Big Blue Kickoff Live 9/2 | Season Preview and Projections

Lance, Jeff and Howard make season projections and take calls. SUBSCRIBE NOW: AppleSpotifyGoogleStitcheriHeart Radio 3:00 - 53 Man Roster 14:00 - Offensive Projections 29:00 - Defensive Projections 48:00 - Calls

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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, New York, Giant Tray and the
Giants Mobile app will punch you in a nose for
sixty minutes where they relentless competitive attitude part of the
Giants podcast network. Welcome to Thursdays that they should a

(00:25):
big blue kickoff live here on giants dot Com as
well as the mobile app with you for the next
sixty minutes. Multiple ways you'd interact with us here on
the program. You give us a ring at two zero
five one three. You can also following interact with us
using hashtag giants Chat on Twitter. We got Howard Cross,
Jeff Fiegl's I'm Lance Meado, Good to be with you,
and a reminder you can find the archive of this

(00:45):
show and our entire podcast network on the Giants Mobile app,
podcast platforms everywhere and at giants dot com slash podcast.
So we are officially one week away from the start
of the NFL regular season, because at this time next
week you'll have the Dallas Cowboys in the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers colliding to open up the two thousand, twenty one season,
and then, of course a few days later we'll have
the first Giants game at Midlife Stadium against the Denver Broncos.

(01:09):
So a lot to tackle over these next sixty minutes.
We had the Giants make a few transactions yesterday to
continue to tweak the fifty three man roster. Will make
some predictions about team rankings, where the Giants will finish,
as well as what the playoff picture potentially could look like. Gentlemen,
look forward to these next sixty minutes. How are we
doing today? I'm doing good. How are you doing? I'm

(01:29):
doing very well. Everybody's safe and sound. After the eventful
storm last night, I hope it was definitely eventful. Yeah, definitely.
I mean, uh, they I mean they closed the golf
course today. Tragic. That is very bad in our world.
That's uh. But I'm glad you guys are doing good.

(01:50):
I know that. Um that was a lot of rain. Man.
I have a I have a little like a planter
on the top of one of my um outside patio tables,
and I measured it six and three quarters inches of
rain last night at my house. It was crazy. I
made the mistake of going to a movie last night,
and then on the way home, I was trying to

(02:11):
figure out how to get back. Okay, well, did you
want one? I couldn't focus on the movie because I
kept hearing the rain on the roof of the of
the theater. I'm like freaking out, but it was I
saw a Candy Man do remake or not? Okay, got you?
That's the one where you say Candy Man five. Okay, Well,

(02:32):
I don't think I'm really keeping it away, considering Howard
it's a remake. No, I'm not talking about the remake.
Just don't be saying that. Okay, I'm sorry, my apologies. Yes,
well I still have four more to go. I only
said it once. Yes, we absolutely way. Okay, Well, I'm
glad to hear that everybody's say if it sounded in
all seriousness, our listeners and tweeters who were in the

(02:53):
New York, New Jersey metropolitan area, hopefully that you are
safe and sound as well. We'll try to take your
mind to focus off of things. We turn our attention
to the giants. So, guys, let's start with the fifty
three man roster. And we said this earlier in the week.
It's extremely fluid when they came out with the initial
fifty three man roster, to assume that it was going
to stay put, I think is a little naive considering

(03:13):
how many transactions occur. So as far as the fifty
three man roster goes, they made a few tweaks. Yesterday.
They claimed first of all three players off of waivers,
and in order to make room for those three players,
they had part of ways with wide receiver c J.
Board and Dante Pettis, as well as linebacker Trent Harris.
But then then brought back c J. Board and they

(03:34):
brought back long snapper Casey Creeter, which the Giants had
indicated that they were going to do so I don't
think that was a surprise. But as far as the
three players that they claimed, they brought in two linebackers
and a wide receiver. One linebacker Justin Hilliard, a drafted
rookie out of Ohio State. He spent the off season
with the Niners. Then they brought in linebacker Quincy Rochet
Steelers two thousand, twenty one, sixth round pick out of

(03:57):
Jeff Eagels alma Mater, Miami. He was at Temple prior
to that, and then wide receiver Colin Johnson Jaguars two thousand,
twenty fifth round pick who had eighteen receptions for two
seventy two yards and two scores last Season's a big guy,
six six, so he gives them a little bit more size.
So let's start, Jeff with your take on these two
linebackers as well as the wide receiver. They pretty much

(04:18):
went on a youth movement, brought in a lot of
guys that were drafted within the last two years to
add some depth at various positions. Yeah. Well, I I
mean Justin Hillier is a guy and also Quincy roche Air.
We talked about them in the off season and when
we were doing all of our draft coverage. Especially Quincy.
I mean, he was a guy that actually fell quite
a bit when you talk about where he ended up
in the sixth round. But um, I think that's more

(04:39):
of his athleticism. That's kind of the question. But I
feel like Patrick Graham will find a spot for him.
And uh, you know, for some reason, the Giants they
like these University of Miami defensive linemen and linebackers. Um.
You know, one more importantly is Jesse Armstead, who was
from the from the U But I mean these these
are good things. And I think that this is kind
of how you said Lance at the roster it is

(05:00):
very fluid right now. Um, will these guys be around
all season? I don't know, but the fact is that
they've they're building up that linebacker. Um, then get getting
some you know, I thought Harris was a guy that
I really thought was gonna do well, and he made
the team initially. But as we all know, this kind
of just until we get to the game week for Denver,
this thing is still gonna constantly go. Um. You know,

(05:20):
there's gonna be people coming and going in here and there.
But UM, I'm just wondering how many times I'm gonna
call Colin Johnson Calvin Johnson because he's six looks six.
If he plays anything like Calvin Johnson, I'm all for it.
But you know, again, this is this is a product
of the fifty three man roster that really is and
it isn't and it's gonna completely just change as we

(05:41):
go forward until we get closer to the game. And Howard,
part of the reason why it seems as if they're
focusing at least on the wide receiver position is you've
got four guys, right now with that spot that have
question marks in during Week one, you've got Kenny Golladay,
you got Darius Tony, you have Darius Slayton who got
banged up in the final preseason game, and then John
and Ross. Of course they just put on I R.

(06:02):
So that opened the door for a guy like Colin
Johnson as well as to bring back C. J. Board.
But you know, you want to be ready to go
with some veterans in case you're not full go with
that position at the start of the regular season. Yeah,
you want to be ready to go up with some veterans.
But you know, it is what it is. When you
look at the training camp and you look through the
preseason and you watched what was happening these guys not
being able to practice, not on the field, um, not

(06:24):
being able to participate in some of the joint practice
or the preseason games, you knew that there was gonna
be an issue they had to address immediately. Uh. So
they're trying to do the best they can with patchworks.
Uh don't know quite the status of of a holiday
and some of the guys we know that they're in
theory are going to be back. But we've been talking
about this off the air with some guys is about, hey,

(06:45):
you know, they played Denver in the first game, turnaround
four days later, you're playing Washington in the second game
on a Thursday night. How healthy will these guys be?
How healthy do they need to be to play you know,
two games and basically twelve days. So it's gonna be
interesting to see what happens and how this thing shakes out. Well.
I also think to your point, how we're gonna learn

(07:07):
a lot about this Giant's offense right out of the
gates because you got the two games at a very
short period of time. But they're also going up against
two defenses that have a lot of firepower up front.
We know what Denver offers with Bradnick, Chubb and von Miller,
and then Washington invested a boatload of first round picks
in their front seven. So not only is it going
to be a matter of do you maybe hold a

(07:28):
few guys back to see whether or not you can
at least get them for the quick turnaround game as
opposed to risking them having a setback in the Sunday
game against Denver, But it's also gonna be a true
test to see where this offense could go because it's
no picnic what they're gonna go up against in the
first two weeks of the season. I think also, I mean,
Jeff correct me if I'm wrong, I would be looking
at it. And I'm not in you know, in the

(07:49):
front office or in the coaching room. I'd be looking
at it. Okay, Washington is a divisional division arrival. We
we have to kind of win that game. If I'm
gonna put impcess on either game, I'm not gonna put
them is on the first game that we might be
able to get by, but I'd be really interested in
seeing how they you know, a man up for that
second game. So it's gonna be interested, you know, all
the way around. I don't know how the players are

(08:11):
gonna react on what the coaches are thinking, but you know,
just looking at it from a perspective of a long
term for the whole season, I'd be leaning in that direction.
A couple of things lands that I see here. Um,
when you look at the organization of this roster. When
it comes to the practice squad, all thirteen guys on
there were on this team before. So that's important because
I think that it's you know, you want some of

(08:32):
that familiarity with the offense or the defense or the
special teams, that you can move these guys up and
down the roster as you're allowed to. UM. I think
that you know, this quick game on Thursday, as Howard mentioned, UM,
you get a ten day rest between that Washington game
and your next game, which is really beneficial if you
are trying to get some of these guys healthy. You know,

(08:52):
at the beginning of the season, we all know that
seventeen weeks is a long season. UM, and if you
have to afford to keep some guys out for the
first two or three, one of the reasons why they
put those guys on I r um, this just a
quick three week turnaround and then they can come back.
So I think that's important. UM. But yeah, I mean,
these guys, Uh, they're up against some really good defenses.
And I know we're gonna get into some of these

(09:13):
rankings and things, but this offense has got to come out,
you know, swinging, because they really are up against two
powerful defenses. You look at that Denver and look at
that Washington defense. That is no picnic for the first
two weeks, for sure, no doubt about it. I mean
there's balance across the board on those defenses. I mentioned
the fronts, but the secondaries are not too shabby as well,
especially what Denver brought in with the likes of Kyle

(09:35):
Fuller and Ronald Darby to add to two safeties that
have a wealth of experience, including Justin Simmons who has
been one of the top ones in the game. Now,
I want to piggyback over a few points you have
that you just brought up. You mentioned thirteen players were
brought back on the practice squad who all were in camp,
so that means they still have three spots open, which
means it's possible Trent Harris could return to the practice squad.

(09:56):
I would not rule that out since they still have
three spots to fill. The other thing, as you mentioned,
I are John Ross I mentioned was one of the guys.
They also put Ellerson Smith, the rookie linebacker on i
R as well, So those are the two guys that
are gonna miss at least the first three weeks of
the season, but they would be eligible to return for
Week four. Then obviously the Giants would have to free
up a roster spot. Lancebado, Jeff Eagles, Howard Cross, with

(10:18):
you here on Thursday's edition A Big Blue Kickoff Live.
Two zero one four five one three is the telephone number.
He could also chime in on Twitter hashtag Giants Chat Now, Jeff,
is you alluded to One of the other things that
we wanted to tackle today was give our projections for
where this team will finish with respect to team rankings. Now,
we want to go over a few different categories offense

(10:39):
and defense, yards per game, points per game, points allowed
per game, sacks sacks allowed, and turnover differentials. So I've
got the numbers. So where the Giants finished, guys last season,
just to give you an idea of where perhaps they're
going to improve or perhaps you think they may struggle.
So let's start with offensive yards per game. Last season,

(11:00):
it was not pretty thirty first overall in the NFL.
They averaged just under three hundred yards per game. Injuries
and a lot of other factors played a role in that. So, Howard,
let's start with you, where do you think perhaps they'll
finish ranking wise in offensive yardage per game? Well, you know,
we got these these few days here before the first game,
and there'll be some shuffling, probably an offensive line and

(11:23):
hopefully everyone will be healthy for With everyone healthy at
least for half this season, I hope. I don't think
they're gonna be as as far down as they were
last year. I think they'll be closer to the middle
of the pack. Um. Again, I just I don't know
who's gonna be playing at the skill position in the
first few games of the season, So that's gonna really

(11:45):
affect how they finish at the end of the season. Well,
I'll tell you so, yeah to nine is not getting
it done. Um. And then we'll even get to the scoring,
which is going to have to improve too. But when
you look at this, if this, I'm trying to think
with the weapons that this giant and Howard hit the
hit really good. He said, I don't know who's gonna
be on, you know, on the field for the first
two or three weeks of the season. However, I'm counting

(12:07):
on these guys to be healthy through the whole season.
This is just how we kind of do these things, right. So, um,
I'm hoping that this Giants offense can manufacture about seventy
five yards more a game, so that we've come with
our around three d and seventy five yards per game. Um,
that's a lot, but realistically maybe fifty. And if you
do that, then that's two hundred three d fifty yards

(12:28):
and that puts him, like, you know, right around the
top in the right in the middle of the pack.
I think that would be a huge jump for this team.
And I don't think it's unrealistic. If you get s Kwon,
Barkley and Holiday and Tony and Rudolph and all these
playmakers on the field Ingram and these guys can can
put up some points in that dread zone. I'm adding
up in terms of where that would have put them

(12:51):
based on your projection, three seventy five or three fifty,
Well three fifty three fifty would have put you in
nineteen in the NFL last season. Yeah, that's where the
Lions finish. And I want to go with three. No, No,
I'd like to go with three fifty because I think
that I I think there's gonna be some inconsistency with
the personnel and like and like Howard had mentioned about
that offensive line, I still think there's gonna be some tinkering.

(13:12):
And I think that the first month of the season,
as Joe Judge alluded to in his press conference, that
we kind of figure things out. I think that that
maybe they're a little bit low. So maybe at the
end of the season they get three fifty lands, and
I think a jump from the thirty first offense and
in uh yards per game up to nineteen I think
would be a pretty good climb. Yeah, I'm with you,
because I was also thinking about like that twentieth Ballpark.

(13:33):
Because I don't know about you, guys, and listen to
both of you combind to be in the NFL, I
can't remember. I actually not to get off topic, but
I was bringing this up when we've had a lot
of Cahler is asking well, what do you think Daniel
Jones is gonna do this season? And some people have said, oh, well,
you know, whole throw for thirty two thirty three touchdowns
And I said, hey, that sounds great, and if he does,
the Giants will run that to the bank and not complain.
But what I pointed out, guys, is how many quarterbacks

(13:56):
have gone plus twenty or more in touchdown passes in
this span of one season. So I'll throw that out
in terms of team yardage, if you're talking about a
team that was just below three d I mean, is
it realistic to think that they're gonna jump eighty yards
let's say, in the span of one season. Yes, they
certainly have the offensive firepower to do that, but I
think we have to be more realistic. That's the way

(14:17):
I'm with you, Jeff. I think plus fifty plus forty
five is far more reasonable than perhaps plus eighty five
to plus ninety in terms of the jump this season.
I think that if, if, if, if we're gonna go
with everyone's healthy. If we're going with everyone healthy, it's healthy.
I think Daniel doesn't turn the ball over nearly as much,

(14:37):
and I think that jump is, you know, more achievable.
I think in terms of plus twenty touchdowns. How that's
what you're saying. Yeah, I think it's way way more.
You're saying everyone's healthy. That means I got a healthy sake, Kuan,
I got a healthy Galla Day. I got five healthy
linement that they're gonna play together throughout the season. So
you got Shepherd out there is doing this thing, get
Ingram that's quote unquote healthy. Now you got Rudolph who's healthy.

(15:00):
An So I'm if I'm looking at everyone healthy, then
I'm and you know, a good defensive. It will get
them the ball back a lot more this this coming year. Yeah,
they're gonna score more. That's just the way it works. Sure,
I don't disagree with you that. I'm just I'm looking
at it more of they had as a total. I mean,
they had just over ten touchdown passes last season, and
that includes Colt McCoy of course. So Josh Allen, for example,

(15:22):
who had a heck of a year last year. He
finished second in the m v P voting. Josh Allen,
as great as his season was, he only improved plus
seventeen in touchdown passes. So even he who made a
huge leap in terms of his completion percentage, went up
nearly ten percentage points, and he still only had plus
seventeen in touchdown passes. So I'm looking at Allen, I guess,
and saying, yeah, maybe Daniel Jones could get to that

(15:44):
plus fifteen plus seventeen territory he gets plus twenty, that
would be an unreal campaign. It would be one of
the most unique seasons I think we'll see in NFL history. Okay,
I'm I'm I'm gonna stick with what I said. No,
I'm not. I'm not saying you're off base, Howard my words.
I'm just saying that if he does the plus twenty,
that will be something that will be first in quite

(16:06):
some time we're talking about and by the way, that
that'll answer the question what everyone wants to right, So yeah,
that's definitely would be like, Okay, I think we got
our guy here, absolutely, So, Howard, do you want to
give us a ranking note for offensive yardage per game
ballpark number where you think they'll finish, not total number.
I'm talking about like ranking wise, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen. I

(16:29):
think they'll be just above twenty. I think they're gonna
I think they're gonna move up. I think a lot
more defenses are gonna be healthier this year than than
we're last year. You know, Denver's defense is gonna be healthier.
Both both players are gonna be There's gonna be a
lot more guys on the field. Some retirements will change things.
But with the way I'm looking at the divisions in
the way and teams are gonna be playing, I think
the John should should be right around nineteen in the

(16:50):
UM in the rankings for the league. Alright, so we're
pretty much all in the same Bullpark on that one.
Let's stay on the offensive side of the ball. So
this way we don't go back and forth. Let's now
go to what Jeff talked about, which this is the
one category that must improve. I think we can all
at least agree on this at this points per game
because just like offensive yardage per game they were thirty
first in the NFL LAS season, they only average seventeen

(17:11):
and a half points per game. So Jeff, let's start
with you on this one in terms of where you
think maybe they'll wind up. All right, so we have
to understand that we're putting one more game on the schedule,
So this is going to you know, the numbers are
gonna be a little bit skewed, but I'm gonna go
I would like to see this team and prove from
seventeen and a half to get give me one more
touchdown a game up to twenty four. Okay, with again

(17:34):
with these weapons and everybody healthy. Um, I think that
you know that's sitting there at seventeen games. If I
do twenty four points a game, that's, um, that's gonna
be four or eight up from one of my seventeen
games four and eight total. So where did I get
my numbers here? I can't even read my own writing.
You're doing math that makes things very convoluting. Four points

(17:57):
a game, okay, Um, we're gonna talk about four eight
points total for seventeen game. That's what I was getting at.
So um, I'd like to see them up in you know,
probably last year was two d and eight points. I'd
like to see them, you know in the three hundred
and I guess somewhere in there. That's a lot uh game.

(18:22):
That's a touchdown more a game. So that's why I
just you know, if you go, it's a significant jump
by the way a touchdown a game, but it has
to be. No, I'm not disagreeing with you, and I'm
just saying, but you know, to make that jump that's
not necessarily snapp of your fingers and then all of
a sudden and real quickly and I'll get to let
you get to this, Howard, what's more realistic a touchdown
more game for this offense or twenty more touchdown passes

(18:44):
for Daniel Jones? That might be you know, that might
be an over under question there. I don't I think
that it's more probable that this offense can put up
one more touchdown a game than Daniel Jones throwing twenty. However,
they kind of go together. If he does that, definitely
this number is gonna be high. Yeah, he does. Um
I think for the because I'm not used to doing this,

(19:06):
this version of it, but I think that for the
for the most part, again based on everyone's healthy, I
think that they do score a few more points per game.
Defense holes got defense. Red zone defense works very well
for the Giants. They'll get the ball back a lot more.
They'll have a lot more opportunities. Um So, more opportunities,
be more chances. And I think again I'm pulling on

(19:30):
the development of Daniel that he will you know, throw
the ball away a little bit more so that preserves
more points down the red zone instead of trying to
force it into the end zone. I think like which
we saw in the last preseason game. But I think
he's kind of like he's gonna get a lot earful
about Hey, you know, we'll take the points. We'll take
the points. We'll take the points. If you keep taking

(19:51):
the points, you're gonna score more that that's just an average,
so I don't think it would be there might be
twenty points a game. Twenty four is a lot, but
I think points a game would be what they should
be up to this year. Uh, they should have more games.
They will score in the thirties. I hope. Yeah. I'm
with you, Howard. I think twenty four maybe. Well, it's

(20:13):
not that you're reaching. I think you're looking at it, Jeff.
From the standpoint off they need to get there. If
we're talking about playoffs and we're talking about contention in
winning the division, I absolutely agree with you there. I
just don't know whether or not that realistic jump is feasible.
Similar to my point about Daniel Jones touchdown passes, however,
I will say this, Jeff, to answer your question, I
think that they can get the scoring up much more

(20:35):
so than Daniel Jones increases his touchdown passes by twenty
that I'll give you. So I'm gonna go slightly ahead
of Howard. I think they could get to like that
twenty one and a half. I think they can increase
their scoring by about four points a game. I think
that's certainly doable. I don't think that's asking for much,
but I don't know if I see a touchdown jump.
You just to give you, guys, an idea, twenty four
points per game, if we go with Jeff Ceiling, that

(20:58):
put you eighteen nine teenth in the NFL last season.
And by the way, the two teams that average twenty
four points per game, they didn't even make the playoffs
last year. That was the Chargers and the Texans. Just
to give you an idea. Yeah, I I and I
don't see that. I mean, that would be outstanding for
go to thirty one to even that number. Um And
even if you I think you know, I think it's
if it gets too we're all happy. But I mean,

(21:20):
if you go between what you said Howard and what
you said Lance, I think this offense will be much improved,
and they think we will be able to talk positively
about it in any way because it's a balancing act
in terms of to Howard's point, what the defense is
gonna give you. If you think that unit improves and
they don't give up as many points at least in
the first half of the season, that you don't have
to put as much weight on your offense. So it's

(21:41):
that symbiotic relationship. Let's stay on the offensive side of
the ball. Sacks allowed. Now, last year they gave up
fifty sacks. That was tied for the second most in
the National Football League. So Howard will start with you
on this one in terms of where you think they'll
finish up. Well, again, that that goes with the offensive line.
I know that we've we've been beating on these these

(22:03):
guys the whole time. But it also goes with Daniel
being able to get the ball out of his hands.
It makes decisions quicker and if and if everybody's healthy
to check down to two, say Quana is there, uh
Rudolph will be another weapon, not just in receiving, but
being able to help slow down some of those speedy
uh pass rushers are coming off the edge. That's gonna

(22:25):
help the middle might be a little more sure from
some of the guys who picked up here at Layton
free agency. So, you know, fifty sacks, I think they
probably cut that down by at least ten, maybe fifteen.
I don't think he's gonna get sacked uh, you know,
fifty times. He might. They might. If he gets sacked
twice a game, that's thirty four. So yeah, I think
they get it down to two thirty four sacks total. Well,

(22:49):
I uh, you know the old saying the proof is
in the pudding until I see the improvement. Now, I
know the giants are trying there there, you know, the
turnstiles going around and around to try to find guys
in here to to fit the puzzle. Um, but they
need to find out quickly because these guys need a
little connuity to play with each other for a little
bit of time so they can understand their their tendencies.

(23:10):
When when who's next to me? And I'm sure that Howard,
you can attest to that you certainly don't want to
have a tackle lining up every other week that you
don't really know much about, you know. So I think that,
um this, I think that they could they can get there. Um,
you know last year at fifty, I'm guessing forty two. Okay,
so it would be eight less of game half a
sack of game less. Um, I think if forty two

(23:33):
would put them in the top ten last year Lance, Um,
you know, so, I think that would be a good,
good improvement. I just I gotta see better than fifty.
I know that less than fifty, and so does Daniel
has good point, Howard, absolutely, maybe we should call Daniel
and ask him about this number. Well, something tells me.
He doesn't want to see fifty. He's not gonna be

(23:55):
like he would be like, are you talking about touchdowns
or sacks? I'm looking at the totals. Forty two is
exactly the tenth highest total in the NFL last season, Jeff,
just to give you an idea the Detroit Lions. So
Matt Stafford was sacked forty two times last season, all right,
so that that might be a little bit. But when
you look at fifty me and um, you know, the

(24:17):
second most and forty two being in the top ten,
it doesn't seem like it's it's a much of a jump, right,
eight more eight less sacks, but um, you know, so, yeah,
but what happens if those sacks lead to turnovers? So
that could be a huge difference. Well, I guess, yeah,
I guess the the yeah, Zack tells a story, you know.
But yeah, that's if those are turned if those eight

(24:39):
sacks are turning it into points, then everything's going to
be skewed. Yeah, just to give you an idea of
the totals. And this is kind of crazy. I didn't
even realize this until I look at these numbers closely. Guys,
I don't think this is stunning because of the records
of the NFC East teams. But did you know that
three of the NFC East teams were the top three
in sacks allowed last season werelatel Fia allowed sixty five,

(25:03):
the Giants fifty, and Washington also gave up fifty. The
other team that gave up fifty was the Texans. Those
three teams retied for a second, and look at all
three of those teams, I think with exception. I mean,
when you look at the Giants um and when it
comes to injuries, the Giants offensive line didn't have a
lot of big time injuries. It was just a lot
of inexperience. Look at the Eagles and the and the

(25:23):
Washington Redskins and look what they had. They had major
injuries at their Eagles. It was revolving door. So I mean,
that's kind of you know. So with me thinking that
the Giants were they were the more consistent of those three,
and a lot of the guys are back this year.
That tells me that they should get better. Well, I'm
in your ballpark, Jeff. I was thinking if they could

(25:44):
cut it down to the low forties this season, I
think that's reasonable. Now, hour did the math with if
you give up to a game. I think, listen, they
would love it if they could cut it down to
thirty four or thirty five. I mean, that would be significant.
You could live with giving up two sacksy game. I
don't see why you can't overcome that. I just think
it'll be a little bit higher because of to your point, Jeff,

(26:06):
the youth and inexperienced still on this offensive line right here.
Here's the other thing too, that you know, the number
of sacks is kind of misleading because you know Howard
how these guys get the jump on stile sack, you know,
and it's in the guys are just tackled. It's so
I think that you know, you gotta look at these
with a little bit of grain in stall. I mean,
the numbers kind of I don't know how many true

(26:28):
fifty sacks there, words were the quarterback dropped back and
he literally got sacked, like you know what I'm talking about,
so um and I know that that that you've gotta
really break it down a little bit more. But I
just it's amazing to me when you do look at
these numbers and go from fifty to forty two, forty
two puts you in the top ten. I think that
that's that's it seems so easy, right, But it's not

(26:48):
all No, not at all. Well, Jeff, you bring up
an excellent point because I think if you look at
actually recent NFL history, and we've had these conversations on
previous shows, the teams with the more mobile quarterbacks actually
wind up giving up sometimes more sacks than the conventional
guys that stay in the pocket, because if your quarterback

(27:09):
is roaming out of the pocket, he's more likely extending
the play and giving the defense more of an opportunity
to come after him. So for example, we mentioned the
Houston Texans, who's their quarterback or was their quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Then Dak Prescott got sacked a lot even with that
solid Cowboys offensive line. So it's the same thing. Daniel
Jones is a mobile quarterback. He has the ability to

(27:29):
roam out of the pocket. Sometimes when you hold onto
the ball a little too long, you're gonna give up sacks.
It's not's necessarily on your offensive line, it's just the
mechanisms of your quarterback that are in play. Yeah. Yeah,
And that's a good point. And and again it's you
really have to really break down these numbers and kind
of understand it. But you know, when we're kind of
spitball on this stuff around, I think these are kind

(27:50):
of good numbers to look at your general numbers. And
all I know is that, um, I'm sure that the
coaching staff and that offensive line room would like to
get down below fifty. That's for sure, no doubt about it.
Two zero one four five one three is the telephone number.
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(28:10):
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(28:54):
with the Giant Sweet representative now by calling eight eight
eight N y g N, you could select option before
for that Lance Beato Jeff Eagles. Howard crossed with you
here thursdays that they shared a Biglue kickoff Live. We
started off talking about some of the Giants recent transactions
as they continue to tweak the fifty three man roster.
Right now, we've been delving into projections where the team
will finish in a number of categories. We talked about

(29:16):
offensive yardage per game, points per game, sacks allowed. Now
let's flip to the defensive side of the ball. So
defensive yardage per game. Last season they finished twelfth in
the NFL. They gave up three hundred forty nine yards
per contest. So Howard, let's start with you on this
one nine yards per contest that it seems heavy. I

(29:38):
think they're gonna play better this year. I think that, uh,
you know they picked it up towards the second half
of the season. Uh, they they've started to be, you know,
one of the top I think top ten defenses towards
the end of the season. I think they start out
earlier this year. I think they understand what they have
to do and that they're they're probably gonna have to,
especially since everyone's kind of beat up offensively, They're gonna

(29:59):
have to really be the the group that carries carries
the team. So I think that goes down from from
three nine or right around you know, right around three hundred,
maybe three three twenty. Maybe they're gonna cut it down
a lot. They're gonna move up and in the rankings
pretty quickly. Well, here's the thing about this statistic. So
when you look at that defense last year for the Giants,

(30:20):
they were that men don't break. They were a really
good red zone defense. So that number at three forty
nine is probably why you think it's kind of a
little bit high. But when I look at this um
this defense as far as how many points they give up,
they were a top ten defense as far as points given.
So I think this team probably stays the same. I
think they are one of those guys will give up
some big plays and this and that. But I think

(30:42):
that this team has a knack for tough in and
up in that red zone. So I think that this
team will probably stay around the same number, maybe just
a little bit less um. And if they they can
get some pressure on the quarterbacks, certainly that will help. Yeah,
I can see them finishing pretty much just in the
same ballpark, you know, maybe get to three forty, shaving
off maybe about ten yards per game, especially because of

(31:04):
Howard's point, the continuity and a lot of the guys returning.
But let me ask you this, and I'm just curious
your perspective. At least when I evaluate a defense, I
think the scoring defense is far more indicative of what
your unit is cable of doing, because, to your point, Jeff,
even if you allow teams to march down the field,
it all depends on how well you're keeping them out
of the end zone. So I look at the scoring

(31:27):
defense is far more important to me than how much
yardage imp giving up per contest. Now you mean scoring defense,
meaning that what you mean points per game that I'm allowing. Okay,
that you're allowing. That's what I mean by scoring defense. Sure, yeah,
I agree. Yeah, that they kind of go hand in hand, right,
I mean, well, they don't go hand in hand. I
think that it's more important that if you do have
that good red zone defense and that you're scoring is down,

(31:49):
then I think that that, to me, is a better defense.
I don't care if the guys go up and down
the field, It doesn't matter to me, um. But what
does matter to me is that I keep him out
of the end zone and keep him out from kicking
the ball of the goalpost. So that because listen, the
Giants when you look at their defense last year, okay,
and they were a top ten points allowed per game defense,

(32:11):
but their offense only scored seventeen and a half points.
So when we're talking about what we already did about
how we got to get this Giant's offense to get
up to in the twenties, that's only gonna help your defense.
I mean, because you're holding these guys. What's the rule
of thumb, Howard is it's seventeen points a game. The
defense says, okay, we we we give up seventeen. You
guys should get eighteen and win. Yeah, it's if they
can keep you down to seventeen or less. Then they

(32:32):
think they should win every game because they figured, like,
you know, everyone's gonna score two touchdowns and two field bells.
That's how most teams look like the defense look at
their offense. Yeah, there's you know what. Um, last year, Lance,
just when I was doing my little research on this,
the Giants who were three fifty seven, which is a
top ten defense if you want to get you some numbers.
If the Giants could stay with like three thirty, that

(32:54):
would have been fourth in the NFL last year in
two thousand twenties. So I'm hoping that the Giants will
move into that hopt in like maybe get up in there,
you know, right around the fourth fifth. I'd like to
see them right there. Now. Is that total points, Jeff,
you're referring to or points allowed per game? Um? You
know what, I'm sorry I missed. Yeah, I'm going total points. So,
I mean, if you wanted to talk about total meeting

(33:16):
what you think they're gonna give up over the course
of sex game. That's what I just said, points allowed.
I didn't even look the the per game, so I
took it a little bit further. Sorry, no, no, no worries. Well,
That's why I just wanted our listeners and our viewers
to understand where you were coming from. But I just
I look at how many points you give up is
much more important than the yardage because this even goes
back to what we were all talking about. On the

(33:37):
offensive side of the ball. If you look at the
Giants offense last year, well, how did they get the
seventeen and a half points per game? It wasn't necessarily
that they couldn't move the football. It was the fact
that when they got into the red zone they were
moving six percent efficiency rate. Guys. I mean, just think
about that. That That means you get into the red zone,
you're only scoring a touchdown forty six percent of the time.
That was also bottom of the NFL. It was thready

(34:00):
first and the Jets were thirty seconds. So you know,
it's all about don't tell me about how will you
move the football, tell me about what you have to
show for moving the football. Same thing on defense. I agree,
I agree, all right, So let's stay then on topic here.
So we talked about the yardage per game, Howard, let's
go to now points allowed per game. They gave up
just over twenty two points. Twenty two point three, and

(34:21):
as Jeff mentioned, that finished ninth in the NFL, so
they were a top ten scoring defensive unit. Where do
you see them this season in comparison to twenty two
point three points allowed? I think they're right around the same.
But you know, again, a lot of it's gonna depend
on how well the offense plays. Is gonna depend on
how if they keep them off with short feels, which
they had a lot of those early in the season,

(34:43):
If they just keep them into a regular like every
every offensive series ends with a kick, whether it's a
field goal or a punt, then I think they're gonna
they're gonna do a very good job. For the defense.
The defense plays well when they get some three and
now stops. They were struggled with that early in the season,
so that that brought the average up a little bit.
I think there'll be a little bit better that this

(35:05):
year with the with the d lin and the secondary looking,
you know, looking a little stronger. Um, So I think
that the number should be just about the same, maybe
down a point, but it should be just about the same.
So we'll put you down as twenty one. How about that?
Just what about you, Jeff? Where was it last year.

(35:26):
Last year was twenty two point three points allowed per
game and that was in number what did you say
that was? That was ninth overall in the NFL. I'm
going to say that they're going to stay the same there.
I think there'll be a top ten. I mean, if
you want me to give you a number, I'll just
go I'll go one better at eight or was it eight?
Did you say you mean you think they're gonna move up, so,

(35:48):
you know, pretty much with Howard then because point three
or maybe they give up twenty two points then, which
I'm gonna I'm saying they're gonna get better. I think
they're gonna get a little bit better. But you know,
I mean, yeah, I don't think they'll fall out of
the opten. So if you put a number on I'm
gonna do, I'm gonna be eight, not you know, eighth
in the league. In that yeah, I mean, I'm gonna
stay put in terms of I think they'll pretty much

(36:09):
finish exactly where they were last season. Here's my concern,
and I know you mentioned Howard with the experience of
the contiguity. I just look at and this is actually
gonna be a smooth transition into our next category, which
is sacks. The fact that after Leonard Williams, your next
highest guy had four sacks last season. I understand they
lost a few guys due to injury. I just think

(36:31):
the pressure is also going to be an important indication
of what this defense does in keeping opponents out of
the end zone. Can Leonard get eleven and a half?
Can he get double digits again? Guys, and will lorenz
Ocador or O'Shane Zimmenez or Ojelry get maybe eight maybe nine?
Will the next compliment be a guy that's borderline double

(36:54):
digits as opposed to the gap last season? Just give
you an idea. You had Leonard Williams eleven and a
half and then you had Kyler Facral and Dexter Lawrence
at four. That's a sizeable gap. Now, grant did they
spread the wealth? So there were a lot of guys
that contributed and they got forty sacks. But I do
think you can't just assume everybody's gonna duplicate their sack
production from last season, and that includes Leonard Williams. Well,

(37:18):
let me take this. Watching Lorenzo Carter uh in practice,
uh this this preseason, He's definitely gonna be a double
digit sack guy. Um, he's got the potential. I'm with you,
it's not even the potential. He's you know, he you know,
coming off the injury, you would have thought that he
would have been, you know, second guesting himself a little bit,
trying to you know, protect his legs or favoring some No,

(37:39):
he has gone from zero to sixty. And I and
I know that. You know, teams have been watching the preseason.
They know like, Okay, this guy's gonna he's gonna be
a problem. So he's gonna be a handful on whatever
side that he winds. Where he lines up, uh Zimmerman
the X mand he'll get some sacks. You know, it'll
be easier for him because of because you got Lorenzo

(37:59):
on one side, you got the big guy in the middle,
and then he'll be trying to get it. So it's
gonna be very interesting to see how teams try to
block these guys and figure it out. They're gonna get
more sacks this year. The number is definitely gonna go up.
I think it's gonna be maybe two guys in double
digits and a lot of guys were you know, right,
right below that. I'm looking for this this defense to
put some pressure on some guys, and I think it's

(38:21):
gonna be very interesting to see how it works. I
know there's some good teams out there, but I do
believe that there are a lot of teams that are
like the Giants there. Their offensive lines will be trying
to find themselves and look for the Lorenzo Carter that
have you know, feasts on these guys. Well. So if
that's the case, Howard, they had forty last season, they
were tied for twelve, so you think that number is
gonna go up? How high? Though? Do you think that

(38:42):
number is gonna go up this season? I think if
you if you add like uh, politely, you give everybody
at least two and give give everybody at least two
this in the front line, that right there would be
eight more sacks. But you give Lorenzo Carter, he's gonna
get at least uh. Like I said, he didn't play
the whole season almost, so I think he's gonna be
a double digit sac guy. That's that's gonna bring him

(39:02):
up to fift sacks. Yeah, that certainly would be high.
The Steelers were at fifty six last year, I feel
like for this team to move into the top ten,
they were actually number twelve. I'm I'm with Howard. I
think what's gonna happen here and with scheme and with health.
I think that you know Zimenez and and also Oldlar
I talk about health there because he's a guy, They're

(39:23):
gonna have to manage him just because he's a young guy.
But I'm still he still has that knee, and um,
I know it was giving him a little bit of
problem in training camp. And then you look at at
um who'd I missed there? Oh, Lorenzo Carter? Well, I
mean Patrick Graham just came out on his breath conference
today and say he looks like a different player than
he has the last three seasons. I mean, I'm looking
for big things. So I'm not counting on double digit

(39:43):
sacks from all those guys, but I'm I'm counting on
multiple sacks. And I think I think this team can
go from forty to get into the top ten under
according to my notes here, to move into the top
and end, they would need forty two considering what the
numbers were last year, so that's only two more. So
I'm gonna say I don't think they get into the fifties.
I'm gonna say right in the middle of the pack,
around five more, six more. I'm gonna go forty six

(40:05):
for Buddy Ryan, forty six defense. There you go, Here
you go, perfect symmetry, And I think forty two is
where I'm gonna end up, because I do think that
they can slightly improve, But I still see them staying
in that same ballpark because I think the numbers are
gonna fluctuate. Even if Lorenzo goes up, can you then
get you know, the other guys to make up for
what you lost with the Kyler fact rolls And so

(40:27):
for sure, I'm gonna give you one other one that
may get your number up a little bit higher. And
that's the fact that I have four safeties now that
know what they're doing, okay, a lot of experience, and
I think I look at some of the box safety
guys like that can come down and make maybe we
get a couple more sacks out of that safety position
than we did last year too well, especially with what
Patrick Graham could do with some of those guys close
to the box, and you know he has confidence in

(40:49):
them based on how he's moved them around. Alright. Our
final category turnover differential, which clearly is an indication of
wins and losses in the National Football League. Now, lad season,
they were dead even at zero. They tied for seventeen.
And remember early in the season it was not good.
They were in the minus and then they recovered because

(41:09):
they sort of balanced things out. Second half of the season,
the team overall was much better in terms of turnover differential,
and a big part of that was the offense was
doing a better job protecting the football. So what do
we see in terms of turnover differential this season, Jeff,
Let's start with you on this one. Okay, So we
know that this is something that everybody talks about, um,
every coach for sure. Um. Whether the players believe it

(41:32):
or not, that's their problem. But for the fact that
the matter is is that this is a big statistic um.
And for a team that was at zero last year
and the record that they had, I find kind of,
you know, it doesn't really tell a story. I look
at the numbers from two thousand and twenty. If you
are plus four, that puts you in the top ten.
Most all of those teams made the playoffs. Okay, so

(41:56):
what do I gotta do to get from zero to four?
I well, obviously don't turn turn it over four more
times and take four away. So I think this team,
and by the way, eleven led the NFL um so
I'm thinking this Tennessee. By the way, by since, and
I'm gonna use the old Lance Meadow term here opportunistic defense. Okay,

(42:18):
And by the way, Howard, that's an inside joke between
him and Lance and I because it took me two
years to work to be able to say that. Stupid work.
Oh my goodness. Anyways, I got it down now. Opportunistic.
So I think this this defense will be a little
bit more opportunistic because I believe that the pressure on
the quarterback will be a little bit more opportunistic, and
I think that they would get the ball a little

(42:38):
bit back. So I'm gonna tell you that this team,
um is gonna be on the cusp of the playoffs.
And I think that this team to get there, they're
gonna have to be plus three or plus four on
the season. M I think they are at least plus three.
And again, I think this is going to be because
Daniel Jones as mature and he knows and you know,
be a little more protective of the football. Uh. He's bigger,

(43:01):
he's stronger, he you know, he's gonna do a better job.
I think also from the secondary standpoint, the safeties are smarter.
A lot of those guys will have that green dot
on their hammet, helmet, they'll be calling things out. Knowing
where you should be on the field, gives you more
opportunities for for for turnovers, look for a lot of that.
Uh this obviouslynes so plus three is like as low

(43:23):
as I'll go, but I think that they will be
at least plus three one this year's over with. Well,
I'm looking at the numbers from last season. I know
Jeff was referencing some of them. I just want to
give our listeners an idea in the plus does not
guarantee that it adds to wins or you're gonna make
the playoffs. Because interestingly, the Falcons, the Chargers of the
Patriots all last season finished plus three and they all

(43:46):
missed the playoffs. How about this guy's that Dolphins were
plus nine. Now, grant that the Dolphins won ten games,
and in perhaps other years they would have made the playoffs.
They just missed out because they lost to the Buffalo
Bills in the final week and the Browns beat the Steelers.
But it's just an indication of you put yourself in
a good position. But it doesn't necessarily automatically indicate that

(44:06):
you're going to be in the postseason hunt. Because I'm
just quite surprised with the plus last season and we're
actually not in the postseason. Well, I look at it
like this, I think I think turnovers are gimmicky. Uh
it's you can't figure the mouth. You don't know exactly
when you're gonna give them when and when you're gonna
get them. So teams that were like plus eleven last year,

(44:28):
they might be plus four this year. It's just the
right place, right time kind of thing. Yeah, So it's
it's very instant cost. Fumbles are probably bigger, bigger, bigger
effects than than interceptions, and the interceptions up a lot.
But if you can cause guys to turn the ball over,
like taking down they're taking it away from him, that
that's big. Like the play that uh the linebacker had

(44:51):
down the middle, Martin Martinez reaches up and takes the
ball away from the receiver before he hits the ground.
Those big place. Now you mean you look at the team.
Let me see how I'm going for the New York
Giants and two thousand seven. Okay, um, where am i here?
NFL New York Giants? What is it? Can you got it? There? Lands?

(45:15):
You want to go to seven? Oh no, here we
go two thousand seven on the Super Bowl, by the way,
and the New York Giants were minus nine. So there
that that that tells the story that you just said.
That doesn't doesn't guarantee you anything, right, but it is
but it is beneficial, that's for sure. Yeah. Well, and
I think to Howard's point, and I am wholeheartedly in
agreement with him because I can't tell you how many

(45:37):
seasons where as he mentioned, one year you could lead
the NFL in turnover differential, and then the next year
you could actually be completely at the bottom. I saw
Dallas pull that off one season. And here's a perfect example.
You mentioned the two thousand seven Giants. Okay, so, Jeff,
in two thousand eight, the Giants did a complete one eighty.
They were plus nine in turnover differential. Thousand eight cans.

(46:02):
He just absolutely blue lid because he remind us nine.
And when he made me so, then you go, you
went from minus nine to plus nine in the span
of one season. It happens. It's been crazy like that
a lot of teams. So I mean, I'll go with
plus one because you know, just the law of average.
I'll say that I think they can improve, but I
don't know how much of a dramatic improvement, mainly because

(46:23):
to Howard's point, it's flukey. I mean, unless you have
a crystal ball, you really truly don't know. You could
be an extremely opportunistic team where you're banning the ball
up in the air twenty five times and hey, maybe
you don't make the interception it falls to the ground.
So I'll be on the conservative side. I'll go with
plus one. All right, So I'm start Howard Will Howard
will love this one. So I truly remember that when
Tom Coughlin on Friday's was stat Friday. So every Friday

(46:46):
meeting we started out with all the statistics and we
were sitting there and after the special teams meeting and
everybody was in the team meeting, Tom would come up
and go over all the statistics. You know, if you
do this, if you do that, you don't do this,
you do this, And I'll never forget he always went
over the turnover one. Right. Okay, here's the deal. If
your plus one on the road, you win x amount
of games. If you're minus this And and I remember

(47:09):
sitting at one of the games on the sideline in
the first quarter, we had already turned the ball over
two times, and all I could think about was that
stupid statistics saying if you're on the road and you
have two turnovers or more, you're not You don't lose
the you win, You win the game like three percent
of the time. And I think I tapped Tisy on
the on the shoulder and said, hey, remember what Tom
said last week about the Friday stats, that we're not
winning this game. We're down two turnovers in the first quarter.

(47:32):
It is like I remember Coach Coughlin doing it a lot,
even as a as an assistance coach, coming in and
talking about the turnover. Are these guys doing this like
we can win no matter what. Let's just have that mentality.
But it is a big factor in the game. And
the reason why it's the factor those turnovers also have
a big thing to play with momentum. It swings the
momentum so greatly for the team. Against get them Lance Meadow,

(47:55):
Jeff Eagle's Howard crossed with you here Thursdays they should
a big blue kickoff live. Let's open up the phone
line as we move along here. Two zero five one three.
You could also use hashtag giants chat and we check
in with lenn in Maryland? Who joints us? What's happening?
H I hope you're all, hope you were made it
through the storm. All right, thank you. We got we

(48:19):
got a little lucky down here. It stayed a little
north and up into Pennsylvania and then swept across to
you guys, So we gotta we got a break. We
got rain, but nothing like we were expected to get.
And I'm glad you guys are well. Um, what we're
getting closer to a fifty three men rosser for opening day.

(48:42):
I suspect I suspect there might be another changer too. Um.
You know, I like the I like what we did
along the offensive line. I like those two trades and
what they brought. I think there was incremental improvement, you
know in the backups. And who knows if Shane is
really hurt Bailey, Uh, you know Rettison. Um, it was

(49:04):
a fourth round draft choice, which was one ahead of
Shane so Um. And I've seen him a little bit
down here because he was with the Ravens and he's
he's okay, But I think as a backup, it was,
you know, really really a big improvement. Now yesterday, I'm
not sure what we gained yesterday. I think we cut

(49:26):
better wide receivers than Colin Johnson. I mean, I know
the size is kind of intriguing, six six, but he's
I don't I mean, everybody on the team is probably
faster than him. I guess we'll have to I guess
we'll have to see. I don't get in and again

(49:47):
it's Jacksonville. I mean they were one in fifteen and
they're cutting a wide receiver and we grab a wide
receiver and cut Sales, cut, Pettis cut. Willis kills his
back on the practice squad though, well I know that,
but he's not on the It's not can still be
brought up if need be. And you know, Colin Johnson
has a little bit more size and he's more of

(50:08):
a traditional wide receiver in the David Stills, because Stills,
remember was a quarterback who's still making the transition. He's
young in his development, and you think about the big
receiver also, is that it's you know, it's it's easier
to get him the ball, even though he's not the
fastest guys as you're claiming on the outside on your
that height, you run an eight yard out, you're in
front of the dB. If you run them a comeback,

(50:30):
you're in front of the dB. Uh. The closest you
get to the red zone, you're in front of the dB.
And contested balls is where where you get to be
the best chance because you're taller than the dB. So
that's what that's what a big guy. That's what big
guys do. And you see a lot of them in
the league and you're like, man, that guy's not moving
that fast, and all of a sudden he's got like
eight catches in the game. Yeah, well okay, yeah, we'll

(50:53):
see what happens. Um. I just I wish, you know,
I like the kid Willis, and I just wish we
had kept Willis. And back on Johnson, you know, if
the if the first four guys are healthy, Um, and
you expect Board to get a uniform because of the
variety of things that he does. Johnson, I mean, he

(51:14):
doesn't get a uniform. Yeah, but you could say the
same thing about David Stills too. You want him on
the fifty three man roster. What's the chances of him
getting uniform? Well, if the first four, probably not. But
if if well that's the point though. But yeah, we
can sit here and go over Minutia Land. But you're
arguing between two guys that are probably not going to
get a uniform. If all four top guys are healthy,

(51:35):
that's what you're good. Good point, Lands, good point, good,
good point. What are we doing? Okay, what are you
doing here? LANs Hey? Lance? Lance? I said, Okay, I
know you let me. You don't want to come to
fruition anyway, all right, let me. I'm not being a

(51:55):
big bully of the reality here, all right, guys, alright, guys,
let me let me go back to my point. I
think we cut three wide receivers that were better than
than the one than the one we picked up off
the street. Now, in the linebackers case, um, you kept
you kept Harris and cut it down a bowl, and

(52:17):
then you cut Harris and pick up Roach. I guess
Roach is the outside guy. I mean, was he a
six or four with Pittsburgh? Whatever? He was midround, midground.
Yeah yeah, midground, six six round picked with Pittsburgh. I
mean Pittiburgh game like two months. You know, you wonder

(52:39):
I think sometimes coaches fall in love with players. Yeah,
but Len, you know what sometimes is the numbers game.
And it may not be all. You know, if you
look up up at Pittsburgh, I don't know their whole
defensive line and rush situation up there, but sometimes it
comes down their numbers, you know, and all of a sudden.
And I've said this before and I know you'll agree
with me. It's a luxury to be able to have. Unfortunately,
when your record is what it is, the ever wire picks,

(53:01):
you're up there and you get you get a chance
to get some of these guys. Well, if it but
if it is a game, if it if it is
a game of numbers, yevn I do agree with you
on that. You're right on. I mean it may not be,
but you know, but but um, I mean he's a
six round draft in his first first year. I mean,
what do you what do you I mean you see

(53:24):
a guy like that? Could cut him? We scoffed him
up right away and then cut someone who while in
his third game against the Patriots. Harris now really didn't
look that good. He's had a pretty good preseason, so
I was playing I need to get that one. But hey, hey, listen,
I hope he gives us the past rest if we want.
Jeff question on the special teams right right now, if
you look at the roster, were twenty six on defense,

(53:45):
twenty four on off You know where I'm going with this.
Twenty four on offense and three on special teams if
you count the second fullback and Cam Brown or yeah,
ghilosophy of the second fullback or um either o year
old Brown as special teams players giving them giving them five. Yeah,
you've got three and five. And I think that's probably

(54:13):
about where we're gonna. I mean, either Brown or Hill
you are going to be the special teams specialist, as
is as is the second fullback. So well Bright, well
you know me, I'm a and five guy. You're five guys.
And for Howard. Howard created that, Yeah, when he created

(54:34):
a five man special teams category. So including the three
the three specialists, and then there's got to be two
core special teams guys. Now, you know, don't don't forget
about Nate Ebner either he's still out there and I
know that, you know, coach Judge likes him. Um, so
he may be a guy that appears sooner or later,
whether it's with the Giants or somebody else, because he's

(54:55):
he's on the prow. Well, he's got Joe's got the Joe.
Joe just got the ultimate power. So if he likes somebody,
he can be on the team. But there's another case
if I think a coach just liking a guy and
wants that guy on the team, talk to me last
thing very quickly, Riley Dixon. You know, sometimes I want
to put him in the Pro Bowl And sometimes I say,
what is this guy doing on the team? Yeah, what

(55:17):
what do you got to say about the consistency? Well,
I know that he worked on it in the offseason,
talking to the coaches, talking to him personally. UM, I
know he has some better personnel. I mean, Cam Brown
is a guy that's gonna really I mean, I couldn't
believe how how he was running down on as the gunner.
He will be at that size and athleticism. So I

(55:38):
think that last year he struggled a little bit and
as far as direction, and I also think that personnel
wasn't the greatest. So I think that that punt team
will be look at what the giants are doing, the
special teams, why they realize that they need to have
that type of a of a weapon on the punt
team so that that they can you know, create that fuel position. Yeah, okay,
well okay, thanks for that. He thanks for your time.

(56:00):
Drives to the phone call. Let's head back to the
phone lines. Phil is in North Carolina. What's happened to Phil? Yeah, Hi, guys,
thanks for your show. Appreciate you. Um the question, you know,
after after flustered, after looking at Thomas and you know,
I'm thinking about you know, we may have like a

(56:20):
systematic scouting issue in our uh you know, our team
here because you know, if you really look at it
over the last twenty years, I can't thame me two
of my favorite picks out of maybe thirty or forty picks. Uh.
That or we're substantial and that's Chris Knees, who's probably

(56:43):
our best pick and on most value of pick being
David Deal. I mean, I have a quick solution for
this is basically higher the higher the Ravens scouting department.
But we do seem to do well to sense of
tackles certain spots. Um, you know, uh, you know, wide

(57:06):
receivers and things of that nature. But OFFENSI line, boy,
we cannot draft off until line. Ask your question. Let
me ask you a question. So I know that, and
you make a good point, um, but don't you think
you know along those thirty years or whatever you were
trying to I mean, I think a lot of it
when I look at that offensive line when coach Flaherty

(57:27):
was there in the two thousand and seven two even
into the two thousand eleven season, those Super Bowl runs
and things like that, I think a lot of this
has to do with coaching down the line. And I
don't want to throw anybody under the bus, but I
mean some accountability has to come with that too. And
so I think it's all accumulation of a lot of
different things. But you can't point your finger at some
of the ways that the draft did go. And then

(57:48):
and you know, it's such a it's not a perfect science.
It's very difficult, and sometimes it does beIN a Giants fan,
you realize, why, why is it always does that is
screwing up this offensive line position? Right when you see
all these other teams around in the league, like developing
All pros and Pro Bowl guys and in Hall of famers.
So it's it's it's I see, I get your point.
I really do. I think so, Jeff. Uh, you know

(58:08):
not again, not throw anybody under the bus. Is coaching
as well, but not every player becomes a player you
want them to be once you draft him. And I
can tell you right now, the higher your draft goes,
the more likely you're gonna have guys that the fans
and any other players think or a bust. Uh. The
lord you draft you seem to be more methodical at

(58:29):
the approach and who you're picking. Uh, you're looking at
players late first round, late second round, late third round.
You get used to, you know, trying to you know,
categorize and put your players, you know, I guess layer
of them to try to figure out where the're supposed
to be. I know that for a fact, because you know,
I've watched every team around the league that's that's been
higher in the draft, and there's very few teams that

(58:52):
they hit on their first three or four picks. And
I don't know why that is. It just it just is.
If you're drafting really high, you draft a quarter back.
Usually you don't have an offensive line, and that's why
you're drafting a quarterback really high. So he comes in
the first three years he just gets beat up. Yeah,
I mean, that's just how it goes. You. You want
to replenish and rebuild your team through the draft, but

(59:14):
it's hard to get all the picks right every time.
And most of the teams that are you know, successful
and have been successful for a long time there they
seem to have better drafts, but they're always picking in
the same area. So that so some of those guys
we consider like, oh, how did that guy get picked?
He's a bust. They're not in that area. They're down
way lower picking guys. Okay, this is a quality guy.

(59:35):
That's why I like him. Uh, he would be he'll
be a good fit for us. You never hear that,
never hear them like, wow, they reached for him now
because they're down past the reaching and everything into the
area where the guys all fit. Yeah, because if they're
in the twenties in the first round, for example, you're
not gonna criticize a team for reaching. But to those circumstances,
I think, just in response to the caller, I'm also

(59:56):
just looking at the draft picks for offensive lineman for
the Giant. It's if you're just gonna look at guys
above the fourth round over that period of time, then
your focus is really gonna be on Pew, rich Burg
and Flowers, because those are the three guys that were
drafted high enough where you maybe would say, hey, I
expected them to blossom into a specific type of player.

(01:00:17):
The problem is, though, also which is somewhat related to
your point, Howard, Pew and rich Burg, it was the
injury bug. I mean, the durability issue really impacted their
tenure with the Giants, and that's what I look back at,
the inability to stay on the field and be reliable options. Now, Flowers,
it wasn't an injury. It was maybe more of you know,
the position he was playing and so forth. I mean,

(01:00:38):
now he's been with a few other teams, he seems
to have a little bit more success a guard. But
with Richberg and Pew, if you're gonna hone it on
both of those guys, it was just their inability to
stay healthy and stay on the field that was a
big issue for the tour, and that you can't predict,
you know, you just can't predict that. You have no
idea whether or not these guys are gonna last in
the NFL. That's just unfortunately, a combination of bad luck

(01:00:59):
or maybe guys I don't want to point fingers, but
maybe guys just not doing a good job taking care
of their bodies. Could be a variety of factors. It's
it's you know, the injuries are injuries. I tell people
to solid time. You don't get to predict when when
you're gonna get a injury or when you're not. Their
accidents waiting to happen. Absolutely, and Phil, we're gonna let
you go on that note. Appreciate the folk, Thanks so
much for Wayne, Thank you go on Big Blue Kickoff Live.

(01:01:22):
Is that is going to wrap things up for us
for Thursday's edition. We will be back up and running
again on Friday at eleven am Eastern. We certainly appreciate
everybody for tuning in. Guys enjoyed the conversation. I will
speak to you shortly down the road, Thank you, thank you.
Or Howard the imagine friends everybody, how would you've been

(01:01:42):
called at a lot of different names? Trust me, that's
not bad, all right? With that being said? Or reminder.
Today's episode of Big Blue Kickoff live as part of
the Giants Platforms Everywhere and Giants dot Com slash podcast
for Jeff Eagles and Howard Cross, the Imagine Repulse Kino.
I'm Lance Meadow. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday. Will

(01:02:03):
speak you out Friday. I have a good one.