August 8, 2025 • 56 mins
Lance Medow and Matt Citak preview the Giants first preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, talk about positional battles, and take calls from fans.
:00 - Bills preview
10:00 - Giants quarterbacks
22:00 - Preseason playing time
28:10 - Youtube questions
38:20 - Calls
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Episode Transcript
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(00:45):
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and at giants dot com slash podcast. As we welcome
(01:07):
you into the Giants Podcast studio. It is presented by
Hackinsack Meridian Health. Keep getting Better, So, Matt, less than
twenty four hours, we'll have preseason game number one in
Buffalo Giants bill, So we'll spend today's show talking about
some of the things to hone in on to look
out for, and obviously we welcome your calls as well
as your YouTube comments. Clearly, the team did not practice.
(01:29):
They're in route to Western New York, so there's no
updates on that front. We heard from Jackson Dart and
Abdul Carter yesterday. Paul and I spoke a little bit
about that, but let's start with Dart because Brian Dabele
did confirm he's going to play, which is not a
stunning development, and I thought Dart did a nice job
really delving into what he wants out of this performance
and whether or not there's an overwhelming amount of pressure.
(01:51):
And I think preseason games, just from a big picture perspective,
tend to be blown out of proportion. So right I
think we all need to take a step back we're
all anxious to see what he could do. But at
the same time, Rome was not built in a day,
and you also did not build a pathway to Campton,
Ohio in one preseason game or half a contest. But
I think what you're looking at of Dart in tomorrow's game,
(02:12):
that is, is he comfortable? Can he run the offense?
Can he get in and out of the huddle. It's
not so much the Wowmie plays, it's can he take
command of the offense when he's in and does it
run relatively smoothly?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
So we heard from the Giants' coordinators a couple of
days ago, I believe it was Wednesday, and Mike Kafka
was asked straight up, what do you want to see
from Jackson Dart in his first NFL game on Saturday?
Speaker 2 (02:38):
And Kafka said, what you just said.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
I want to see him run the offense and run it,
you know, efficiently.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
You know.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
He didn't say I need him to, you know, blow
the doors off of the Bills defense, throw three touchdown passes.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
He said, I want him to play his game.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
I want him to feel comfortable out there and play
like his normal aggressive nature.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
That's what I want to see.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
And then when Jackson spoke yesterday, he reiterated the same
exact message.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
He said, my focus is on being prepared.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
I want to run the offense how the coaching staff
wants me to do it, while also, you know, adding
in a little bit of my own flavor to it,
which he said the coaching staff encourages him to do.
And the thing that really stood out to me the
most was Jackson acknowledged He's like, look.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's not going to be perfect.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
I Am going to make mistakes on Saturday, and I'm
you know, he said, I'm going to make mistakes probably
every time I go out of the field, and that's okay.
The point of this game, the focus, the goal is
to just get more comfortable running this Brian Dable Mike
Kafka offense. And he seems to be very focused on that.
(03:46):
And which is the great mindset to have, because again
again it's the preseason. Whether it obviously we would love
to see the Giants win, We'd love to see everyone
play well. At the end of the day, whoever wins
or loses this game, it's not going on.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
The record for the season at the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
So and there's no preseason bowl or anything that you're
compete for.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Exactly all we want.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Is to especially this first game where so many guys
are going to be making their Giants debuts, even veteran players.
You know, obviously we may not end up seeing every
single player on the roster, but you know, for example,
a guy like Montreal Washington, who's been around for a
couple of years, is at a very strong summer.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Sure this will be his Giant's debut.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
This is the first time running the offense and the
defense for a lot of different players on the team,
and the biggest goal I think coming out of tomorrow's
game is to just see these guys, you know, feel
comfortable in both the offense and defensive systems, these new
systems for so many guys, that's got to be the
(04:48):
number one goal, and it's sure from what everyone's saying,
it sure sounds like that is what just about everyone
is focused on.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
And also see what they could do against an unfamiliar
opponent that they're not going up against on a daily basis.
This is why when coaches are peppered with the same
questions over and over again about well, when you break down,
it's similar to when you're in college, right, You get
the syllabus at the beginning of the semester, Matt, and
they tell you how your grade is composed, and it
says the mid term counts for x amount of points
(05:15):
and so forth. Well, coaches are always asked is it
the practice or is it the preseason games? And Brian
Dable mentioned a few days ago, Listen, it's hard to
simulate game speed in practice. You don't tackle to the
ground so flat out. These preseason games are much more important,
I think in telling what a player can do long run,
(05:38):
even if they wow you and are consistent in the
film room and on the practice field. So I'm glad
you brought up a guy like Montree Washington, who I
think has made a very strong impression during practices and
he's built a nice rapport with Jackson Dart. There was
a recent practice where Dart threaded the needle over the
middle and Washington was right there to haul it in
(05:59):
and took it to that house. So can they now
duplicate that success? And Washington's probably gonna work with multiple
quarterbacks because he's a veteran. He's been in the league.
He's been with a few teams including the Denver Broncos,
and there could be a sixth spot opened here in
this receiving course. So tomorrow's game as well as the
next two, could go a long way in not just
(06:22):
determining whether or not an individual is gonna get a
roster spot, but Matt, whether the coaching staff says we
want to keep a six wide receiver as opposed to
just settle for five.
Speaker 5 (06:31):
Yeah, of course, I mean I know everyone's you know,
main focuses on Jackson Dart and understand why. But obviously
tomorrow's game and the following two games they're gonna go
a long way in determining, you know, the future for
nearly half of the guys on the current roster right now,
(06:52):
that's ninety guys on the roster. Obviously only fifty three
make it to the to the active roster. And then
obviously you get practice squad as well. But these three
preseason games, and I will add the two joint practices
with the Jets next week as well, because those reps
during you know, team drills, one on one drills, that'll
be the closest that all these guys get outside of
the three preseason games, the real game reps because I mean,
(07:16):
you've seen the joint.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Practice in the last couple of years.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Guys are going one hundred and ten percent during those
just because it's not that they don't do that normally
on an everyday basis during training camp, but when you're
going up against the guy in another uniform, for sure,
at that point it will be the second time all year.
Guys are fired up and they want to really showcase
their see different intensity, different feel for sure. So that
isn't an extra opportunity for all of these guys fighting
(07:42):
for their you know, their NFL futures, their NFL lives,
to make a lasting impression on the coaching staff. And
just going back to Jackson for one second, it obviously
it does have I would say maybe a little bit
more importance for him than some of the other rookies
and young players for the simple fact that, as we
(08:02):
all know, Brian Dables made it very abundantly clear that
Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback and with Jamis Winston
also here, these next.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Three games might be the last three.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Chances we get to see Jackson Dart in a game
setting for a long time. For I mean, in an
ideal world, it's the last three games he plays all
year other than mop up duty. Obviously, things will have
to be going very well for that to happen, and
we would all love for that to happen. But even
if it doesn't, there is a very good chance that
we don't get to see Jackson Dart in a game
(08:36):
setting again after that Patriots' last preseason game for a
couple of months. So, and he spoke about it yesterday
about how valuable these reps are going to be in
the preseason because of that, he's aware of the situation.
He's not oblivious. He knows he's not likely taking the
field for a while in a regular season game, and
(08:56):
so that is why starting tomorrow in the two preseason
games after that are going to be so important for
him to yeah, show what he can do for the
coaching staff, but just for him to learn and get
those actual game reps that are going to help him
grow and develop early on in his career.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Well, you bring up a great point. Really, it could
be mental reps after the preseason for the duration of
the season. He granted, may play the scout team here
or there, depending on how they orchestrate practices, but once again,
very different than being in a game. It's funny. It
reminded me when Abdul Carter spoke to the media on Thursday,
he mentioned, boy, this is my first game in like
six months, right, because even he hasn't played in quite
(09:35):
some time. So you can imagine if Dart has to
go the entire year and once again, I don't think
that's going to stunt his growth or be bad for
his development. But when you take that into consideration, Matt,
that's also another reason why it's important for Dart to
stay even keel, because if he says to himself, man,
these three games, that's it, and then I could very
(09:57):
well because you have to operate with I could very
will not get into an NFL game during the regular season.
You don't want to go above and beyond to try
to once again wow everybody and go for the show
me play. I think, and he has the mindset. It
seems that he's not putting that all on himself and
all on his shoulders. But we've seen rookies, you know,
(10:17):
they get on the field the butterflies, they're thinking about
what could be coming, what may not be on the
rise in and you just try to do too much.
So I think that's also important for Dart to not
think so much big picture and just handle this as if, Hey,
this is the next game on the schedule. Maybe I
play two more games, maybe I play four, who knows,
but don't think about that too much.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
Yeah, and that's why I think it is actually very
beneficial for him that Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are here.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
It takes away all of that pressure.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
I mean, normally, when a quarterback gets taken in the
first round of the NFL Draft, you know, even if
the team has a veteran already under contract there, the
buzz starts very early. Of yeah, I get rookie on
the field, he's got to get out there immediately Week
one or whatever.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
That's not gonna happen now.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
I mean, barring multiple injuries, that is just not gonna
happen for the Giants and Jackson Dart, which is a
good thing. I mean, I know it's kind of veering
off of what most of the NFL the trendy thing
to do in the NFL, but you look back at
I mean, Patrick Mahomes sat his entire rookie year until
the last game of the season. Again, I'm not saying
(11:25):
he's the next Patrick Mahomes. But sure, that is obviously
just an example of someone that got to sit for
basically an entire year, and then when he finally did
come in, he has obviously been the best quarterback in
the NFL ever since. So I think having those two
veterans here, obviously from a learning perspective, is so beneficial.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
But it just takes all the pressure off of him.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
He can just go out there on Saturday in the
next two weeks, just play his game, and even if
he lights the Bills.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
On fire tomorrow, he's still not gonna start Week one.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
No, it doesn't change the conversation at all.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah, So.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
I think and Jackson was kind of saying this yesterday
that he's not really thinking about you know, oh, this
might be my last three games for a while. He said, Look,
I'm preparing every week as if I'm gonna play, and
I think he clearly knows that the likely will not
be the case. But he's got the Everything he's saying
to the media seems like he has the perfect mindset
(12:28):
and mentality for the Giants current quarterback situation. He knows that,
you know, hopefully he is the future of this franchise
in terms of the quarterback position, but there's no rush.
Russell Wilson is here. Russell Wilson's looked very good this summer.
Jamis Winston is a proven veteran that's been doing it
for a decade now. He knows that those two guys
(12:49):
are gonna get, you know, the first few cracks at
it at the quarterback position, and seems to be perfectly
fine with that, and I think that is.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Going to be very good for both him and the
Giants long.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Just to piggyback off of your point, I always go
to this chart that CBS Sports built a few years back,
and they give you a nice layout of the land
of when quarterbacks started who were relatively high picks or
quarterbacks that actually made something of their careers. So here's
names that did not play at all in their first
(13:21):
year in the NFL. Because it goes beyond even Mahomes,
who got in, as you mentioned, that final week only
because by the way, the Chiefs had locked up a
playoff spot and there was nothing they could gain if
they had something to play for. Alex Smith is under
center that last week of the season. So even factors
like that have to align. Carson Palmer did not start
until year two. Then you look at Michael Vick didn't
(13:43):
start until year two. Drew Brees sat because you had
Doug Flutey. Everybody talks about Philip Rivers, who I'm now
going to get to in year three, but when Breeze came,
Doug Flutie was there. Chad Pennington who had a respectable career,
Tony Romo also year three, year four, Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousin,
Jimmy Garoppolo. And I'm not picking on you for bringing
up Mahomes, It's just everybody turns to Mahomes. Mahomes would
(14:06):
be maybe the seventh or eighth guy I would mention.
There's so many other good, substantive examples who waited a
hell of a lot longer than Mahomes Matt till they
got in. So this idea, whether you're a high first
round or a late first round or that you've got
to get on the field and play immediately, to me,
and I'm not saying that I'm giving you a huge
sample size. I get it. The NFL's been around for
(14:28):
a relatively long time, but there's enough names there where
you can't say it's impacted the outlook of their careers
by sitting a little, especially when you have polished veterans
on the team sharing the room with you. And that's
what's important to note. With Dart, it's a good environment,
it's a healthy quarterback room. He has two guys that
(14:49):
are not worried about their job security because they understand
what the contract looks like. So it's not as if
they're looking at, oh, we want to keep Dart away
from the job because we're worried that he's going to
te make it from us. I think they're supportive. That
doesn't mean that they're not working hard, but there's this
common ground between them helping Dart and at the same
time taking care of the task in hand.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Yeah, And Jackson also noted that A touched on that
subject yesterday as well, where he spoke about and he said,
we have an incredibly tight quarterback room, and he even
said it was unique. Obviously this is the only quarterback
room in the NFL that Jackson Dart has been a
part of. But clearly there is a very tight connection
between all four guys. And I know we you know,
(15:32):
we always kind of brush over Tommy Devido, but Tommy
DeVito is probably the quarterback that Jackson Dart is closest
with right now. And also, let's not forget the longest
tenured quarterback in that room in the Giant system. But yeah,
that all four of those guys are incredibly tight. You know,
they are all helping each other. Yes, Russell Wilson and
(15:52):
James Winston are trying to sort of and Tommy DeVito
are guiding Jackson through his first rookie training camp.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
But it is a two wrote or i should say,
a four way rode, a four way intersection.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
They are all helping each other in every single possible way,
all four of them.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
All they want to do is help this team win.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
They don't care which guy is out there. Jackson said
that yesterday. Russell Wilson has said that in the past.
Jamis has as well. They don't care who's out there.
All of them are just focused on doing whatever it
takes to help the twenty twenty five New York Giants
win football games. And that's obviously the mindset you want
everyone to have on the entire roster. That's only a
(16:30):
good thing. And in terms of what you were saying
about all those different quarterbacks, I can't remember one situation
where a team, after a quarter or you know, down
the road, or after a quarterback's first year, was like, wow,
we really regret you know, sitting him till week eight.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
We should have put him in sooner. You don't really
hear that all the time.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Almost every single year, you hear a team say, you
know what, we probably threw the quarterback in a little
too early.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
He wasn't ready for it. We wanted to see what
he had.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
Threw him in too early, and it ends up hurting
that quarterback's.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Development when you throw him out too early and he's
not ready.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
So I think it is a great situation for Jackson
to sit back, kind of sit behind the scenes once
the season starts, soak up as much ener information as
he can from two again proven NFL veterans, the guys
that have been doing it at a high level for
a very long time. I mean, he's Jackson's spoken about
(17:30):
how he literally looked up to Russell Wilson growing up
and we're sharing a quarterback room together.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Well do the math. I mean, russ has been in
the league since twenty twelve, I know, and.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
Jackson, and Jackson's only twenty two years old. So Russell
Wilson was one of the quarterbacks he was looking up
to and you know, modeling his game after in some
way as he was growing up playing the game of football.
So yeah, there's just there's no rush to get Jackson in.
Let him take as many reps as possible during the
preseason because on the flips, there's not so much we
(18:02):
really need to see from Russell Wilson in the preseason. No,
I want to see him get out there, you know
a little bit, because obviously it's just it's him running
a new system. So you don't want him coming out
Week one having taken zero actual game reps in Brian
Dable and Mike Kafkus system. But at the same time,
he is a ten time Pro Bowl quarterback that's been
(18:24):
doing this for a very long time. He doesn't need
to get his feet wet too much. I would say,
in the preseason, get him, let him get a little taste,
and then after that, you know, let Jamis get a taste,
and then let Jackson Dart really get a lot of
reps because, as we said, three weeks from now, he
could be sitting on the bench for a long time
at least in terms of game days.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
You bring up an interesting point. I did not look
this up, and now I'm going to look it up.
I know he was dealing with the injury in the
preseason last year. That's why Justin Field started the season.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Do you know how much he played it all with
the Broncos during that preseason.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
During the preseason.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
No, I just wanted again an idea because the more
and more I'm thinking about it is I'm with you.
I don't think it hurts for him to get some
reps because it's again a new system. But when you
think about it, this is the third time in three
years that Russell Wilson is learning a new system, right, Yeah,
because he was with Seattle, then Denver, Pittsburgh the Giants.
So I guess I was looking at how much Sean
Payden said to himself, and Shawn's been working with a
(19:27):
lot of quarterbacks over his career. Hey, Russ, you know,
get some work in. So I'm gonna bring that up
and see whether or not we can just get an
idea of how much he played to maybe further the
conversation and we'll circle back to that. And by the way,
two zero one nine three nine four five one three
is the telephone number, as well as navigating your questions
on YouTube, focusing on the preseason game players to watch.
(19:50):
Who are you most invested in and interested in? Matt
and I are focusing on the quarterbacks, but as he said,
Dart is the main event, doesn't mean it's the only
attraction in terms Ofaturday's game. So Russell Wilson was with
Denver in twenty twenty three because he was with Pittsburgh
last year. So I'm bringing up the Broncos preseason. So
he was in the first preseason game because I'm looking
(20:13):
at the highest passer. He threw for ninety three yards
in that game. So that was against the Arizona Cardinals.
Let's just look. Yeah, he was seven of thirteen for
ninety three yards in a touchdown. So I mean he
played probably a good portion of the early stages of
the game. I'm just I'm bringing up the game law.
That's the beauty of technology. Can you imagine us doing
the show in nineteen seventy five, not to date anyone
(20:35):
or nineteen eighty five would not have been fun in
terms of trying to get through all of this information.
So he was in the second drive, he was in
the third drive of the game. Let's go for maybe
a fourth drive. He was in the fourth drive of
the game and that was their first score. Did he
play number five? No, Jarrett Stidham came in, so Seawan
(20:55):
used him for the first four possessions of that very
first Broncos preseason. Again, and the reason Matt that I'm
bringing up is if you recall, Brian Dabos asked, do
you tweak things year to year? And he said, I
look at what other coaches have done with similar players.
So did Brian look at what Sean did, because I'm
sure he respects Sean from being in the league, and say, well,
(21:16):
Paydon played Russ for four series And I'm not saying
this's gonna happen, but just something to keep in the
back of everyone's mind as we gear up for this
first preseason game.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
Yeah, and I do think it relates because that was
also Sean Payden's first season as the Broncos head coach.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
He was taking everything was new, yeahs board.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Obviously Russ spent two years in Denver. There were two
very very different years, two very different offensive systems that
he was running. So that is why I do think
it is, you know, it makes sense to sort of
look at that second preseason when Sean Payden took over,
because it was, you know, Russ learning a new system,
the system that he had never played in before. Yeah,
(21:53):
I think Dable will probably, you know, I'm sure Russ
has already said that he would love to go out
there play. Obviously, it's not gonna end up coming down
to his decision, but Coach Stable did say, like, look,
obviously the last two seasons we did not start off
strong in the regular season, and so coach said, you know,
(22:16):
I'm gonna look at what we did the last two
preseasons and then how we started and somewhat factor that
into the decision on who plays tomorrow. So look, we're
less than twenty four hours out. I still have no
idea Russell Wilson's gonna player or not tomorrow. We have
not heard anything. I think there's a chance he could
(22:38):
play for the very reason that you just you know,
brought up with Sean Payton his first year in Denver.
I would say, there are some other players, so you know,
veteran players, the guys that you kind of would consider
the star players are the team that chances are, if
I had to guess, we'll not be suiting up tomorrow.
And you know I'm talking about like the Moleague neighbors
and Dexter Lawrence's, Brian Burns's of the team, but someone
(23:01):
like Russ like there is obviously a benefit for letting
him go out there, even if it's just for one
or two drives, just to get his feet a little
wet in this new system. Because again, like we said before,
it's one thing to do in practice, and he's looked
good in practice. It's a totally another beast doing it
in a game against another defense who's not only fully
trying to stop you, but also fully trying to hit you.
(23:23):
Because Russell Wilson has not gotten hit obviously since the
end of last season, since the end of the Steelers
postseason run, because there's no hitting obviously during the preseason.
So for multitude of reasons, you know there is reason
to put him out there, and we will see him.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
In the preseason.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
I just don't know if it will necessarily be tomorrow
or maybe next week.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
I looked up the rest of the preseason games for
Denver in twenty twenty three. He played one series in
the second game and did not play it all in
the third. So the bulk of the work, really all
of the work came in that first preseason game. Just
once again a means of comparison, but you hit on
something that Greg Van Rodin brought up. Van Roden, who's
worked with a variety of quarterbacks, was asked, what's the
(24:07):
difference in blocking for Russell Wilson? And this is where
I do think it would help for him to play
a little because since he loves to extend plays so much,
Matt and the fact that you can't hit the quarterback,
there's a lot of plays that could be a sack,
but they don't go down as that in practice. I
think for the sake of the timing of the offensive lineman,
it would help to have an experience in a game setting. Okay,
(24:31):
the internal clock Russ likes to circle around how much
more do you have to be engaged in your blocking
as opposed to it being more of a rude awakening
in week one of the regular seasons. So from that standpoint,
I guess what I'm saying is maybe it's not so
important that Russell Wilson gets a hit, but the offensive
linemen work out the timing in their head, because it's
(24:53):
a lot different blocking for him than Jameis Winston, Jackson
Dart and any of the previous Giants quarterbacks that have
been here. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
No, I think you're one hundred percent right with that.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
You know, one thing I would say is we know
Coach n Able did not tell us who is not
playing tomorrow in terms of injuries.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Close to the bench. He kept everything. Yes, very close.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Real shock coming from the coach table, I know.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
But the one thing we do know is that Andrew
Thomas will not play because he is still on the
physically unable to Perform list. You are not allowed to
play in a preseason game while you're still on the
pup list. So him and Eric Ray we know for
sure they will not be playing. Andrew Thomas obviously.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Should have said spoiler alert by the way, but yes,
go ahead.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Andrew Thomas obviously is He's the lynchpin of the offensive line.
He is you know, if that unit is going to
have success this year, it's going to start with him,
I will say, just being on the field, because when
he is on the field healthy, I don't think any
of us have any sort of doubts on his ability
and what he can do out there. It's just a
(25:56):
matter of getting him out there healthy. That obviously will
play a big part, so I do.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
And that's point.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
Being because right now we know he is not, you know,
at least healthy enough to play tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
It is very important, I think.
Speaker 5 (26:11):
For the rest of the offensive line to get those
game reps because you know, there could be a situation
where during the season, even if Andrew Thomas comes back
for Week one and is healthy, just based on how
the last two years have gone, there's a chance he
gets hurt again, or if not him, maybe Jermaine a
Lumino or on the right side, And if that happens,
you want James Hudson, who is gonna be your swing
(26:32):
tackle and your backup in case either one of those.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Starting tackles gets hurt.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
You want him being as game ready as possible, and
game ready with the rest of the starting offensive line
because as we all know, continuity upfront is the most
important thing. Having as many reps together as possible is very,
very beneficial for those guys. So yeah, getting James Hudson
as many reps as possible with you know, the John Runyons,
(26:57):
the Greg Van Rodins JMS is like that, that is
going to be very, very valuable. Obviously, hopefully James Hudson
does not have a single start this year because that
means Andrew Thomas and Dremaina Lumino are healthy. But just
given the way you know the league is now and
how offensive linemen get hurt, there's a decent chance that
James Hudson's gonna have to fill in at some point
(27:19):
this year. So getting him as game ready as possible
with the rest of the starting offensive line is, I
agree with you, is just as important as Russell Wilson
getting out there getting reps with the rest of the
starting offense.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Yeah, it's hard to go into a season believing that
all five offensive linemen are going to play all seventeen games.
It's just not reality and it would be naives. So
even though you don't want necessarily James Hudson, I think
the reality is there's a good chance, whether it's in
the midst of a game or starting a game, that
he's going to see action, and the swing tackle is
extremely important. Speaking of the offensive line, we're getting some
(27:55):
questions coming in on YouTube, so let's stay on topic,
Matt and address a few of the avery asks will
Thomas play, which we just answered obviously that's a no.
Or Neil. The offensive line to me is arguably the
most important piece of this team. There needs to be cohesion,
and I think he's echoing the sentiments that we have
voice before we answer that. Just another question related to
(28:17):
Evan Neil and we can sandwich it together. Interesting perspective here, Cournell,
what would be more impactful in the long run Evan
Neil proving to be a solid starting guard and winning
the starting job at right guard, or Banks further improving
and winning the quarterback two job over Cordell Flott. So
(28:39):
let's start with Evan Neil first. Neil is in a
completely different position than Thomas. First of all, Neil is healthy,
that's number one, and he's not on the pup and
Neil is fighting for a starting position. So what is
at stake and the value of seeing him in the
preseason Matt completely different than Andrew Thomas. So I would
expect to see Evan Neil, especially since I know he's
(29:02):
had experience previously at guard, but he hasn't played that
in some time. I would expect to see him throughout
the preseason and especially in the joint practices.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Yeah, the preseason is going to be so significant for
Evaneil because obviously, you know, we've had these reports, we've
seen it ourselves dating back to the spring where he's
been lining up at guard and you know, he's looked good,
but it is you can't compare doing it in practice,
even with contact allowed, compared to a game.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
It's just two different ballparks.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
So the preseason is going to be so vitally important
for Evan Neil to show the coaching staff what he
can do after transitioning inside.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
I mean, again, he's looked good.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
He is.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
There have been multiple.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
Times where I've turned to you know, Dance Alaman on
the sideline being like, did you just see Evan Neil
move the offensive lineman like ten yards downfield? He's had
plays like that, but again, he's got to do it
in a game. He has not played on the inside
since his freshman year at Alabama in twenty nineteen. That's
six years ago at this point. That's a long time
(30:04):
and obviously the last three years have not been great
from him. That's why you know they're trying moving him
on the inside. So to answer the question. I think
it will definitely with long term, would definitely be more
beneficial if Evan Neil stood out in the next few
weeks in these preseason games and won the starting guard
(30:26):
spot over Greg Van Rodin, because right now Greg van
Roorden is clearly the favorite to win that job.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
And rightfully so experience more experience.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
He was played every single snap last year was very solid.
But and Paul and I have discussed this before, we
kind of know what we're getting out of Greg van Rodin.
You know, it's solid play, but the upside is not
quite the same or the potential is not quite the
same as what the upside and potential could be for
Evan Neil on the inside, given you know, ten years
(30:57):
younger and just bigger and more athletic, so.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
And in terms of value of where he was drafted
to that course, I think you got to take it
the consideration.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
And you know, obviously the depth chart is unofficial, but
on that first depth chart, Greg Van Rodin was listed
as a starter.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
So if Evan Neil played so well that.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
The coaching staff was like, you know what, we can't
have this guy starting week one on the bench. He
needs to be the starting right guard. That would obviously
be great for the offensive line because it also then
gives you Greg Van Rodin, who could be your primary
backup at all three spots on the interior, which would
make me feel very comfortable with the offensive line if
that was the case. In terms of the CV two, obviously,
(31:37):
Deontay Banks's development is also very important. However, I would
say the offensive line, and I don't think I'm going
out on a limb here, is slightly more of a
concern than the defense or the secondary because of all
the additions the Giants made in the secondary over the
last let's call it sixteen months between drafting Tyler Newman
(31:58):
and Drew Phillips last year and then signing Pulson Debo
and Javon Holland list this year. And not only that,
but Cordell Flatts look good this summer as well, and
look good in the spring. They got listed on the
first unofficial depth chart as both being that second starting corner.
So and I would say, despite that listing, I still
think Deontay Banks is probably the slight favorite to win
(32:20):
the starting job come week one. So in terms of
which one would be more beneficial long term, I think
for a variety of reasons. It's got to be Evan
Neil winning that starting right right guard spot.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
See it's interesting. I'd go the opposite way, Matt, Really yeah,
I'd go with Deonta Banks. And I guess the reason
being is Neil is on the final year of his
deal because they didn't pick up the options. So I
think the Giants are of the mindset there's a possibility
we may move on from him after this year. That's
not to say that you don't want him to do well,
but that realization has settled in. Banks twenty twenty three
(32:54):
first round pick still have to decide whether or not
you want to pick up the fiftie option. There's a
lot more riding, I guess is what I'm saying on
Deontay Banks and his development, and while Flott is there
is another option if you look at the rest of
the depth chart. See, I would argue I think the
Giants at least are prepared for life without Evan Neil
(33:16):
based on some roster moves, and they've got Greg Van
Rodin and some other guys that they have recently drafted.
If Banks doesn't get to the level that they want.
And remember Flott was drafted the year before and wasn't
a first round pick, So that's another deal that is
going to soon be expiring. You look at the depth
chart at corner. I'm not talking about safety because I
(33:36):
think you're referring to the changes they made at safety
are very encouraging, but there's a lot of unknown at
that position. If you don't get what you need at
of Banks, which means you may have to go back
into the well of the draft. So I think the
more and more I evaluate it, I'd actually go more
towards Banks. To answer the YouTube question that that could
(33:57):
be more beneficial as opposed to what happens with Evan
Neil if he can run away with this right guard joint.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
I guess the way that I'm thinking about it is
just that I feel like the rest of the defense
could easily not only get by, but still thrive.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Even if whoever.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
Is playing that second outside corner spot played let's just
call it subpar. Even if that spot gave you subpar
production all year, you could still have an elite defense.
If Evan Neil, though, were to beat out Greg Van
rodin come Week one, that would have to mean that
he looks so good in the summer that the coaching
staff said, we can't leave this guy on the bench
(34:33):
at guard, and in which case that is going to
very much elevate the.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Upside of the offensive line as a whole.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
And I think we can all agree that going into
the year, the biggest question mark probably is still the
offensive line, especially with Andrew Thomas not being back right now.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
If you could get a boost.
Speaker 5 (34:52):
Up front on the offensive line, I think that would
go a lot further than you know, maybe like a
slight boost at that second corner spot.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
This is the way I think about it, and.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
There's multiple ways to looking to growth of both of
those guys.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
If both of them could end up winning the starting
spots of their respective positions, the Giants would be in
very good shape.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Well because especially a guy like Neil who they did
not exercise the fifty year, So now all of a sudden,
you know, you're getting some value later on in his
rookie contract and Flat and Banks still in the developmental phase.
But Banks has even been on the record saying he
felt it was a sophomore slump last year, So right there,
you know he's setting the expectations high that he expects
(35:34):
a bounce back. And it's interesting you viewing it from
the standpoint of elevating the offensive line, because the spin
of the opposite way would be But if Neil does
win the job, now you're lacking continuity on the right side,
meaning Illuminor has got to learn to play next to
a new guy. And now John Michael Schmidt, so you know,
does that then maybe balance out what you think he
(35:56):
could do to elevate it.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
That's fair.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
And then and then the other way that I look
at it is even though maybe others can help if
you get subpart play from the other cornerback position, Matt.
As we've seen in the NFL, you get a veteran quarterback,
he sees a corner struggling, they'll pick on you all
day long. And unless you have somebody else who's holding
his hand, it's hard to cover up. I guess it's
(36:18):
hard on the boundary. When you're a boundary corner. There's
only so much that you could do to help out
that guy. See the guy in the slot, maybe he
could help you bring the linebacker up, you move guys around.
You're on an island out on the boundary. If you struggle,
I just I guess I'm a little skeptical of how
much more the other ten guys can put the duct
(36:40):
tape out there and patch it up. So that's just
my perspective.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
At least in terms of the first part about the continuity.
I agree with you, obviously. I literally just said before
how important continuity is, which is why if Evan Neal
were to win that starting guard spot, he would have
had to have played so well in the preseason that
the coaching staff would be willing to overlook the continuity
aspect in order to put him in.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
Yeah, because the upside of playing him is more than
perhaps the continuity.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
Yes, if he looks.
Speaker 5 (37:09):
That good, obviously, I think that would be a big
boost to the offensive line overall.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
And I get what you're saying about the second s
the CB two spot.
Speaker 5 (37:19):
I guess I just I feel so confident about the
pass rush this year, the defensive front, where I think
that those guys up front will be able to make
up for any sort of deficiencies the Giants have in
the secondary.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
Not that I think that there.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
Will be deficiencies, because I do think the secondary is being,
you know, very much overlooked considering the talent they now
have at what could be all five starting spots in
the secondary. But I just think the pass rush is
going to give opposing offenses and offensive lines and quarterbacks
so much trouble that quarterbacks are going to be looking
to get rid of the ball so quickly. And obviously
(37:54):
that is just going to be a big boost to
the secondary, regardless of who's back there.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Let's open up the phone as we move forward here
on Friday's edition of Big Blue Kickoff Live. Lean is
in Maryland and he joins us on BBKL. What's happening line?
Speaker 4 (38:07):
Hey, guys, how you doing all right? Man? I'm getting excited.
Here we go nineteen of the next twenty weeks there
will be a Giants football game. Wow, maybe more. Hey,
if we make the playoffs, maybe even more weeks. But
it's gonna be fun. Gonna be fun. It's been a
long wait, been a long wait. Well, I'll try to
stay with your with your question, but I had a
(38:28):
couple other things to add. You know, I'm looking at Dart.
I want to see Abdul. I'm gonna be watching Neil closely.
I think you guys are right on. Oh, he's got
to win that job. He just has to win that job.
That is a major setback if Evan doesn't take that job.
Let me let me throw something out to you here.
(38:48):
You're gonna you're gonna jump on me. But I really
feel this, If Neil can't win that job, cut.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
Him for what reason?
Speaker 4 (39:00):
I mean, be a thought. Well, I think I a
tackle he now failed at guard.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
I'll disagree. Okay, Well, to answer your first question or
statement in response, I'll say I disagree with your sentiment
lend that it's a huge disappointment if he doesn't win
the starting job, as Matt and I just went through.
Even though he has experienced playing guard, he hasn't played
guard since college, so he's going back to a position
that he has no NFL experience at. And his competition
(39:26):
is a seasoned VET who has a whole lot more
experience there and has moved around on the interior of
the line. So Greg Van rode In by default has
a significant edge over Evan Neil, regardless of where Neil
was drafted. So I don't think it would be viewed
as a disappointment.
Speaker 5 (39:41):
And also just real quick Len, just from a salary perspective,
cutting Evan Neil now would just be taking what's nearly
eight million dollars and just basically lighting it on fire
because his rookie contract, the first four years are fully guaranteed,
so that would just be wasting money. Have a guy
who your backup guard?
Speaker 4 (40:04):
Okay, I want If you'll give me the last word,
I'd appreciate it. On the Ovan Neil thing, we gain
nothing by keeping Evan Nail as a backup. Keep Kubas
Matt the rookie from Youngstown State Williams. Keep an eye
on him. He's a good player. He should have been drafted.
He should have been drafted. We got we got young
(40:25):
depth there. Yeah, I want him to win that job.
I'm not a big Van Roten fan. This is it
for Van rom Do you think Van Roden's coming back
next year? You think a Lumanos coming back next year?
You think if Thomas has got to be healthy. I mean,
we got to find some people who can play, not
back up. We got to find some people who can play.
(40:46):
If Evan can't win that job, play Kulbas. Get him
in there. I don't want to say God bless me.
He gave us seventeen games. He's a tough guy. Thank
you very much, Greg, Van Roten. I reallyciate it, but
gimme Cooba's at that guard position. If Neil can't beat
him out, Can I move on to what? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (41:06):
I mean just wrote before I let you move on.
The only thing, the only thing that I would add is,
I think you have to look at it from the standpoint.
There's a reason they brought back Greg Van Roaden. The
Giants didn't have to do that, right. I mean, they
could have said, Jake Couva's okay, it's your job to
compete with Evan Neil. Ok So the fact that they're
bringing back Van Rooden means they look at him as
(41:27):
valuable and they also know that, remember, Greg Van Roden
could very well be the backup center to John Michael Schmidz,
which means then you need depth. You need depth right guard.
You can't throw away a guy like evidence.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
Let me tell you a kind of another idea that
I have and I say this once a year for
about the last ten or twelve years. So you got
you guys are the recipient of By making this statement
for the first time this year and probably the only
time this year, I am not a big fan of
(42:02):
former starters on our team becoming backups on our team
the next year, You've told the guy he can't play
that position. What I'm telling you is I know about
the center thing, and that's a compelling reason to hang
on to Van Roten if he doesn't win the guard thing.
But you know what, if we had somebody else who
(42:23):
could play center, I'd cut Van Roton if he couldn't start.
I don't like, but I don't like former starters being backups,
but it doesn't work in the wild work.
Speaker 5 (42:32):
It's not like Van Ruden would be a backup because
you know, he looks so awful this summer. It would
just be because Evan Neil at this new position reclaims
some of that you know pre drafts buzz that made
him a top seven pick and you know just a
couple of years ago. It would be more Evan Neil
winning the job than Greg Van van Rodin losing it.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Because let's not forget.
Speaker 5 (42:55):
Ok Van Ruden was by far and away the most
consistent and solid offense linean the Giants had last year.
He played every single snap despite being by far the
oldest man in that room. So I don't think it's
fair just to kind of put ooo.
Speaker 3 (43:08):
Him and Len I know you want to make another point,
but real quick here. Van Rodin entered the league in
twenty twelve. He even pointed this out in a recent interview.
He did not start until twenty eighteen, when he was
twenty eight years old. Do you really think a guy
that has preached that much patience is going to, all
of a sudden at this stage in his career, at
thirty five, get worried whether or not he is to
(43:28):
go back to being a backup when he had to
grind it out to become a starter. I think that
statement is too dangerous to hold it as a generic
comment over everybody. I think at Vatteri's player to play.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
And we also talk about how important depth is on.
Speaker 4 (43:42):
The offensive was sal manager that would be my rule
of thumb.
Speaker 3 (43:46):
Well, it's a dangerous rule of thumb lane, That's what
I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (43:49):
But then we talk about how important the depth on
the offensive line is. I don't even know how many
times we've spoken about that matter. Greg Van Rodin has
a proven veteran that's here on a very reasonable one
year contract. Even if he doesn't win the starting guard spot,
why would you not want to keep him as your
primary backup for all three spots on the interior.
Speaker 4 (44:07):
Well, it's you just said it. We don't really have
a backup center. And unless you think Schlopman, you know it.
Schlapman's an interesting guy. We signed Shlopman to a two
year contract.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
We must have.
Speaker 4 (44:20):
Thought something of that guy. Yeah, he long contract.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
He broke his leg and most of last year. Yeah yeah,
now he's healthy.
Speaker 4 (44:29):
Yeah, I mean and he plays center. He plays center too. Okay, look,
thank you for tolerating that idea for me. But and
and let me let me just if I made just
one final thing on that, and it'll be quick. Win
the job, Evan, win the job. Will be a better
football team with you at guard. If you win that job,
then we will with Van routin. Okay, thank you. Hey,
(44:50):
what I'm looking for tomorrow and i'd like your response
to this. I'm looking for two things. I'm looking for
physicality and I'm looking for discipline. I don't want to
see any off size penalties, illegal motions, personal fouls, time
expired before we can get the playoff. I want this
(45:12):
team to look a little organized tomorrow night. I don't
want those kinds of penalties. I don't care if it's
just the first.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
Game, Yeah, I don't think that's a great playing there.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
Secondly, and then you can comment or take me off
the phone whatever you think is the right thing to do.
I want to see a degree of physicality tomorrow night.
I want to see these guys run to the ball
and be a little physical you know, I know this
goes with the team. Yeah, I get to watch a
lot of Ravens games down here because I'm in the area.
(45:43):
I mean, I'm twenty minutes away from this stadium. I'm
watching the Ravens last night. God even there for stringers
are throwing their bodies around. I mean, it's football. I
want to see it. I want to get pushed around.
I want to see a degree of physicality. Hey, thanks
for taking my call. Guys. I hope you can comment
on what I just said. Yeah, we will, Thank you
(46:04):
very much.
Speaker 3 (46:05):
You gotta appreciate the phone call, Thanks Lennon. Yeah, you
don't want to have mental mistakes. You don't want to
have penalties. Dabes gets annoyed when there's pre snap penalties
during practice. So I think that standard remains the same
in terms of the physicality. By nature, it's a physical game.
If you're going out there now against a foreign opponent
and you don't bring that physicality, that's going to be
(46:27):
a problem if you hope to make the team. So
I think all of the things that lend throughout is
not a stretch, but I guess I would put them
under the umbrella, Matt. They're expected. That's what you want
to see out of everybody, not just offensive lineman, not
just defensive lineman. If a running back gets to the
second level, you want to see him stiff arm the
linebacker so that maybe gets additional yardage. That physicality can
(46:48):
be the difference between winning and losing a few extra
games over the course of the season.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 5 (46:53):
And I feel like this, you know, sort of storyline
kind of has been forgotten just because it's been months,
and you know, spring practice is no contact, there's no
hitting in training camp. But around the free agency and
especially right after the draft, the type of players that
the Giants brought in this offseason was a very hot topic.
I hope you guys all remember this, because the Giants
(47:14):
brought in guys that are very physical. You look at
the draft class and I said this right after the draft,
every single member of that draft class, just about every
single one has got just like a little bit of
I don't know what you want to call it, a
little bit of like crazy to them in a good way.
And a lot of the free agents they brought in
as well had that same sort of very physical mindset.
(47:35):
I mean, we all saw a camp scatted who did
an Aridona state last year. Running people over, you know,
Thomas Fedoni tattooed himself is extremely painful thing to do.
And you go on and on through everyone on the list.
They're all, you know, have a mindset of wanting to
go out there and just sort of, you know, hit
the other team in the mouth. And that goes for
(47:55):
a lot of the veterans that were brought in a
free agency too. This was a topic and we discussed
a lot earlier in the off season, and I feel
like we kind of just have glossed over the last
few months because there hasn't been any hitting in contact.
But in terms of the physicality aspect, that is not
something I'm concerned about tomorrow. Regardless of which guy's playing,
who does it. I don't think we're gonna have to
(48:16):
be too worried about.
Speaker 2 (48:17):
The physical part.
Speaker 5 (48:17):
I think that will you know, be quite evident and
obvious on the tape tomorrow and just real quick, just
to put a bow tie. You know, Len calls all
the time. I could not disagree more about the Greg
Van road in take sure.
Speaker 3 (48:30):
Well, that's why I voiced that too.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
Yeah, I mean depth on the offensive line.
Speaker 5 (48:33):
I can't even count how many times we've spoken about
how important that is. And even if Evan Neil wins
the starting spot, why would you not want to have
just a proven, solid veteran that can back up all
three spots on the interior that you know, if he
gets called upon, you can rely on him and is not.
There's not going to be like a hiccup on the
offensive line. They're gonna just pick up as if no
one ever, you know, missed the step. So I just
(48:56):
I could not disagree more with that take.
Speaker 3 (49:00):
Actually, you know what, I just thought of something in
house that maybe goes counter to what he was campaigning for.
Speaker 4 (49:05):
It.
Speaker 3 (49:06):
Look at Darius Laydon's career. He went from being the
guy right to being on the bubble, to maybe not
having a renewal contract and then all of a sudden
rising back to the occasion under Len's philosophy. They should
have cut Darius Laydon a few years back and not
even given him a chance to maybe resurrect his career.
You don't even have to look beyond the organization for
(49:28):
an example of how it depends on the mindset of
the player. I would not hold that true for everybody
in the National Football League. On the topic of physicality,
I want to get to another YouTube question or two
before we wrap up shop. Here, Brett writes the following
in regard to the running backs for the season, I
think they should use Tracy and Scatabooz similar to how
(49:50):
the Lions use Gibbs and Montgomery. Now, just for our audience, understand,
two years ago, Montgomery two hundred and nineteen carries Gibbs
one hundred and eighty two. Last year, there were some injuries.
Montgomery got hurt later in the year, but still they
were available for the bulk of the games. The breakdown
a year ago, Gibbs went to two point fifty, Montgomery
(50:13):
won eighty five. So the numbers were fairly even in
the same ballpark for the first two years. But here's
the difference. When you say you want the Giants to
utilize those two like Gibbs and Montgomery. You can't overlook
Devin Singletary. Okay, so the Giants really have three players,
whereas the Lions didn't have a true third, consistent option
(50:35):
that they look to work in. Craig Reynolds got work
when one of the two got hurt in Detroit. So
I don't expect the numbers as a result of that
Matt to play out just like Detroit. But if you
want to look it at usage, there were times. But
this has also flip flopped in the first two years,
where Gibbs would be middle of the field guy because
(50:57):
of his elusiveness, and then they bring in Montgomery is
the goal line back. I think Tracy and Scataboo can
both handle themselves in either one of those roles, especially
since Scatabou can catch the ball on the backfield. Why
would you want to then just reserve him as a
goal line back or a short yardage back. I think
you'd be eating into his potential production. So I think
(51:20):
they'll utilize both. But I wouldn't sleep on clearly Singletary's
presence and him being in the thick of things as well.
Speaker 5 (51:28):
Yeah, I mean, coach Dable has spoken about Devin Singletary,
and he clearly loves him. There's a reason why they
brought him here last offseason, why he's still on the team.
He is going to get on the field somewhat. I
do think that, assuming all three are healthy, Tracy and
Scataboo will probably get more touches than Singletary. But Singletary
is not just going to completely disappear from this offense.
(51:50):
This is not going to happen. And in terms of
you know, the roles and using them like gives in Montgomery,
both Tyrone, Tracy, and camscat along with Brian Dabele, have
spoken about how those two backs, all three of those backs,
but if we're focused on those two, they're all capable
of doing everything you need a running back to do.
They can run, they can catch, they can block. For
(52:13):
that reason, I don't think they're gonna have set, you know,
defined roles. I think the offense or Kafka and Dabele
are gonna just sort of sub those guys in and
out to keep them fresh, you know, put one in
for a couple of plays, take him out, put the
other one in.
Speaker 2 (52:28):
I don't think there's gonna be sort of set.
Speaker 5 (52:31):
Defined roles for them, kind of like what we saw
more in Detroit with Gibbs in Montgomery, because especially Tyrone,
Tracy and Cam Scataboo are not only more than capable
of doing everything you need a running back to do,
but can excel at everything you needed running back to
do well.
Speaker 3 (52:49):
That's why every time Dave's has been asked specifically, I've
always picked up on this.
Speaker 2 (52:54):
Matt.
Speaker 3 (52:54):
They're always trying to pry the usage or the knowledge
of the running backs, and he says, hey, Singletary's been
in my system for years because people forget he was
in Buffalo with Dabs. So the one running back that
they know is like a rock. They can rely on him.
They know exactly what they're going to get out of him,
is Singletary. And that doesn't mean that he's going to
move to the top of the depth chart, but I
(53:16):
would be very taken back and surprised if he dissipates
and is completely removed from the rotation. So his presence
is going to make it very difficult to circle back
to our question for the Giants to duplicate the one
two punch that the Lions have, it's going to be
more of a two to one ratio, meaning I could
see Scataboo and Tracy getting more work than Singletary, but
(53:38):
Singletary's going to find his ways to contribute and remember
a lot, at least in the early stage of the
season is going to depend on Skataboo's health and how
quickly he can get on the field. Before Week one.
Speaker 5 (53:50):
I was just about to say that Cam's Kataboo obviously
going back to the spring, has not been one hundred
percent healthy. He's kind of been in and out of practice.
He's also a rookie, and you know, while we have
seen rookie running backs step in on day one and
have success, a lot of rookie running backs take a
little bit of time to just get accustomed to the
speed and sort of physicality of the NFL. Now, I'm
(54:11):
not really worried about the physicality part with Cam Scataboo
because I think whenever he does get down on the field,
it's not going to be long before we see him
running over defenders in the NFL. But they don't want
to rush him out there from a health perspective and
from you know, a mental being ready to mentally handle.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
The NFL aspect of it.
Speaker 5 (54:30):
As well, so, especially to start the season, we're gonna
see Devin Singletary out there. I do think Tracy will
lead the backfield and touches probably for the season, unless
Scatabu comes in at some point and lights the league
on fire. But again, all three of those guys are
going to get the ball this.
Speaker 3 (54:47):
Season, especially with the trajectory of what Tracy did in
the second half of the season last year. Oh yeah,
I would think that he'd be leading the pack. But
Scataboo's versatility makes him extremely attractive that you definitely want
to tap into that at even over the course of
the first season. Reminder, before we close up shop here
with another impactful drafted free agency class of the books.
(55:07):
That means it's full steam ahead to the twenty twenty
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(55:28):
Slash tickets. So we now look ahead to tomorrow's preseason game,
a one pm Eastern kickoff between the Giants and the Bills.
We'll be back, of course on Monday to recap it
all as we move into the joint sessions between the
Giants and the Jets. So a lot to look forward
to as we get into the heart of August. Big
Blue Kickoff Live presented by Cadillac, the official luxury vehicle
(55:51):
of the New York Football Giants. The archive of the show,
our entire podcast network, on the Giants mobile app, podcast
platforms everywhere, and at giants dot com slash podcast. We
are broadcasting from the Giants Podcast Studio presented by Hackensack
Meridian Health. Keep getting Better from Outside Tech on Lance Medal.
Signing off here on Friday's edition of BBKL. Enjoy the weekend.
(56:11):
We'll speak to on Monday. Have a good one.
It's time for a Big Blue kickoff line.
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Do it because you're on Giants dot com.
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And the Giants Mobile appeal one touchdown.
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The Crazy Dogs has a lot and welcome to Fridays
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the mobile app as well as YouTube. He's Matt Sidetach
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It is presented by Cadillac, the official luxury vehicle of
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(00:45):
He can also hit us up on Twitter hashtag Giants Chat.
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and at giants dot com slash podcast. As we welcome
(01:07):
you into the Giants Podcast studio. It is presented by
Hackinsack Meridian Health. Keep getting Better, So, Matt, less than
twenty four hours, we'll have preseason game number one in
Buffalo Giants bill, So we'll spend today's show talking about
some of the things to hone in on to look
out for, and obviously we welcome your calls as well
as your YouTube comments. Clearly, the team did not practice.
(01:29):
They're in route to Western New York, so there's no
updates on that front. We heard from Jackson Dart and
Abdul Carter yesterday. Paul and I spoke a little bit
about that, but let's start with Dart because Brian Dabele
did confirm he's going to play, which is not a
stunning development, and I thought Dart did a nice job
really delving into what he wants out of this performance
and whether or not there's an overwhelming amount of pressure.
(01:51):
And I think preseason games, just from a big picture perspective,
tend to be blown out of proportion. So right I
think we all need to take a step back we're
all anxious to see what he could do. But at
the same time, Rome was not built in a day,
and you also did not build a pathway to Campton,
Ohio in one preseason game or half a contest. But
I think what you're looking at of Dart in tomorrow's game,
(02:12):
that is, is he comfortable? Can he run the offense?
Can he get in and out of the huddle. It's
not so much the Wowmie plays, it's can he take
command of the offense when he's in and does it
run relatively smoothly?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
So we heard from the Giants' coordinators a couple of
days ago, I believe it was Wednesday, and Mike Kafka
was asked straight up, what do you want to see
from Jackson Dart in his first NFL game on Saturday?
Speaker 2 (02:38):
And Kafka said, what you just said.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
I want to see him run the offense and run it,
you know, efficiently.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
You know.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
He didn't say I need him to, you know, blow
the doors off of the Bills defense, throw three touchdown passes.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
He said, I want him to play his game.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
I want him to feel comfortable out there and play
like his normal aggressive nature.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
That's what I want to see.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
And then when Jackson spoke yesterday, he reiterated the same
exact message.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
He said, my focus is on being prepared.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
I want to run the offense how the coaching staff
wants me to do it, while also, you know, adding
in a little bit of my own flavor to it,
which he said the coaching staff encourages him to do.
And the thing that really stood out to me the
most was Jackson acknowledged He's like, look.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's not going to be perfect.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
I Am going to make mistakes on Saturday, and I'm
you know, he said, I'm going to make mistakes probably
every time I go out of the field, and that's okay.
The point of this game, the focus, the goal is
to just get more comfortable running this Brian Dable Mike
Kafka offense. And he seems to be very focused on that.
(03:46):
And which is the great mindset to have, because again
again it's the preseason. Whether it obviously we would love
to see the Giants win, We'd love to see everyone
play well. At the end of the day, whoever wins
or loses this game, it's not going on.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
The record for the season at the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
So and there's no preseason bowl or anything that you're
compete for.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Exactly all we want.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Is to especially this first game where so many guys
are going to be making their Giants debuts, even veteran players.
You know, obviously we may not end up seeing every
single player on the roster, but you know, for example,
a guy like Montreal Washington, who's been around for a
couple of years, is at a very strong summer.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Sure this will be his Giant's debut.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
This is the first time running the offense and the
defense for a lot of different players on the team,
and the biggest goal I think coming out of tomorrow's
game is to just see these guys, you know, feel
comfortable in both the offense and defensive systems, these new
systems for so many guys, that's got to be the
(04:48):
number one goal, and it's sure from what everyone's saying,
it sure sounds like that is what just about everyone
is focused on.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
And also see what they could do against an unfamiliar
opponent that they're not going up against on a daily basis.
This is why when coaches are peppered with the same
questions over and over again about well, when you break down,
it's similar to when you're in college, right, You get
the syllabus at the beginning of the semester, Matt, and
they tell you how your grade is composed, and it
says the mid term counts for x amount of points
(05:15):
and so forth. Well, coaches are always asked is it
the practice or is it the preseason games? And Brian
Dable mentioned a few days ago, Listen, it's hard to
simulate game speed in practice. You don't tackle to the
ground so flat out. These preseason games are much more important,
I think in telling what a player can do long run,
(05:38):
even if they wow you and are consistent in the
film room and on the practice field. So I'm glad
you brought up a guy like Montree Washington, who I
think has made a very strong impression during practices and
he's built a nice rapport with Jackson Dart. There was
a recent practice where Dart threaded the needle over the
middle and Washington was right there to haul it in
(05:59):
and took it to that house. So can they now
duplicate that success? And Washington's probably gonna work with multiple
quarterbacks because he's a veteran. He's been in the league.
He's been with a few teams including the Denver Broncos,
and there could be a sixth spot opened here in
this receiving course. So tomorrow's game as well as the
next two, could go a long way in not just
(06:22):
determining whether or not an individual is gonna get a
roster spot, but Matt, whether the coaching staff says we
want to keep a six wide receiver as opposed to
just settle for five.
Speaker 5 (06:31):
Yeah, of course, I mean I know everyone's you know,
main focuses on Jackson Dart and understand why. But obviously
tomorrow's game and the following two games they're gonna go
a long way in determining, you know, the future for
nearly half of the guys on the current roster right now,
(06:52):
that's ninety guys on the roster. Obviously only fifty three
make it to the to the active roster. And then
obviously you get practice squad as well. But these three
preseason games, and I will add the two joint practices
with the Jets next week as well, because those reps
during you know, team drills, one on one drills, that'll
be the closest that all these guys get outside of
the three preseason games, the real game reps because I mean,
(07:16):
you've seen the joint.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Practice in the last couple of years.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Guys are going one hundred and ten percent during those
just because it's not that they don't do that normally
on an everyday basis during training camp, but when you're
going up against the guy in another uniform, for sure,
at that point it will be the second time all year.
Guys are fired up and they want to really showcase
their see different intensity, different feel for sure. So that
isn't an extra opportunity for all of these guys fighting
(07:42):
for their you know, their NFL futures, their NFL lives,
to make a lasting impression on the coaching staff. And
just going back to Jackson for one second, it obviously
it does have I would say maybe a little bit
more importance for him than some of the other rookies
and young players for the simple fact that, as we
(08:02):
all know, Brian Dables made it very abundantly clear that
Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback and with Jamis Winston
also here, these next.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Three games might be the last three.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Chances we get to see Jackson Dart in a game
setting for a long time. For I mean, in an
ideal world, it's the last three games he plays all
year other than mop up duty. Obviously, things will have
to be going very well for that to happen, and
we would all love for that to happen. But even
if it doesn't, there is a very good chance that
we don't get to see Jackson Dart in a game
(08:36):
setting again after that Patriots' last preseason game for a
couple of months. So, and he spoke about it yesterday
about how valuable these reps are going to be in
the preseason because of that, he's aware of the situation.
He's not oblivious. He knows he's not likely taking the
field for a while in a regular season game, and
(08:56):
so that is why starting tomorrow in the two preseason
games after that are going to be so important for
him to yeah, show what he can do for the
coaching staff, but just for him to learn and get
those actual game reps that are going to help him
grow and develop early on in his career.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Well, you bring up a great point. Really, it could
be mental reps after the preseason for the duration of
the season. He granted, may play the scout team here
or there, depending on how they orchestrate practices, but once again,
very different than being in a game. It's funny. It
reminded me when Abdul Carter spoke to the media on Thursday,
he mentioned, boy, this is my first game in like
six months, right, because even he hasn't played in quite
(09:35):
some time. So you can imagine if Dart has to
go the entire year and once again, I don't think
that's going to stunt his growth or be bad for
his development. But when you take that into consideration, Matt,
that's also another reason why it's important for Dart to
stay even keel, because if he says to himself, man,
these three games, that's it, and then I could very
(09:57):
well because you have to operate with I could very
will not get into an NFL game during the regular season.
You don't want to go above and beyond to try
to once again wow everybody and go for the show
me play. I think, and he has the mindset. It
seems that he's not putting that all on himself and
all on his shoulders. But we've seen rookies, you know,
(10:17):
they get on the field the butterflies, they're thinking about
what could be coming, what may not be on the
rise in and you just try to do too much.
So I think that's also important for Dart to not
think so much big picture and just handle this as if, Hey,
this is the next game on the schedule. Maybe I
play two more games, maybe I play four, who knows,
but don't think about that too much.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
Yeah, and that's why I think it is actually very
beneficial for him that Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are here.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
It takes away all of that pressure.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
I mean, normally, when a quarterback gets taken in the
first round of the NFL Draft, you know, even if
the team has a veteran already under contract there, the
buzz starts very early. Of yeah, I get rookie on
the field, he's got to get out there immediately Week
one or whatever.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
That's not gonna happen now.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
I mean, barring multiple injuries, that is just not gonna
happen for the Giants and Jackson Dart, which is a
good thing. I mean, I know it's kind of veering
off of what most of the NFL the trendy thing
to do in the NFL, but you look back at
I mean, Patrick Mahomes sat his entire rookie year until
the last game of the season. Again, I'm not saying
(11:25):
he's the next Patrick Mahomes. But sure, that is obviously
just an example of someone that got to sit for
basically an entire year, and then when he finally did
come in, he has obviously been the best quarterback in
the NFL ever since. So I think having those two
veterans here, obviously from a learning perspective, is so beneficial.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
But it just takes all the pressure off of him.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
He can just go out there on Saturday in the
next two weeks, just play his game, and even if
he lights the Bills.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
On fire tomorrow, he's still not gonna start Week one.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
No, it doesn't change the conversation at all.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah, So.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
I think and Jackson was kind of saying this yesterday
that he's not really thinking about you know, oh, this
might be my last three games for a while. He said, Look,
I'm preparing every week as if I'm gonna play, and
I think he clearly knows that the likely will not
be the case. But he's got the Everything he's saying
to the media seems like he has the perfect mindset
(12:28):
and mentality for the Giants current quarterback situation. He knows that,
you know, hopefully he is the future of this franchise
in terms of the quarterback position, but there's no rush.
Russell Wilson is here. Russell Wilson's looked very good this summer.
Jamis Winston is a proven veteran that's been doing it
for a decade now. He knows that those two guys
(12:49):
are gonna get, you know, the first few cracks at
it at the quarterback position, and seems to be perfectly
fine with that, and I think that is.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Going to be very good for both him and the
Giants long.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Just to piggyback off of your point, I always go
to this chart that CBS Sports built a few years back,
and they give you a nice layout of the land
of when quarterbacks started who were relatively high picks or
quarterbacks that actually made something of their careers. So here's
names that did not play at all in their first
(13:21):
year in the NFL. Because it goes beyond even Mahomes,
who got in, as you mentioned, that final week only
because by the way, the Chiefs had locked up a
playoff spot and there was nothing they could gain if
they had something to play for. Alex Smith is under
center that last week of the season. So even factors
like that have to align. Carson Palmer did not start
until year two. Then you look at Michael Vick didn't
(13:43):
start until year two. Drew Brees sat because you had
Doug Flutey. Everybody talks about Philip Rivers, who I'm now
going to get to in year three, but when Breeze came,
Doug Flutie was there. Chad Pennington who had a respectable career,
Tony Romo also year three, year four, Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousin,
Jimmy Garoppolo. And I'm not picking on you for bringing
up Mahomes, It's just everybody turns to Mahomes. Mahomes would
(14:06):
be maybe the seventh or eighth guy I would mention.
There's so many other good, substantive examples who waited a
hell of a lot longer than Mahomes Matt till they
got in. So this idea, whether you're a high first
round or a late first round or that you've got
to get on the field and play immediately, to me,
and I'm not saying that I'm giving you a huge
sample size. I get it. The NFL's been around for
(14:28):
a relatively long time, but there's enough names there where
you can't say it's impacted the outlook of their careers
by sitting a little, especially when you have polished veterans
on the team sharing the room with you. And that's
what's important to note. With Dart, it's a good environment,
it's a healthy quarterback room. He has two guys that
(14:49):
are not worried about their job security because they understand
what the contract looks like. So it's not as if
they're looking at, oh, we want to keep Dart away
from the job because we're worried that he's going to
te make it from us. I think they're supportive. That
doesn't mean that they're not working hard, but there's this
common ground between them helping Dart and at the same
time taking care of the task in hand.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Yeah, And Jackson also noted that A touched on that
subject yesterday as well, where he spoke about and he said,
we have an incredibly tight quarterback room, and he even
said it was unique. Obviously this is the only quarterback
room in the NFL that Jackson Dart has been a
part of. But clearly there is a very tight connection
between all four guys. And I know we you know,
(15:32):
we always kind of brush over Tommy Devido, but Tommy
DeVito is probably the quarterback that Jackson Dart is closest
with right now. And also, let's not forget the longest
tenured quarterback in that room in the Giant system. But yeah,
that all four of those guys are incredibly tight. You know,
they are all helping each other. Yes, Russell Wilson and
(15:52):
James Winston are trying to sort of and Tommy DeVito
are guiding Jackson through his first rookie training camp.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
But it is a two wrote or i should say,
a four way rode, a four way intersection.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
They are all helping each other in every single possible way,
all four of them.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
All they want to do is help this team win.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
They don't care which guy is out there. Jackson said
that yesterday. Russell Wilson has said that in the past.
Jamis has as well. They don't care who's out there.
All of them are just focused on doing whatever it
takes to help the twenty twenty five New York Giants
win football games. And that's obviously the mindset you want
everyone to have on the entire roster. That's only a
(16:30):
good thing. And in terms of what you were saying
about all those different quarterbacks, I can't remember one situation
where a team, after a quarter or you know, down
the road, or after a quarterback's first year, was like, wow,
we really regret you know, sitting him till week eight.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
We should have put him in sooner. You don't really
hear that all the time.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Almost every single year, you hear a team say, you
know what, we probably threw the quarterback in a little
too early.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
He wasn't ready for it. We wanted to see what
he had.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
Threw him in too early, and it ends up hurting
that quarterback's.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Development when you throw him out too early and he's
not ready.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
So I think it is a great situation for Jackson
to sit back, kind of sit behind the scenes once
the season starts, soak up as much ener information as
he can from two again proven NFL veterans, the guys
that have been doing it at a high level for
a very long time. I mean, he's Jackson's spoken about
(17:30):
how he literally looked up to Russell Wilson growing up
and we're sharing a quarterback room together.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Well do the math. I mean, russ has been in
the league since twenty twelve, I know, and.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
Jackson, and Jackson's only twenty two years old. So Russell
Wilson was one of the quarterbacks he was looking up
to and you know, modeling his game after in some
way as he was growing up playing the game of football.
So yeah, there's just there's no rush to get Jackson in.
Let him take as many reps as possible during the
preseason because on the flips, there's not so much we
(18:02):
really need to see from Russell Wilson in the preseason. No,
I want to see him get out there, you know
a little bit, because obviously it's just it's him running
a new system. So you don't want him coming out
Week one having taken zero actual game reps in Brian
Dable and Mike Kafkus system. But at the same time,
he is a ten time Pro Bowl quarterback that's been
(18:24):
doing this for a very long time. He doesn't need
to get his feet wet too much. I would say,
in the preseason, get him, let him get a little taste,
and then after that, you know, let Jamis get a taste,
and then let Jackson Dart really get a lot of
reps because, as we said, three weeks from now, he
could be sitting on the bench for a long time
at least in terms of game days.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
You bring up an interesting point. I did not look
this up, and now I'm going to look it up.
I know he was dealing with the injury in the
preseason last year. That's why Justin Field started the season.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Do you know how much he played it all with
the Broncos during that preseason.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
During the preseason.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
No, I just wanted again an idea because the more
and more I'm thinking about it is I'm with you.
I don't think it hurts for him to get some
reps because it's again a new system. But when you
think about it, this is the third time in three
years that Russell Wilson is learning a new system, right, Yeah,
because he was with Seattle, then Denver, Pittsburgh the Giants.
So I guess I was looking at how much Sean
Payden said to himself, and Shawn's been working with a
(19:27):
lot of quarterbacks over his career. Hey, Russ, you know,
get some work in. So I'm gonna bring that up
and see whether or not we can just get an
idea of how much he played to maybe further the
conversation and we'll circle back to that. And by the way,
two zero one nine three nine four five one three
is the telephone number, as well as navigating your questions
on YouTube, focusing on the preseason game players to watch.
(19:50):
Who are you most invested in and interested in? Matt
and I are focusing on the quarterbacks, but as he said,
Dart is the main event, doesn't mean it's the only
attraction in terms Ofaturday's game. So Russell Wilson was with
Denver in twenty twenty three because he was with Pittsburgh
last year. So I'm bringing up the Broncos preseason. So
he was in the first preseason game because I'm looking
(20:13):
at the highest passer. He threw for ninety three yards
in that game. So that was against the Arizona Cardinals.
Let's just look. Yeah, he was seven of thirteen for
ninety three yards in a touchdown. So I mean he
played probably a good portion of the early stages of
the game. I'm just I'm bringing up the game law.
That's the beauty of technology. Can you imagine us doing
the show in nineteen seventy five, not to date anyone
(20:35):
or nineteen eighty five would not have been fun in
terms of trying to get through all of this information.
So he was in the second drive, he was in
the third drive of the game. Let's go for maybe
a fourth drive. He was in the fourth drive of
the game and that was their first score. Did he
play number five? No, Jarrett Stidham came in, so Seawan
(20:55):
used him for the first four possessions of that very
first Broncos preseason. Again, and the reason Matt that I'm
bringing up is if you recall, Brian Dabos asked, do
you tweak things year to year? And he said, I
look at what other coaches have done with similar players.
So did Brian look at what Sean did, because I'm
sure he respects Sean from being in the league, and say, well,
(21:16):
Paydon played Russ for four series And I'm not saying
this's gonna happen, but just something to keep in the
back of everyone's mind as we gear up for this
first preseason game.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
Yeah, and I do think it relates because that was
also Sean Payden's first season as the Broncos head coach.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
He was taking everything was new, yeahs board.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Obviously Russ spent two years in Denver. There were two
very very different years, two very different offensive systems that
he was running. So that is why I do think
it is, you know, it makes sense to sort of
look at that second preseason when Sean Payden took over,
because it was, you know, Russ learning a new system,
the system that he had never played in before. Yeah,
(21:53):
I think Dable will probably, you know, I'm sure Russ
has already said that he would love to go out
there play. Obviously, it's not gonna end up coming down
to his decision, but Coach Stable did say, like, look,
obviously the last two seasons we did not start off
strong in the regular season, and so coach said, you know,
(22:16):
I'm gonna look at what we did the last two
preseasons and then how we started and somewhat factor that
into the decision on who plays tomorrow. So look, we're
less than twenty four hours out. I still have no
idea Russell Wilson's gonna player or not tomorrow. We have
not heard anything. I think there's a chance he could
(22:38):
play for the very reason that you just you know,
brought up with Sean Payton his first year in Denver.
I would say, there are some other players, so you know,
veteran players, the guys that you kind of would consider
the star players are the team that chances are, if
I had to guess, we'll not be suiting up tomorrow.
And you know I'm talking about like the Moleague neighbors
and Dexter Lawrence's, Brian Burns's of the team, but someone
(23:01):
like Russ like there is obviously a benefit for letting
him go out there, even if it's just for one
or two drives, just to get his feet a little
wet in this new system. Because again, like we said before,
it's one thing to do in practice, and he's looked
good in practice. It's a totally another beast doing it
in a game against another defense who's not only fully
trying to stop you, but also fully trying to hit you.
(23:23):
Because Russell Wilson has not gotten hit obviously since the
end of last season, since the end of the Steelers
postseason run, because there's no hitting obviously during the preseason.
So for multitude of reasons, you know there is reason
to put him out there, and we will see him.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
In the preseason.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
I just don't know if it will necessarily be tomorrow
or maybe next week.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
I looked up the rest of the preseason games for
Denver in twenty twenty three. He played one series in
the second game and did not play it all in
the third. So the bulk of the work, really all
of the work came in that first preseason game. Just
once again a means of comparison, but you hit on
something that Greg Van Rodin brought up. Van Roden, who's
worked with a variety of quarterbacks, was asked, what's the
(24:07):
difference in blocking for Russell Wilson? And this is where
I do think it would help for him to play
a little because since he loves to extend plays so much,
Matt and the fact that you can't hit the quarterback,
there's a lot of plays that could be a sack,
but they don't go down as that in practice. I
think for the sake of the timing of the offensive lineman,
it would help to have an experience in a game setting. Okay,
(24:31):
the internal clock Russ likes to circle around how much
more do you have to be engaged in your blocking
as opposed to it being more of a rude awakening
in week one of the regular seasons. So from that standpoint,
I guess what I'm saying is maybe it's not so
important that Russell Wilson gets a hit, but the offensive
linemen work out the timing in their head, because it's
(24:53):
a lot different blocking for him than Jameis Winston, Jackson
Dart and any of the previous Giants quarterbacks that have
been here. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
No, I think you're one hundred percent right with that.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
You know, one thing I would say is we know
Coach n Able did not tell us who is not
playing tomorrow in terms of injuries.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Close to the bench. He kept everything. Yes, very close.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Real shock coming from the coach table, I know.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
But the one thing we do know is that Andrew
Thomas will not play because he is still on the
physically unable to Perform list. You are not allowed to
play in a preseason game while you're still on the
pup list. So him and Eric Ray we know for
sure they will not be playing. Andrew Thomas obviously.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Should have said spoiler alert by the way, but yes,
go ahead.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Andrew Thomas obviously is He's the lynchpin of the offensive line.
He is you know, if that unit is going to
have success this year, it's going to start with him,
I will say, just being on the field, because when
he is on the field healthy, I don't think any
of us have any sort of doubts on his ability
and what he can do out there. It's just a
(25:56):
matter of getting him out there healthy. That obviously will
play a big part, so I do.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
And that's point.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
Being because right now we know he is not, you know,
at least healthy enough to play tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
It is very important, I think.
Speaker 5 (26:11):
For the rest of the offensive line to get those
game reps because you know, there could be a situation
where during the season, even if Andrew Thomas comes back
for Week one and is healthy, just based on how
the last two years have gone, there's a chance he
gets hurt again, or if not him, maybe Jermaine a
Lumino or on the right side, And if that happens,
you want James Hudson, who is gonna be your swing
(26:32):
tackle and your backup in case either one of those.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Starting tackles gets hurt.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
You want him being as game ready as possible, and
game ready with the rest of the starting offensive line
because as we all know, continuity upfront is the most
important thing. Having as many reps together as possible is very,
very beneficial for those guys. So yeah, getting James Hudson
as many reps as possible with you know, the John Runyons,
(26:57):
the Greg Van Rodins JMS is like that, that is
going to be very, very valuable. Obviously, hopefully James Hudson
does not have a single start this year because that
means Andrew Thomas and Dremaina Lumino are healthy. But just
given the way you know the league is now and
how offensive linemen get hurt, there's a decent chance that
James Hudson's gonna have to fill in at some point
(27:19):
this year. So getting him as game ready as possible
with the rest of the starting offensive line is, I
agree with you, is just as important as Russell Wilson
getting out there getting reps with the rest of the
starting offense.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Yeah, it's hard to go into a season believing that
all five offensive linemen are going to play all seventeen games.
It's just not reality and it would be naives. So
even though you don't want necessarily James Hudson, I think
the reality is there's a good chance, whether it's in
the midst of a game or starting a game, that
he's going to see action, and the swing tackle is
extremely important. Speaking of the offensive line, we're getting some
(27:55):
questions coming in on YouTube, so let's stay on topic,
Matt and address a few of the avery asks will
Thomas play, which we just answered obviously that's a no.
Or Neil. The offensive line to me is arguably the
most important piece of this team. There needs to be cohesion,
and I think he's echoing the sentiments that we have
voice before we answer that. Just another question related to
(28:17):
Evan Neil and we can sandwich it together. Interesting perspective here, Cournell,
what would be more impactful in the long run Evan
Neil proving to be a solid starting guard and winning
the starting job at right guard, or Banks further improving
and winning the quarterback two job over Cordell Flott. So
(28:39):
let's start with Evan Neil first. Neil is in a
completely different position than Thomas. First of all, Neil is healthy,
that's number one, and he's not on the pup and
Neil is fighting for a starting position. So what is
at stake and the value of seeing him in the
preseason Matt completely different than Andrew Thomas. So I would
expect to see Evan Neil, especially since I know he's
(29:02):
had experience previously at guard, but he hasn't played that
in some time. I would expect to see him throughout
the preseason and especially in the joint practices.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Yeah, the preseason is going to be so significant for
Evaneil because obviously, you know, we've had these reports, we've
seen it ourselves dating back to the spring where he's
been lining up at guard and you know, he's looked good,
but it is you can't compare doing it in practice,
even with contact allowed, compared to a game.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
It's just two different ballparks.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
So the preseason is going to be so vitally important
for Evan Neil to show the coaching staff what he
can do after transitioning inside.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
I mean, again, he's looked good.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
He is.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
There have been multiple.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
Times where I've turned to you know, Dance Alaman on
the sideline being like, did you just see Evan Neil
move the offensive lineman like ten yards downfield? He's had
plays like that, but again, he's got to do it
in a game. He has not played on the inside
since his freshman year at Alabama in twenty nineteen. That's
six years ago at this point. That's a long time
(30:04):
and obviously the last three years have not been great
from him. That's why you know they're trying moving him
on the inside. So to answer the question. I think
it will definitely with long term, would definitely be more
beneficial if Evan Neil stood out in the next few
weeks in these preseason games and won the starting guard
(30:26):
spot over Greg Van Rodin, because right now Greg van
Roorden is clearly the favorite to win that job.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
And rightfully so experience more experience.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
He was played every single snap last year was very solid.
But and Paul and I have discussed this before, we
kind of know what we're getting out of Greg van Rodin.
You know, it's solid play, but the upside is not
quite the same or the potential is not quite the
same as what the upside and potential could be for
Evan Neil on the inside, given you know, ten years
(30:57):
younger and just bigger and more athletic, so.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
And in terms of value of where he was drafted
to that course, I think you got to take it
the consideration.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
And you know, obviously the depth chart is unofficial, but
on that first depth chart, Greg Van Rodin was listed
as a starter.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
So if Evan Neil played so well that.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
The coaching staff was like, you know what, we can't
have this guy starting week one on the bench. He
needs to be the starting right guard. That would obviously
be great for the offensive line because it also then
gives you Greg Van Rodin, who could be your primary
backup at all three spots on the interior, which would
make me feel very comfortable with the offensive line if
that was the case. In terms of the CV two, obviously,
(31:37):
Deontay Banks's development is also very important. However, I would
say the offensive line, and I don't think I'm going
out on a limb here, is slightly more of a
concern than the defense or the secondary because of all
the additions the Giants made in the secondary over the
last let's call it sixteen months between drafting Tyler Newman
(31:58):
and Drew Phillips last year and then signing Pulson Debo
and Javon Holland list this year. And not only that,
but Cordell Flatts look good this summer as well, and
look good in the spring. They got listed on the
first unofficial depth chart as both being that second starting corner.
So and I would say, despite that listing, I still
think Deontay Banks is probably the slight favorite to win
(32:20):
the starting job come week one. So in terms of
which one would be more beneficial long term, I think
for a variety of reasons. It's got to be Evan
Neil winning that starting right right guard spot.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
See it's interesting. I'd go the opposite way, Matt, Really yeah,
I'd go with Deonta Banks. And I guess the reason
being is Neil is on the final year of his
deal because they didn't pick up the options. So I
think the Giants are of the mindset there's a possibility
we may move on from him after this year. That's
not to say that you don't want him to do well,
but that realization has settled in. Banks twenty twenty three
(32:54):
first round pick still have to decide whether or not
you want to pick up the fiftie option. There's a
lot more riding, I guess is what I'm saying on
Deontay Banks and his development, and while Flott is there
is another option if you look at the rest of
the depth chart. See, I would argue I think the
Giants at least are prepared for life without Evan Neil
(33:16):
based on some roster moves, and they've got Greg Van
Rodin and some other guys that they have recently drafted.
If Banks doesn't get to the level that they want.
And remember Flott was drafted the year before and wasn't
a first round pick, So that's another deal that is
going to soon be expiring. You look at the depth
chart at corner. I'm not talking about safety because I
(33:36):
think you're referring to the changes they made at safety
are very encouraging, but there's a lot of unknown at
that position. If you don't get what you need at
of Banks, which means you may have to go back
into the well of the draft. So I think the
more and more I evaluate it, I'd actually go more
towards Banks. To answer the YouTube question that that could
(33:57):
be more beneficial as opposed to what happens with Evan
Neil if he can run away with this right guard joint.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
I guess the way that I'm thinking about it is
just that I feel like the rest of the defense
could easily not only get by, but still thrive.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Even if whoever.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
Is playing that second outside corner spot played let's just
call it subpar. Even if that spot gave you subpar
production all year, you could still have an elite defense.
If Evan Neil, though, were to beat out Greg Van
rodin come Week one, that would have to mean that
he looks so good in the summer that the coaching
staff said, we can't leave this guy on the bench
(34:33):
at guard, and in which case that is going to
very much elevate the.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Upside of the offensive line as a whole.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
And I think we can all agree that going into
the year, the biggest question mark probably is still the
offensive line, especially with Andrew Thomas not being back right now.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
If you could get a boost.
Speaker 5 (34:52):
Up front on the offensive line, I think that would
go a lot further than you know, maybe like a
slight boost at that second corner spot.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
This is the way I think about it, and.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
There's multiple ways to looking to growth of both of
those guys.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
If both of them could end up winning the starting
spots of their respective positions, the Giants would be in
very good shape.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Well because especially a guy like Neil who they did
not exercise the fifty year, So now all of a sudden,
you know, you're getting some value later on in his
rookie contract and Flat and Banks still in the developmental phase.
But Banks has even been on the record saying he
felt it was a sophomore slump last year, So right there,
you know he's setting the expectations high that he expects
(35:34):
a bounce back. And it's interesting you viewing it from
the standpoint of elevating the offensive line, because the spin
of the opposite way would be But if Neil does
win the job, now you're lacking continuity on the right side,
meaning Illuminor has got to learn to play next to
a new guy. And now John Michael Schmidt, so you know,
does that then maybe balance out what you think he
(35:56):
could do to elevate it.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
That's fair.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
And then and then the other way that I look
at it is even though maybe others can help if
you get subpart play from the other cornerback position, Matt.
As we've seen in the NFL, you get a veteran quarterback,
he sees a corner struggling, they'll pick on you all
day long. And unless you have somebody else who's holding
his hand, it's hard to cover up. I guess it's
(36:18):
hard on the boundary. When you're a boundary corner. There's
only so much that you could do to help out
that guy. See the guy in the slot, maybe he
could help you bring the linebacker up, you move guys around.
You're on an island out on the boundary. If you struggle,
I just I guess I'm a little skeptical of how
much more the other ten guys can put the duct
(36:40):
tape out there and patch it up. So that's just
my perspective.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
At least in terms of the first part about the continuity.
I agree with you, obviously. I literally just said before
how important continuity is, which is why if Evan Neal
were to win that starting guard spot, he would have
had to have played so well in the preseason that
the coaching staff would be willing to overlook the continuity
aspect in order to put him in.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
Yeah, because the upside of playing him is more than
perhaps the continuity.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
Yes, if he looks.
Speaker 5 (37:09):
That good, obviously, I think that would be a big
boost to the offensive line overall.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
And I get what you're saying about the second s
the CB two spot.
Speaker 5 (37:19):
I guess I just I feel so confident about the
pass rush this year, the defensive front, where I think
that those guys up front will be able to make
up for any sort of deficiencies the Giants have in
the secondary.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
Not that I think that there.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
Will be deficiencies, because I do think the secondary is being,
you know, very much overlooked considering the talent they now
have at what could be all five starting spots in
the secondary. But I just think the pass rush is
going to give opposing offenses and offensive lines and quarterbacks
so much trouble that quarterbacks are going to be looking
to get rid of the ball so quickly. And obviously
(37:54):
that is just going to be a big boost to
the secondary, regardless of who's back there.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Let's open up the phone as we move forward here
on Friday's edition of Big Blue Kickoff Live. Lean is
in Maryland and he joins us on BBKL. What's happening line?
Speaker 4 (38:07):
Hey, guys, how you doing all right? Man? I'm getting excited.
Here we go nineteen of the next twenty weeks there
will be a Giants football game. Wow, maybe more. Hey,
if we make the playoffs, maybe even more weeks. But
it's gonna be fun. Gonna be fun. It's been a
long wait, been a long wait. Well, I'll try to
stay with your with your question, but I had a
(38:28):
couple other things to add. You know, I'm looking at Dart.
I want to see Abdul. I'm gonna be watching Neil closely.
I think you guys are right on. Oh, he's got
to win that job. He just has to win that job.
That is a major setback if Evan doesn't take that job.
Let me let me throw something out to you here.
(38:48):
You're gonna you're gonna jump on me. But I really
feel this, If Neil can't win that job, cut.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
Him for what reason?
Speaker 4 (39:00):
I mean, be a thought. Well, I think I a
tackle he now failed at guard.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
I'll disagree. Okay, Well, to answer your first question or
statement in response, I'll say I disagree with your sentiment
lend that it's a huge disappointment if he doesn't win
the starting job, as Matt and I just went through.
Even though he has experienced playing guard, he hasn't played
guard since college, so he's going back to a position
that he has no NFL experience at. And his competition
(39:26):
is a seasoned VET who has a whole lot more
experience there and has moved around on the interior of
the line. So Greg Van rode In by default has
a significant edge over Evan Neil, regardless of where Neil
was drafted. So I don't think it would be viewed
as a disappointment.
Speaker 5 (39:41):
And also just real quick Len, just from a salary perspective,
cutting Evan Neil now would just be taking what's nearly
eight million dollars and just basically lighting it on fire
because his rookie contract, the first four years are fully guaranteed,
so that would just be wasting money. Have a guy
who your backup guard?
Speaker 4 (40:04):
Okay, I want If you'll give me the last word,
I'd appreciate it. On the Ovan Neil thing, we gain
nothing by keeping Evan Nail as a backup. Keep Kubas
Matt the rookie from Youngstown State Williams. Keep an eye
on him. He's a good player. He should have been drafted.
He should have been drafted. We got we got young
(40:25):
depth there. Yeah, I want him to win that job.
I'm not a big Van Roten fan. This is it
for Van rom Do you think Van Roden's coming back
next year? You think a Lumanos coming back next year?
You think if Thomas has got to be healthy. I mean,
we got to find some people who can play, not
back up. We got to find some people who can play.
(40:46):
If Evan can't win that job, play Kulbas. Get him
in there. I don't want to say God bless me.
He gave us seventeen games. He's a tough guy. Thank
you very much, Greg, Van Roten. I reallyciate it, but
gimme Cooba's at that guard position. If Neil can't beat
him out, Can I move on to what? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (41:06):
I mean just wrote before I let you move on.
The only thing, the only thing that I would add is,
I think you have to look at it from the standpoint.
There's a reason they brought back Greg Van Roaden. The
Giants didn't have to do that, right. I mean, they
could have said, Jake Couva's okay, it's your job to
compete with Evan Neil. Ok So the fact that they're
bringing back Van Rooden means they look at him as
(41:27):
valuable and they also know that, remember, Greg Van Roden
could very well be the backup center to John Michael Schmidz,
which means then you need depth. You need depth right guard.
You can't throw away a guy like evidence.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
Let me tell you a kind of another idea that
I have and I say this once a year for
about the last ten or twelve years. So you got
you guys are the recipient of By making this statement
for the first time this year and probably the only
time this year, I am not a big fan of
(42:02):
former starters on our team becoming backups on our team
the next year, You've told the guy he can't play
that position. What I'm telling you is I know about
the center thing, and that's a compelling reason to hang
on to Van Roten if he doesn't win the guard thing.
But you know what, if we had somebody else who
(42:23):
could play center, I'd cut Van Roton if he couldn't start.
I don't like, but I don't like former starters being backups,
but it doesn't work in the wild work.
Speaker 5 (42:32):
It's not like Van Ruden would be a backup because
you know, he looks so awful this summer. It would
just be because Evan Neil at this new position reclaims
some of that you know pre drafts buzz that made
him a top seven pick and you know just a
couple of years ago. It would be more Evan Neil
winning the job than Greg Van van Rodin losing it.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Because let's not forget.
Speaker 5 (42:55):
Ok Van Ruden was by far and away the most
consistent and solid offense linean the Giants had last year.
He played every single snap despite being by far the
oldest man in that room. So I don't think it's
fair just to kind of put ooo.
Speaker 3 (43:08):
Him and Len I know you want to make another point,
but real quick here. Van Rodin entered the league in
twenty twelve. He even pointed this out in a recent interview.
He did not start until twenty eighteen, when he was
twenty eight years old. Do you really think a guy
that has preached that much patience is going to, all
of a sudden at this stage in his career, at
thirty five, get worried whether or not he is to
(43:28):
go back to being a backup when he had to
grind it out to become a starter. I think that
statement is too dangerous to hold it as a generic
comment over everybody. I think at Vatteri's player to play.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
And we also talk about how important depth is on.
Speaker 4 (43:42):
The offensive was sal manager that would be my rule
of thumb.
Speaker 3 (43:46):
Well, it's a dangerous rule of thumb lane, That's what
I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (43:49):
But then we talk about how important the depth on
the offensive line is. I don't even know how many
times we've spoken about that matter. Greg Van Rodin has
a proven veteran that's here on a very reasonable one
year contract. Even if he doesn't win the starting guard spot,
why would you not want to keep him as your
primary backup for all three spots on the interior.
Speaker 4 (44:07):
Well, it's you just said it. We don't really have
a backup center. And unless you think Schlopman, you know it.
Schlapman's an interesting guy. We signed Shlopman to a two
year contract.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
We must have.
Speaker 4 (44:20):
Thought something of that guy. Yeah, he long contract.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
He broke his leg and most of last year. Yeah yeah,
now he's healthy.
Speaker 4 (44:29):
Yeah, I mean and he plays center. He plays center too. Okay, look,
thank you for tolerating that idea for me. But and
and let me let me just if I made just
one final thing on that, and it'll be quick. Win
the job, Evan, win the job. Will be a better
football team with you at guard. If you win that job,
then we will with Van routin. Okay, thank you. Hey,
(44:50):
what I'm looking for tomorrow and i'd like your response
to this. I'm looking for two things. I'm looking for
physicality and I'm looking for discipline. I don't want to
see any off size penalties, illegal motions, personal fouls, time
expired before we can get the playoff. I want this
(45:12):
team to look a little organized tomorrow night. I don't
want those kinds of penalties. I don't care if it's
just the first.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
Game, Yeah, I don't think that's a great playing there.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
Secondly, and then you can comment or take me off
the phone whatever you think is the right thing to do.
I want to see a degree of physicality tomorrow night.
I want to see these guys run to the ball
and be a little physical you know, I know this
goes with the team. Yeah, I get to watch a
lot of Ravens games down here because I'm in the area.
(45:43):
I mean, I'm twenty minutes away from this stadium. I'm
watching the Ravens last night. God even there for stringers
are throwing their bodies around. I mean, it's football. I
want to see it. I want to get pushed around.
I want to see a degree of physicality. Hey, thanks
for taking my call. Guys. I hope you can comment
on what I just said. Yeah, we will, Thank you
(46:04):
very much.
Speaker 3 (46:05):
You gotta appreciate the phone call, Thanks Lennon. Yeah, you
don't want to have mental mistakes. You don't want to
have penalties. Dabes gets annoyed when there's pre snap penalties
during practice. So I think that standard remains the same
in terms of the physicality. By nature, it's a physical game.
If you're going out there now against a foreign opponent
and you don't bring that physicality, that's going to be
(46:27):
a problem if you hope to make the team. So
I think all of the things that lend throughout is
not a stretch, but I guess I would put them
under the umbrella, Matt. They're expected. That's what you want
to see out of everybody, not just offensive lineman, not
just defensive lineman. If a running back gets to the
second level, you want to see him stiff arm the
linebacker so that maybe gets additional yardage. That physicality can
(46:48):
be the difference between winning and losing a few extra
games over the course of the season.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 5 (46:53):
And I feel like this, you know, sort of storyline
kind of has been forgotten just because it's been months,
and you know, spring practice is no contact, there's no
hitting in training camp. But around the free agency and
especially right after the draft, the type of players that
the Giants brought in this offseason was a very hot topic.
I hope you guys all remember this, because the Giants
(47:14):
brought in guys that are very physical. You look at
the draft class and I said this right after the draft,
every single member of that draft class, just about every
single one has got just like a little bit of
I don't know what you want to call it, a
little bit of like crazy to them in a good way.
And a lot of the free agents they brought in
as well had that same sort of very physical mindset.
(47:35):
I mean, we all saw a camp scatted who did
an Aridona state last year. Running people over, you know,
Thomas Fedoni tattooed himself is extremely painful thing to do.
And you go on and on through everyone on the list.
They're all, you know, have a mindset of wanting to
go out there and just sort of, you know, hit
the other team in the mouth. And that goes for
(47:55):
a lot of the veterans that were brought in a
free agency too. This was a topic and we discussed
a lot earlier in the off season, and I feel
like we kind of just have glossed over the last
few months because there hasn't been any hitting in contact.
But in terms of the physicality aspect, that is not
something I'm concerned about tomorrow. Regardless of which guy's playing,
who does it. I don't think we're gonna have to
(48:16):
be too worried about.
Speaker 2 (48:17):
The physical part.
Speaker 5 (48:17):
I think that will you know, be quite evident and
obvious on the tape tomorrow and just real quick, just
to put a bow tie. You know, Len calls all
the time. I could not disagree more about the Greg
Van road in take sure.
Speaker 3 (48:30):
Well, that's why I voiced that too.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
Yeah, I mean depth on the offensive line.
Speaker 5 (48:33):
I can't even count how many times we've spoken about
how important that is. And even if Evan Neil wins
the starting spot, why would you not want to have
just a proven, solid veteran that can back up all
three spots on the interior that you know, if he
gets called upon, you can rely on him and is not.
There's not going to be like a hiccup on the
offensive line. They're gonna just pick up as if no
one ever, you know, missed the step. So I just
(48:56):
I could not disagree more with that take.
Speaker 3 (49:00):
Actually, you know what, I just thought of something in
house that maybe goes counter to what he was campaigning for.
Speaker 4 (49:05):
It.
Speaker 3 (49:06):
Look at Darius Laydon's career. He went from being the
guy right to being on the bubble, to maybe not
having a renewal contract and then all of a sudden
rising back to the occasion under Len's philosophy. They should
have cut Darius Laydon a few years back and not
even given him a chance to maybe resurrect his career.
You don't even have to look beyond the organization for
(49:28):
an example of how it depends on the mindset of
the player. I would not hold that true for everybody
in the National Football League. On the topic of physicality,
I want to get to another YouTube question or two
before we wrap up shop. Here, Brett writes the following
in regard to the running backs for the season, I
think they should use Tracy and Scatabooz similar to how
(49:50):
the Lions use Gibbs and Montgomery. Now, just for our audience, understand,
two years ago, Montgomery two hundred and nineteen carries Gibbs
one hundred and eighty two. Last year, there were some injuries.
Montgomery got hurt later in the year, but still they
were available for the bulk of the games. The breakdown
a year ago, Gibbs went to two point fifty, Montgomery
(50:13):
won eighty five. So the numbers were fairly even in
the same ballpark for the first two years. But here's
the difference. When you say you want the Giants to
utilize those two like Gibbs and Montgomery. You can't overlook
Devin Singletary. Okay, so the Giants really have three players,
whereas the Lions didn't have a true third, consistent option
(50:35):
that they look to work in. Craig Reynolds got work
when one of the two got hurt in Detroit. So
I don't expect the numbers as a result of that
Matt to play out just like Detroit. But if you
want to look it at usage, there were times. But
this has also flip flopped in the first two years,
where Gibbs would be middle of the field guy because
(50:57):
of his elusiveness, and then they bring in Montgomery is
the goal line back. I think Tracy and Scataboo can
both handle themselves in either one of those roles, especially
since Scatabou can catch the ball on the backfield. Why
would you want to then just reserve him as a
goal line back or a short yardage back. I think
you'd be eating into his potential production. So I think
(51:20):
they'll utilize both. But I wouldn't sleep on clearly Singletary's
presence and him being in the thick of things as well.
Speaker 5 (51:28):
Yeah, I mean, coach Dable has spoken about Devin Singletary,
and he clearly loves him. There's a reason why they
brought him here last offseason, why he's still on the team.
He is going to get on the field somewhat. I
do think that, assuming all three are healthy, Tracy and
Scataboo will probably get more touches than Singletary. But Singletary
is not just going to completely disappear from this offense.
(51:50):
This is not going to happen. And in terms of
you know, the roles and using them like gives in Montgomery,
both Tyrone, Tracy, and camscat along with Brian Dabele, have
spoken about how those two backs, all three of those backs,
but if we're focused on those two, they're all capable
of doing everything you need a running back to do.
They can run, they can catch, they can block. For
(52:13):
that reason, I don't think they're gonna have set, you know,
defined roles. I think the offense or Kafka and Dabele
are gonna just sort of sub those guys in and
out to keep them fresh, you know, put one in
for a couple of plays, take him out, put the
other one in.
Speaker 2 (52:28):
I don't think there's gonna be sort of set.
Speaker 5 (52:31):
Defined roles for them, kind of like what we saw
more in Detroit with Gibbs in Montgomery, because especially Tyrone,
Tracy and Cam Scataboo are not only more than capable
of doing everything you need a running back to do,
but can excel at everything you needed running back to
do well.
Speaker 3 (52:49):
That's why every time Dave's has been asked specifically, I've
always picked up on this.
Speaker 2 (52:54):
Matt.
Speaker 3 (52:54):
They're always trying to pry the usage or the knowledge
of the running backs, and he says, hey, Singletary's been
in my system for years because people forget he was
in Buffalo with Dabs. So the one running back that
they know is like a rock. They can rely on him.
They know exactly what they're going to get out of him,
is Singletary. And that doesn't mean that he's going to
move to the top of the depth chart, but I
(53:16):
would be very taken back and surprised if he dissipates
and is completely removed from the rotation. So his presence
is going to make it very difficult to circle back
to our question for the Giants to duplicate the one
two punch that the Lions have, it's going to be
more of a two to one ratio, meaning I could
see Scataboo and Tracy getting more work than Singletary, but
(53:38):
Singletary's going to find his ways to contribute and remember
a lot, at least in the early stage of the
season is going to depend on Skataboo's health and how
quickly he can get on the field. Before Week one.
Speaker 5 (53:50):
I was just about to say that Cam's Kataboo obviously
going back to the spring, has not been one hundred
percent healthy. He's kind of been in and out of practice.
He's also a rookie, and you know, while we have
seen rookie running backs step in on day one and
have success, a lot of rookie running backs take a
little bit of time to just get accustomed to the
speed and sort of physicality of the NFL. Now, I'm
(54:11):
not really worried about the physicality part with Cam Scataboo
because I think whenever he does get down on the field,
it's not going to be long before we see him
running over defenders in the NFL. But they don't want
to rush him out there from a health perspective and
from you know, a mental being ready to mentally handle.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
The NFL aspect of it.
Speaker 5 (54:30):
As well, so, especially to start the season, we're gonna
see Devin Singletary out there. I do think Tracy will
lead the backfield and touches probably for the season, unless
Scatabu comes in at some point and lights the league
on fire. But again, all three of those guys are
going to get the ball this.
Speaker 3 (54:47):
Season, especially with the trajectory of what Tracy did in
the second half of the season last year. Oh yeah,
I would think that he'd be leading the pack. But
Scataboo's versatility makes him extremely attractive that you definitely want
to tap into that at even over the course of
the first season. Reminder, before we close up shop here
with another impactful drafted free agency class of the books.
(55:07):
That means it's full steam ahead to the twenty twenty
five season. You can take your fandom to the next
level with a Giant season ticket membership and catch all
the action at Metlive Stadium with an exciting home schedule
on the horizon. With a membership, you'll also stay connected
to the club all year round, not just on game days,
with exclusive member access and benefits. To learn more about
a New York Giant season ticket membership, visit Giants dot com.
(55:28):
Slash tickets. So we now look ahead to tomorrow's preseason game,
a one pm Eastern kickoff between the Giants and the Bills.
We'll be back, of course on Monday to recap it
all as we move into the joint sessions between the
Giants and the Jets. So a lot to look forward
to as we get into the heart of August. Big
Blue Kickoff Live presented by Cadillac, the official luxury vehicle
(55:51):
of the New York Football Giants. The archive of the show,
our entire podcast network, on the Giants mobile app, podcast
platforms everywhere, and at giants dot com slash podcast. We
are broadcasting from the Giants Podcast Studio presented by Hackensack
Meridian Health. Keep getting Better from Outside Tech on Lance Medal.
Signing off here on Friday's edition of BBKL. Enjoy the weekend.
(56:11):
We'll speak to on Monday. Have a good one.
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