing everybody up and there's
a good atmosphere and this and holy do you think
Champagne had gave him thirty million dollars to leave because
he's a good player? Did you see the lastest game,
the last six games last year of Russell Wilson's play.

Speaker 3 (47:33):
Okay, whoa, whoa, whoa?

Speaker 2 (47:37):
This is a better quarterback groom and what woa Wilson Wilson.
Hold on, hold on, I've talked to Max Starks was
part of the Steelers. Well you wanted to answer, I'm
going to give it to you. Max star actually was
part of the long time offensive lineman who was part
of the Steelers radio crew. I had an extensive conversation
with him the night that Wilson signed with the Giants,
and he told me flat out, huge problem there. There

(48:00):
was a coaching staff issue. Wilson and Smith, Arthur Smith,
the offensive coordinator. They were button had something fierce. Tomlin
wasn't you know, solving it very well. It wasn't smoothing
it over very well. And so there was a lot
of disconnect in terms of what was going on in Pittsburgh.
They also ran into some very good defenses. They weren't

(48:23):
balanced in terms of their rushing attack. Their wide receiving
room was significantly banged up. In short, Max Stark said
to me, Russell Wilson has one at least one more
good year left in him where he's going to be
a competitive starter.

Speaker 4 (48:38):
In this league.

Speaker 2 (48:39):
Now that's a guy who knows a lot better than
you were made fine.

Speaker 11 (48:44):
Whatever you say July night.

Speaker 3 (48:45):
What Max Stark said, not what I said. It's what
Max Stark's told me.

Speaker 11 (48:49):
Listen to me when when we are two and five
and he's like, I'm paid to be to have the
most fact in the history of the NFL. I'm gonna
call you and I'm gonna remind you today keep telling
me that, you keep telling.

Speaker 3 (49:03):
How many times you know what?

Speaker 11 (49:04):
I just one thing that's a little I'm a little upset.
And this is where Johnny, you guys are throwing Daniel
Jones under the bus every chance you get and Daniel
Jones the class back from the first day. He Come on, Johnny,
you keep saying that it was that it was Daniel
Jones problems. I didn't score enough points.

Speaker 9 (49:21):
I mean, when the Giants.

Speaker 11 (49:23):
Make the playoffs, his best receiver was Reggie James, Johnny.

Speaker 3 (49:27):
He played Wilson Wilson. He played Wilson Wilson.

Speaker 11 (49:32):
Hold on, hold on, I can tell you this though.

Speaker 4 (49:35):
I know you guys Wilson, hold on, and you let
me go. Let me go back and forth. First of all,
we get routinely accused of being Daniel Jones apologists. First
of all, so just for the record, we we we
we also deal with that a few different things that
you said, I want to want to hit him one
by one. We can go back and forth. Let's let's
just let's just bank through these.

Speaker 11 (49:55):
You know you're not upset, are you? You're not mad
at me?

Speaker 2 (49:57):
Right?

Speaker 7 (49:57):
You know it's fun.

Speaker 11 (49:59):
Right?

Speaker 3 (49:59):
If I was said you know I was upset, you
know that you'd have been hung up off already.

Speaker 11 (50:04):
No.

Speaker 4 (50:04):
I don't hang up on people. I just yell at them.
I just yell at people. I don't hang up on
yellow people, all right. First thing, on Daniel Jones. He
played pretty well in twenty twenty two, especially as a runner.

Speaker 3 (50:18):
On No Planet. Last year, did Daniel Jones play with me?

Speaker 11 (50:23):
He did not, No, he didn't any but but but
obviously he didn't. But but what about uh mylick Neighbors
drops the pass that if he catches that pass.

Speaker 8 (50:33):
They win the game.

Speaker 3 (50:34):
But Wilson, I don't care about Wilson.

Speaker 11 (50:37):
Everything about about well now now now Russell Wilson, it's
kind of fixed everything.

Speaker 3 (50:42):
No, I'm not I'm not Wilson Wilson, I said, Wilson,
stop stop, stop stop.

Speaker 4 (50:45):
I said, one thing at a time, one thing at
a time. I'm gonna not do one little thing at
a time. I don't want to visit if you get
into the whole conversation when it.

Speaker 2 (50:51):
Be it forever.

Speaker 4 (50:52):
All right, So no, that's okay, it's all good. So
last year he did not play well, And you know me,
what do I always say? Wins in law is not
a quarterback record. I am not blaming Daniel Jones for
the Giants record last year. It is not a quarterback record.
Generally speaking. I'm a huge advocate of that. Paul knows
that anyone that listens to the show regularly knows that

(51:12):
and no Russ. But if you look at the first
six games last year, Wilson, what did we consistently say
on this show, the offensive line played well enough for
this team to function. They did. They played well enough
for this offense to function, and for a couple games
you saw it. Like Daniel Jones, he played pretty well

(51:33):
against Cleveland in that game. They won that game twenty
one to fifteen. But the bottom line is that in
these games they scored six points, eighteen points, twenty one points,
fifteen points, seven points, and they just scored twenty nine
against the ad on one of their wins. But then
the Bengals, who, by the way, the Bengals last year, Wilson,

(51:54):
they had maybe the worst defense in football. The Giants
scored seven points, he scored three against Philly, eighteen against Pittsburgh.

Speaker 11 (52:05):
Of that all, I'm just I guess, I guess My
point is, you know what, I'm a little worried. I'm
a little worried that the Daniel Jones is gonna win
the indieh job.

Speaker 3 (52:18):
And I think he will, by the way, he will,
and he will win.

Speaker 11 (52:21):
Games, definitely will do. I don't you know, he's done.
He's in there already and he's going to be maybe
five six and three, five and four, and then giants
fans like ours are gonna say.

Speaker 3 (52:33):
Well, what the hell are we doing well Wilson, And
I'll say this, then what happened Wilson?

Speaker 4 (52:38):
Let me say this. This is a giant fans too much? No, no,
I get it.

Speaker 3 (52:43):
Wilson Final thing six five fifteen.

Speaker 4 (52:45):
Wilson Final thing, one, final thing, final thing. We've said
these things about Russell Wilson, and we're going off what
players are telling us, by the way, in terms of
how he's lifted the area up, and I think he doesn't.
He doesn't turn the ball over. He makes and he's
willing to throw the ball and make explosive plays down
the field. Wilson. You know, we've talked about the show
a million times and no one more than me and

(53:06):
Daniel just did not make enough explosive plays.

Speaker 3 (53:08):
He just didn't through the air.

Speaker 4 (53:09):
He did not make enough explosive plays.

Speaker 3 (53:11):
You expect more from Russell Wilson. But Wilson, let me finish.
Stop trying to talk over me. Let me finish. Wilson,
hold on one second, final thing.

Speaker 4 (53:19):
I'll say with all the things that we said about
Russell Wilson, what we like, Giant Fann should not expect
him to come in and put the team on his
back and carry them this year.

Speaker 3 (53:28):
That's not the player that he is. To your point,
and I've said this on the show a million times.

Speaker 4 (53:33):
You've heard me. He takes too many sacks, all right,
this He needs help from the offensive line. He needs
a run game so that he could run play action
off of that, and he is wide receivers to get
open to make plays down the field. I'm not no
one here saying this is going to be hand the
ball to Russell Wilson, let him cook, and he's gonna
be dominant no matter what's going on around him. We're

(53:53):
not saying that Giant Fann should not expect that he's
going to need help.

Speaker 11 (54:00):
So so so there they're a little big question.

Speaker 7 (54:02):
Then what what what?

Speaker 11 (54:06):
So everything again? So if there's the same thing again
then we had last year with Daniel everything if if
if if if if everything is if?

Speaker 2 (54:16):
When is it gonna Because football is not a one
man sport. Will it's a team sport.

Speaker 3 (54:24):
It is a team sport. Football.

Speaker 4 (54:27):
Football is not appreciate it it's not baseball where your pitcher, Yes,
the fielders have to help him out some, but your
pitcher has an awful lot to do with how you do.
He's got to throw strikes, he's got to be able
to fool the hitters, but they're going to put some
balls in play and his guys are going to have
to field the ball well. In football, every play is

(54:51):
incumbent upon your team. There are maybe four quarterbacks in
the league. If you're lucky, that can be great no
matter what's going on around them. Those are the elite guys,
and those guys even get affected by what's happening around them.
So that's just the way it is. I mean, look,
but there are things that And by the way, Daniel

(55:11):
Jones took a million sacks too. Do I need to
show you the giant sack numbers given up two years ago? No?

Speaker 2 (55:15):
He also I don't need to see them.

Speaker 4 (55:17):
But you know what, he also cut down his interceptions
because he took more sacks. That's kind of the trade off.

Speaker 2 (55:22):
Yet actually team drops yes, has been a horrific stat
for the Giants. And they did it to Daniel and
if they do it to Russell Wilson, this year, he
won't succeed very highly either.

Speaker 4 (55:33):
That's correct one percent. So no, it was not all
Daniel Jones's fault. We've said that a million times. He
did not get the help he needed, but he also
the play deteriorated for him from what he was in
twenty twenty two. It did, and I think the accumulation
of hits and sacks and just all the pressure from

(55:56):
the losses and the injuries. Sometimes the guy he's a
change of scenery. Yep, it's just the way it is.
And I think it was time for him to have
a change of scenery. And I hope I love Daniel,
I hope he succeeds in Indianapolis. I think he can
succeed in Indianapolis. He's got a pretty good supporting cast there,
to be quite totally honest with I think he's got
some good players around them up there. I think he
has a chance to do pretty well. But if you

(56:19):
look even at Russell, and I didn't want to go
through the full game logue. I brought it up, but
even in this stretch of Russell Wilson did not do
so good last year. His nuts so good stretch of
Russell Wilson was comparable to a normal stretch for what
DJ gave you from year to year the last two
years at least when he was healthy. And Wilson also
is healthier a lot more than Daniel Jones stays on
the field the big factor. So that's kind of how

(56:42):
we're looking at it. I hope that made it clear
Wilson that we're not you know, this is not us
talking about Aaron Rodgers to the Jets last year, right,
That's not the conversation we're having, no or not. That's
not how And if people think we're talking about it
that way, we're not. We'll tell you right now that's
not how we've been trying to frame this because that's
not what this is. All Right, Mike and Indiana. He's

(57:04):
gonna be our final caller today. You're gonna wrap us up.
What's up, Mike, Hey days.

Speaker 9 (57:08):
I hope you all are doing well. It's a shame
I gotta follow up. Wilson always exciting when he calls in.
I got three things sure I wanted to touch base on.
I know you're about to end the show, but got
time go ahead. Penalties, penalties, PRESNAT penalties. How could you
compare it to other years at this you know, you know,

(57:32):
at this start of the game, at the start of
training camp, is it any more worse than what you've
seen in years past? Or you know, do you think
it's has something to do with you know, the interchanging
of the guys. And number two is who has been
the primary five out there? You know, with our swing tackle,
with Thomas being sitting out, who have been like the

(57:54):
primary five guys that you all have seen out there,
who's done well as having Neil Guess Evan Neil is
you know, transitioning into guard pretty well. So I've heard
how that looked from your perspective. And then number three
is is Cameron Scataboo to you? Does it does it
still different? Like with him, you know, being a you know,

(58:16):
a fourth round guy coming in like he is with
all this hype, you know, at least statistical hype, seventeen
hundred yards rushing, six hundred yards receiving, you know, caught
fifty three passes, whatever it was. Does he seem, like
I guess, separated from anyone that you could compare him to.

(58:37):
Is he is he making his name for that that
third down back, that pass catching back. Even though Tracy
can obviously catch the ball.

Speaker 4 (58:44):
Is is it?

Speaker 9 (58:45):
Is it starting to trend towards him being the number
two back in the three headed monster that we have,
And I'll take my answers off the air. I appreciate
you guys, go giants.

Speaker 4 (58:56):
No, thank you. Ike appreciate the call. I think Paul
said this earlier that in situations he could see Scataboo
being your second most usage back. I agree with him.
I don't think it's a third downback situation though, because
I think they like Tracy is a third down back
as well. I think it's just more get him more snaps,
you know, just allow him to own a series, own

(59:17):
a possession. However you want to look at it and
let him grind it, because he's a guy that wants
to grind too. He's not that he's gonna wear on
you over the course of a game.

Speaker 2 (59:25):
And the hope is you can keep both guys healthy
for seventeen games and you want.

Speaker 4 (59:29):
You're never going to because it's the running back, so
you always have a guy that can step in and
then and then take a bigger load from it. In
terms of the offensive line, I think the procedural stuff
has been pretty normal at this point in camp, it's
been fairly clean, except for yesterday when at one point
Brian David got a little annoyed when the offensive line
had a little movement on some of those drills. That's

(59:49):
when they were trying to get out of their shadow
of their own goal line inside the five. And I
think obviously the offensive linemen are anxious to get off
the ball on those plays to prevent losses. And there
were a couple of procedural penalty that he was not thrilled.

Speaker 2 (01:00:01):
With game today too. Yeah, that's really angry that.

Speaker 4 (01:00:05):
We usually see that sometimes at the I don't think
it's anything that much different than what we've seen in
years past. I've been a few and then in terms
of the starting offensive line, it's been the same five
that we started last year with the primary ones, which
is left tackle James Hudson instead of Andrew Thomas, John
Runyon at left guard, John Michael Schmid's at center. Right
guard has been Greg Van Rohne and Evan Neil. I

(01:00:27):
mean it has been almost even. They've split the snaps
of maybe a little bit more than Neil. Then Neil's
been with the twos in both right iron left well
he's been he's done bolts that they're working on both sides,
and then they've had Jermaina Luminoro has has been a
rock over at right tackle, and look, Neil's done a
nice job. I think he's making progress and he's getting better.

(01:00:47):
I think I've liked what I've seen from him at
guard and I think he has a chance to wrestle
his way into some playing time. But I think early
returns is pretty good. I think James Hunt has been fine,
by the way, like there, it hasn't been the situation.
He has been perfect. He's been beaten, but it hasn't
been a deal where whoever's lined up over him is
just in the backfield constantly. I have not seen that.

Speaker 2 (01:01:09):
I'll say this about him. He's very feisty.

Speaker 4 (01:01:11):
No, hey, don't.

Speaker 3 (01:01:12):
He likes to play oh boys, he fights, yeah, burns about.

Speaker 4 (01:01:16):
Him today yesterday at the media availability. He talks a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:01:19):
He talks a lot. He's very energetic and the only
thing that Brian Dables said about about Hudson in particular
was that you love his edge, you love his energy,
but you also got to make sure you keep run
under control because there are gonna be times in the
game where if you let that go overboard, it's gonna
hurt your team. And look, we saw that in the
spring that one time when the media was here.

Speaker 4 (01:01:38):
Correct we did it was a little bit of a breed. Ah,
So all right, we started five minutes late, so we
went five minutes late. So got you an hour of
content here on Big Blue Kick Off Live for zented
by Cadillac, the official luxury vehicle to Giants. Make sure
you go check out the Johnson podcast, folks. The newest
episode with Jeff Fiegels from yesterday is up. Jeff and
I have some fun. You know Jeff, He's been on
the show with us forever. It was good to talk
with him. We play a little pronounced names of NFL

(01:02:00):
draft prospects at the end of the show, which was
always entertaining. Sadly, Jeff actually did pretty well with that,
which was very disappointing for me, but he did. So
make sure you go check that out. Johns Tottle Podcast,
Giants dot Com, Slash Podcast, Giants app or go to
the Giants YouTube channel. Just search for Giants Huddle Podcast
on your favorite podcast platform. We're in the Hackensack Really

(01:02:21):
Health Podcast studio keep getting better for Paul Latino. I'm
John Schmelk. I think it's me and you again tomorrow, right,
if I'm not mistaken. Uh yeah, it is at two o'clock.

Speaker 3 (01:02:30):
I'm I'm back with you.

Speaker 2 (01:02:30):
I'm back here tomorrow.

Speaker 4 (01:02:32):
I think it's sidetacked tomorrow. Actual, let's think I slid.
I think I slid sidetacking. Okay, so make sure you
guys go check that out tomorrow on Big Blue Kick
Off Live and we'll talk to you then