Big Blue Kickoff Live 9/2 | Week One Has Arrived

John Schmeelk and Bob Papa discuss the Giants roster going into week one, talk about some matchups with the Commanders, and take calls from fans.

0:00 - Week one is here!

17:00 - Calls

31:40 - Russell Wilson

38:50 - More on the Commanders

49:10 - Winning formula

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
It's time for a Big Blue Kickoff line. Nobody can
ever tell you that you couldn't do it because you're
on Giants dot Com.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Do you know what I saw?

Speaker 1 (00:12):
New York Giant Crack and the Giants Mobile as seventeenth the.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
Final one time down.

Speaker 4 (00:19):
We all we're all.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Tampering part of the Giants podcast network.

Speaker 5 (00:24):
Let's go on the craze dog has a hot.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
Week one of the regular season is here. Welcome to
Big Blue Kickoff livers enyed by Cadillac, the official luxury
vehicle the Giants. I am John Schmelk right here in
the Hackensack of Britty Health podcast studio, Keep getting better.
Thrilled to be joined by the Voice of the Giants,
Bob Papa, who will be popping in and out on
BBK throughout the season. Bob's fresh Office, serious XM radio show. Bob,
How are you man?

Speaker 6 (00:47):
I'm doing great, John. Excited for Week one of the
NFL season against Thursday night with the Super Bowl champion
Eagles hosting the Cowboys, and we got a game in
Brazil on Friday. But focus right now is Giants Manders
on Sunday at one.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yes, absolutely, Giants getting ready to play their first regular
season game home opener for the Commanders, and Bob we
were talking about this at lunch very quickly, But this
is really one of the more optimistic times that I've
sensed from Giants fandom heading into this year that I
think even a little bit more optimistic than we were
heading into the twenty twenty three season off the playoff win.

Speaker 6 (01:25):
Well, I think you know, the fact that the Giants
drafted up Dual Carter number three overall and then went
and got Jackson Dart that had the fan base energized.
But I think the way Jackson Dart played throughout the
preseason has everybody fired up. And the way the offense
looked with all four quarterbacks that played, so I think
there's a lot of reason to be optimistic. I think

(01:46):
fans are excited about the offensive line and the way
they've kind of come together, and I think one of
the things that has people encourages even when the second
string and third string offensive lines played in the pre season,
they played kind of well, and I think people feel
a lot more comfortable about the depth the options that

(02:08):
they have. So yeah, this is an exciting year for
the Giants and an exciting week for the Giants anyway,
getting ready for the game against the Commanders, who, let's
face it, they played Washington tough last year as it was,
including the game down in Washington. So I think that
there's a lot of feeling of optimism.

Speaker 2 (02:27):
Now.

Speaker 6 (02:28):
Obviously, you got to start off with two road division games.
Dallas looks a lot different without Michael Parsons. But can
they get this season sort of stabilized going into that
Philadelphia Eagles game. Can they get two wins out of
these first five games going into that Philly game.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yep. Absolutely. We are taking your calls by the way
at two to one to nine three nine four five
one three two one nine three nine, four to five
one three if you are fans that are on Twitter
and are following along with us, all the Beat reporters
tweet out about the Giants on official depth chart. The
Giants have sent that the weekly release for the game,
and it should be important to note that this is
an unofficial depth chart. So, but what the Beats are

(03:08):
all tweeting about is that Jackson Daughters listed as the
backup quarterback behind Russell Wilson. Mike, you know, that's something
that was also there over the course of the of
the summer. So I don't know, Bob, I'm not gonna
take this that seriously. I'll know who the backup quarterback
is once we look at the you know, depth chart
on Sunday, if one of the quarterbacks is the emergency

(03:29):
third quarterback or the other one is actually active, that's
what I'm gonna know what they're gonna do here. I'm
not gonna go off some unofficial depth chart that got
sent out in a release on a Tuesday.

Speaker 7 (03:39):
No.

Speaker 6 (03:39):
I mean, but I think it does speak to what
Jackson Dart was able to do in the preseason as
far as kind of progress and show growth, and uh,
I think it's kind of cool with what he's been
able to do. Sure, but yeah, I mean they may,
depending on health throughout the course of this week, they

(04:00):
could go into the game with the three quarterbacks or
one designated as the emergency quarterback. So yeah, I mean, look,
he's listed as the backup. You kind of hope that
you don't see Jackson Dart as the backup playing. I
think you want to kind of get through this season
as deep as you can get into this season with

(04:23):
Russell Wilson as your starting quarterback.

Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah, which is why. I don't know. Part of me
still believes that if you know, again, I'm knocking out
Wood here. If something happens and you have to slide
a quarterback in there for a couple of plays in
the second quarter of Week one, I just feel like
that's gonna be Jamis and it's not gonna be dark.
I have no idea. And again, the unofficial depth dart
says what it says, but we'll have to wait and
say what it looks like on game bable.

Speaker 6 (04:43):
Well, remember something too, John. One of the things that
Brian Dable told us during our TV production meetings was
he wanted to make things uncomfortable for his coaching staff
and for his players in the preseason. And he told us,
he goes, I'm going to create I'm gonna do some
things in these preseason games that I'm not telling anybody.

(05:05):
I'm not telling you guys, but I'm telling you guys
that these guys are going to have to be on
their toes. And we saw Russell Wilson in the preseason
game playing and then come out for one play and
Jackson Dart hurried in got the playoff. He hit Theo
Johnson on a catch and run and boom, Russell Wilson

(05:25):
was back in the game, So I think they've prepared
for a lot of different eventualities and to kind of
get reps through so there's no helter skelter or something
like that happens.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
The other thing to keep an eye on this week
is obviously the health of Andrew Thomas. Bob he's coming
off of that very serious foot injury of last year,
hasn't practiced in full over the summer quite yet. We
were not able to watch practice last week. It was
close to the media, but his training camp was over,
so I don't know what was happening at some of
those practices last week that we weren't allowed to watch.
But Wensley will be a very telling day when we

(05:57):
get his practice designation and then obviously when we get
Deans report on Friday. Love to have him on the field,
but they brought James Hudson in for a reason. I
know Brian Dable and Joe Shane both have a lot
of confidence in him if he has to go at
left tackle.

Speaker 6 (06:10):
Yeah, I mean, if you just read between the lines
of when Andrew Thomas spoke with the media last week,
there was uncertainty right. So every fan that's watching this
should have the same kind of uncertainty because he wasn't
like convincing like, yeah, I'm gonna be good to go,
I'm good to go.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
You know.

Speaker 6 (06:28):
It was about managing it and all those other things.
And you and I and we saw him moving around
on the side like his first days back on the field,
and you'd say to yourself, Okay, he looks like he
could be a little bit.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
Of ways away.

Speaker 6 (06:40):
But I think unlike in year's past, where it was
legitimately a crapshoot, where who are you gonna Are we
putting josh A Zudo out there? Is Evan Neil gonna
move to the left side? Are they gonna move illumin
or and put someone on the right side.

Speaker 3 (06:57):
Or are they signing Justin Pugh, I like thirty five
years old, who has it played a year off the couch.

Speaker 6 (07:04):
There are Tyree Phillips, you know, players like that. I
think now what you have and I think this is
a reason why there's a comfort level is these guys
have all gotten a lot of reps throughout training camp
as a unit with Hudson as the starting left tackle,
with Runyon, John Michael schmidz Van Roten and Jermaine Illuminori.

(07:27):
They've got a lot of reps. We saw them do
a lot of one on ones against their own defense.
Against the Jets, they played a lot of snaps Marcus Bow.
I mean, you can say it's preseason, but if you're
standing on the practice field and you're standing next to
Sean O'Hara and you're watching this stuff, or you're standing
next to Howard Cross and you're watching this stuff and

(07:50):
they're kind of wowing about what Marcus bo was doing
out there, you feel pretty confident that if you had
to put him in the game, it's not going to
be a jail Now. I'm not saying that it's not
going to be rough and there won't be issues along
the way, but everything just feels much more stabilized. Everything
feels much more secure.

Speaker 7 (08:10):
Now.

Speaker 6 (08:10):
We're gonna find out on Sunday when Frankie Luvu is
coming off the edge and Washington is bringing pressure packages
because I think they blitzed on thirty one percent of
their snaps last year, so we'll see how they do.
But I think for the most part, fans feel a
little bit more comfortable in the fact that things seem

(08:30):
to be settled on the offensive line. That ties into
quarterback decision making.

Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yeah, and then finally we should touch on the defense here, Bob.
I just think there's a lot of optimism about what
this defense can be. All of the stars and leaders
on this defense dex To Lawrence and Brian Burns specifically
have made the point a number of times this offseason
that look, you could look at the names on paper,
you can look at the additions, you can look at
the draft picks, the veteran free agents, and yeah, doesn't
look good. Sure, but until this group goes out there

(08:55):
on the field improves it, it really doesn't mean much.
And they've really really tough challenge in Week one in
Jaden Daniels, who's obviously a dual weapon quarterback, run throw,
he has some weapons to throw the ball too. With
Terry McLaurin signing his extension, Deebo Samuel now there Zach
Ertz the veteran tight end, this defense is gonna be
tested on the road in Week one of this year.

Speaker 6 (09:17):
Yeah, I mean, I think they're gonna be tested in
a different kind of way, right, because this isn't Brian
Robinson lining it up and running it down their throat
as he did last year. This is you know, Austin
Eckler and their compilation of backs tied in with Jade
and Daniels.

Speaker 2 (09:34):
Sprinkle in a little Deebo.

Speaker 6 (09:35):
Samuel if they run him, because he has a run
threat to his game, as he's had over the course
of his career. So it's not a traditional can you
stop the run? But there were too many times last
year John where I don't know, teams were in third
and six and they just ran. They were in power
right at the Giants and got first downs. Now, I
thought last year they really missed A'shawn Robinson who had

(09:57):
left and wound up signing with Carolina the Giant and
didn't keep them. I don't think they ever filled that void.
But now you bring in Roy Robertson Harris, You bring
in Chauncey Golston, who are proven guys who are solid
against the run, to provide depth upfront with Dexter Lawrence
and DJ Davidson had a really good training camp and

(10:18):
a really good preseason, and then you drafted Darius Alexander,
who you can use in specific roles at this point
until he gets better. It looks much more fortified. But
until we get to Sunday and see how they're gonna
stop it, it remains a question mark.

Speaker 3 (10:35):
It does two to one nine three nine four five
one three We're gonna walk with Giants Legends of Giants
Foundation will host a five K racing Kids Run presented
by Quest on Sunday, October twenty six to nine am
in MetLife Stadium. Net Proceeds will benefit the Giants Foundation.
All participants will receive a commemorative T shirt and after
the race stayed for a post race festival with appearances
by Giants Legends and a live DJ. Register now with

(10:56):
Giants dot Com Slash five k. The Giants Foundation is
a five oh one C three nonprofit corporation.

Speaker 6 (11:04):
I want to go back to the unofficial depth chart. Yeah, please,
because it's interesting. You know, I don't think I've seen
this before, but they put under the offense it's base offense.
And if you look at the defense instead of just defense,
it's base defense. So at one of the starting corners

(11:25):
they have Cordel Flot slash Deontay Banks. And I really
think that based on game style or whatever, one may
start over the other follow what I'm saying like if
Washington lines up and they're show and run, or their
personnel package that comes in looks like a heavy run formation,

(11:48):
I think you might see Deontay Banks start if they
come out and they spread you, you might see.

Speaker 2 (11:53):
Cordell flat start.

Speaker 6 (11:54):
Like I think a lot of it is going to
be dependent on the personnel group that comes out on
the field.

Speaker 3 (11:59):
And I think it's interesting too that they're labeling their
base offense as being eleven personnel, which is one running back,
one tight end, three wide receiver. So I think that
gives you a little bit of a hint too, right.
And the base defense is a nickel package with Drew
Phillips as your nickel. You have your down lineman with
Dexter Lawrence and Nacho inside, Thibodeau, wan Burns outside, Carter

(12:21):
and Golston backing up with those two defensive end outside
linebacker edge spot. So I think it's interesting that they
view those as their base packages. Though to your point,
Washington is gonna spread you out a lot, so nickel
is going to be most teams base package now, right, So.

Speaker 2 (12:36):
Is this a three to four? Is this a four
to three?

Speaker 3 (12:40):
Is fo.

Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah? Or it could be a two. It could be
a two.

Speaker 6 (12:45):
Five like when you think about it, right, I mean,
is cave On Thibodeau really a defensive end, But he
does do a really good job of setting the edge
as far as run stopping is concern, and he's athletic
enough to be able to deal with the Jaden Daniels.
It's going to be fascinating to see how Shane Bowen
cooks up strategies for this game. But again, this is

(13:08):
a base defense, a base offense, and we all know
that the NFL over the last thirty years has evolved
to such a point where you know, you know the
eighty six ninety Giants, they played a lot of three
to four traditional three four two gap nose tackle, you know,
that's how they played. Obviously, in Super Bowl twenty five

(13:29):
they went to a completely exotic look, daring Buffalo to run,
which they didn't do for some reason, and they waited
until the fourth quarter to do it. Good for Giants fans,
But I think many teams in the National Football League
are not a three to four or a four to three.
They're multiple defenses.

Speaker 3 (13:48):
Yeah, and I think that's what the Giants want to
do this year for sure. And I do think those
two veter editions in the secondary, Bob, I think with
the drafting of Abdul Carter, they've been overlooked just a
little bit by people. It's really, I think, going to
open up the litany of options that Shane Bowen's gonna
have on the back end. Here. You don't have the
really young secondary you would last year. You could do

(14:10):
a lot of disguising post snap stuff. You could play
more mann beas you have pulsed adeball on one side.
He's gonna have the opportunity to do more things than
he did last year because of the improved talent on
that side of the ball.

Speaker 6 (14:22):
Yeah, I don't think there's any question about it, John,
But again, it kind of comes down to old school
basic football, and you see it with the teams that
win the Super Bowl every year, the teams that go
deep into the playoffs. Can you stop the run?

Speaker 7 (14:39):
Yep?

Speaker 2 (14:39):
Can you run the ball?

Speaker 6 (14:40):
I mean, no matter how much the game has changed
schematic wise, it's become more of a passing league, you
still have to be able to win at the point
of attack. And for me, the two biggest question marks
for the Giants coming into this season. It's not the quarterback.
It's not what does Russell Wilson have left in the tank.
Who's gonna step up at wide receiver? Can Tyrone Tracy

(15:02):
take his game to a next level? His banks improve,
flot whatever? Do they win at the point of attack?
Do they stop the run? And when you need to
get a yard or two? Can you run the football
effectively to get those yards?

Speaker 3 (15:14):
Playing and simple, the best teams dominate up front on
both sides. You go back to the Giant Super Bowl
Championship teams two thousand eleven is a little bit different date.
Trouble running the ball that year a little bit.

Speaker 6 (15:24):
Yah, But starting with the Jet game when Christmas Eve,
when a mad Bradshaw ran over the safety, the Giant
running game was different. The rest of the way, Yep,
it completely changed. And I think you know that's that's all.
The Super Bowl champions Kansas City they were the last
two years ago when they won the Super Bowl, they
were predominantly a running team. You have to be able

(15:47):
to run the football and you have to be able
to control the run if you're going to have any
chance to win in this league on a consistent base.

Speaker 3 (15:53):
And I think it could be a big year for Tyrone,
Tracy Junior, Tiki Barber, Bob and you know, I've talked
to him a lot now sint doing the pre post
game with him. He raised about him, he loves him
as a player, says he reminds him of him a lot.
Got to make sure he doesn't put the ball on
the ground now, that's important, and he has talked to
him about that. Tiazzi has experience in that regard, but
he thinks he's a chance to be a really really

(16:13):
good player. Yeah.

Speaker 6 (16:15):
I love the kid. I love his attitude. I was
talking with him yesterday in the cafeteria. He did a
little something for me and we were just chatting. And
he's just got a great personality. He's very humbled. Yeah,
and he's a hard worker. And I think, you know,
Devin Singletary with Skataboob being and a rookie and Tracy
just kind of going into year two of learning how

(16:36):
to be a pro. I know there was a lot
of talk about Singletary and kind of what he has
left and everything else. But just like Russell Wilson and
Jameis Winston helped elevate the quarterback room, sometimes you need
that veteran hand in there, and Singletary can still play.
He's not as explosive as he once was, But I
think having Singletary there, who's a really generous person and

(17:00):
a smart guy with a high football IQ, I think
that's very beneficial for Tyrone Tracy's development.

Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yeah, by Brian Dable has spoken glowingly to us about
Devin Singletary over the years and what he brings as
a leader and trying to bring that room together. All right,
let's go to the phones here two on one nine
three nine four five one three. Let's lead things off
with Aiden up in Boston. Aiden, what's going on? Man?
How are you?

Speaker 7 (17:22):
Hey?

Speaker 8 (17:22):
How's it going on? Good to talk to you, guys.

Speaker 3 (17:25):
Pearson bring the phone part the sorry, Yeah, we got you,
Go ahead, Aiden, we got you?

Speaker 8 (17:35):
Okay, Yeah, just making sure okay.

Speaker 3 (17:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (17:37):
So a lot of people calling in, lots of optimistic stuff,
so guys, keep it going. First, I have Abduel Carter.
He's getting the rookie sack record which is fourteen and
a half, and I got Abdul Carter is also getting
defensive Rookie of the Year. You guys talked about Tracy.
I'm in a big year. I have been going for

(17:59):
seven US touchdown.

Speaker 3 (18:02):
Well, Aiden, I would be careful with the touchdowns with
Tracy because I could see Singletary, who's a very savvy
short yardage back, and Scattaboy obviously is a powerful kid.
I could see them getting a lot of the work
inside the ten yard line.

Speaker 8 (18:14):
To be honest with you, Yeah, Also, I mean, I'm
I'm combining that with receiving touchdowns, so he could get
a few receiving touchdowns too. Then Russell Russell Wilson three
plus three touchdown games, he lasted that in twenty twenty three.
And then I have two things that Jamar chased in

(18:36):
last year with Neighbors. I have him getting three plus
multi touchdown games in four plus touchdowns from fifty plus yards.

Speaker 3 (18:45):
I didn't appreciate the.

Speaker 6 (18:46):
Call man, A lot of commos appreciate some more.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
I'm Aiden, Okay, if you have a question, go with that.

Speaker 8 (18:54):
Yeah. So first I want to say, just a tough
schedule and everything, and a lot of hours you just
got played the game. But you guys were talking about
Tracy before. Yeah, a really good rookie season, obviously expected
expectations as a first round, fifth round pick. And I
want to know what you guys think the Giants expectations

(19:15):
are for him and what he needs to do building
off his rookie season over even like the fumbling in
everything and what you think is healing is and thanks
for taking my call, Thanks, Ed.

Speaker 3 (19:25):
I appreciate it.

Speaker 6 (19:26):
Well, that's the biggest thing is the fumbling situation. You know,
you think about his last one hundred yard rushing game
came against Carolina in Germany, but he committed the costly
sin of turning the football over late in the game.
Just that's what he has to improve upon. I think
the running back, I think he's definitely going to improve

(19:48):
as a running back this year, only because last year
was his first year as a running back in the NFL.
And remember he had played predominantly as wide receiver in
college and he only had one year of full time
running back as a collegiate player. So I think he's
just naturally gonna get better. He's going to see things.
The game is going to slow down for him a
little bit more. He understands defenses more, helping with his reads.

(20:12):
If this offensive line is as improved as we think
it is, it'll give him opportunities. But the turnovers are
the one big thing. Even Devin Singletary. If you remember
the season opener or the road opener last year in Washington,
you know the Giants had momentum and early in the

(20:35):
third quarter, they're moving the ball down the field, Daniel
Jones is carving them up. The Giants are running the ball,
throwing the ball there in phenomenal position, and then in
plus territory, Devin Singletary fumbled the ball away, which changed
momentum of that game and gave Washington life. So I
think it's a scenario here where protecting the football is

(20:59):
the thing he's got to improve the most.

Speaker 3 (21:00):
Two one nine, three nine four five one three roerso
taking your questions and comments on YouTube, Bob. We have
one coming in from Atomic Age gamer once to know
if the Giants may draw up some special packages for
Jackson Dart's skill set, maybe some RPOs for a change
of pace. I don't think this is gonna be like
a Taysom Hill situation. That's not my feel for how
this is going to go.

Speaker 6 (21:22):
I don't know John would I would hesitate to be
so definitive on that. I think Brian Dable this year,
his comfort level of what they're doing offensively, his comfort
level with the quarterback, his growing comfort level with Jackson Dart.
I wouldn't be shocked. I think, look, it's your four

(21:45):
of his program. The team was really bad at scoring
last year. They were bad in the red zone, they
were bad at scoring, they were bad on third downs. Offensively,
they were extremely challenged. I think it's empty in the
set this year.

Speaker 7 (22:00):
I'm not.

Speaker 6 (22:01):
I am not ruling that out because he is a
good athlete. He can come in and give you a
couple of snaps in packages to do something about keeping
the defense off balance, right, and especially in games in
which they're maybe fighting a little bit above their weight
class against some of the higher echelon teams, why not

(22:23):
throw some stuff against the wall. I think it's not
out of the question. I don't think it's a staple
of the offense. But I wouldn't be shocked because I
think the head coach trusts this rookie quarterback a lot.

Speaker 3 (22:38):
Let's go to Jason and New Haven. He's the next
time Big Blue kickoff live.

Speaker 4 (22:41):
Hey, Jason, John and Bob, how you guys going.

Speaker 3 (22:44):
We're good.

Speaker 2 (22:44):
We're good.

Speaker 4 (22:46):
Just so my my I guess question to you too
would be you know I've been hearing a lot, not
not necessarily you know, your podcast or Giants dot Com
or anything like that, but just the nash know outlook
on our offense, right. And I know, John, you heard
me last week talk about Russell, But Bob, my thing

(23:07):
is just nationally you're here, Well, Russell is in twenty fifteen. Russell,
he is in the top five quarterback. Our receivers are made.
Our old line is ah, we don't really have a
good running backs. And I guess my my comeback to
that would be I think everybody nowadays with this whole
offense offense offense, thinks your offense can't function unless you

(23:31):
have three elite receivers, an elite quarterbacks, an elite old line,
an elite running back, and elite tight end. When in
my opinion, when I played ball in college and even
watching it throughout the years since I was a kid,
to me, all you really need is competent QB play
in a solid scheme, and I think we have that.
I think Russe is still a competente quarterback. He's an

(23:51):
upgrade over what we've had the last three years. In
my opinion, Malik is Molik. He'll do his thing Slaton
to me, is still under raid in Giants Land. I
think Tracy is an above average running back and I
like our tied in the room, so I don't think
it's too far offetch for me to say I personally
expect this to put some points on Washington. I think,

(24:14):
you know this is my opinion. Of course, the game
has to be played. I think they're severely overrated. I
think our roster is very improved, and if our roster's
improved with our quarterback play, Yeah, we're the underdogs on Sunday,
but I wouldn't be shocked if we beat them. If
we lose, of course, we could lose. Any team could
lose on Week one. Crazy things happen. But to me,

(24:36):
I don't think it's a big shock if we beat
those guys. So let me hear what you guys think
about that, and I'll take the call off there.

Speaker 3 (24:42):
Jason, real quick, Jason, real quick, before you say goodbye,
can I play Devil's Advocate to you for one second?
And by the way, I think the offense is going
to be improved. What personnel change is an offense? If
you look at the Giants starting offense this year compared
to last year. What personnel changes haven't made on the
offensive side of the ball for the Giants?

Speaker 4 (24:58):
To me, the number one thing, and like I said,
this is just my opinion. To me, the number one
big upgrade is that quotable.

Speaker 3 (25:05):
Well, but Jason, you're saying that is the only change.

Speaker 6 (25:07):
Well, left tackle, I mean you have a leg You've
got a legitimate guy that you can put in there
now left tackle, and a veteran guy with a bunch
of starts under his belt that you know that it's
not going to be a jail break on every snap.

Speaker 3 (25:21):
I agree. The point I was trying to make, and
I think your one hundred percent right about that is
that I think the reason the national media looks at
it that way is that they see pretty much the
same guys on the field. The national media generally speaking,
does not believe in Russell Wilson based on what's happened
in the last three years. I think what people have
seen here in the building of this year, we think differently.
And last year the Giants averge sixteen points a game,

(25:41):
and I think Bob we both agree, if you're going
to be a good competitive team, and Jason thanks a
lot with the call I appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (25:48):
And I got something.

Speaker 6 (25:49):
I got some other comments about what Jason had to said.

Speaker 3 (25:51):
But the point you have to be up around twenty
one points per game if you want to be a
team that's competing in this league offensively, you have to
be around three times downs the game. However, you get
the correct and that's what the Giants need to get
this year in order to try to have a better
record that.

Speaker 6 (26:05):
Gives you a chance to win games. Yeah, that's the
magic number. I think twenty two is now the magic
number that if you can score twenty two average twenty
two points a game, you have a chance to win
most of your games.

Speaker 3 (26:18):
You know.

Speaker 6 (26:18):
The Russell Wilson narrative is interesting because he is not
the same player he was in twenty fifteen.

Speaker 2 (26:27):
We all know that.

Speaker 6 (26:30):
I think sometimes we saw over the last couple of
years him playing the game as if it was still
twenty fifteen. His escapability is not what it once was. Okay, However,
let's not forget, and this is to Jason's point. Just
two years ago now he and Sean Payton butted heads. Okay,

(26:51):
and I think that Joe Shane has told us, you know,
Russell Wilson came to the Giants' eyes wide open. He
knew that there was a chance they we're going to
draft a quarterback. He knows his reputation has taken a
ding over the last five years, from his last couple
of years in Seattle, his time in Denver with Hackett

(27:12):
as his head coach, and then Sean Payton, a Super
Bowl winning, strong willed guy, comes in.

Speaker 2 (27:18):
They butted heads.

Speaker 6 (27:18):
We all remember that sideline altercation between the two of them.

Speaker 2 (27:23):
But let's not forget.

Speaker 6 (27:24):
In twenty twenty three, Russell Wilson had twenty six touchdowns
in eight interceptions.

Speaker 3 (27:27):
When's the last of the Giants quarterback put up that
step line prime Eli Manning.

Speaker 6 (27:32):
Yeah, I mean Daniel Jones. Twenty four and twelve is
rookie season, you know that to have that kind of ratio.
So to Jason's point, I think you're right. I think
people are sleeping a little bit on Russell Wilson because
he understands.

Speaker 3 (27:48):
Where he is now.

Speaker 6 (27:50):
And uh look, I'm again, I'm not saying that Russell
Wilson is going to be the Russell Wilson of twenty
seventeen with thirty four touchdowns at eleven in or seven options.
But I think he's looking at this is his last chance, right,
his last opportunity to prove that he could still play
on a high level in the NFL. So you know,

(28:11):
and then who did they change on offense? Well, you're right,
but how many times have we seen over the last
three years, and John, you and I sitting in the booth,
I'm calling the games on the radio. How many times
do we see Darius Slayton run by people? Think about
twenty twenty three and that she lacking that they took

(28:34):
at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys.

Speaker 2 (28:36):
He put some of.

Speaker 6 (28:37):
Their dbs in unbelievable spin cycles and was running wide
open and the ball either wasn't being thrown or the
offensive line was completely collapsing, and Daniel Jones was getting whack.
So let's see what happens with better protection and a
quarterback that has confidence to let it rip downfield. Listen,

(29:00):
we're just speculating right now. We're giving our opinions, we're
giving our thoughts. But for the naysayer out there, you
have every right to stand on your ground too, because
until you see it happen in a regular season game,
all we're doing us you guys were just talking and
given opinions.

Speaker 3 (29:17):
Absolutely, and I think with Russell Wilson, what guy has
dable looks say is that he will throw the ball downfield.
I go back to that Both Collins deep posting the
preseason Bob. When he let that ball go, Both Collins
was not open. He had not run by guys yet,
but he could see by the angle of the safety
that he was going to be open. We did not
see throws like that get made over the last couple
of years.

Speaker 6 (29:36):
It's called anticipation. We saw Jackson Dart do it in
Buffalo when he was getting hit and release the ball.
I think it was little Jordan Humphrey or was it
Zach Pascal. One of the two had not even finished separating,
but he threw it to a spot with accuracy, anticipating
where his guy was going to get to to go
make a play.

Speaker 3 (29:57):
And I think we all believe that with everything he's seen,
changing plays at the line of scrimmage, making protection calls,
Russell Wilson's never been a player that turns the ball
over a lot. Those are all the things where you're
gonna see the improvements that I think don't show up
in the numbers necessarily.

Speaker 6 (30:13):
And let me ask you this too, Like think about
Jackson Dart, Russell Wilson, Tommy DeVito, Gonna, even though he's
not on the team anymore. But if you think about
and even Jamis Winston, if you think about either the
preseason games or those two days of practice against the
Jets in eleven on eleven, especially in the high red zone,

(30:37):
the seam routes were on the money where the Jet
players had and in the games, the Patriot game, in
the Buffalo game, these seam routes are being thrown where
the guy is releasing into that hole and the ball
is on him as he's turning his head. We have

(30:59):
not seen that in the past. And you know, when
you talk about explosives, everybody thinks explosives are just the
Russell Wilson.

Speaker 2 (31:07):
Moonball, right, But it's the timing of the throw.

Speaker 6 (31:11):
It's Wandel Robinson on a shallow cross or a whip route.
If the ball's placed in the right spot, maybe he
turns that into a gain.

Speaker 3 (31:20):
Of twelves have to fall down after he caught a
pass last year he was a low ball start for interrupting.
But yeah, yeah, it's crazy, not just him.

Speaker 2 (31:26):
Yeah, a lot of guys.

Speaker 6 (31:27):
So my point is is that they can get explosive
plays more than just bombs away down the field. You
can get explosive plays on mid range passes that then
become explosive plays. I'll eli Manning to Odell Beckham Junior
against the Ravens on a slant turned into a sixty
yard touchdown. The ball traveled about five yards in the air.

Speaker 3 (31:49):
Theo Johnson said it on his feature with Shoon O'Hara.
When he turns to look for the ball, he never
sees Russell Wilson actually throwing it. The ball's already in
the air on its way. Busy throwing it on time
with anticipation, and that allows receivers to run after catch,
which is important.

Speaker 2 (32:06):
We'll find out on Sunday how it all.

Speaker 3 (32:07):
On Fold absolutely two one three. David Cranford is up next.

Speaker 7 (32:13):
Hi Dave, Hey john Hey Bop. It's great to talk
to you guys. We just want to say thanks man.
I haven't been able to call and been recovering, but
I am an avid consumer of giants dot com and
all the stuff you guys put out there.

Speaker 3 (32:26):
Thanks Dave.

Speaker 7 (32:27):
I also follow some of our other NFC East folks
to see what they got going on, and you guys
are so far superior in your coverage, it's not even close.
So just thank you for that.

Speaker 3 (32:38):
I appreciate that.

Speaker 7 (32:39):
Thank you. I wanted to mention just something Bob had
had talked about both of you actually did. But I
think part of the reason, you know, one is you know,
when you hear about Russell Wilson and how he's going
to do this year he's compared, it's always starts with
we all do it. They always starts with, well, he's

(33:00):
not the player he was. Well he you know, his
his career up until now has been a pretty much
like a Hall of.

Speaker 2 (33:07):
Fame career, and he will go to the Hall of Fame.

Speaker 7 (33:10):
Yep. Yeah. And you look at other players, like the
one that comes to mind that we're familiar with is
Kurt Warner. You know, you know, he wasn't the same
player at the end of his career. His arm strength
was not what it used to be. He didn't put
up the same numbers, but he was still a radically
effective quarterback the last couple of years of his career.

(33:30):
So and Alex Smith had a better second half of
his career even after injury than he did in his
first half of his career. There's just different examples of
guys that and I think for the Giants to have
success this year, you know, it's not a matter of
the old Russell Wilson. It's a matter of getting competent
and getting to that twenty one, you know number. So

(33:51):
that's one thing. I think. The other one that's that's
misplaced is the year two starters that we're going to
see in some very critical situations. And I can you
can really look at five of them. You know, you
look at your starting running back. Year two, you're starting
tight end. Year two, you're starting number one receiver. Year two,

(34:13):
you're starting safety. Year two, you're starting nickel corner, which
is a critical role in this defense and really in
any defense today. You know, year two. So the idea
that you're going to get those guys at a much
much more competent.

Speaker 2 (34:31):
Lelevel you're starting two, Yeah.

Speaker 7 (34:35):
Yeah, I mean you really have a lot of guys,
and then you have guys coming back from injury, and
then second year. I do think that the one negative
about Dabels offense is that it is, you know, a
mouthful and it is a lot, and so year two
for the offensive line, Year two just for the for
those guys to be in the in the offense, I

(34:57):
think that's a big advantage. I'll leave you with this
one question, love to get your guys thought on it.
When when they got Jackson Dart, my first thought was, Okay,
let's just you know, sit the guy as long as
we can and then you know, let him go and
you know we'll get him in, you know, maybe for
next year or the end of this year whatever. Watching

(35:18):
him play and seeing how he's progressed and just his
whole package. I really think that there's a chance that
Dabile has a package or two for him even in
week one. Now it's dangerous, and it's dangerous in this
regard because he could come in and light it up,
and if he does, you guys are going to be
taking calls at nauseam from people demanding he gets back

(35:39):
in there. But I think it's more of a curveball
and a change up in terms of he comes in
and runs some more rpo, runs the spread, you know,
actually runs himself, and you know, shows a different side.
It both gives Washington something to have to respond to
in Week one but it also gives other teams something

(36:01):
to have to prepare for going going forward. So I
actually think he's more of a weapon that Dabell might
think about using than it is, you know, just in
his development. So I'd love to get your guys' thoughts
on that, and thanks again, thanks for all your work,
and you guys have a great, great week and great team.

Speaker 2 (36:18):
Appreciate it.

Speaker 6 (36:18):
I mean we took that question from YouTube. Yeah, one
of their viewers on YouTube earlier in the show, you
didn't think so. I think they will have some packages
in for him, only because I think da Will trusts
him a lot. He's proven to be trustworthy and I
think he brings a different athleticism to the position. I

(36:39):
don't know if I don't know if they have any
plans to do it, but who knows. I think I
think anything goes this year, quite honestly.

Speaker 3 (36:46):
Look, Bob, they need to win more games. You know,
the last two years they did not win a lot
of football games. And you're right, you got to do
everything you can with this schedule. The margins in the
NFL are extraordinarily thin. If you can do anything to
shift that just a little bit, one or two more
first downs in a game that can be the difference
between winning or losing.

Speaker 6 (37:06):
Absolutely, absolutely, and I think that's one of the things
that they're looking at. And I think that although they
haven't added any skill position pieces outside of drafting Scataboo
as a third running back and as I mentioned, adding
Hudson to give your offensive line some stability, but it's

(37:28):
not like they brought in any other wide receivers or
anything like that. I think they're confident because remember when
you do get protection and you have balance as a
team and you're playing good defense. I'll take you back
to twenty twenty two and they took Isaiah Hodgens off
the street. The guy had one hundred yards receiving in
the playoff game, and the guy was like, this phenom

(37:49):
all of a sudden because of what you were able
to run the ball, stop the run, have balance, and
then David was able to scheme guys open within the
system of what they do offensively. And I think they
feel like with solid quarterback play and the ability to
run the ball, that they will be able to create
opportunities for people.

Speaker 3 (38:10):
Yeah, I think they made a good point. I think
that's the argument where and oftentimes it's guys making improvements
that are already on the roster, internal improvements of young
players that will elevate a team from one year to
the next.

Speaker 6 (38:21):
You could see it in Elik Neighbors just being in
the cafeteria, his body language, the way he carries himself.
He's much more comfortable, looks like he's gotten a little
bit bigger and a little bit stronger.

Speaker 3 (38:33):
Acts like a pro.

Speaker 6 (38:35):
Yeah, it's it's it's a world of difference. It's a
world you know, And I think Tyrone Tracy talked about
that on the conference call yesterday. Being in year two,
Drew Phillips has talked about, you know, being able to
see things and understand things on a different level. You know,
for a lot of those rookies it was a whirlwind,
and you know, I think this year everything kind of

(38:56):
slows down for him.

Speaker 3 (38:58):
I'm with you, lenin Columbia, Maryland. Len will be at
the game on Sunday in an ancient chapital. Len, what's
going on?

Speaker 9 (39:04):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know opening Day, you just no
matter where it is, jeez, it's hard to miss it.
I mean, you know, you got to be there on
opening Day. And luckily it's down here so I'll get
to see it. But let me sum up my experience
and you guys will can relate to this an old
quote A fool and his money is soon parted. But hey,

(39:26):
it's going to be a great day at FedExField on Sunday.

Speaker 2 (39:28):
Son. How'd you get how'd you get the tickets?

Speaker 8 (39:32):
Uh?

Speaker 9 (39:34):
It's a seat geek seek. But I was very specific
where I wanted to be. I've been in the stadium
a lot of times, Bob. I got down this way
in nineteen sixty five to go to graduate school, and
I've probably seen over fifty of the sixty games that
were played between that date.

Speaker 6 (39:54):
And I'm just I'm curious, Lend, because of their success
that they have, i'd get into the NFC Championship game
and the building of the momentum for that franchise. Did
you pay a big premium on Seki?

Speaker 9 (40:10):
I paid something that I could tolerate, Bob. And I
also was where I wanted to be in the stadium.
I could have done a lot better, but I didn't.
You've been in the stadium obviously. I didn't want to
go upstairs. I wanted the lower bowl and I wanted
a particular end of the field for the getaway.

Speaker 2 (40:33):
Gotcha all right, I got it.

Speaker 9 (40:35):
So I was a.

Speaker 3 (40:37):
Way out of the parking lot after the game. He
knows there's one road out of there. You got to
get out of there quick.

Speaker 7 (40:42):
There you go.

Speaker 9 (40:42):
And I wanted to be in that end of the
field so I could do that and when the gun
went off, head for the exit and and didn't have
to come down escalators or you know, ramps or anything
like that.

Speaker 3 (40:57):
What do you have on the game?

Speaker 9 (40:58):
So that that was That was my story. It was
not an endorsement of seat geek. I was just able
to find one where I wanted to be at a
price that I could tolerate.

Speaker 3 (41:11):
Ticketmaster is the official ticket market place of the Giant.

Speaker 9 (41:17):
So yeah, so it's going to be exciting, you know.
I don't know. This has been the theme of the
call so far. I don't think you know, we're going
to come down here. I don't see any reason why
we can't win this game. We've had success down here.
I think we got a better team. I'm not so
sure they're ready to be a full force this early

(41:41):
in the season. We're going to have a tough time
running on them. That that interior with pain and kin
Law and Newton, who is ready to emerge as a
you know, tough flight.

Speaker 3 (41:54):
Player, and Bobby Wagner.

Speaker 9 (41:56):
And we're going to have a tough time running the ball.
And for me, it's I just seem to think that,
you know, Russell's got to win this game for us,
and we got to keep you know, we got to
keep the quarterback in third and long, you know, third
and sevens. And I don't think it's going to be
a high scoring game. I think, you know, it's going

(42:17):
to have to kick a few field goals if we're
going to win this game. But I have every confidence
that we can win it. I have every confident we
can win it because I think we'll stop there run two.
We're much better upfront, and you know we got Dexter.
So so what do you guys think on my breakdown here?
If I were going to how we're going to win

(42:38):
this game, I think Russell is just going to have
to carry us.

Speaker 3 (42:41):
Let I'll be honest with you and Bob, I'm curious
your take on this. I think this could be a
little bit more of a high scoring game. I think
the Commander's offense is very good. We know I'll get
Jayden Daniels is the Eddiebo, Samuel the Ede Laramie Tonsel.
I know Sam Cosby's on injured reserves. There's some questions
on the offensive line. I think Honordley starting at right
tackle the rookie, so you don't know what that's gonna

(43:01):
look like early. But defensively for Washington, they don't have
a premium pass rusher. The best pass rusher, dren S
Armstrong was probably on a really good pass rush like
the three maybe like the two b on a pass rush.
I don't know how much more Shawn Lattimore has left
a corner. There are other outside corner I have questions about.
So I think I think this could be maybe a

(43:24):
little bit more of a higher scoring affair this weekend.

Speaker 2 (43:26):
Well, I mean the Giants moved the ball.

Speaker 6 (43:28):
The Giants moved the ball kind of at will against
them last year down in Washington. I mean, I know
it was only week two, but you know Jones was
throwing it all over the place. I mentioned the Singletary fumble.
They had a couple of key drops, including the Neighbors
one late in the game. I could see it being
I could see it being a little bit more of

(43:49):
an open scoring game.

Speaker 3 (43:50):
You know, both teams in the twenties.

Speaker 6 (43:52):
Yeah, I mean last year they couldn't stop Brian Robinson.
I mean that was the bottom line is they couldn't
stop Brian Robinson and they fell asleep.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
I'll never forget calling.

Speaker 6 (44:01):
This and saying watch out for Noah Brown, and Noah
Brown had that big play against him which kind of
broke their back.

Speaker 2 (44:08):
He did, Jersey Kid.

Speaker 6 (44:10):
I know he's coming back from a bunch of injuries,
but look, it's a very winnable game. But the Giants
are going to have to play a very good game
because Washington your team. Yeah, and let's let's face it.
In that Week two game against Jayden Daniels, he ran
into a couple of sacks. He ain't running in the
sacks like he did that day. He's a much more

(44:31):
polished player. But yeah, thankful shot.

Speaker 9 (44:35):
If we can keep him, if we can keep them
in third and long, because I don't think they're going
to run I don't think they're going to run the
ball very well. But if we can keep them in
third and long, you know, and control Daniels a little bit,
I don't see any reason why we're right there. I
think it's going down right to the end. I think
it's going to be a close game, and this is
going to go right down to the end. And hopefully

(44:57):
we're on the right side of it. And and thanks
for taking Michael one thing on their offensive line, boy,
I don't think I've watched their games. Being down here,
I get to see the three preseason games that they played.
I'm not as enamored with Connolly who's playing on the

(45:18):
right side, as much as people seem to be. I
think I think Burns is he could have a field day.
I don't think he's ready to tons of is tough
to stop. You know, he's he's a man, no question
about that. And the two guards, you know, reasonable guard.

(45:39):
I think we can control it. It's going to take
two people to you know, it caused me was a
big loss. Yes, they're playing. I think it's a guy
named Ali Gretty's he's a backup.

Speaker 3 (45:50):
And then Brandon Coleman, who they moved out in from tackle,
is the other starting guard, correct if?

Speaker 9 (45:55):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And the center, I mean the
center is a major league play.

Speaker 3 (46:00):
Yeah he's fine.

Speaker 9 (46:02):
For sure, but hey, let's go Giants. Thanks for taking
my calls and great to talk to you guys, and Bob.

Speaker 3 (46:09):
He brings up third and seven against Washington. This brings
up one of our YouTube channel questions, Jadan Daniels running
ability on third downs. It's a difference maker. Right scrambles out.
He gets eight yards when they need seven, get six
yards when they need four. Do you think you might
see Abdul Carter as a quarterback spy in this game
to slow Daniels down in those situations.

Speaker 2 (46:27):
I think they're gonna use them.

Speaker 6 (46:28):
They're gonna use his athleticism, maybe as an off the
ball backer to kind of keep an eye on Jaden
Daniels and at least press him to the point where
you slow him down enough so that others can rally
to the ball. But I mean as great an athlete
as Abdul Carter is, I mean Jadan Daniels is Jaden Daniels,

(46:51):
no questions, we'll see. But Carter gives the Giants a
much better fighting chance than they had in the two
games against him last year.

Speaker 2 (46:58):
That's why he was the third old.

Speaker 3 (47:00):
All Right, we got about ten minutes ago. Let's go
to rich in Florida. He's up next, Hi Rich, Hi.

Speaker 10 (47:06):
John and Bob, welcome back to BBKO.

Speaker 4 (47:09):
Thanks right, do a great job.

Speaker 10 (47:10):
You're on, in my opinion, the best show and all
of me to today and Giants footballer John's team does
a great job.

Speaker 3 (47:19):
Well, thank you, Bo.

Speaker 10 (47:20):
I've learned since I've seen every game since nineteen sixty one,
no matter where I was in the air force, never
predict anything about the Giants. However, I got to make
a full prediction this year, in all good faith. You'll
get a kick out of this, John, that I predict
that both Wilson and Charlie will have more positive things

(47:43):
to say about the Giants on their calls this year
than negative.

Speaker 3 (47:46):
Rich. That is the boldest prediction I've ever heard. I
got to be honest with you. I have never heard
of a prediction that bold before. That's you're going to
be wrong, but I appreciate you being brave about it.
I'll just say that ye have anything the.

Speaker 10 (48:00):
Team conference call, Bud. He said that will never happen,
especially with Charlie. But you know, you gotta think positives,
just like Tatino.

Speaker 3 (48:07):
Right, No one thinks positive like Paul Ta Tito. That's true.

Speaker 6 (48:10):
Yes, the sun is always out over Paul.

Speaker 3 (48:13):
Amen, you have something the team for me today, richer
is that all you.

Speaker 10 (48:16):
Got Bills are bringing back seeing every game cautiously optimistic.
All your points were, We're very good. We're just cautiously optimistic.
I think you know if the preseason is any indication,
and you never know. Like I said, I've seen every game,
They're going to be more competitive this year at the
talent level, especially a quarterback. My concern is always the

(48:39):
offensive line. And then still don't have a real number
two wide out. And I'm putting my cards on the
table about Hyatt and this is it make or break.

Speaker 6 (48:48):
Well, Slayton's your number two. I mean, appreciate the call again,
John we I can go back numerous years and I
can find you a whole bunch of tape of Slayton
running down the field wide open and just shoulders slumping
as he went back to the sideline because he had

(49:08):
his man beat and either the ball wasn't thrown to
him or the quarterback was running literally for his dear life.
So I think Slayton's gonna get a chance this year
to make some explosive plays.

Speaker 2 (49:21):
I believe that we'll see.

Speaker 3 (49:23):
On the surface this year. Bob, the Giants with the schedule,
the way it's set up against some very tough teams.
But again, you don't know what these guy team are
gonna look like when the Giants play them. I think
that's important to note. You're gonna have to win close games.
You're gonna have to control your own mistakes. You know
you're facing Patrick Holmes in week three. Yeah, can you
beat the Chiefs at home? Shore? Can you beat the

(49:45):
Chiefs at home if you turn the ball over twice? No,
you probably can't. So you got to play clean football.

Speaker 6 (49:49):
Play the Chiefs early in the season, then late in
the season.

Speaker 3 (49:52):
Absolutely, you gotta play clean football. You're gonna have to
win some close games. He mentioned, I think was when
that mentioned Geo hitting some big kicks Layton games. That's
gonna happen, happen this year if you're gonna win some
of these games. So it's these little things on the
margins that are gonna make the difference in trying to
win some of these tough matchups.

Speaker 6 (50:06):
All right, I got an appeal out there for Graham
Gnah Yes Opening Night twenty twenty three, blockfield goal, trying
to chase the guy returning for a touchdown injures his
knee hobbled through half the season, went on ir last year,
opening kickoff in Washington, Echla returns it for a touchdown,
pulls his hamstring. Didn't have him for the rest of

(50:29):
the game, and it was called back because it was
a penalty in Washington. Please, at any point during the season,
if a guy breaks one, just run to the sideline, please,
And if the returner happens to be crossing your path,
just stick a hand out and try to push him
out of bounds. And if you don't, just please go

(50:50):
to the bench. You need They need him, they need
He's still a really good field goal kicker. Their margins
will be small this year. They're not gonna be blowing
teams out. They're gonna play a ton of close games.
As you mentioned, John, They're gonna be fighting up in
their weight class. At other times. You need Graham Gonno
for all seventeen games.

Speaker 3 (51:11):
I'll keep it simple. Don't try to like really tackle
anybody to your point, just push him at a bounce.

Speaker 6 (51:17):
Or don't and don't chase anybody, and don't run full speed.

Speaker 3 (51:20):
That was number two. No running full speed and no tackling.

Speaker 2 (51:24):
And get out of bounce.

Speaker 3 (51:25):
Just get a bounce.

Speaker 2 (51:26):
Yeah, that was the whole Marino thing.

Speaker 6 (51:28):
He'd throw those picks, and I think Schule has said
that he was gonna he was gonna find him or
whatever if he dared to even try to tackle anybody.

Speaker 3 (51:36):
You're more valuable healthy than whatever value that attempted. Player're
gonna try to.

Speaker 6 (51:40):
Not equating Graham to Dan Marino, but it's the same principle.

Speaker 3 (51:44):
All right, Joey and California will wrap us up today, Joey,
what's going on?

Speaker 7 (51:47):
Pal?

Speaker 5 (51:48):
Hi, guys, that's a go.

Speaker 3 (51:49):
We're great.

Speaker 4 (51:50):
Good.

Speaker 5 (51:51):
First of all, great job on the show. Love listening
to you, guys. I just want to talk about like
a few things I would like to see out of
the Giants this year.

Speaker 1 (51:58):
Sure.

Speaker 5 (52:00):
First of all, the legacy blue uniforms and the vintage
color Rush uniforms. I'd love to see those be the
permanent home in the Way jerseys that came out last week,
and when we're wearing those, those are cool. Love seeing those.

Speaker 2 (52:12):
How old are you, Joe?

Speaker 3 (52:13):
I love those two by the way, thirty six.

Speaker 2 (52:17):
Yeah, so it's interesting, right.

Speaker 6 (52:19):
I wish they'd go back to the old uniforms, says
said No, says the Giant fan of your age group,
because when they wore that uniform, there were giants fans
of your age group and a little bit older that said, Man,
I wish they'd go back to the old uniforms, which
are now the ones they're wearing now. The uniform for

(52:40):
my youth. Follow what I'm saying. So it's like, yeah,
it's like this Catch twenty two.

Speaker 2 (52:45):
I think.

Speaker 6 (52:46):
I think it's one of those things you got to
kind of judge where your core fan base is in
their evolution to which uniforms are considered the ones beloved,
because there were like my dad and you know, obviously
he remembers the fifties team and the early sixties team,
and I remember as a kid the seventies team. The

(53:09):
uniform they wear now is what they.

Speaker 3 (53:10):
Wore, and that's what mister Maarra remembers when he was
growing up as well.

Speaker 2 (53:13):
Correct.

Speaker 6 (53:14):
But now the fans are getting old, some of those
some of those younger fans are getting older, they identify
with the eighties, nineties unifor O. J.

Speaker 3 (53:23):
Anderson against the Bills, right, el I remember.

Speaker 5 (53:26):
The nineties uniforms, about the away jerseys, you know, they
were cool at the first one we had the great pants.
But now with the white pants and the red strips
and the red stocks, it's like, oh no, I'm looking
like the Boston red socks here, like seeing that.

Speaker 3 (53:43):
They had the blue helmets. They still love the blue helmets.

Speaker 6 (53:45):
They did wear white on white I think back in
the fifties and early sixties at one point.

Speaker 3 (53:50):
And they also have two Super Bowls wearing those white jerseys.

Speaker 5 (53:53):
Correct, Yeah, that's true, that's true. But anyway, getting back
to something else i'd like to see this year. I
don't know if it's because like the last few seasons,
it's been really pessimistic for US Giants fans, but you know,
the lack of touchdowns on offense was a big problem

(54:13):
last year. I hope to see at least on average
two to three touchdowns a game.

Speaker 3 (54:18):
Last two years, I know that what I said, last
two years, that was a problem.

Speaker 5 (54:22):
Yeah, So I'm hoping this year we can at least
increase the touchdowns. And I don't think two to three
is a bad expectation. You know, I don't want to, like, say,
five touchdowns a game, but I hope two to three
per game would be reasonable. And the last thing I
want to touch on look I get this kid, Jackson Dart,

(54:45):
and I hate saying kid. I can't believe I'm older
than this guy, but I get the hype around him
and he looks good. But me personally, I think we
should treat him like Aaron Rodgers was treated by the Packers,
like Carson Palmer is seated by the Bengals. No need
to rush him, waiting until we see if the offensive

(55:06):
line is better first, then put him in. I don't
really think there's a rush for this kid, right.

Speaker 3 (55:13):
Joey appreciate the call.

Speaker 6 (55:14):
Yeah, I mean, he's not sitting the whole season. He's
he's going to play some this year. It's just, you know,
in a perfect world, you're having a really good season
and you're in a game in which maybe you win
a laugher or god, you know, God forbid, you're on
the short end of a really bad score, and uh,
you know, you get him in there, you get him
to play a little bit, but he's going to play

(55:35):
at some point this year.

Speaker 2 (55:36):
That's just the way.

Speaker 6 (55:37):
You know, John Kitten is sitting for Carson Palmer for
an entire year.

Speaker 3 (55:41):
Ain't happening.

Speaker 6 (55:42):
You can't even you can't use Rogers as an example,
because Rogers was sitting behind a first ballot Hall of
Famer and Brett farre I'll use the kitt and the
Palmer thing. Just it doesn't happen anymore. I mean, Mahomes
sat for sixteen or fifteen games and then he's started
the last game for Alex Smith. They were on their
way to the playoffs. It was a game that didn't

(56:04):
mean anything. I think for if you look at the
Giants team this year, you got to think, at some
point Jackson Dart's playing. You hope it's not until much later, correct,
And I think that's the goal.

Speaker 3 (56:14):
They want to bring them along slowly, and you hope
Russell Wilson plays well enough, the offense is good enough,
the teams wins enough games. Well, that's not going to
be an issue. All right, Bob, Just give me your
final thoughts year as we head into the season.

Speaker 6 (56:24):
Final thoughts are I can't wait. I'm excited for Sunday.
I'm excited for the season. If I hear one more
person tell me about the schedule, I'm going to throw up.
Because on average, four of the teams that made the
playoffs from the previous year do not make the playoffs.
The strength of the schedule is based on last year,
and once they kicked the ball off on Thursday night

(56:45):
to start this season, everything changes.

Speaker 2 (56:49):
Everything changed.

Speaker 6 (56:49):
There's going to be injuries, You're going to play teams
that Again, I use the Peyton Manning example of twenty eleven.
Everybody looked at their schedule in twenty eleven and said,
oh my god, we got to go to Indianapolis to
play the Colts. And then Peyton Manning missed the whole year,
and suddenly people.

Speaker 2 (57:05):
Couldn't wait to get the Indianapolis to play the Colts.

Speaker 6 (57:08):
So it's a week by week proposition. Look, I'm hoping
that they get you know, at least split through the
first two games, get off to a positive start. But
I'm encouraged by what I see. But we're just talking
right now. You got to do it on the field.
Would a coach Confflin say, talk is cheap?

Speaker 3 (57:26):
Play the game.

Speaker 2 (57:26):
Play the game.

Speaker 3 (57:27):
And then one of the questions of Eric Hole your
favorite game to call besides one of the two Super Bowls?
Thirty seconds?

Speaker 6 (57:32):
Whoa I think the two thousand NFC Divisional playoff game
against Philadelphia, Ron Dixon returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Speaker 3 (57:43):
OH seven Title game at Green Bay.

Speaker 6 (57:45):
OH seven Title game at Green All the title games
and then uh yeah, and then the Seahorn play. You
know those are those are really cool moments. My first game.
Even though the Giants got blown out thirty five to
nothing against the Cowboys, that's still a memorable game because
I had my dad standing right next to me in
the booth.

Speaker 3 (58:03):
Oh that's great, Bob, good stuff, my friend. This was fun.
It was fun, Bob, Papa, John Smelk. That's big. Will
kick off five percent by Cadiallite, the official luxury vehicle
with the Giants from that konzackmary Hill podcast. To keep
getting better. We'll see you next time.