October 3, 2024 • 26 mins
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk chats with Andrew Catalon, play-by-play announcer for NFL on CBS, about the major storylines for Sunday’s matchup with the Seahawks and the keys to victory for the Giants.
:00 - Giants offense
6:46 - Pass protection
10:09 - Seahawks roster
17:15 - Keys to victory
20:16 - NFL overview
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to get inside the Giants. Hulet's go, Let's go,
Let's go Giants.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Dont come get up on the Giants mobul, give me
some job.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Part of the Giants Podcast Network.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Let's roll.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants.
I am John schmelk Our guest. Today we're joined by
Andrew Catalan. He's calling the game on Sunday afternoon, Giants
and Seahawks on CBS at four twenty five. Rare Andrew.
We get a two NFC teams showing up on a
CBS podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
John, Great to see you and be with you. And
I know it is. We're getting a little more used
to me.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Last year I had Giants commanders on CBS so and
now this week, you know, another NFC matchup. As an
NFC guy growing up, I like it. We don't get
it too often, but I'm happy.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
For now Its fans. I might not know. Andrew and
I go back because we used to hang out up
in Albany when the Giants had training. Hang him up
there in Albany. You know, up until two thousand and
twelve was the last year there. I think they went
after the lockout in eleven, they went back for one
more year. I think. So that's how Andrew, you have
a lot of long term ties to the Giants covering
up there in all the day.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Grew up in New Jersey so familiar with the Giants
as a kid, and then worked in Albany for a while.
Covering training camp was to me one of the biggest
highlights of that job. And seeing you and seeing the
Giants every day in the hot summers in Albany, it
was definitely a great memory for me.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yeah, and look, we miss it, to be honest with you,
it isn't quite the same being in the same spot.
Albany was fun. You got the campus, you know, we'd
all bring our bicycles. We would bike from the dorms
the campus every day. You would walk around, everyone be around.
It was a really nice atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I loved it too.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I mean, obviously for me it was great to have
them in our backyard when I lived up there. I
just do think there is something to get away from
home for a little while. I think it does bring
a team closer together. Now a lot of teams don't
do that as much anymore, or they don't do it
for as long, But those were great days and I
think it really helped the Giants back in the day
as well.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Yeah, no question. All right, I'm sure you already start
talking to your producer and everything on Sunday. What are
some of the major storylines and topics you guys are
keeping an eye on for Giants and Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I think for the Giants it's you know, is Milik
Neighbor is gonna be out there.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
That's a huge part of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
And I think can they you know, find the end
zone quite frankly, I mean, I think they've moved the
ball well the last three games, but you know they
two of those three they didn't get in the end
zone in terms of being at home. So they've got
to find a way to get in the end zone
and capitalize off some of these drives. And for Seattle,
you know, a lot of talk about their first three games,
(02:35):
didn't exactly play the seventy two Dolphins. How would they
look against Detroit on Monday night? You know, their defense
was without five key players. Then they lost Julian Love
in the first half, but their offense looked really good.
So I think it's gonna be a tough matchup for
the Giants to try to slow down that offense, and
we'll see what they could do on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yeah, I'll get to the Seahawks on a little bit
first in the Giants, And I do think it's interesting
because I don't think there's any dab that Daniel Jones
was playing better than he did last year. He looks
more like the player he was in twenty twenty two
than the player he looked like in twenty twenty three,
no surprise. Is a better supporting cast around him, but
they have not gotten the ball in the end zone enough.
They're only averaging fifteen points a game, which is about
what they were averaging last season, and you know, which
(03:16):
was a disastrous season for the Giants. So I think
what fans are kind of going back and forth on
here is, yes, Jones looks better. Some of the things
that he's had issues with is the pass, getting rid
of the ball, quick, managing the pocket, avoiding sacks. That's
all been a lot better, but he hasn't been able
to connect to Andrew on some of those deep balls
down the field. And you do have the modern NFL
works you calling games every week, if you're not connecting
(03:37):
on you know, thirty forty yard balls down the field,
it's much harder to put the ball on the end
zone consistently.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I said this on the airdor in our Houston Jacksonville
game last week. But every single week that we've had
our production meeting so far this season, a team has said,
you don't get a lot of deep shots, you got
to take advantage of them. And I know that's something
that's not necessarily groundbreaking, but I just find it so interesting.
Every single team has said that. And John, as you know,
passing numbers are down this year, rushing numbers are up
(04:05):
for the majority of the NFL, And so I think
there's such a priority now to when you have those
deep shots, you've got to hit them. And we know
the Giants did not do that with Slayton against Dallas twice,
and those are things you look back on and say
that that could have changed the game. So when those
opportunities are there, of course you want to hit them.
It's almost like in today's NFL you need to hit them.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, you really do it. Teams aren't designed anymore and
you to just pound the ball right like if teams
are well, let me start asking you this first. When
you talk to teams and coaches about not having that
many opportunities down the field is differente was five or
six years ago. What are the things that the offensive
coaches tell you that defenses are doing that are limiting
some of those deep shots down the field.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I mean Houston last week for US was a perfect example.
I mean, they're playing their safeties back. They're not going
to get beat over the top. And Houston has the
speed to do that with Digs and Nico Collins and
Tank Dell who is injured last week.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
But that's I think a really good example.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
They're going to give it the underneath rout and they
don't want they're scared to get beat deep. You know
saw that with the Colts as well this year. Anthony Richardson,
he can throw it one hundred yards in the air,
and we don't want that to happen, so they pack
it up front with the big guys and then drop
the safeties back. So I think that that we're seeing
that a lot more of that. Teams are scared to
(05:23):
get beat with the home run ball. So you don't
get a lot of shots to do it, and when
you do, you gotta hit them.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, you have to hit them, or at least hit
half of them. Right. If you have a gave you
like a fifty percent hit rate on those, I think
you're good. The problems the Giants this year have had
almost like a zero percent hit rate on a lot
of those deep balls, which is something that has to
get better. And I think in the football that we
grew up on, right when we're watching games growing up
in the nineties, if teams played that way against teams
in you know, two thousand and one, nineteen ninety five,
(05:49):
whatever you want to look at, you know, especially having
these small, fast linebackers on the field teams have yester year,
he said, all right, we're going to run the ball
thirty five times average six yards per carry, and we're
going to go home. But offenses aren't designed that way.
Players from college don't come out that way to play
that way, and it seems like practice time isn't allocated
(06:09):
enough for the offensive lineman to be able to become
that efficient in the run game either. Where the easy
answer to beating these types of defenses where you just
pound the ball. Offenses just are not the players and
the structures are not designed to function that way anymore.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Yeah, one hundred percent agree. And it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
You see trends that change and develop over time, and
this is.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
The one that we're in right now where we're not
going to get beat deep.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
But we're also not necessarily built to run the ball
forty to fifty times a game.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
So now what do we do?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
And we see a lot of the bubble screens, we
see a lot of the quick passing game.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
We see underneath routs.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I mean, that's kind of what it's evolved into right now,
which is which is interesting. And you know, the numbers
so far this year have been really fascinating to see
play out, or if you think about it, we've kind
of been building that way and now here we are.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah. Absolutely so with the offense, I think the one
thing you have to be excited about is Ama League Neighbors.
We'll see if he's gonna play. But the pass protection
for Daniel Jones have been so much better. Andrew and
you were four sacks in the last three games last
year when they played the Seahawks, he got sacked ten
times in prime time. It was a disaster. So that's
one thing heading into this game where you think against
(07:19):
and again, we'll see what the Seahawks have on the
defensive line. They have a good pass rush, but all
of them were hurt last week. That should at least
give them the ability to protect Jones to operate a
little bit better against the Seahawks defense compared to what
they were able to do last year.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Yeah, I think it's the you know, on pay for
the best offensive line the Giants have had quite a
few years. They're playing that way, certainly in the pass
blocking part of the game. They have to improve the
run blocking and they've admitted that. And look, John, you
know it, this is a game where you need your
offensive line to be locked in because it's going to
be loud and the most false starts, you know since
the stadium opened, of any home team in the NFL
(07:55):
that they've drawn, it's not going to be easy to
communicate and you have to be on it and q's
And I think that's a good sign for the Giants
going into that game because they have an experienced line
that seems to be playing as a cohesive unit and
that's going to have to continue against Seattle.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
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So go to that retreat. New you moves to the country.
Now you're raising goats and launching a lifestyle brand. Are
you ready for all that life brings?
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Have you called the game in that building before andrew
an NFL game?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
A it's loud. I mean it's loud.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I would say it's probably the loudest. I mean, Buffalo
gets up there too when they when they got that
building rolling.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
But but Seattle is no doubt, it's not fake. It's
it's a real thing. You got to deal with.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
No, it's bad Minnesota a couple of years ago, in
that playoff game in twenty two that got in that
new building, that got very loud. But you're right, it
makes it very hard to operate, and that gives the
defensive line in the vantage. Lady, I use the silent count,
you can't use the hard count, and that puts a
little bit of pressure on the offensive line to pass protect,
but also to run the balls. You don't get into
those third and lungs when their crowd gets pumped up
(09:04):
and heading into that Dallas game last week for the Giants,
everyone's like, oh the Cowboys just give up two hundred
eighty yards to the Ravens. They got torched the week before.
Then the Giants running twenty four times for twenty six yards.
I mean, I don't think any of us saw that
one coming. So you're right, that's a fundamental thing that
I think needs to be better this week, just so
Mike McDonald can't get into his bag on third downs
(09:27):
when he's so effective.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
No doubt.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I mean, you look at the numbers from last week
and it's really surprising they couldn't do more damage in
the run game, especially against that Dallas defense. They have
to run the ball better. I mean, there's no doubt
about it that that has to be a big part
of the offense. It has to be a big part
of every team's offense.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
You can't.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
There's no more run and shoot offense, or you throw
it fifty times a game. Although Seattle kind of did
that month they night against Detroit.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Not by choice, they having to be not by choice.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, they were chasing the whole night. They had to
throw the ball, and the Giants don't want to be
in a position where they're chasing. So that the artist
is on the offensive line, it's on singletary, It's on Tracy.
These guys have got to provide a spark in the
run game on.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Sunday Johnson The podcast brought to you by Citizens Official
Bank of the Giants and game day celebrations to your
everyday financial needs. Big Blue Fans canna get the most
out of every moment with Citizens. Learn more at Citizens
bank dot com. Slash Giants And you know you mentioned
the Seattle defense. They're very banged up, but you've seen
these Mike McDonald defenses calling THEFC games for a long time,
(10:27):
doing these Ravens games. What makes him and I'm sure
you've talked to him too, what makes him such a
good defensive coaching and the way he kind of runs
this game.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, I mean, I think, again, not taking any credit
away from him, but he's he's a Raven And they've
had that that defense going back for twenty four years.
I mean, it's unbelievable that not only have they had
some incredible defensive coordinators, but so many times they promoted
from within.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Yeah, and I think that that is just.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
It tells you that they've got the winning formula. They
know what they're doing on defense. So it's swarming it's takeaways.
I mean last year they led the NFL or tied
for the most takeaways on defense in Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
And I've met with him several times.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
He's a very energetic guy, but in a way an
old school guy too, so he's not going to try.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
To reinvent the wheel. We did see him go for
two when.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
They were down by eight against Detroit on Monday night,
So he does lean on analytics a little bit, but
you know, he wants to win with defense. They did
that in Baltimore for his time there, and he's going
to try to do it again here in Seattle. So
really interesting guy. Youngest head coach in the NFL, but
he's been around some great players and some great mentors
in Baltimore, so he's very clued in on what to
(11:39):
do defensively.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Yeah, i'd say, and you aside from Week one when
the Giants had to face the Vikings, and who knew
when you wind up Week one home Wurst the Vikings
to be playing the best team in the NFC. I mean,
this is why the NFL is great. You never know
what team's gonna be awesome, right, but this is probably
the best offensive personnel the Giants have seen in the
game since. I mean they are loaded with weapons. Here.
Kenneth Walker is so much fun. They got three wide receivers.
(12:02):
I mean, we'll got to Gino Swith in a second,
but the weapons around him, they are just phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Dk Metcalf first player in franchise history with three straight
one hundred yard receiving games. Jackson Smith and Jigba is
a very dangerous player, and Tyler Lockett is still there
at the age of thirty two. Those three guys alongside Walker,
and you're right, job, this is a really tough offensive.
I thought their offense will be great. The other night
in Detroit, I mean, they put up a lot of points.
(12:30):
I know the Lions were missing a couple of defensive
players as well, but you know they've got this offensive coordinator,
Ryan Grubb, who was at University of Washington the last
couple of years. We saw what he did with Pennix
and with Roma Doonze. You know, we saw a lateral
in the middle of the game.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
They pulled out a lot.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Of different stops, but ultimately they had Walker, you know,
to pick them up in the run game. So you're right,
the Giants will be tested this is a very dangerous
offensive unit.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, it seems like they learning how to use Jason
Smith and Jigbitto. He's an injury U as a rookie,
he's really playing well in that classic kind of slot,
change of direction, short, the medium range type of passing game.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, big fan of him. And look all three of there.
They have a lot of diversity in that RDE receiver room. Right,
he got three guys that do that do different things.
I think that helps. I mean, you know, not that
they can only run certain routes, but there's so much
versatility there and they all provide a little different something.
So if it's we need a big play to spark us,
let's get some physical goal. Let's go to the k
(13:28):
metcalf all right, lock it can take the.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Top off of defense. Let's throw one deep to him.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Smith and Jigbuk great rap runner underneath, and they all
kind of have their role in this offense and it
just jails really well.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, same deal with the running back position. You know
Zach Sharba and nobody talks about him. He's a nice downhill,
powerful back. And then you have Kenneth Walker. You had
him the ball, the play might might be designed to
go left, doesn't mean the ball is going left. He'll
take it right, He'll cut it back. He breaks tackles
to play on Monday Night where he's basically doing like
breakdancing moves to stay off the ground as he's being
(14:00):
aggled by ANZELONEI I mean, I think those two backs
really comment each other with Sharbona is the grind there
and Kenneth Walker as kind of the big play gay.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
We met with Walker a couple times last year and
he told us that his dad told him, here's the
whole field when you run the ball. And when you
think of that quote and you watch him run, he
really does that. As you said, going left. Now he's
on the right side flipping over guys. The play is
never over with Kenneth Walker. You got to get hit
into the ground and you're right. Charbone is a really
(14:30):
nice compliment. They can do a lot of different things offensively.
They have a lot of nice pieces.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
And that's because Gino Smith is playing the best football
of his career. Some of the passes he threw on
Monday Night on the move into small windows. He will
just put the ball into these spots. He does not
care he's navigating the pocket well, Gino Smith, I mean,
no one want to believe gave you said this five
years ago, was developed into one of the better smarter
(14:56):
veteran quarterbacks in the league. That is kind of a
big play waiting to happen.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
It's really amazing what he's done with his career because
you and I are from New Jersey area here, and
you know he saw him with the Jets and it
was it did not go well. And the one year
with the Giants when he started for Eli to break
the streak, and just all the criticism, all the fire
that he dealt with. I mean, I think a lot
of people when he left thought probably won't see him again,
(15:23):
like he's probably done.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
And you think of what he's.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Done now, NFL Comeback Player of the Year in twenty
two Pro Bowl again last year, he was on fire
on Monday night in Detroit. I can't give the guy
enough credit for what he's done with his career because
I don't think a lot of people, myself included, thought
he would turn into this, but he has and.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
He really deserves it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
He's worked hard, he's put in his time, He's learned
from some really good people, and it's paying off right
now for Seattle and Gino.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, I'm curious if the coaches you've talked to have
said anything to you about this. How I think this
year all NFL fans in front officers should learn a
lesson as to what Baker Mayfield's doing, what Sam Donald's doing,
what Gino Smith is doing. These are three quarterbacks that
were left for dead. They've all been on three or
four teams over the course I think at least four
(16:10):
teams for both all three guys actually over the course
of their career. And now you could argue Smith, Donald
and Mayfield might be playing the best football of any
quarterbacks in the conference. It's crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
It is crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Throw Joe Flacco into that conversation if you want to
go back to last year and even how he finished
the game for the Colts against the Steelers last week.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
It is crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
It's a funny position and you just never know. But
I mean, the Browns with Baker Mayfield, they still want him.
I mean, it's unbelievable. But credit to these guys too,
because they've worked hard, they've taken their lumps, they've dealt
with a lot of criticism, and they've come out on
the other side even better for it.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I think he just shows that the quarterback position snaps
in time matters, right Even look at the rookie like
Jayden Daniels, he had fifty starts in collegey you don't
think that's paying off for him right now. You got
to be patient with these guys. Sometimes at that position,
it just doesn't click right away.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Yeah, no doubt. I think it's a great point. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I think Anthony Richardson a guy we talked about earlier,
like you know, he hasn't had those starts, and you
see some of the flashes of brilliance, but you also
see that completion percentage under fifty percent.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I mean it takes time.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
You need experience, and the guys that you mentioned John
have that experience and then they're playing great.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, and then just real quick on their offensive line
for seattles, there's one weakness on the offense. I think
it's there there right tackle Stone foresight. That's some misues
in that game against Aiden Hudginson. Granted a lot of
people have issues with Aiden Hudginson. I don't want to
be too hard on the guy, but even their interior guys,
Andrew I feel like if the Giants are going to
slow down the Seahawks offense is going to have to
(17:46):
happen upfront, and they're going to have to win those
battles with Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns and Cavon Thibodeau.
That's how they're going to slow down this Seahawks offense. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I think it's a great point.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
I think that this is the game for Burns and
Thibodeau to really they got to break out. They have
to be a big part if the Giants are going
to win this game, Burns, Thibodau, Lawrence have to be
a big part of the win.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
I think they have to have that pressure up on
Geno Smith. I think they have to win their one
on ones against that offensive line.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I think that if you tell me on Monday that
the Giants won the game, I think you're going to
say that their defensive front got after the quarterback, had
some sacks and applied some pressure and that's going to
be how they're going to win this one.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
What other matchups are keys you keeping an eye on
for the Giants to pull off this upset.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
You know, John, I'd like to see them have their
tight ends be a part of the game plan here.
I mean, I think that they're missing that element of it.
We know that they only have five catches as a group,
I believe, which is crazy. I know Man Hurts is
not a pass catching tight end. He's been a blocker
his whole career. But it would be nice to see
Bellinger and Johnson become a bigger part. I think that's
(18:56):
just that little outlet, that little you know, break that
that Jones can maybe give neighbors or Wandelle just to
get the tight ends involved. I think that could really
help this Giants offense.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
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bank of the Giants. Citizens will doing eight seven hundred
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Speaker 3 (19:18):
And you just want to go.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Around the lead with you for a second, because you've
done a bunch of games, You talked to coaches, you
did the Jacksonville game last week. Correct, Correct, what's going
on with the Jaguars A lot?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
And I would say a lot's going on with the Jaguars.
It's not good right now.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
You know, they actually played pretty well down in Houston,
but just again came up short. They were winning that
Week one game in Miami and Travis etn was.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Going in and they tumbled out of the end zone.
And nothing has been the same since.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I think Trevor Lawrence, admittedly and Peterson has backed it up,
has been pressing forcing the issue. Got the big contract
in the offseason, trying to you know, trying to do
something with it, and it's backfired. And you know, in
that division, maybe have a little more time to maybe
try to dig out of it. But they are a
desperate football team right now, and they're really searching in Jacksonville.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
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Speaker 1 (20:27):
What other things that you've seen or watched over the
first few weeks have kind of struck you as either
surprises or things that have really just kind of struck
a core with you that man should start paying attention
to throughout the year.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, we've seen some interesting games our group. You know,
we had the Raiders beat the Ravens in Week two.
I mean, I think a lot of people would not
have expected that to happen. I still think Baltimore is
a really good team. We saw that on Sunday night
against Buffalo. So I just think that sometimes it's hard
to go into a game and say, you know, I
think most people would have used the Raiders as their
(21:00):
survivor pick Week two in Baltimore and Baltimore loss.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
I think they did.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
They Yeah, and I actually mentioned that on the air
at the end of the game. So I just think that, yes,
you know, maybe on paper you're a touchdown underdog.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
But that does not mean anything.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
In today's NFL, there's so much parody.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
These teams are so close, you just don't know what's.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Going to happen. I think, especially early in the year,
right with only a few preseason games, you're not practicing
as much. I feel like you don't quite know what
any of these teams are until you get into almost
mid October.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Now, yeah, I think that you see rust because teams
don't play a lot of players in the preseason. I
think you see some sloppy football. I mean some of
the penalties the Giants Cowboys game. I mean, so flag
after flag, I think some of that stuff starts to
get clean up, cleaned up come October and into November.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
What do you think the Chiefs are gonna do? Are
they gonna have to go find a receiver?
Speaker 2 (21:56):
You know, it seems that way, you know, I think
that's a testament to how good they are and how
they can just kind of rotate piece in after peace out.
But at the same time, you know, I think at
some point it could catch up to them. And I
think there are receivers on the market, so I'm sure
they're going to be looking, but I think they do
need one more piece to try to help them get
(22:17):
over the top and just make sure that they have
enough gas at the end of the season to go
into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Now, unfortunately for them, the one team that has a
wide receiver available is in their division. And I don't
think the Raiders are going to help the Chiefs out
with Devada Adams. I don't think they're doing that. Do
you think he ends up leaving or you think the
whole sava You know, he has a big salary. It's
a tough thing to move. These trades are tough to
do mid season with the Cap. Do you think Adams
ends up staying Do you think he winds up playing
for another team this year?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Yeah? I mean I think if you read the tea,
leaves doesn't look good right now for him to stay
in Las Vegas. As I said, we met with him
week two, really nice guys, said all the right things.
Seemed like he was happy. But these things changed quickly.
So you know, his old quarterback is in New Orleans.
They were college teammates him and Derek Carr. But you know,
(23:06):
I'm sure that any any team would want him. I
still think he's a very good player in this league.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Yeah, I'm with you. I Finally, any team that you're
keeping an eye on that you've seen, maybe that you
think fans might be sleeping on, that could turn things
on and really be a factor heading late into this
year into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Yeah, that's a good question.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
You know, I don't know if Houston's really a sleeper,
but they're a very confident group. You know, they got
killed in Week three in Minnesota, but they they've got
a little moxy to him, and they haven't had Joe
Mixon these last few games, and I think they've really
missed that part of their run game and really what
that does for their offense because then, as we talked
(23:47):
about earlier, you get the play action involved, then you
can take some deep shots with their weapons. So I
think once they get a Joe Mixon back, they're gonna
be a really dangerous team in the AFC. They have
a very good defense to Nico Ryans the energized and
I you know, I don't think a lot of people are,
but you know, just because they lost so bad in Minnesota,
I wouldn't sleep on in Texas.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
All Right. Finally, inside broadcasting question, I know nobody probably
cares about this answer except for me. You've been working
a three man booth this year, right, You've had Tiki
with you and you have you know, one of the
mccordy brothers with you, right, And what has it been
like trying to work with those guys, two guys that
have done broadcasting for a while but haven't maybe done
games together before, trying to kind of get that chemistry right?
(24:31):
Did you guys work games in the offseason together? They
kind of do some practice. However, you guys tried to
kind of bring that together because it's tough sometimes to
just find time for two analysts to say what they
need to say during these games. Yeah, it's a.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Challenge, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I mean last year we had myself, Tiki and Matt Ryan,
and I felt like towards the end of the year,
you know, you really you figure each other out, you
get in a good little rhythm. But then Matt, to
his credit, goes to the studio this year and so
it's me, Ticky and Jason mccordy. And he's someone who
you know, I didn't really know that well until the spring.
I met him for the first time. Early in the spring,
(25:04):
we did a practice game. They put our booth together.
We called a preseason game together on CBS. And what's
really interesting is I can feel just each and every
week we make, you know, a little steps forward, and
I think at the end of the year will probably
be where we were last year with Matt and Tiki.
But it's a challenge more so for the two of them.
You know, who gets in on the replay, who's going
to take this point, who's going.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
To talk about that?
Speaker 2 (25:26):
And I'm going to call the play John, But then
who's going to get in after that? So there's a
lot of hand signals, there's a lot of tapping on
the shoulder. You know, there's a lot of communication, and
you know it takes time, but over time, I'm really
excited to be with these two guys and happy the
Tiki gets to call another Giants game. We were talking
earlier about the training camp days and all, but I
remember waiting for Tiki to come out of the caffeteria
(25:49):
so I could interview him. And now to be with
him every week is a neat thing and I'm happy
to be his partner.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Absolutely. And the best thing about that booth is you
by far have the best hair of anyone in that
broad cast booth. Andrew, I mean it's.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
You know what's funny, John, is that I forgot my
hairjel last week in Houston, and I couldn't call either
one of them to help me out. So it was
it was very frustrating. I had to go to CBS
and get some hair gel.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Now, one of those guys could offered you a razor,
but I'm not sure you wanted to go there.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
No, No, I don't want to do that just yet.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
No, I don't think so. Ed your good stuff. Giant
fans will a chance to enjoy that broadcasting. You got Andrew,
Ticky and Jason. They will be on the call for
Giants and Seahawks four twenty five on CBS. And you
thanks so much of the time, man, and we look
forward to seeing you out there in Seattle anytime.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Thanks John.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
That's the Giants Total Podcast, brought to you by Citizens
Official Bank of the Giants. We'll see you next time. Everybody,
It's time to get inside the Giants. Hulet's go, Let's go,
Let's go Giants.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Dont come get up on the Giants mobul, give me
some job.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Part of the Giants Podcast Network.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Let's roll.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants.
I am John schmelk Our guest. Today we're joined by
Andrew Catalan. He's calling the game on Sunday afternoon, Giants
and Seahawks on CBS at four twenty five. Rare Andrew.
We get a two NFC teams showing up on a
CBS podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
John, Great to see you and be with you. And
I know it is. We're getting a little more used
to me.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Last year I had Giants commanders on CBS so and
now this week, you know, another NFC matchup. As an
NFC guy growing up, I like it. We don't get
it too often, but I'm happy.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
For now Its fans. I might not know. Andrew and
I go back because we used to hang out up
in Albany when the Giants had training. Hang him up
there in Albany. You know, up until two thousand and
twelve was the last year there. I think they went
after the lockout in eleven, they went back for one
more year. I think. So that's how Andrew, you have
a lot of long term ties to the Giants covering
up there in all the day.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Grew up in New Jersey so familiar with the Giants
as a kid, and then worked in Albany for a while.
Covering training camp was to me one of the biggest
highlights of that job. And seeing you and seeing the
Giants every day in the hot summers in Albany, it
was definitely a great memory for me.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yeah, and look, we miss it, to be honest with you,
it isn't quite the same being in the same spot.
Albany was fun. You got the campus, you know, we'd
all bring our bicycles. We would bike from the dorms
the campus every day. You would walk around, everyone be around.
It was a really nice atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I loved it too.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I mean, obviously for me it was great to have
them in our backyard when I lived up there. I
just do think there is something to get away from
home for a little while. I think it does bring
a team closer together. Now a lot of teams don't
do that as much anymore, or they don't do it
for as long, But those were great days and I
think it really helped the Giants back in the day
as well.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Yeah, no question. All right, I'm sure you already start
talking to your producer and everything on Sunday. What are
some of the major storylines and topics you guys are
keeping an eye on for Giants and Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I think for the Giants it's you know, is Milik
Neighbor is gonna be out there.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
That's a huge part of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
And I think can they you know, find the end
zone quite frankly, I mean, I think they've moved the
ball well the last three games, but you know they
two of those three they didn't get in the end
zone in terms of being at home. So they've got
to find a way to get in the end zone
and capitalize off some of these drives. And for Seattle,
you know, a lot of talk about their first three games,
(02:35):
didn't exactly play the seventy two Dolphins. How would they
look against Detroit on Monday night? You know, their defense
was without five key players. Then they lost Julian Love
in the first half, but their offense looked really good.
So I think it's gonna be a tough matchup for
the Giants to try to slow down that offense, and
we'll see what they could do on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yeah, I'll get to the Seahawks on a little bit
first in the Giants, And I do think it's interesting
because I don't think there's any dab that Daniel Jones
was playing better than he did last year. He looks
more like the player he was in twenty twenty two
than the player he looked like in twenty twenty three,
no surprise. Is a better supporting cast around him, but
they have not gotten the ball in the end zone enough.
They're only averaging fifteen points a game, which is about
what they were averaging last season, and you know, which
(03:16):
was a disastrous season for the Giants. So I think
what fans are kind of going back and forth on
here is, yes, Jones looks better. Some of the things
that he's had issues with is the pass, getting rid
of the ball, quick, managing the pocket, avoiding sacks. That's
all been a lot better, but he hasn't been able
to connect to Andrew on some of those deep balls
down the field. And you do have the modern NFL
works you calling games every week, if you're not connecting
(03:37):
on you know, thirty forty yard balls down the field,
it's much harder to put the ball on the end
zone consistently.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I said this on the airdor in our Houston Jacksonville
game last week. But every single week that we've had
our production meeting so far this season, a team has said,
you don't get a lot of deep shots, you got
to take advantage of them. And I know that's something
that's not necessarily groundbreaking, but I just find it so interesting.
Every single team has said that. And John, as you know,
passing numbers are down this year, rushing numbers are up
(04:05):
for the majority of the NFL, And so I think
there's such a priority now to when you have those
deep shots, you've got to hit them. And we know
the Giants did not do that with Slayton against Dallas twice,
and those are things you look back on and say
that that could have changed the game. So when those
opportunities are there, of course you want to hit them.
It's almost like in today's NFL you need to hit them.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, you really do it. Teams aren't designed anymore and
you to just pound the ball right like if teams
are well, let me start asking you this first. When
you talk to teams and coaches about not having that
many opportunities down the field is differente was five or
six years ago. What are the things that the offensive
coaches tell you that defenses are doing that are limiting
some of those deep shots down the field.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I mean Houston last week for US was a perfect example.
I mean, they're playing their safeties back. They're not going
to get beat over the top. And Houston has the
speed to do that with Digs and Nico Collins and
Tank Dell who is injured last week.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
But that's I think a really good example.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
They're going to give it the underneath rout and they
don't want they're scared to get beat deep. You know
saw that with the Colts as well this year. Anthony Richardson,
he can throw it one hundred yards in the air,
and we don't want that to happen, so they pack
it up front with the big guys and then drop
the safeties back. So I think that that we're seeing
that a lot more of that. Teams are scared to
(05:23):
get beat with the home run ball. So you don't
get a lot of shots to do it, and when
you do, you gotta hit them.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, you have to hit them, or at least hit
half of them. Right. If you have a gave you
like a fifty percent hit rate on those, I think
you're good. The problems the Giants this year have had
almost like a zero percent hit rate on a lot
of those deep balls, which is something that has to
get better. And I think in the football that we
grew up on, right when we're watching games growing up
in the nineties, if teams played that way against teams
in you know, two thousand and one, nineteen ninety five,
(05:49):
whatever you want to look at, you know, especially having
these small, fast linebackers on the field teams have yester year,
he said, all right, we're going to run the ball
thirty five times average six yards per carry, and we're
going to go home. But offenses aren't designed that way.
Players from college don't come out that way to play
that way, and it seems like practice time isn't allocated
(06:09):
enough for the offensive lineman to be able to become
that efficient in the run game either. Where the easy
answer to beating these types of defenses where you just
pound the ball. Offenses just are not the players and
the structures are not designed to function that way anymore.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Yeah, one hundred percent agree. And it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
You see trends that change and develop over time, and
this is.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
The one that we're in right now where we're not
going to get beat deep.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
But we're also not necessarily built to run the ball
forty to fifty times a game.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
So now what do we do?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
And we see a lot of the bubble screens, we
see a lot of the quick passing game.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
We see underneath routs.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I mean, that's kind of what it's evolved into right now,
which is which is interesting. And you know, the numbers
so far this year have been really fascinating to see
play out, or if you think about it, we've kind
of been building that way and now here we are.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah. Absolutely so with the offense, I think the one
thing you have to be excited about is Ama League Neighbors.
We'll see if he's gonna play. But the pass protection
for Daniel Jones have been so much better. Andrew and
you were four sacks in the last three games last
year when they played the Seahawks, he got sacked ten
times in prime time. It was a disaster. So that's
one thing heading into this game where you think against
(07:19):
and again, we'll see what the Seahawks have on the
defensive line. They have a good pass rush, but all
of them were hurt last week. That should at least
give them the ability to protect Jones to operate a
little bit better against the Seahawks defense compared to what
they were able to do last year.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Yeah, I think it's the you know, on pay for
the best offensive line the Giants have had quite a
few years. They're playing that way, certainly in the pass
blocking part of the game. They have to improve the
run blocking and they've admitted that. And look, John, you
know it, this is a game where you need your
offensive line to be locked in because it's going to
be loud and the most false starts, you know since
the stadium opened, of any home team in the NFL
(07:55):
that they've drawn, it's not going to be easy to
communicate and you have to be on it and q's
And I think that's a good sign for the Giants
going into that game because they have an experienced line
that seems to be playing as a cohesive unit and
that's going to have to continue against Seattle.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
You're ready for a change. Payday comes early with citizens,
So go to that retreat. New you moves to the country.
Now you're raising goats and launching a lifestyle brand. Are
you ready for all that life brings?
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Have you called the game in that building before andrew
an NFL game?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
A it's loud. I mean it's loud.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I would say it's probably the loudest. I mean, Buffalo
gets up there too when they when they got that
building rolling.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
But but Seattle is no doubt, it's not fake. It's
it's a real thing. You got to deal with.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
No, it's bad Minnesota a couple of years ago, in
that playoff game in twenty two that got in that
new building, that got very loud. But you're right, it
makes it very hard to operate, and that gives the
defensive line in the vantage. Lady, I use the silent count,
you can't use the hard count, and that puts a
little bit of pressure on the offensive line to pass protect,
but also to run the balls. You don't get into
those third and lungs when their crowd gets pumped up
(09:04):
and heading into that Dallas game last week for the Giants,
everyone's like, oh the Cowboys just give up two hundred
eighty yards to the Ravens. They got torched the week before.
Then the Giants running twenty four times for twenty six yards.
I mean, I don't think any of us saw that
one coming. So you're right, that's a fundamental thing that
I think needs to be better this week, just so
Mike McDonald can't get into his bag on third downs
(09:27):
when he's so effective.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
No doubt.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I mean, you look at the numbers from last week
and it's really surprising they couldn't do more damage in
the run game, especially against that Dallas defense. They have
to run the ball better. I mean, there's no doubt
about it that that has to be a big part
of the offense. It has to be a big part
of every team's offense.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
You can't.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
There's no more run and shoot offense, or you throw
it fifty times a game. Although Seattle kind of did
that month they night against Detroit.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Not by choice, they having to be not by choice.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, they were chasing the whole night. They had to
throw the ball, and the Giants don't want to be
in a position where they're chasing. So that the artist
is on the offensive line, it's on singletary, It's on Tracy.
These guys have got to provide a spark in the
run game on.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Sunday Johnson The podcast brought to you by Citizens Official
Bank of the Giants and game day celebrations to your
everyday financial needs. Big Blue Fans canna get the most
out of every moment with Citizens. Learn more at Citizens
bank dot com. Slash Giants And you know you mentioned
the Seattle defense. They're very banged up, but you've seen
these Mike McDonald defenses calling THEFC games for a long time,
(10:27):
doing these Ravens games. What makes him and I'm sure
you've talked to him too, what makes him such a
good defensive coaching and the way he kind of runs
this game.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, I mean, I think, again, not taking any credit
away from him, but he's he's a Raven And they've
had that that defense going back for twenty four years.
I mean, it's unbelievable that not only have they had
some incredible defensive coordinators, but so many times they promoted
from within.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Yeah, and I think that that is just.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
It tells you that they've got the winning formula. They
know what they're doing on defense. So it's swarming it's takeaways.
I mean last year they led the NFL or tied
for the most takeaways on defense in Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
And I've met with him several times.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
He's a very energetic guy, but in a way an
old school guy too, so he's not going to try.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
To reinvent the wheel. We did see him go for
two when.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
They were down by eight against Detroit on Monday night,
So he does lean on analytics a little bit, but
you know, he wants to win with defense. They did
that in Baltimore for his time there, and he's going
to try to do it again here in Seattle. So
really interesting guy. Youngest head coach in the NFL, but
he's been around some great players and some great mentors
in Baltimore, so he's very clued in on what to
(11:39):
do defensively.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Yeah, i'd say, and you aside from Week one when
the Giants had to face the Vikings, and who knew
when you wind up Week one home Wurst the Vikings
to be playing the best team in the NFC. I mean,
this is why the NFL is great. You never know
what team's gonna be awesome, right, but this is probably
the best offensive personnel the Giants have seen in the
game since. I mean they are loaded with weapons. Here.
Kenneth Walker is so much fun. They got three wide receivers.
(12:02):
I mean, we'll got to Gino Swith in a second,
but the weapons around him, they are just phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Dk Metcalf first player in franchise history with three straight
one hundred yard receiving games. Jackson Smith and Jigba is
a very dangerous player, and Tyler Lockett is still there
at the age of thirty two. Those three guys alongside Walker,
and you're right, job, this is a really tough offensive.
I thought their offense will be great. The other night
in Detroit, I mean, they put up a lot of points.
(12:30):
I know the Lions were missing a couple of defensive
players as well, but you know they've got this offensive coordinator,
Ryan Grubb, who was at University of Washington the last
couple of years. We saw what he did with Pennix
and with Roma Doonze. You know, we saw a lateral
in the middle of the game.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
They pulled out a lot.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Of different stops, but ultimately they had Walker, you know,
to pick them up in the run game. So you're right,
the Giants will be tested this is a very dangerous
offensive unit.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, it seems like they learning how to use Jason
Smith and Jigbitto. He's an injury U as a rookie,
he's really playing well in that classic kind of slot,
change of direction, short, the medium range type of passing game.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, big fan of him. And look all three of there.
They have a lot of diversity in that RDE receiver room. Right,
he got three guys that do that do different things.
I think that helps. I mean, you know, not that
they can only run certain routes, but there's so much
versatility there and they all provide a little different something.
So if it's we need a big play to spark us,
let's get some physical goal. Let's go to the k
(13:28):
metcalf all right, lock it can take the.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Top off of defense. Let's throw one deep to him.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Smith and Jigbuk great rap runner underneath, and they all
kind of have their role in this offense and it
just jails really well.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, same deal with the running back position. You know
Zach Sharba and nobody talks about him. He's a nice downhill,
powerful back. And then you have Kenneth Walker. You had
him the ball, the play might might be designed to
go left, doesn't mean the ball is going left. He'll
take it right, He'll cut it back. He breaks tackles
to play on Monday Night where he's basically doing like
breakdancing moves to stay off the ground as he's being
(14:00):
aggled by ANZELONEI I mean, I think those two backs
really comment each other with Sharbona is the grind there
and Kenneth Walker as kind of the big play gay.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
We met with Walker a couple times last year and
he told us that his dad told him, here's the
whole field when you run the ball. And when you
think of that quote and you watch him run, he
really does that. As you said, going left. Now he's
on the right side flipping over guys. The play is
never over with Kenneth Walker. You got to get hit
into the ground and you're right. Charbone is a really
(14:30):
nice compliment. They can do a lot of different things offensively.
They have a lot of nice pieces.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
And that's because Gino Smith is playing the best football
of his career. Some of the passes he threw on
Monday Night on the move into small windows. He will
just put the ball into these spots. He does not
care he's navigating the pocket well, Gino Smith, I mean,
no one want to believe gave you said this five
years ago, was developed into one of the better smarter
(14:56):
veteran quarterbacks in the league. That is kind of a
big play waiting to happen.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
It's really amazing what he's done with his career because
you and I are from New Jersey area here, and
you know he saw him with the Jets and it
was it did not go well. And the one year
with the Giants when he started for Eli to break
the streak, and just all the criticism, all the fire
that he dealt with. I mean, I think a lot
of people when he left thought probably won't see him again,
(15:23):
like he's probably done.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
And you think of what he's.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Done now, NFL Comeback Player of the Year in twenty
two Pro Bowl again last year, he was on fire
on Monday night in Detroit. I can't give the guy
enough credit for what he's done with his career because
I don't think a lot of people, myself included, thought
he would turn into this, but he has and.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
He really deserves it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
He's worked hard, he's put in his time, He's learned
from some really good people, and it's paying off right
now for Seattle and Gino.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, I'm curious if the coaches you've talked to have
said anything to you about this. How I think this
year all NFL fans in front officers should learn a
lesson as to what Baker Mayfield's doing, what Sam Donald's doing,
what Gino Smith is doing. These are three quarterbacks that
were left for dead. They've all been on three or
four teams over the course I think at least four
(16:10):
teams for both all three guys actually over the course
of their career. And now you could argue Smith, Donald
and Mayfield might be playing the best football of any
quarterbacks in the conference. It's crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
It is crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Throw Joe Flacco into that conversation if you want to
go back to last year and even how he finished
the game for the Colts against the Steelers last week.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
It is crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
It's a funny position and you just never know. But
I mean, the Browns with Baker Mayfield, they still want him.
I mean, it's unbelievable. But credit to these guys too,
because they've worked hard, they've taken their lumps, they've dealt
with a lot of criticism, and they've come out on
the other side even better for it.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I think he just shows that the quarterback position snaps
in time matters, right Even look at the rookie like
Jayden Daniels, he had fifty starts in collegey you don't
think that's paying off for him right now. You got
to be patient with these guys. Sometimes at that position,
it just doesn't click right away.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Yeah, no doubt. I think it's a great point. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I think Anthony Richardson a guy we talked about earlier,
like you know, he hasn't had those starts, and you
see some of the flashes of brilliance, but you also
see that completion percentage under fifty percent.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I mean it takes time.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
You need experience, and the guys that you mentioned John
have that experience and then they're playing great.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, and then just real quick on their offensive line
for seattles, there's one weakness on the offense. I think
it's there there right tackle Stone foresight. That's some misues
in that game against Aiden Hudginson. Granted a lot of
people have issues with Aiden Hudginson. I don't want to
be too hard on the guy, but even their interior guys,
Andrew I feel like if the Giants are going to
slow down the Seahawks offense is going to have to
(17:46):
happen upfront, and they're going to have to win those
battles with Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns and Cavon Thibodeau.
That's how they're going to slow down this Seahawks offense. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I think it's a great point.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
I think that this is the game for Burns and
Thibodeau to really they got to break out. They have
to be a big part if the Giants are going
to win this game, Burns, Thibodau, Lawrence have to be
a big part of the win.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
I think they have to have that pressure up on
Geno Smith. I think they have to win their one
on ones against that offensive line.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I think that if you tell me on Monday that
the Giants won the game, I think you're going to
say that their defensive front got after the quarterback, had
some sacks and applied some pressure and that's going to
be how they're going to win this one.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
What other matchups are keys you keeping an eye on
for the Giants to pull off this upset.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
You know, John, I'd like to see them have their
tight ends be a part of the game plan here.
I mean, I think that they're missing that element of it.
We know that they only have five catches as a group,
I believe, which is crazy. I know Man Hurts is
not a pass catching tight end. He's been a blocker
his whole career. But it would be nice to see
Bellinger and Johnson become a bigger part. I think that's
(18:56):
just that little outlet, that little you know, break that
that Jones can maybe give neighbors or Wandelle just to
get the tight ends involved. I think that could really
help this Giants offense.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Johns Tuttle is brought to you by Citizens, the official
bank of the Giants. Citizens will doing eight seven hundred
and fifty dollars of the Giants Foundation for each scoring
drive during the twenty twenty four season. Learn more citizensbank
dot com slash Giants.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
And you just want to go.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Around the lead with you for a second, because you've
done a bunch of games, You talked to coaches, you
did the Jacksonville game last week. Correct, Correct, what's going
on with the Jaguars A lot?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
And I would say a lot's going on with the Jaguars.
It's not good right now.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
You know, they actually played pretty well down in Houston,
but just again came up short. They were winning that
Week one game in Miami and Travis etn was.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Going in and they tumbled out of the end zone.
And nothing has been the same since.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I think Trevor Lawrence, admittedly and Peterson has backed it up,
has been pressing forcing the issue. Got the big contract
in the offseason, trying to you know, trying to do
something with it, and it's backfired. And you know, in
that division, maybe have a little more time to maybe
try to dig out of it. But they are a
desperate football team right now, and they're really searching in Jacksonville.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
You love turf, You're good at it, so you start
a turf biz. Business grows, your savings grow, become the
most celebrated name in turf. Are you ready for all
that life brings?
Speaker 1 (20:27):
What other things that you've seen or watched over the
first few weeks have kind of struck you as either
surprises or things that have really just kind of struck
a core with you that man should start paying attention
to throughout the year.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, we've seen some interesting games our group. You know,
we had the Raiders beat the Ravens in Week two.
I mean, I think a lot of people would not
have expected that to happen. I still think Baltimore is
a really good team. We saw that on Sunday night
against Buffalo. So I just think that sometimes it's hard
to go into a game and say, you know, I
think most people would have used the Raiders as their
(21:00):
survivor pick Week two in Baltimore and Baltimore loss.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
I think they did.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
They Yeah, and I actually mentioned that on the air
at the end of the game. So I just think that, yes,
you know, maybe on paper you're a touchdown underdog.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
But that does not mean anything.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
In today's NFL, there's so much parody.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
These teams are so close, you just don't know what's.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Going to happen. I think, especially early in the year,
right with only a few preseason games, you're not practicing
as much. I feel like you don't quite know what
any of these teams are until you get into almost
mid October.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Now, yeah, I think that you see rust because teams
don't play a lot of players in the preseason. I
think you see some sloppy football. I mean some of
the penalties the Giants Cowboys game. I mean, so flag
after flag, I think some of that stuff starts to
get clean up, cleaned up come October and into November.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
What do you think the Chiefs are gonna do? Are
they gonna have to go find a receiver?
Speaker 2 (21:56):
You know, it seems that way, you know, I think
that's a testament to how good they are and how
they can just kind of rotate piece in after peace out.
But at the same time, you know, I think at
some point it could catch up to them. And I
think there are receivers on the market, so I'm sure
they're going to be looking, but I think they do
need one more piece to try to help them get
(22:17):
over the top and just make sure that they have
enough gas at the end of the season to go
into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Now, unfortunately for them, the one team that has a
wide receiver available is in their division. And I don't
think the Raiders are going to help the Chiefs out
with Devada Adams. I don't think they're doing that. Do
you think he ends up leaving or you think the
whole sava You know, he has a big salary. It's
a tough thing to move. These trades are tough to
do mid season with the Cap. Do you think Adams
ends up staying Do you think he winds up playing
for another team this year?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Yeah? I mean I think if you read the tea,
leaves doesn't look good right now for him to stay
in Las Vegas. As I said, we met with him
week two, really nice guys, said all the right things.
Seemed like he was happy. But these things changed quickly.
So you know, his old quarterback is in New Orleans.
They were college teammates him and Derek Carr. But you know,
(23:06):
I'm sure that any any team would want him. I
still think he's a very good player in this league.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Yeah, I'm with you. I Finally, any team that you're
keeping an eye on that you've seen, maybe that you
think fans might be sleeping on, that could turn things
on and really be a factor heading late into this
year into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Yeah, that's a good question.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
You know, I don't know if Houston's really a sleeper,
but they're a very confident group. You know, they got
killed in Week three in Minnesota, but they they've got
a little moxy to him, and they haven't had Joe
Mixon these last few games, and I think they've really
missed that part of their run game and really what
that does for their offense because then, as we talked
(23:47):
about earlier, you get the play action involved, then you
can take some deep shots with their weapons. So I
think once they get a Joe Mixon back, they're gonna
be a really dangerous team in the AFC. They have
a very good defense to Nico Ryans the energized and
I you know, I don't think a lot of people are,
but you know, just because they lost so bad in Minnesota,
I wouldn't sleep on in Texas.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
All Right. Finally, inside broadcasting question, I know nobody probably
cares about this answer except for me. You've been working
a three man booth this year, right, You've had Tiki
with you and you have you know, one of the
mccordy brothers with you, right, And what has it been
like trying to work with those guys, two guys that
have done broadcasting for a while but haven't maybe done
games together before, trying to kind of get that chemistry right?
(24:31):
Did you guys work games in the offseason together? They
kind of do some practice. However, you guys tried to
kind of bring that together because it's tough sometimes to
just find time for two analysts to say what they
need to say during these games. Yeah, it's a.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Challenge, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I mean last year we had myself, Tiki and Matt Ryan,
and I felt like towards the end of the year,
you know, you really you figure each other out, you
get in a good little rhythm. But then Matt, to
his credit, goes to the studio this year and so
it's me, Ticky and Jason mccordy. And he's someone who
you know, I didn't really know that well until the spring.
I met him for the first time. Early in the spring,
(25:04):
we did a practice game. They put our booth together.
We called a preseason game together on CBS. And what's
really interesting is I can feel just each and every
week we make, you know, a little steps forward, and
I think at the end of the year will probably
be where we were last year with Matt and Tiki.
But it's a challenge more so for the two of them.
You know, who gets in on the replay, who's going
to take this point, who's going.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
To talk about that?
Speaker 2 (25:26):
And I'm going to call the play John, But then
who's going to get in after that? So there's a
lot of hand signals, there's a lot of tapping on
the shoulder. You know, there's a lot of communication, and
you know it takes time, but over time, I'm really
excited to be with these two guys and happy the
Tiki gets to call another Giants game. We were talking
earlier about the training camp days and all, but I
remember waiting for Tiki to come out of the caffeteria
(25:49):
so I could interview him. And now to be with
him every week is a neat thing and I'm happy
to be his partner.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Absolutely. And the best thing about that booth is you
by far have the best hair of anyone in that
broad cast booth. Andrew, I mean it's.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
You know what's funny, John, is that I forgot my
hairjel last week in Houston, and I couldn't call either
one of them to help me out. So it was
it was very frustrating. I had to go to CBS
and get some hair gel.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Now, one of those guys could offered you a razor,
but I'm not sure you wanted to go there.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
No, No, I don't want to do that just yet.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
No, I don't think so. Ed your good stuff. Giant
fans will a chance to enjoy that broadcasting. You got Andrew,
Ticky and Jason. They will be on the call for
Giants and Seahawks four twenty five on CBS. And you
thanks so much of the time, man, and we look
forward to seeing you out there in Seattle anytime.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Thanks John.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
That's the Giants Total Podcast, brought to you by Citizens
Official Bank of the Giants. We'll see you next time. Everybody,
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