Big Blue Kickoff Live 8/18 | Giants vs Jets Review

Paul Dottino and Matt Citak review the Giants 31-12 win over the New York Jets, talk about the Giants quarterbacks, and take calls from fans.

:00 - Giants vs Jets review

18:30 - Calls

27:30 - Explosive plays

38:00 - Quarterbacks chat

48:40 - Running backs

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Episode Transcript

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

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

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Do it because you're on Giants dot com. Do you
know what I saw New York Giant Pride and the
Giants Mobile at.

Speaker 3 (00:15):
Seventeen fourteen at the Finals one tundown.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
We all were old taffick.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
They didn't well have out of the Giants podcast network.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Let's go on, Hell on the bus and crazy dogs
don't hon Hello again, everybody, and welcome to Monday's edition
a Big Blue Kickoff Live presented by Cadillac, the official
luxury vehicle of the New York Football Giants. All Poltatino,
He's Matt Sidetech and the Giants are two and zero
in this preseason and in both of their games they've
scored at least thirty points. One game they put up

(00:47):
nearly four hundred yards offense. They put up over four
and seventy five yards of offense the other day against
the Jets. Folks, let's just say this. Okay, it's two
weeks of preseason for I don't want to go nuts,
but it's been a lot of fun. If nothing else,
it's been a lot of fun. And Matt I don't

(01:09):
know what we're gonna see on Thursday against the Patriots,
whether or not Coach will continue to play some of
his starters and veterans for some snaps like he has
in the first two games. I have no idea. He
may decide that they've all seen enough and they won't
play at all. He may do that, I don't know.
But one thing I do know is that we have

(01:30):
had fun watching these first two games.

Speaker 4 (01:33):
Yeah, these have been very enjoyable games to watch. And
I know it's preseason, as you mentioned, I get it.
These at the end of the year, these games aren't
gonna show up on any you know, records, any stat sheets.
But nonetheless, given the struggles that we have seen the
Giants have on the offensive side of the ball, and

(01:56):
you go back as many years as you'd like, it
is nice to see back to back games where the
offense topped thirty points scored. And I know, again it
doesn't matter, these games don't matter, but it's certainly better
than the alternative. You know, I don't think any of
us would be feeling too good if we were two
to zero but scored you know, fourteen points and twelve

(02:18):
points in the first two games. No, it's the fact
that the offense is operating at such an efficient and
high level right now that well, you know, it is preseason.
We're gonna, you know, take everything with a little bit
of a grain of salt, not get too ahead of
ourselves here. But the signs of life that this offense
has showed us through these first two weeks, regardless of

(02:39):
who's been under center, has been very, very encouraging to
see because we're seeing everyone perform at a high level,
starting with the guys up front, the various different quarterbacks,
the pass catchers. You know, we can get the run
game going a little bit, but I will say on
Saturday night, when Tyrone Tracy was on the field, the
run game played well, and then it was more a

(03:01):
when he came out that it kind of started to struggle.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
So overall, you gotta feel just very very happy with
how this offense has looked through the first two games.
Our phone numbers two A, one nine three nine four
five one three. We will be here for the next
hour to talk Giants football with you. You can always
find an archive of this show in our entire podcast network,
on the Giants mobile app podcast platforms everywhere and at

(03:27):
giants dot com, Slash Podcasts, and of course we're coming
to you from the Giants Podcast Studio presented by Hackensack
Meridian Health. Keep getting better, Uh, Mada, I'm going to
give you a bunch of numbers that came out of
this game on on Saturday, and you can expand on
any one of these that you wish, or for that matter,
just tell me which one you like the most and

(03:49):
which one's the most encouraging you. Fair enough, But once again,
as I saw in the Bills game, there were a
slew of positive things to say. The Giants scored points
on five of their ten possessions against the Jets. They
were five of nine on third down, three for four
in the red zone, eight different plays they had that

(04:15):
were twenty plus yards or more. So the big play
has certainly been in vogue during the month of August
for this team. Defensively, I mean, they allowed two field
goals on six possessions early in the game, and then
of course the late touchdown, where I have to say,
a spectacular catch by Skinner in the back corner of

(04:38):
the end zone was the only touchdown the Giants defense allowed,
so I thought that was pretty significant. And also they
held the Jets passing attack to nine nineteen of thirty
seven for one hundred and ninety two yards. There was
the one touchdown, the one interception by McCary page who
made a really nice sliding catch. All of these elements

(05:01):
were present in the game. I don't know which one
was your favorite, but all of these were were big
thumbs up for me.

Speaker 4 (05:08):
Yes, there's two that you just mentioned that I think
are important to highlight, one of which I didn't even
realize until you just said it. I didn't realize the
Giants only had nine third down attempts the entire game,
and they scored thirty one points. That means they were
able to get down the field and didn't even need
to get to third down a lot of the time,
which is obviously again encouraging to see, you know, sure,

(05:32):
both sides of the ball. Obviously, the coaching staff has
talked for months now about how important the early downs are, Like,
I know, more so on the defensive side of things, that, like,
you know, you can't get to the third down pass
rush situation unless you win on first and second down.
Well kind of goes to the same thing on the
offensive side of the ball, like doesn't. You can't get
to those third and shorts on offense unless you are
performing on the early downs first and second, So that

(05:55):
I just didn't even realize that they only had nine
attempts on third down in the games. That is good
to see, but to me, the biggest one, and again
this goes back to what I was saying earlier about
the offensive struggles. Has got to be that number of
explosive plays, Like you said that number, and I had
realized that, but I was starting to think, I'm like,
I can't only I can't even remember twenty or eight

(06:18):
twenty plus yard plays all of last season.

Speaker 2 (06:22):
They were like it were, but it seems like it.

Speaker 4 (06:24):
Seemed like, you know, it was maybe once every other game,
like they were very hard to come by last year.
So the fact that they were eight in this game
and again preseason, I know, but still it beats the alternative.
So clearly, and we knew with Russ coming here under center,
explosive plays were going to be more part of the

(06:45):
you know, the game plan because obviously Russ is a
great downfield thrower, and that was not the strengths that
some of the quarterbacks the Giants had last year. Russ
not only is he capable of throwing the deep ball,
but he's great at it is one of, if not
his biggest strength at this point of his career. So
I expected to see more explosive plays. But it's good

(07:08):
to see that. You know, obviously there was the Bow
Collins eighty yard play, only not.

Speaker 2 (07:12):
Tommy Dovido's late throwing to the blot. That's true. It
was forty pass play forty one, I believe.

Speaker 4 (07:20):
But yeah, there was the Bow Collins play early on,
which we already have some people commenting they saw your
clip of the bow Collins play. We already got some
comments on the YouTube chat about it. You haven't seen it.
I highly recommend Seena going to watch a replay of
that play. They show one side angle where you see
a certain Giants dot Com personality sprinting down the sideline.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
To get a good view. Should should we entitle that
Batman returns? Should we send that the baldy and just
tell him Batman returns.

Speaker 4 (07:53):
It's been a couple of years since we got a
video of you really sprinting down the sideline like that.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
Following up, but it's good to expect the ball to
go that deep exactly.

Speaker 4 (08:03):
More plays like that means good things for the Giants offense.
If this Paul running in the background, Oh, let's hope
for a lot more of those, no doubt.

Speaker 2 (08:11):
But yeah, I mean that.

Speaker 4 (08:13):
Throw fifty four air yards on the throw to bow Collins,
it was and he just placed it perfectly, dropped it
in a bucket fifty four yards downfield. Crazy and obviously
Bo Collins took it. The other twenty six came so
close to finishing in the end zone. You know, people,
some people are just looking at Russ's final stats and
being like, oh, he had an interception and he didn't

(08:33):
have a touchdown. You know, clearly those people didn't actually
watch the game because easily that could slash should have
been a touchdown, and the interception was a miscommunication with
Bo Collins, where Russ took the blame for it after
the game like all leaders do, like all leaders do,
and especially from him, I wouldn't expect him to do
anything else correct, But at the end of the day,

(08:54):
I don't know if it really fully was Russ's fault.

Speaker 2 (08:58):
He's just taking the blame for it.

Speaker 4 (08:59):
So I think he played a lot better than if
just looking at his box scores show and I know
you don't love PFF grades, but the PFF grades support
what I was just saying. They had him Russ having
a very very trust.

Speaker 2 (09:14):
Your eyes, I know, and you know he played well.

Speaker 4 (09:17):
You don't need them to tell you, no, I don't,
but it's nice to have it just as a lot
to back me up.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
In any event, there were two other big picture numbers
that I wanted to give you that were not specifically
related to the offense of the defense. But after having
ten penalties marked off against them last week, they only
had five in this game against the Jets, for a
total of twenty two yards, which is a huge improvement.
I mean it's fifty percent, huge, huge, So that was

(09:47):
very very good. And then the other item, which is
a big picture item, special teams was fantastic. They allowed
punt returns of only four and three yards. Turbo Miller
down the punt I believe at the six yard line.
Can't get much better than that in terms of tilten
was it the five? Five or four even might have

(10:09):
been the five? Okay? In any event, Wow, just so
many boxes were checked, so many good things now through
the first two weeks of August, but as as I
told my dad on the phone. You know, he's like,
pretty good, right, Dad. These are August boxes. They are

(10:29):
not September boxes. They are August boxes. They're being checked
and it's really exciting. And most importantly, I said it before,
I'm gonna say it again, folks, Giants football right now
is fun to watch and you and fun. It's just
a joy right now to watch this team. Now. Whatever

(10:52):
happens from this point forward happens. But it's been fun,
and they've made August a really really exciting and optimistic
and enjoyable time. And to be frank with you, and
I think you'll agree with me, Matt. We've always watched it,
even in the playoff season. We've watched this team for

(11:13):
the last several years, slog through August, and we try
to convince ourselves that it's only preseason that it's going
to be better, and then it usually doesn't turn out better.
It usually turns out to be just as bad as
what we saw in the preseason. This is different.

Speaker 4 (11:32):
Yeah, I mean, you know, we've been saying it for months,
and I hope you guys have been listening. But since
the start of the offseason workout program which was draft week,
and it really picked up a couple of weeks later
once like Ota started. There's just been a different feel
around the team in this building. It's it's one hundred
percent true. You're not just you know, saying that line

(11:54):
to you guys, Like, there's been a different feel, and
we've seen it on the field since they want to
training camp or going back to the spring, but especially
since they won a training camp. You know, you can
credit it to Russ, to the change of the quarterback room,
to whatever you want to do, but there's just been
a different feel and they're starting to show that on

(12:15):
the field in these games as well. Again, as you mentioned,
it's preseason to August. However, as coach Jable said the
other day, it certainly beats the alternative. It certainly beats
the Giants going into this preseason finale zero and two
as opposed to two and Oh.

Speaker 2 (12:31):
You tell me, when's the last time you had so
much fun watching preseason football?

Speaker 4 (12:37):
To be honest, I never, no, I there was one
year that comes to mind, and that's why I wanted
to bring up as fun as this preseason no more recently.
I do want to just remind everyone and not to
throw a damper on the parade, but in twenty nineteen,
the Giants were four and oh in the preseason. They
had a rookie first round quarterback who was lighting it

(12:59):
up in the preseason. Obviously, that season and the next
few years did not go as we would have hoped.
Now this is a completely different team, and I think
this roster is so significantly better, yes, than that roster
in twenty nineteen, not even touching on the rookie quarterback aspect.

Speaker 2 (13:17):
Just the whole team.

Speaker 4 (13:18):
This team is so much deeper at just about every
single position than that team was.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
But I only bring it up because.

Speaker 4 (13:26):
There was a lot of hype and a lot of
buzz around the team in that August, and things came
crashing down pretty quickly.

Speaker 2 (13:35):
But that's still six years ago. That was six years ago,
for sure.

Speaker 4 (13:38):
This is definitely the most excitement there's been around this
team this time of year since then. And obviously having
a rookie quarterback that is performing at a high level
in these early tests that goes a long way and
building that excitement and buzz. And you just mentioned the
fun aspect, and I agree with you, this is the
most fun I've had watching the first two games of

(13:58):
the preseason again in six years, and I just want
to remind you we're having this much fun. Elaku Nighbors
hasn't played a preseason snap yet, Andrew Thomas hasn't played
a snap yet. Dexter Lawrence hasn't played a snap yet.
Those are arguably the three best players.

Speaker 2 (14:15):
On this team.

Speaker 4 (14:16):
And then you want to go into the next batch
of best players, and those guys have played very limited snaps.
H So all I can say is I cannot wait
for a week one where all these guys, hopefully all
of these guys will just be fully unleashed onto the
Washington Commanders and we get the season.

Speaker 2 (14:38):
Off with a good division win. All Right, We're going
to get to our phone calls in just a couple
of seconds. I want to make one other point, because
I don't know how coach Brian Dable is going to
play it on Thursday against New England. My suspicion is
that because he's given the Veterans a nice sampling of
snaps in the first two games, my suspicion is he

(15:02):
might be a little more inclined to pull back on Thursday,
especially with a short week that would be my guess
as well.

Speaker 4 (15:11):
You know, as coach says, each player is like a
case by case situation. So if there's a specific guy
that they are like, you know, we had a plan
that he was going to get X amount of snaps
in the preseason, and he's five to ten snap short,
maybe they put that guy in for a series or two.

Speaker 2 (15:27):
But I agree with you.

Speaker 4 (15:27):
If I had to guess right now, especially because it's
the short week, I would think that more starters than
not will not be playing.

Speaker 2 (15:37):
Yeah, all right, so let me say this now. And
that's why I bring this up. I'm thrilled, you know me, folks,
I've been doing this a long time. I always favor
playing your veterans and your starters, at least some in
the preseason. Brian Dable has done that. He has changed

(15:58):
his m year in his fourth season as a head coach.
I do believe that is part of the reason why
we've seen the success that we've seen. It certainly helps
when you get a chance to play some of your regulars.
Then if you're just playing all of your depth chart
guys for the entire game, there's no doubt that that

(16:19):
does make somewhat of a difference now to the Bills
and Jets credit even though they had some scratches, they
did play a lot of their starters early on against
the Giants starters, So that doesn't warp or dilate the Giants'
performance in any way. No, but but it is my belief,
and it's always been my belief that these guys, like boxers,

(16:44):
they need to spar before they can get in the
ring and produce it maximum efficiency. I've been preaching that
for decades. I will never stop preaching it. I'm glad
Brian Dable did it, and I believe the Giants will
get off to a better story in September because of
these guys getting some reps. And again that goes without

(17:05):
saying of what's going to happen on Thursday. I don't
know what's gonna happen on Thursday. But he's already gotten
these guys some action in the first two games, and
I believe that's important and I applaud him for doing so.

Speaker 4 (17:20):
Yeah, I mean, the first preseason game is a game
in the past that Brian Dable has not played any
starters like pretty much at all, and obviously against the Bills,
the starters did get some run, and then they played
again against the Jets.

Speaker 2 (17:35):
So I'm with you.

Speaker 4 (17:36):
I think you know obviously the biggest reason for not
playing starters in the preseason is, of course the risk
of injuries because it's a violent, physical game.

Speaker 2 (17:46):
Guys get hurt all the time.

Speaker 4 (17:48):
Now two weeks in, we're two games in and their
giants have not had any serious injuries in these preseason games.

Speaker 2 (17:57):
Just do the first two games knock the wood. That's enough.

Speaker 4 (18:01):
I'm just saying that is why you've gotten the good reps.
I don't want to say you've been lucky, but luck
has been on your side.

Speaker 2 (18:10):
Don't push it.

Speaker 4 (18:12):
You don't need to necessarily push it, especially because you've
seen your starters already go out there and look pretty
dang good. So yeah, that's why I agree with you.
Lean towards the let's let's not push it. Let's put
these starters, especially in a short week, bubble wrap them,
put them on ice until that week one game in
Washington two on one nine three nine four five one

(18:34):
three is our phone number.

Speaker 2 (18:37):
As I go to my first caller here, it's Abdul
in Minneapolis. He says he wants to talk about Robinson
and is Zudu. I'm just gonna say this, Abdul before
you even go there. Joshua Zudu and Evan Neil had
themselves one really nice game the other night against the Jets.
I think a Zudu over the last few weeks has

(18:58):
taken some of the best snaps he's had since he's
been a New York Giant, and I'm really glad to
see that. And I'm also glad to see how well
Evan Neil did in his first opportunity at guard.

Speaker 3 (19:09):
Please go ahead, okay, I totally agree with you and
my only issues. I'm so frustrated it took the Giants
so long to finally play a Zoo at guard. That's
where he was drafted, that's where he played best in college.

Speaker 2 (19:25):
You know how I felt about this all along? I
was I was always on board for him as a guard.

Speaker 3 (19:30):
Yes, he looked a little better at tackle, the tackle
wasn't where he was supposed to be correct and actually
hurt that young man, you know what I mean. I
think he hurt his confidence, I er his reputation, and
they finally played him at his natural position and he's
I gues It's excelled. That be to gratuitus reward. But
he played really well.

Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (19:50):
I watched him, you know a lot of the twenty
two tapes that I've been watching on Twitter, and he's
he was catching twists and stunts and he he you know,
was stopping bull rushes. He looks great at guard. And
you know, and Evan Neil didn't look bad. You know,
it didn't look great. He didn't look bad, which is
a step in the right we are now.

Speaker 2 (20:10):
He didn't look bad. That's fine, We'll take it. That's fine, okay, but.

Speaker 3 (20:18):
In his natural position. And you know, you know, if
you if you told me at the beginning of this
camp that I Zodu would be around on the fifty three,
I would have been like, no way. But now I
don't see how they could cut him because he's probably
he's probably one of the best backup guards we have
on the team, easily easily. So that thing said, my
kind of heartache is I wouldn't okay, I'd be surprised,

(20:41):
but it might happen. Wendy'll getting cut on cut day.
I don't see him fitting into this offense, I don't,
you know. I think he's actually a detraction from his
offense and this kid Washington so far as I'm playing
better than him, and he's cheaper, and I think he
fits the offense better, and I just I would probably
probably won't have it, but I wouldn't be surprised if

(21:02):
Wendell gets cut in the and the signs to Washington
as the as the slot back.

Speaker 2 (21:07):
Adull just be careful. I just want to give you
a little bit more info than what you're probably privy to.
Watching Washington since he got here. He does have drops
these issues.

Speaker 3 (21:20):
Now, I don't see that in practice, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (21:22):
I know, And you know we saw a couple against
the Bills in the opening preseason game. He had two
in that game. And at practice, you know, he does
make plays, but he also lets some plays get away
from him. There's an inconsistency issue there, and that's something
that you're not privy to, and I don't blame you
for that, but that does count when the coaches collect

(21:44):
their grades. Yeah, I do think.

Speaker 4 (21:46):
I mean, I've spoken about Montreal on the show several
times over the last couple of weeks. I do think
overall he's had a strong camp and I do think
he is making a case for himself to be one
of those final or the final wide receivers on the
depth chart, especially because he does add some to the
special teams as well. However, as you know, as good

(22:07):
of a camp as I might think he has had,
there's no way I would think he's played so well.
That makes Wandell expendable. Wandell is still one of the
best playmakers on this team. With the ball in his hands,
he catches almost everything thrown in his way.

Speaker 3 (22:23):
I don't know about that.

Speaker 4 (22:24):
I would be you might not. You said you wouldn't
be shocked. I would be shocked if Wandell get caught.

Speaker 3 (22:32):
Okay, and uh, for the run game, it scares me,
but well, that's you know, so that the starters aren't
you know, really playing, or at least a dexter is
not playing. But dexter can't be on the field the
whole time in the run game. It's just if the
if one thing's going to be real this this this season,
it's gonna be the run game. And but you know,
they couldn't fix everything in the off season. You know

(22:53):
that they did as much as they could. I get it,
but it makes me nervous, you know, so I just
you know, I'm great ecuing you. I'm like, I'm excited
about this. I can't wait, you know, for the the
Washington game to see everyone out there. That thing that
it's getting kind of late early for uh for Pale
the tackle. Uh, what's going on with him? Because he

(23:15):
needs to get activated off the.

Speaker 2 (23:17):
Pup Andrew Andrew Thomas. As far as I know, the
schedule still, although coach Brian Dable will not be specific
about it. Uh, my understanding, educated understanding is that he'll
be ready for the Washington game now with any kind
of you know, if that's what it takes, then that's
what it takes. You know, maybe he gets out there

(23:39):
for a couple of practices, but I I'm under the
impression that they're not. They're not necessarily worried about him
missing that first game. Now here's what I will tell you.
I've please please understand this about your previous comment. The
Giants play the Chargers in Week four, and we know
coach Harball is a running monster, right he loves pounding

(24:02):
the ball. Don't judge the Giants rush defense in the
first three weeks of the season, because, as I've talked
to Andre Patterson, the defensive line coach, specifically about this.
He said, you have to understand, we can't tackle during
training camp. That's not the way that their training camp
is run. And he's like, my defensive lineman. They need

(24:23):
to be able to play through the ball, they need
to be able to tackle, They need to be able
to go all out on a snap to really get
themselves going. So they haven't been able to do that
except this very limited reps that the starters have had
in the preseason. So what I'm going to tell you
is this, that's the one unit and the one factor

(24:44):
that while I'm still in a show me phase, I
want to know what they're going to be like by
the time they get to Week four and they play
the Chargers. That's when I'm going to grade that unit seriously.

Speaker 3 (24:56):
Tackle during preseason doing tracks like they did it for
like fifty years beforehand, and now teas can't tackle, well
they can't, you know, Oh.

Speaker 2 (25:04):
I know Carl Banks and Harry Carson been talking about
this for twenty years.

Speaker 3 (25:08):
Practice tackling the ground, Like I know.

Speaker 2 (25:11):
I understand, But that's the way. That's the way coaches
have decided to go, and that's their right. You know,
they're the ones who goes.

Speaker 4 (25:18):
Because you get absolutely destroyed if you if a guy
at one of your players, especially one of your better players,
gets tackled in practice and all of a sudden he's
injured and he's out and missing time, you get destroyed
from the I.

Speaker 3 (25:30):
Played up to college football. You know, maybe it was
you know, twenty years ago, but you know, from third
grade to college.

Speaker 2 (25:36):
We tackled I know, Abdell. But we can't complain about
it because that's the way it is. It's the reality. Now, Hey,
gran Dable made a concession this year. He's played some
of the vets and the starters in the preseason. Be
grateful for Thatt. Be grateful for that because it's wonderful.
Don't don't be trying to get more of the pie now. Okay,

(25:57):
it is what it is.

Speaker 3 (25:58):
Okay, one more last crazy thing have time for. I
just saw this morning that cin Cincinnati is taking some
uh prede talks for uh Hendrickson. I'm here trade Thibodeau
and Hyatt or draft pick for Hendrickson. That's crazy.

Speaker 2 (26:17):
I'm not even going there. I have a good day.
Two one.

Speaker 4 (26:22):
All I'm gonna say about that is the report I've
seen of what Cincinnati's asking for is a good, promising
young player and a first round pick in next year's draft.
So considering the Giants just drafted Abdul Carter, they picked
up Kavon's fifth year option, so he's under contract for
two more years, and they have Brian Burns under contract.

Speaker 2 (26:44):
For what three four more years? Wow?

Speaker 4 (26:47):
Like, Trey Hendrickson is amazing, don't get me wrong, but
we're already having conversations with how you're going to get
those first three guys on the field. Now all of
a sudden, you're gonna replace Kaevon with Trey Hendrickson, which
obviously Trey Hendrickson is one of the best in his position.

Speaker 2 (27:00):
Oh and by the way, you got to pay him too,
You gotta pay him.

Speaker 4 (27:03):
Like, that's just we talk about roster, uh, gymnastics all
the time with trying to build a full roster. Oh,
that is just so many, so much money and resources
now put towards one position when you have a full
fifty three man roster to fill out.

Speaker 2 (27:20):
See, it sounds good on paper and in theory, but in.

Speaker 4 (27:25):
Actuality it's unrealistic in many ways.

Speaker 2 (27:30):
Coach Mars hope he stays in the AFC coach Marvin's
online three coach, how you doing this morning?

Speaker 5 (27:36):
I'm doing great? Paul, Matt, how you're doing Berry?

Speaker 2 (27:40):
Why are you coach?

Speaker 5 (27:41):
I'm doing good? Uh? Stage five? Check? They did a
great They did a great job in stage five. That's
all we know. Next next time we see them as
be stage six. So that's the way I'm looking at it.
It just checking each test they take in that passing

(28:05):
the great I think, what's the exciting part? And apparently
you were running down the sideline. The exciting part is
when is the last time we saw a pass throwing
light way in the home game? How only when I
can think of as Eli threw.

Speaker 2 (28:23):
On one that Yeah, you know, coach, I can't even remember. Here.
Here's here's what I'll say, and and I'm and I
mean this wholeheartedly. Okay. I understand why the offense was
somewhat muted over the last several years. There were a
variety of factors why they didn't get a ton of
big plays, and there were a lot of reasons why

(28:44):
they didn't even try them. When you and I both
know that we know enough about this game, and Matt's
been here long enough to know why there are a
lot of reasons why it's spilled milk. It's in the past,
it's over. This is a new era of Giants football.
And it's quite clear that these coaches believe they have
more tools in the toolbox and they're going to use them.

(29:07):
And I think that's the only thing we should be
talking about right now, not about the spilled milk from
years past, right.

Speaker 5 (29:14):
And I understand that, but it's trying to explain why
people so excited. Yeah, there is a reason, Yes, there
is that, and that's not the knock on anybody. But
what it looks like to me is the offense has
opened up. The plays that you see them running has
opened up. Russell. I hear today, I watching the shows

(29:39):
today and people, not a lot of people, that are
a few people are saying that Jason Dark should start
day one, and it's because of what they're seeing. I
don't believe that. I believe theyble just to keep all
the noise out of the locker room and let Jason learn.

(30:00):
And I think what he's doing, Jackson coach, it's Jackson.
I'm not sorry. Jackson's he's building himself a quarterback. Yeah,
and I think he tore him down he tore him
down from what he was in college and he's building
him back up. Not to say what he did in
college doesn't matter, it does, but that's how you normally

(30:21):
will build a player, maybe with me doing it with
kids that played for somebody else and come to me.
I look at the talent, but those players, no matter
what position it is, I had to break them down
and build them back up into a player that I
would like them to be. And if they can do
more than that, then I had to adjust my book
to them. At what they do. I had to make

(30:43):
plays for them because they were special talent. So I
think he's building him up and he's going to keep
building him. And as I was talking to Pearson before
I came on, I think that's what mister Mara them
needs to look at what they're doing on this team
because it's not the same team that we've seen but

(31:06):
two years ago. It's different players. Look at the leadership.
Listen to Brian Burns talk to the media. These are
not the same guys that we've been used to seeing
over the last nine years or so. This is a
whole different group of players, and I think that's the
excitement that's happening, and it's a little it's a little joy,

(31:29):
but I know those defenses are of another one. They
they're not showing them anything and so they preseason they're
not seeing anything crazy. So they playing with what's in
front of them and they're producing. And that's good. It's
always good because if Dark or Wilson, if they were

(31:49):
throwing two interceptions by a game in these preceding games,
will be ripping them saying they're terrible. You know they're terrible.
Now that they play well, we give them their roses
by this stage five. So I still have some concerns
about you were just talking Paul about the pass rush.

(32:09):
The Jets ran the ball pretty good. A couple of
drives they kind of stalled a little bit, but just
running it pretty good. That that concerned me a little bit.
I know Dexter wasn't fan. And the tackling again, I
talked about tackling on this show for a few years
and I understand it. But I think even if you're

(32:30):
not practicing that which you need to do, I think
you you need to you need to somehow stay on
your feet, and I think they leave their feet too much,
which they lose their leverage, so they armed tackling, and
so you're trying to tackle a guy that's what two
hundred and five to ten that's running and you're trying to

(32:50):
arm tackle them. You're not going to bring them down
that way. You got to bring your feet with you
and hold them up. I used to tell my kids,
if you can't tackle them, get them out to do it,
grab a show and hold them. Do something to your friends,
come help you get them down. Don't let them just
run through you. So, yeah, I think that's what they
need to do.

Speaker 2 (33:07):
Yeah, coach, the rush defense is the one part of
their game right now that I just think it's lagging behind.
And the more time that we see those starters play
and the more cohesion they have, and the more that
they can run to the ball as a group, and
you know all about this, You want to get all
those guys in the screen, you know what I'm talking about.

(33:28):
The more that that happens over the course of the
next several weeks, that will tell us where this rush
defense is going to be. But I don't necessarily think
we're gonna really get a good, real feel on it
until the Charger game. Honestly, that's how I feel, so
I'm not gonna panic about it. And so if anybody
wants to call me the first three weeks of the
regular season and say the Giants are giving up one

(33:51):
hundred and fifty yards a game on the ground their
run defense stakes, I'm gonna say, wait until the Charger
game before you complain to me.

Speaker 5 (33:59):
Yeah, gonna have to get some practice into those tackles.
And it does take time.

Speaker 2 (34:04):
Sure it doesn't happen.

Speaker 5 (34:06):
I'm hoping that we don't get to that point then
they get run on too many. Yeah, I know, but
I think if you can stay, if they still on
their feet, I think they can help themselves and get
into better tackling rather than diving for guys or letting
guys drag them or arm tackling. Just bring your legs
with you and just hold them up. If you that's

(34:29):
what you have to do. We've been playing this, uh,
thug practice all the time, Then thug practice them. Hold
them up into your friends, come help you get them done.
I'd like to say, but I have a real quick
I'd like to know something. One of my head one
of my coaches, Mike Jones, he was my defensive coach.
His son is a rapper by the name of Jordan Lucas.

(34:52):
A lot of people know who he is. He played
in the movie Bad Boys three. His new album just
was released eight DHD two outstanding kid and I'm so
proud of him that he has success. So I just
want to put that out.

Speaker 2 (35:09):
You got to coach be well, Thank you coach two
one nine three nine four five one three. Did you
have something you wanted to address?

Speaker 4 (35:15):
I mean, just real quick on the quarterback thing that
he started his point off. This coaching staff is obviously
trying to win every single game that they possibly can.
If they thought going into Week one that the Giants'
best chance at winning right now would be Jackson Dart
at quarterback, guess what he would be playing quarterback.

Speaker 2 (35:37):
But they're not.

Speaker 4 (35:38):
Coach Dables made it abundantly clear that Russell Wilson is
the starting quarterback and it doesn't did not matter how
well Jackson Dart played in this preseason that was not
gonna change because Coach Dable knows what's best for this
team and what this team needs now is Russell Wilson,
the veteran quarterback under center, and just give Jackson time
to grow and develop like yes, he's looked great, but

(35:59):
as we mentioned, as coach just mentioned, it's not like
he's playing intricate, complex defenses.

Speaker 2 (36:05):
It's vanilla schemes that he's going up again. So it's
great that he's having success.

Speaker 4 (36:09):
But it's not the same as doing it in the
regular season, and he will have it, get his time,
he will get his opportunity. But you know, between coach
Dable and Mike Kafke, you have two guys running an
offense that have had different situations with rookie quarterbacks in
the past. Brian Davill obviously was there for Josh Allen,
and Josh Allen went in was the week one, Week two.

(36:34):
He didn't start Week one. That was Nathan Peterman. But
again his competition was Nathan Peterman. You say what you
want about Russell Wilson, he's a better quarterback right now
than Nathan Peterman ever was period.

Speaker 2 (36:45):
That's not even remotely close. We can make this really
easy for you, folks. Russell Wilson has done nothing, nothing
that would justify taking him out of the lineup. No,
it has looked really good.

Speaker 4 (36:57):
He's looked great in practice, he's looked good in the games.
He's done nothing to deserve, not being the starter, nothing
at all, and just Mike Kafka on the opposite of
the Josh Allen Brian Dables spectrum had Patrick Mahomes as
a rookie, and Patrick Mahomes sat until Week seventeen and
then went in and played started one game, a meaningless
Week seventeen game for the Chiefs, and look how his.

Speaker 2 (37:19):
Career has turned out since then.

Speaker 4 (37:20):
So I'm not saying that Jackson Dart is the next
Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes.

Speaker 2 (37:26):
He's Jackson Dart. He's his own quarterback.

Speaker 4 (37:28):
But the coaching staff will put him in when they
think he is good and ready and he gives the
team the best possible.

Speaker 2 (37:35):
Chance to win football games.

Speaker 4 (37:36):
So until that time comes, until they tell us, because
they're spending way more time than any of us are,
or anyone at home, any of the media pundits, the
national reporters that are going on TV saying, oh, the
Giants need to put Jackson Dart and they're not spending
time around this team. They're seeing from thirty thousand foot.

Speaker 2 (37:54):
View and just saying, oh, you got to throw the
rookie again. They have no idea what's going on. In
this building. So true.

Speaker 4 (37:59):
Don't listen to anything those people are saying because they
don't know what's best for the New York Giants.

Speaker 2 (38:03):
They know what's best for their TV ratings. You can
get information about a twenty twenty five Giant season ticket package,
and your membership includes all kinds of access and benefits
during the course of the year, not just during the season.
To learn more, go to Giants dot com slash tickets. Also,
the Giants Huttle podcast again were talking about this all
the times. Got interviews with Giants people and NFL people.

(38:26):
Pearson or Matt either one of you guys. Got something
going up today that John has recorded. Yes, Paul, your
interviews with a Keem Nicks and Stephen Baker. Oh, very
cool up today two Giants receivers who had an awful
lot of success, enough that they each got a Super
Bowl ring. There you go, all right, So that's going
up on the Giants Huddle today. Don't forget to go

(38:46):
to Giants dot com, slash Podcasts or your favorite podcast
platform and you can get all of those goodies as well.
The Giants Foundation will host a five K racing kids run.
It's presented by quest On Sunday, October twenty sixth at
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(39:08):
After the race, stay for a post race festival with
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the Giants TV mobile app. It's official, it's free. All
you got to do is go to Apple TV, Roku, Amazon,

(39:30):
fireTV and the Giants Mobile app and you can go
get Giants TV and catch all kinds of great stuff.
I think Sits and Sounds is also going up today too,
right from the Jets guy. I believe so, yes, that
should have been going up today. Yeah. So that's always
fun stuff, especially you know the stuff that they give
you on the benches and on the sidelines. Michael Beckton
is always down there with his camera. I gotta worry

(39:51):
about tripping over him sometimes, and and he's always down
there with with Dave Minchiney with as the audio guy,
and they're getting in all of the the good details
there on the bench. A lot of that stuff is fun.
A lot of it doesn't make it to the airwaves
because the language is a little less than the family approved,
shall we say, But they do save what they can

(40:13):
and it's always a fun watch. So we do invite
you to join that quickly. Andrew in North Carolina, You're
next on the show. Hello, Hey, how you doing?

Speaker 6 (40:25):
You guys are great?

Speaker 2 (40:26):
Thank you sir, Thank you, Andrew.

Speaker 6 (40:29):
I had two questions. I've heard you guys discuss Jackson
Dark and the scenario on if week one a week
two Leus would get hurt with him or Jamis come
in the game, and I think the consensus was it
would be Jamis, right. I was wondering if that has
changed any considering these off script moments that day Ball

(40:50):
has been putting Jackson through to come in in any moment.
It just seems like you really want him to be ready.
And jack this his ability with his legs is very
unique from James and Russell, and I do think it
really opens up Dave Ball's playbook. So is there a
chance that we might even see Dark come in some

(41:13):
scenarios in the game already, or have you guys the
viewpoint changes him being the QB two and my second
question was dealing with our beautiful, phenomenal pass rush of players.
I just wanted to know how you guys see this
plan out at the end of this year. We know
the rumor's going around with Kvon if he plays well,

(41:35):
can we at stem him, especially having a quarterback on
a rookie deal. How what scenario do you guys likely
see happening. You can get a lot of value for
young Ben. So that's all I have for you guys.

Speaker 2 (41:48):
Well, thanks for Andrew. Why don't you take the quarterback
thing first, because we've already been pretty clear about it.

Speaker 4 (41:55):
But gokay, Yeah, So, as you mentioned, as coach Tables mentioned,
even know how many times Russell Wilson is the starting
quarterback in terms of QB two. Now, going back to
the first day of training camp when Brian Dable and
Joe Shane spoke to reporters, obviously the first at least
fifty percent of the press conference was spent on the
quarterback position, surprise surprise, and while Brian Dable again reiterated

(42:20):
Russ as a starter, he did somewhat leave the door
open as for a potential competition for the QB two
spot during practice. The first few weeks of this summer,
Jackson Dart and Jamis Winston have sort of gone back
and forth between who gets in after us in terms
of QB two and who's QB three. They literally flip

(42:43):
flopped on a near daily basis. Obviously, in the first
two games, Jackson has gone in before Jamis. I would
not say that just because Jackson went in before Jamis
in those two preseason games that that definitely means that
he's got, you know, the lead for QB two. Coach
has not spoken really about that backup quarterback spot, and

(43:04):
even if he did, he wouldn't be telling us anything
about that situation. And you know, that's it's sort of
like a we're probably not gonna know really know much
until potentially something happens, which hopefully we never get to
that point. In terms of, you know, the fact that
he threw Jackson in again, Coach Nables made it clear

(43:26):
they have a plan for developing Jackson Dart and part
of that is making sure he is ready in a
moment's notice to go into a game and perform when needed.

Speaker 2 (43:35):
That's exactly what happened.

Speaker 4 (43:37):
That was a pre determined plan on Saturday night, where
the only two people that really knew about it, sounds
like were coach Table and Russell Wilson. Right, they were
the only two privy of those plans. Jackson went in
for one play. I mean, I was up in the
press box. I was surprised, like, wit did Russ just
get hurt? Why they take him out in the middle
of a drive? And then all of a sudden he's
back out there, And it took me a few seconds

(43:59):
to realize, Oh, this is clearly what we've seen Coach
Dable do it in practice all the time decided to
surprise Jackson to do it in a game, and Jackson
had no idea because he said after the game his
first reaction was looking at coach and saying, are you serious?
Like he was not expecting that at all. So we
don't know really who is the leader right now. For

(44:20):
QB two, my gut would still lean towards Jamis, because again,
the worst thing you can do for a rookie quarterback
is rush the development. Just because he's look good in
the summer does not necessarily mean that it's going to
translate to the games that actually matter. So you know,
God forbid if something were to happen to us early
on and he were to have to miss some time.

Speaker 2 (44:41):
My gut right now.

Speaker 4 (44:43):
Leans towards Jamis going in over Jackson. But then again,
we don't know what's going on in those you know,
in the quarterback room, in the discussions with all the
coaching staff. Jackson's obviously looked good, and he's looked good
in practice adding a game. But for me, it's just
am on the mind set of there's just no need
to rush him. You know, obviously, we want to win

(45:03):
this year. We want to win as many games as
possible this year, But Jackson Dart's development is about more
than just this season. It's about the future, future years,
and I would rather sit him a couple extra weeks,
even if.

Speaker 2 (45:15):
It's two weeks, a couple of weeks too.

Speaker 4 (45:17):
Long, even if it means we potentially lose a game
or two this year, if it's better for his long
term development, then rushing him in before he's fully ready
and before he's ready to just take control of this
offense and lead the team for hopefully the next you know,
decade plus.

Speaker 2 (45:33):
Furthermore, don't read anything into the order of the quarterbacks
during the preseason because if everything stays the same, Dart
as the third stringer during the year is going to
get very very very few reps. So from a learning perspective,
he is going to learn and develop and get a

(45:54):
lot more out of playing with the second team in
the preseason than he would have he was playing with
the third and fourth team. So there is value in
throwing him in before Winston. There's there's no question about that,
and that's why that's why it was done the other night.
They wanted to give him more valuable learning reps with

(46:16):
the higher level of depth chart players. So don't let
that influence your thinking. Uh, Thibodeau, It's simple. He's under
the contract this year, fifty year option was already picked
up next year. So he's on the Giants in twenty
five and he's on the Giants in twenty six. What
happens after that, who knows? Who knows. Somebody could always

(46:40):
get hurt, something could always change. It's foolish to even
worry about what's going to happen with Thibodeau after he
becomes a free agent following the twenty sixth season. Why
would we even talk about that today? It makes no sense.

Speaker 4 (46:56):
Yeah, I mean, look, Cavian has been solid three years,
but it's not like he's performed at a level the
first three seasons where you know, people everyone's thinking like, oh,
you got to lock him down to a long term
extension right now, Like he's still got to go out
and prove that he deserves to, you know, get paid.
Like what, I'm sure he would like to get paid.

(47:16):
He's got to go out and perform and produce on
a consistent basis first. So I yeah, I can't worry
about two years down the road. I hope that he
plays so well these next two seasons that it becomes
a big discussion. Sure after the twenty twenty sixth season,
but for now, and I see all the time, Oh,
the Giants should trade Caveon now, Like no, we saw

(47:38):
We've spoken about this in the offseason. The two the
last two Super Bowl teams had a minimum of three
very talented ed rushers on each of those teams, if
not more. Right now, the Giants have those three potentially
even more if you get down to you know, like
your Chauncey Goldstins and.

Speaker 2 (47:55):
That that level of player.

Speaker 4 (47:57):
But by the way, why would you want to trade
from the team's biggest straight That is what I don't
get it when I see these comments on Twitter.

Speaker 2 (48:03):
Goldston has been pretty quiet in the two preseason games.
He's looked great in practice, yes, but not so much
in the game. It has not translated yet, I'm curious.
But he's also not been playing with that first team.

Speaker 4 (48:15):
That's true too when he's on the field to the
regular season and he's lining up and he's got the
studs around him that are going to get all the
attention from the opposing offensive lines. That's going to put
him in better one on one situations that hopefully he
will capitalize on.

Speaker 2 (48:29):
All Right, we're getting a little close here to running
out of time. We got YouTube things to go through.
I'll have Matt start reading a couple of those after
we take another quick call from Mike. He is in Indiana.
You're next on BBKL.

Speaker 7 (48:42):
Hello Mike, Hey guys, I hope you guys are doing well.
I got one question and kind of like a comment.
The question is is there any world that we see
Turbo Miller gaining more the first team reps or maybe
even second team reps moving forward and see him get
more playing time with Skataboo out and Devin Singletary. To me,

(49:06):
it just seems like Miller, Turbo Miller is like the
hot hand right now, is my question. And then my
comment is I want to say, I don't know if
anyone's brought it up. I got in late the highlight
play the Russell Wilson sixty three yard air ball to Boacns.
Not to put any spotlight on you, Paul, but I

(49:26):
do want to say your forum running down the sideline
and being right there in the action in the background
of that play, I just want to say it was
absolutely awesome. Appreciate you guys. I'll take my answer off the.

Speaker 2 (49:37):
Air you, Mike, Like I said, we're just not used
to being able to track down those long bombs. I
was caught flat footed. That's what it comes down to, Mike.
We did touch on that early on, but thank you
for bringing it up again. Yeah, okay, it makes me laugh. Fine,
I know it's okay. Regarding Dante Miller, Matt will tell
you I am like the biggest Turbo Miller fan in

(49:58):
the building have been. He first walked onto campus last year.
He has done everything he could possibly do to make
this fifty three. I'm not concerned about where he stands
on the depth chart because with the three running backs
in front of him, he's number four. Now, I personally
believe if it were my decision, and it's not mine.

(50:20):
So please don't go on the internet and say I
said this is going to happen. No, I'm not speaking
for Joe, Shane and neither of you, certainly not. If
I'm making up the fifty three, Turbo Miller's on it.
I'm not afraid to tell you that. If I'm making
it up, Turbo Miller's on my fifty three. And that's it,
and there's really nothing else to say. He's done it

(50:42):
in the backfield. He's shown that he's willing to block
and pick up the blitz. He certainly is an asset
in the passing game. We've seen him return kickoffs. We've
seen him down in kick coverage getting his hands dirty.
He would have to be on my fifty three. But
that's just me.

Speaker 4 (50:59):
Yeah, I mean, in terms of him getting more first
or second team reps as a running back, I'm with you.
I don't think that really matters much because coach Table
last week, when asked about Dante Miller and his chances
of making the team, coach said, like, look, he is
not competing against the other running backs, which basically means
our top three running backs are going to be Tyrone,

(51:21):
Tracy Campscadaboo, and Devin Singletary. But he said the people
that he is competing for a roster spot against are
you know, the wide receivers, the linebackers, the guys at
other position. There there tight ends that are fighting for
special teams roles. That is how Dante Turbo Miller is
going to make this team. And to echo what you
just said, Paul, he has been crushing it on special teams.

Speaker 2 (51:44):
He has looked great. Michael Golbriel was raving about him
during his media earlier today about him as a gunner,
saying he's a physical tackle.

Speaker 4 (51:53):
You wouldn't think it based on his size, and you
think of Dante Miller, you think of speed. Well, he's
using that speed to the kickoff coverage game and he's
looking very good as a gunner.

Speaker 2 (52:03):
By the way, he did some of that at Columbia
before he went to South Carolina, so he does have
some of that in his background. He's not totally foreign
to playing special teams and I think a lot of
us kind of forgot about that and gloss that over,
But it's helping him right now, there's no doubt.

Speaker 4 (52:20):
Yeah, it is very clear that he has caught the
attention of this coaching staff for sure, and again it's
likely not gonna be as one of the top three
running backs, but he if he can prove, which he
already has started to, that he could be a very
valuable contributor on special teams, then it's going to be
incredibly difficult.

Speaker 2 (52:39):
For this coaching staff in front office to not include
him on the fifty three men. You know why. He
picked up another four first downs the other night.

Speaker 4 (52:45):
He's been great as a pass catcher. He's caught every
pass that's been thrown to him in this preseason, every
single one. Now, the rushing has not been the best,
but that goes for everyone on the team outside of
Tyrone Tracy against the Jets on Saturday, he's the only
running back so far in the preseason that has had
success running the football. So I'm not gonna hold that
too much against Dante Miller. He's already shown in the

(53:08):
passing game he can be a factor, and he certainly
can be a factor on special teams.

Speaker 2 (53:12):
All right, real quick, I'm gonna just mention this one guy,
God's will sixty four make the call who makes the
starting lineup alone the offensive line. I do think it's
the same starting five that you had last year, with
Thomas and illumin Or at the tackles. You'll see Runyon
and Van Roten at the guards and Jams at center.

(53:34):
I do believe that Evan Neil will rustle away the
starting spot from Van Roten at some point very early
in the season, as long as he continues to excel
like he did the other night against the Jets. If
that arrow keeps going up over the course of the
next two three four weeks, some point early in the year,

(53:55):
he willie clips Van Roten as the starter. I believe that.

Speaker 4 (53:58):
I think he's gonna have to show so much in
order to do that, because it is clear that the
coaching staff trust Greg van Rodin very much sho and obviously,
looking at what he did last year, they have full
reason to trust.

Speaker 2 (54:09):
He's not there yet.

Speaker 4 (54:10):
No, he's not there yet, and I'm not going to
say that. I don't think there's any chance he gets there.
Week one might be a stretch. We're now three weeks
from yesterday, is when the Giants will be taking the
field in Washington to play the Commanders. I don't know
if he will have shown enough by that point, again
because part of the reason, you only got one more
game left and only and only a handful of practices

(54:32):
left before we get to that game. So I think
week one it will still be Greg van Rodin. I
think there is a chance at some point down the
road this season maybe Neil can take that job away,
But for right now, I just I trust Greg Van
Rodin a lot more because he's just shown it since
he think they won to last year.

Speaker 2 (54:53):
I understand.

Speaker 4 (54:54):
But again, as we've talked about, I still think Evan
Neil has a higher ceiling at that position. We know
what we're getting from Gregor Voter van Rodin. We don't
quite know what Evan Neil can do yet, so we'll see,
But for now, I think it's gonna be Gregor Edward.

Speaker 2 (55:08):
What I think is the more interesting question.

Speaker 4 (55:09):
Real quick this, while we're on the offensive line, Let's
say Andrew Thomas is not ready for a Week one,
Not that we've gotten any indication that's the case, but
let's just say hypothetically it is.

Speaker 2 (55:19):
Oh, I know where you're going here, would you, based on.

Speaker 4 (55:22):
How they've looked in preseason and camp so far, would
you automatically just put James Hudson in at left tackle,
which is he has been starting as the left tackle, Yeah,
or as Marcus bow shown you enough where you would
take a chance and put him in.

Speaker 2 (55:39):
I think Hudson's the guy he gets the call. That's
where I lean to.

Speaker 4 (55:43):
Yeah, But like let's say, hypothetically, whether it's week one
or if Andrew Thomas comes back and then unfortunately has
to miss time further down the road, if Hudson doesn't
perform or produce early on, I wouldn't mind having so
somewhat of a quick hook before putting Marcus Bowen, because

(56:03):
he really has impressed me.

Speaker 2 (56:05):
So how stances can change. But I agree with you, you
got it. That's what I agree, that's what he's here for.

Speaker 4 (56:12):
I agree you start with Hudson, but bo has made
it a conversation at least, I feel.

Speaker 2 (56:16):
Like Cribs and Ribs also wanted to ask about Evan Neil,
and yes, we both vocalized our hopes for Evan Neil
to continue his upward trend. Giant Hopes twenty twenty five.
What do you think the odds are of anyone of Bellinger,
Nacho and Ganout being cut for cap space? Do we
have the depth to cut any or all of them?
First of all, every one of his coaching staff is

(56:39):
raving about the offseason that Graham Gano has had is
not getting cut. I know he's got a big price
tag on him, but did you see his three fifty
yard field goals against the Bills. I know one of
them hit the upright and bounced through. He's looking as
good as he ever has. I don't see anyway the
Giants make a move with Graham Gano. That's number one.

(57:00):
We agree.

Speaker 4 (57:00):
Graham Gonno is gonna be the great. You know, he
told me in the cafeteria the other day. That's the
first time in his career and he's thirty eight years old.
The first time in his career he had three kicks
from fifty yards in the first half of a game.

Speaker 2 (57:11):
He's backed, he's and you know what, he's still looking
as good as ever. So I don't see them making
anybody He's what he did in that game.

Speaker 4 (57:19):
He's been showing us just about every single day of practice. Yeah,
when he's off to his side field and kicking these
fifty yard fiegals from like a forty five degree angle.

Speaker 2 (57:27):
It's crazy. He's doing it every day now. If he
had left the door open for Mcatammney, well Mcatammany has
done bedroll though in the last week or so he
was a little bit around it can practice. That might
be a story that we could talk about, but it's
not a story because Gnou has slammed the door shut.

Speaker 4 (57:45):
He looks Torreau has looked like his former Pro Bowl self,
Soulo Summer, don't even go there, not Joe.

Speaker 2 (57:52):
The coaching staff is really high on Nacho. He's in shape.
They're very happy with his intangibles, his leadership. He all
part of that feel good vibe that's around this locker
room right now. I would find it hard to believe
earlier during the off season when they try to reinforce
the line, I thought he would have to fight people
off in competition. I think right now he's done enough. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (58:17):
I mean he is one of the more vocal leaders
on the defense and that obviously goes a long way
in the coaching staff's eyes for you know, importance in
the locker room. Of course, not to mention I thought
he looked pretty good on Saturday night against the Jets.
You know, he's not enough blow up the box score,
but he looked pretty good, especially as a passerser. He
was winning his matchups, which obviously when he's on the field,

(58:40):
it's not like the Giants are going to be leaning
on him heavily to pressure the quarterback. It's gonna be
the other guys around him. So I don't think Nacho,
he's getting cut.

Speaker 2 (58:50):
Okay, So we're two for two here and Bellinger. I
know at some point you wavered on him a little bit.
I never have, and I'm still not wavering on him.
There's always a possibility that if they do need to
go get a few dollars, they could go to a
player and they could do some adjusting. They could ask him,
we've seen it in the past. Are you willing to

(59:11):
either reallocate your money or could you even take a
little bit of a pay cut. Those things do happen.
If you want to suggest that that might happen, I
won't say it can't. But I don't see Daniel Bellacher
getting cut. No, I agree with you.

Speaker 4 (59:26):
Now where my point that I've stood at. You know,
a couple months ago on this matter was I kind
of was thinking that the offensive line would need as
much help as possible, and that of all the tight ends,
Chris Manherts is the best blocking tight end, and so
I kind of was under the mindset of, well, Chris
Manherts has to be on this fifty three men roster
at the very least just to help with the blocking. Now,

(59:48):
since then, the offensive line has looked very good, and
you know, obviously it's still August eighteenth, but they've checked
all the boxes so far. And more importantly than that,
THEO Johnson's blocking has looked significantly better than last year.
He is taking a huge jump in that department from
where he was as a rookie last year, which, again
going into the year two in the NFL, somewhat expected,

(01:00:11):
but he was kind of known more as a pass catcher,
not necessarily as a blocker. He has impressed me very
much with his blocking, so much so where I don't
think you need to have Chris Manhertz on the fifty
three men roster necessarily now because I feel confident with
THEO and his blocking ability. So I do think that
could pave the way for Bellinger to make the fifty three.

(01:00:31):
I do think the tight end room is going to
be an interesting one to watch because you have obviously
theo's making the team, and then you have Bellinger. You
have Thomas Faedoni, who was obviously just a seventh round pick,
has shown some flashes, and you have Greg Dolcich, who's
really stepped up.

Speaker 2 (01:00:48):
The last couple of weeks. You know, had that touchdown catch.
That is going to be an interesting one to keep
an eye on.

Speaker 4 (01:00:53):
I don't know if you can keep four tight ends,
and if you're only keeping three, that third one is
going to be a very tough decision.

Speaker 2 (01:01:00):
And let's not forget in the last week or so,
Manhurts has been nicked up too. Yeah, that has not
helped him. No, he didn't play the other night. That'll
do it. For today's edition of Big Blue Kickoff Live,
we invite you to come back here again tomorrow two
o'clock live. Or of course, you can always get us
on the archive at giants dot com and as always,

(01:01:21):
we're coming to you from the Giants Podcast Studio presented
by Hackensack Meridian Health. Keep getting Better. You can get
an archive of a program as well on giants dot
com slash podcasts. Folks. That'll do it for today's edition.
We'll be back again tomorrow from Outside Tech on Paul Tatino.
We'll see you next time.