Giants Huddle | Beat Reporter Roundtable

On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk is joined by the Giants beat reporters, Art Stapleton, Paul Schwartz and Chris Bisignano, to discuss the Giants offseason takeaways, the quarterback room, and the Giants defensive schemes.

:00 - Giants quarterbacks

14:25 - Giants offense

20:35 - X-factors

21:55 - Giants defense

37:00 - Run defense

53:00 - 2025 overall thoughts

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to get inside the Giants Hut.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
Let's go Giants, the Giants mobul give me some job.
Part of the Giants Podcast Network. Let's roll.

Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens Official Bank at the Giants. I'm
in the Hackensack Coriney Health Podcast Studio. Keep getting better.
It's time for another beat, right, a round table. I
wish I went back and counted how many of these
we've done. I think we're probably at like five or
six straight years to to preview the season with this
and joining me this year, as usual, we have Art

(00:32):
Stapleton from the Record, we have Paul Schwartz and The
New York Post, and now we have Chris Busy Nano
as the fourth member of our quartet here from Giants Insider.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Gentlemen, how are you hope you are well?

Speaker 3 (00:44):
I want to start with this, Uh, Paul, You've been
the longest on the beat, so we will give you
the honors of going first, age before beauty Here. What's
the most important thing you think you learned about this
team this spring and summer?

Speaker 4 (01:00):
Why the hell do I always go first?

Speaker 1 (01:02):
It's it's it's it's an honor.

Speaker 4 (01:04):
Yeah, I know, it's it's not it's it's one of those.
It's one of those. You've been here the longest, so
you go first. What do you think I'm gonna fall
asleep by the end of this, So you have to
get me. You have to get my words going now,
all right, I I understand. This is a it's a
it's a it's a man.

Speaker 5 (01:19):
Body.

Speaker 4 (01:20):
Yeah, I get it, Okay.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Paul, Paul.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
This is basically the equivalent of abdual part trying to
get to the podium and Brian Burns saying no, no, no,
you go away now, and I'm going first.

Speaker 4 (01:31):
You know what. And it's funny because I've often been
compared with Brian Burns in a lot of different aspects.
So you're that's You're right on with that one. You
know what I learned. I learned that what new quarterbacks
can do to the atmosphere of a room and a team. Okay,

(01:52):
we don't know if they're going to add more wins yet.
We think they will. But it's just they added one, two,
three new quarterbacks. And this is not going to be
a referendum on Daniel Jones today, right, We're not going
to do that. But it just seems like the atmosphere
and the attitude and it was like the window was
open and this breath of freshness came in. All three

(02:13):
were different. I think we kind of got a sense
what Russell was beforehand. I think we kind of got
a sense what Jamis was beforehand. And I think those
what our senses were multiplied and magnified because they are
more than what we thought they were. And I think
we whenever, you know, when I've been covering to beat,
whenever you bring a rookie quarterback in who they think
could be the future, that adds juice. And I'll speak

(02:35):
for myself and I would think that all four of
us will say that we were either blown away or
surprised that Jackson Dart was so much of a revelation
this summer. So that was my take on this team.
That boy, the quarterback room is different and refreshing and interesting,
really interesting art.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
How about you?

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, I mean I don't want to, you know, just
go online. But I think Paul makes a great point
and it's definitely a talking point going into the season,
the idea that you know, look these quarterbacks. I think
I maybe underestimated the lack of overall leadership from the
quarterback position on the team. And like Paul said, it's

(03:17):
not a referendum on who is here, it's just it's
not easy to construct the quarterback room. And they brought in,
you know, personalities that went from you know, milk toast
to fireball. I mean that's pretty much what I was
told back in March, and it carried through. I think
it's interesting the way they pieced it together. You know,
it was almost like a puzzle. I think Russell Wilson

(03:40):
is the pick me up guy. Russell Wilson is the
come on guy seven o'clock, like Darius Slayton said this week,
disgustingly consistent that he's always there for smile and if
he didn't do it every day, you would say, man,
I'm just so tired of that. But it's like, how
are you up so much? And then I look at
James Winston and I think there are two sides to

(04:03):
Jamis Winston. I think the side we see in front
of the cameras, which is comic relief, and yes, that's there.
But I think Jameis Winston is also the heavy. I
think he plays the heavy a little bit in this room.
I think there's accountability. I saw it this summer. A
receiver dropped the ball and a walk through and Jamis
was all over him. And I think they've metch meshed

(04:25):
to the point where Russell and Jamis kind of play
two sides of the coin. And I think that has
helped Jackson Dart as well because he can see two
different guys, two different perspectives, and how they handle it.
So I think Paul nailed it from March until now,
and now let's see when they get on the field

(04:46):
and landover on September seventh.

Speaker 1 (04:48):
The same question to you, you can expand or go
somewhere else.

Speaker 5 (04:52):
Yeah, I hate to give what's so much credit, but
I'm gonna do it. He's the captain here, so I'm
gonna have to ride with the captain that Brian burns
it team. Look, this organization needed a bolt of energy
in the worst way, and the quarterback room has provided
that this spring and summer, and no question about it.
The drafting of the franchise quarterback and he think is

(05:12):
the franchise with Jackson and Russell Wilson. Like Paul said before,
I'm not gonna sit here talk about Daniel Jones. But
it's a much different quarterback room now with Russell Jamis
and of course bringing in Jackson.

Speaker 6 (05:28):
This organization was blah. Let's face it.

Speaker 5 (05:32):
I remember standing in training camp last year and saying,
oh man, it's just like this year. Much different. Much
need energy through the building. The future is bright with
Jackson thought he showed that this summer, and of course Russell,
and it brings up a good point.

Speaker 6 (05:48):
You know, there's a lot of.

Speaker 5 (05:48):
Russell behind the scene that we don't see. And he's
a leader. Everybody said that talk deal that this guy
is just a natural leader.

Speaker 6 (05:58):
And what he prove to this quarterback room and.

Speaker 5 (06:01):
To this organization was much much eated. That was the
biggest thing I took for his training camp to all right.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
So let's stick with the quarterbacks the art and Paul
mentioned this in his first answer. Now the rubber hits
the road, right. You know, the leadership is great, the
feelings are great, the vibes are great. I agree with
everything all you guys said. I you know, even what
Eli was here, right, he led in a different way,
like I don't feel like even he had an impact
on everyone in the locker room the way Russ's head.

(06:28):
But then Eli went out there and led in the
two super Bowls? Right, So what do you think now
this is gonna look like offensively when Russell Wilson gets
on the field as the starting quarterback in this offense?
How have they built this thing around him? How is
Brian Dave and Mike Kafka going to try to make
this thing work? And what will look like with Russell
Wilson as the starting quarterback?

Speaker 2 (06:47):
That is the ten point five million dollars question, right
with Russell Wilson, I mean we know what he's gotten
off the field, and if you pay attention, whenever Russell
Wilson has been talked about the last couple of months,
it's always been about what he brings off the field
and on the field in the huddle and personality wise
and his approach. And he has a Super Bowl ring
and he's in the same locker that he had Super

(07:09):
Bowl week way back when I'm at life. But the
reality is, I think that is the biggest uncertainty and
mystery regarding the Giants in that we've spent so much
time this summer talking about what this offense looks like
with Jackson Dart and asking Brian Dable about Jackson Dark.
I think on Wednesday was the first press conference that

(07:30):
Brian Dable was asked a question about Jackson Dart. Actually,
I think I said that to you biz, you know
the idea, you know, hey, we didn't ask about Jackson today,
and it was actually an intriguing thing we saw in
practice after the fact Gable kind of breaking off during
an individual period and working with Jackson in the end zone.
But I don't know what we're going to see from Russ.
I don't expect to see the washed player that I

(07:53):
thought we were gonna see this season. I think he's
shown a lot more than he was given credit. Four
in Pittsburgh. You know, you look at the touchdown interceptions
in eleven games in Pittsburgh, leads a team to the playoffs,
and the reality is if he did that this year,
the Giants fans would be looking to put him in
the Ring of Honor next year. I mean, that's how

(08:16):
much of a difference it is. You know, I always
talk war, you know, or the value of replacement in baseball,
you know, value of replacement here for Russell Wilson and
the quarterbacks, I think is a big jump. Does this
offense rely a little bit more on Tyrone Tracy, the
the you know play action. I think that's where Russell's

(08:36):
at his best. And you know, we all anticipated the
vertical game last year and we didn't see it at all.
Do we see the vertical game this year? Maybe guys
in a little bit more space, a little bit more anticipation.
But I think that's the biggest thing is that I
just don't know what this offense is gonna truly look
like with Russell Wilson when the lights go on and

(08:59):
you know they're to let's go, let's see how good
this offense can be. Because that's why I asked Brian Dabele,
do you know what your offense is going to look
like with Russell Wilson? And he gave me all the
Russell's a pro and Russell's this. I don't know what
they're going to look like. And I'm not afraid to
admit that it's a little bit of a mystery for
me when I walk into that stadium down there and

(09:20):
FedEx and have to watch the game from like this
because it's obstructive view in the press box.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
All right, So biz Art said, that's a mystery. Put
your detective hat back on here, try to get to
the bottom of this.

Speaker 1 (09:33):
What are we looking at here? What is that that's
gonna be?

Speaker 5 (09:36):
Yeah, look it's got a point. We're not going to
know that we start seeing him playing on you know,
starting next.

Speaker 6 (09:41):
Week in Washington. But what we do expect is this.

Speaker 5 (09:45):
You know, Brian Daves is never gonna come out and
tell us, well, we're going to attack down a field
more and all that stuff, because you know, Dave would
either have fifteen root canals that tell us anything, you
know what he expects to do this season. Uh, what
the what the way you're going to attack it? But look,
that's what we expect, right John. Uh, we expect Russell
to be more vertical. That's what they want from him.

(10:07):
And we'll see out of place that we're gonna steal
out of boots. That's what Russell loves to do. And
guy's a slate. Look, there's there was times last season
we all looked at the film after the games.

Speaker 6 (10:17):
I'm sure well there was guys opened.

Speaker 5 (10:19):
Down the field that the previous quarterback just didn't pull
a trigger or didn't see it all that. So this
offense now is gonna be a lot of Well, we're
gonna get guys down the field, and we're gonna hit
them down the field, Okay, and that's what Russell's gonna provide.
So because look, that's what Russell provides, right, we all

(10:43):
know what the moon ball. Everybody talks about that, but
he's a vertical guy.

Speaker 6 (10:46):
He gets it.

Speaker 5 (10:46):
Down the field, and that's what Brian Dabo and Mike
Cackle want to do. More. As far as turnovers, Russell's
I'm sorry, John, Look, Russell's lot of turnover machine.

Speaker 6 (10:57):
That should cut down.

Speaker 5 (10:59):
Okay, but that's what they hope for all. Let's get
it down the field. Let's be more aggressive, Let's get
guys like Darius Slayton more involved down the field, Okay,
and then see how it works out.

Speaker 6 (11:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (11:11):
Look, more exposive plays and fewer turnovers. I think is
like the brief summary of what you want this to be, Paul,
you could touch the offense too.

Speaker 1 (11:19):
And I also just add to what Art said.

Speaker 3 (11:21):
You know, he said those first time all offseason, there's
no question about Jackson Dart. I think what the Giants
want is that no more questions about Jackson Dart for
a while, because that means that things are going, well,
when you're asking about Russell Wilson of what the offense
is doing, right, So I think that that's gonna kind
of be the dynamic here as they move forward a
little bit.

Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yeah, that's gonna be wishful thinking, you know what I mean,
It's it's just gonna be I mean, people be talking
about Jackson Dart at halftime of the Washington game if
the Giants don't have three touchdowns. That's just the reality
of a young, exciting quarterback. I mean, I think Art
really screwed up by mentioning war wins against replacement with
BIZ on the sting because he's already got Devers. You

(12:02):
know what's devers replacement? Huh oh yeah, well there we go. Yeah,
who's or I can't kick the baseball stuff out of this.
I don't even know what wins against RW runs runs
about it in all right, Okay, Now I'm a real dinosaur.
I get it. I even care about batting average, for
God's say me too.

Speaker 6 (12:20):
It's a boy boy, you're really old now, buddy.

Speaker 4 (12:24):
People go, well, he's in two seventeen, but I'm like, yeah,
you stop me at two seventeen. Well he's okay, forget it,
forget it. Well, oh the quick was about the Giants offense, right,
not about Okay, I get it, you know what, I
hear what you guys are saying. I almost think it's
going to be a little more conservative, you know what
I mean. I think they want to run the ball.

(12:46):
I don't think they look at Russ and say, we
got Russ twenty twelve to twenty twenty. We got Russ,
we got dangerous, you know, we got the Seattle. I
think they know exactly what he is. And I agree
with you guys, I'm not sure. I mean, he looked fine.
I mean I was too dazzled by Jackson Dark to
really you know I mean, I mean, I mean he

(13:06):
looked fine. You know what I mean? As Biz said, yes,
the boots, the rolling to the right, I get it.
You know, he still doesn't fire the ball over the middle.
You know that. People say that's not like part of
his arsenal anymore. This way right over the top, beautiful.
But I think they're going to want to run the ball,
and I think they're going to want this to be
kind of a ball controlled defense team. You know, they're
going to want to say, you know what Russ is

(13:28):
going to be really smart. He's not going to creak
a lot of turnovers. We need more explosive plays, but
that doesn't mean we're going to try to get a
bundle of them. We're going to get him when they're there.
We're gonna, you know, try to get twenty one points,
but twenty four points and give this ball over to
our supposedly ferocious defense. So I don't think it's going
to be Russ Russ Russ. It's going to be Russ

(13:48):
can make the plays. It's going to do what he
can do. He'll be consistent and obviously low turnovers. But
we'll see. I mean, Russ look fine to me. You know,
people ask me how's Russ? How he doesn't look physically
walk He definitely does not look physically washed to me.
He throws the ball. I mean, I didn't watch him
in practice in Seattle, but I don't look at an
old quarterback who's like kind of just trying to get

(14:09):
by on guile. But we'll see, we'll see. I mean,
but the decline the last three years, which is not
crazy statistically, but it's there. So I'm a little torn
between that and I think because of that, they're gonna say,
you know what, we got Tyrone Tracy, we got camp Scatterboo,
we got motor, we got some guys who throw it
the neighbors, and let's just keep it tight, keep it together,

(14:30):
hit a shot when we can and let Abdul Carter
and the boys and Dexter lines have their fun.

Speaker 1 (14:36):
Yeah and go ahead, biz Yeah.

Speaker 5 (14:39):
So like, look, that's what he did in Pittsburgh, La
Lesh yet right, they had the defense and all that.

Speaker 3 (14:44):
And by the way, Jay is what he did when
he was good in Seattle, and that's how we went
in Seattle.

Speaker 5 (14:49):
Yeah, I mean they you know, like Paul said, this
is a don't mistake what I was saying about. They
giants gonna come out winging it all over the field,
but they're gonna go boll They're gonna be.

Speaker 6 (14:57):
More aggressive with RUSS.

Speaker 5 (14:59):
But like Paul just said, you know, like they did
in Pittsburgh, would off the SMITFLD RUSS last year. They
took their shots with pickets down the field. But then
you know, they game play was the defense, let's run
the ball, try to and that's what the Giants.

Speaker 6 (15:11):
You're gonna see a lot of that.

Speaker 5 (15:12):
You saw a lot of the practices and the joint
like a lot of a lot of those little short
passes from Russ and a lot and then you take
a shot. That's what you're going to see this year
because they have the confidence this year.

Speaker 6 (15:24):
That Russ could go vertical.

Speaker 5 (15:27):
Okay, that's the difference. Russ could go vertical this year.

Speaker 6 (15:30):
The vertical game was not there with Daniel last year. Okay,
this year they feel, hey.

Speaker 5 (15:36):
We have it back, and Dave's an aggressive guy and
they're gonna take the shots.

Speaker 2 (15:40):
It wouldn't surprise me John and guys that if they
run a very similar offense to what they ran last
year with Daniel Jones, obviously take the running aspect out
of it, but they really didn't have too much running
in Daniel Jones' aspect either. Coming back from the ACL,
you know they want ball placement priority, getting guys in space.

(16:03):
When you're throwing the ball to a slant on Wandel Robinson,
if you throw the ball here to the defender side,
he's getting stuck by the safety. If you throw it here,
he's maybe running for sixty yards for a touchdown. I mean,
the ball placement last year was awful. The idea of
seeing guys open. When they schemed guys open open, and

(16:26):
we all know, we all remember the flea flicker in
Germany and that was kind of the you know, the
end point the end game for where you know things
ended with Daniel Jones and everything else. But you know,
they schemed two guys open down the field. One guy
was running free hit twenty five yards Wandella I think
is still running. He's you know, he's all the way

(16:46):
in Switzerland going hey, I'm open, I'm open, and they
took a sack. So I think that's kind of also
where this offense is that they believe that Russell Wilson's
accuracy is going to be a big jump in this offense.
Get meleak Neighbor. When did Malik Neighbors catch the ball
in space? Last year? Every time Malik Neighbors breaking three

(17:08):
four tackles the best play. His highlight of the season
was the Colts team and he had to break three
tackles on the sideline to get down the field. So
I think they're really trying to come up conceptually to
be able to take advantage of a quarterback like Wilson.
And then when dark comes in, whether it's this year,
next year, whenever the idea of if he could put

(17:29):
the ball where it's supposed to be, it's a catch
and run offense. That's what Dable wants, that's what he's
always wanted in this offense. And I think for the
first time they have an opportunity to be able to
take advantage of something like that yards after catch. Paul,
you had the story the end of last season, and
I remember you did the math the yards after catch
for Wandell Robinson. It was unheard of, you know, it

(17:52):
was almost like, I don't know if you remember off
the top of your head, but it was one of
those things where it's like Wandell had an unbelievable number
of catches and then when you looked at how many
yards per catch it was, it was one of the
worst you think you'd.

Speaker 5 (18:05):
Ever seeague Yeah.

Speaker 4 (18:07):
I think seven and a half, right, it was seven
and eight seven something like that.

Speaker 6 (18:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (18:11):
I remember I talked to one day this this summer
and I said, let's look at your stats, and I go,
what was it ninety one or ninety three? Who was catches?
Ninety three? Was it?

Speaker 5 (18:21):
Believe?

Speaker 4 (18:22):
And he was good, right, yeah, good? I said, it's good. Yeah,
And then I look at the and he just he
and he just said, it's got to be ten easy,
you know. I said, well, he said, it's got to
be ten easy, like maybe ten and a half, maybe
eleven something like that, but it's got to be ten easy.
And it was like seven really hard last year. Yeah,
you know, I like what you guys. I think it

(18:43):
was on I think Sean Sean O'Hara was talking to
THEO on one of your your your broadcasts, right John,
and he said about Russ. He said, you know, so
far in the summer, I don't see Russ throwing the ball,
you know what I mean when I cut, you know,
and that was not part of the Daniel Jones offense, right,
Like I said, anticipation, the anticipate he said, he said,

(19:05):
when I when I cut, the ball is in the air.
I almost never see him throw the ball. And you know,
so which means that you don't get your head turned around,
he's going to hit you in the back of the head.
But like that is what we're talking about, right, that
doesn't have to bom ball down the field, but just
get it, you know, bang bang, and you know, maybe THEO,
maybe THEO just catched it. For seven yards. You know,

(19:25):
maybe it's a first down, maybe it's the first Maybe
it's first down, and now it's second and three. Maybe
he catch it and stride bang and he turns it
up because we we think he can do that. So
that is it? Yes, or you guys are all saying
the same thing, which is right, is that it's not
going to be pyrotechnics. But get the ball to the
guys where they need to get it and then let's see. Look,

(19:46):
I think we're all fascinated. We've seen Darius Slayton play
a million games. We've seen Wandell Robinson play a bunch
of games. We've seen you know, Malik play what you know,
his fourteen fifteen games last year. We've all seen Jalen
Hyatt play games and never see him score a touchdown.
You know, could this help Jalen Hyatt? You know, maybe
out there on you know, white and all of a

(20:08):
sudden they got the fourth cornerback or some slow safety
aligned up. Okay, maybe Ruskin hit him, So that's it.
I mean, I don't think anyone looks at the Giants
weapons and says they are loaded. Holy smokes, they got
a treat that's loaded. They're not loaded, but maybe Rusk
can get them to do what they do best and
let's go here, let's let's let's move the ball down

(20:29):
the field a little bit.

Speaker 1 (20:30):
Yeah, it's funny.

Speaker 3 (20:30):
I think I go back to the one bomb that
rushed through in the preseason. When he let that ball
go to bow Collins, he was almost surrounded by two guys.
Bo Collins had not gone open yet when that ball
came out of Russ's hands, but he anticipated the bad
angle the safety took and it turned into an eighty
r cat.

Speaker 1 (20:45):
So I think that's a perfect example. All Right, I'm
gonna leave this open ended.

Speaker 3 (20:49):
For each of you give me your X factor for
the Giants offense this season. If you want to hit
the quarterback again, you can, but we've done that. I
think a lot. This can be a player, it can
be just something they need to do better. It could
be a unit. Any way you want to go, Will go,
Biz Art Schwartz, Biz, why don't you lead us off
with this one?

Speaker 6 (21:09):
My X factor for the offense.

Speaker 5 (21:11):
It's gonna be Thealo Johnson. I think Deal's gonna be
a big part of this. Everybody talks about when you
talk about Giants took about the leak. Right, we're gonna
talk about Russ. But you know what, I think this
tight end room is gonna be a big factor, and
THEO John's is gonna be a big fact of this offense.

Speaker 2 (21:32):
I would go, I'm gonna go player as well mentioned
him a little bit earlier, Tyrone Tracy. I think Tyrone Tracy,
with what he did in such a limited resume as
a running back last year in the NFL and just
kind of growing by fire, so to speak, during the season,
I really think that Tracy thinks he can be something

(21:55):
special and I think by watching him, I think he
could be by the end of the season. And we're
talking about a top twelve back in the league. Now,
what does that mean. It doesn't mean anything if they
don't produce and they don't win games. But I really
think that this offense, as much as it's going to, yes,
it's gonna revolve around Malik Neighbors number one, and I
agree with Biz. I think Theo Johnson could have the

(22:17):
second number of targets on the team. But I think
Tyrone Tracy could be a player that you know, he's
gonna get a lot of attention because of the fantasy
football aspect, so a lot of people week one to
Week two might be talking Tyrone Tracy. Tyrone Tracy. I
think for this offense, all of the rookies we talked
about last year need to take a big step forward.

(22:38):
I think Tracy eight hundred yards rushing last year. If
you're talking a full season and a quarterback that doesn't
turn the ball over, you could see Tyrone Tracy at
twelve hundred yards rushing, rushing with without even forcing it.
Like I don't even know if you have to be
the most optimistic person in the world to think Tyrone Tracy,

(23:00):
he could be the guy that does that.

Speaker 3 (23:03):
The Giants Foundation will host a five K racing Kids
Run presented by a Quest on Sunday, October twenty sixth
at nine am and met Life Stadium. That proceeds will
benefit the Giants Foundation. All participants will receive a commemorative
T shirt after the race. Stay for a post race
festival with appearances by Giants Legends and the live DJ.
Register now with giants dot com slash five k. The
Giants Foundation is a five oh one C three nonprofit corporation.

Speaker 1 (23:26):
Huddle up, get in here.

Speaker 7 (23:28):
If you're lined up here you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great.

Speaker 2 (23:32):
How do we make that happen?

Speaker 7 (23:34):
I don't know, but Citizens does? It makes sense of
your money with Citizens? Official Bank of Eli Manning Paul, at.

Speaker 5 (23:43):
This ball on the ground concern you heading into the season?

Speaker 2 (23:48):
Well, I didn't hear you. I got I got our landscapers.

Speaker 5 (23:52):
Now all of a sudden, Oh okay, I saw a
guy steaking up behind you.

Speaker 6 (23:55):
Yeah. Does Tyrone Tracy putting the ball on the ground
concern you?

Speaker 5 (24:00):
You want, that's something he's.

Speaker 2 (24:02):
Got to pay attention to. I mean, talked about how
he got grippers and off of Amazon in the spring,
and how he's working on ball security. You know, I
don't want to. You know, John now has a colleague
that he spends his weekends with who had a ball
security issue seemed to figure out a way to fix
it and get to a point where he became the

(24:24):
best running back in franchise history. So maybe I'll give
Tyrone Tracy a little bit of opportunity to not put
the ball on the carpet. But if he does that,
then all of a sudden, you're looking elsewhere in.

Speaker 3 (24:36):
Art I could tell you, and and Paul will get
to you in a second. Talking to tatiky On, I
forget what it was one of the pregame shows we
did in the preseason. He said, look, he has talked
to Tyrone. He said, look, the one thing you need
to do is not fumble, because that will like short
circuit your career. You know, you got to do the
X with the one hand over, the young handover. You're
not going to lose it. And he has talked to
you about that. They have talked this. Tiki actually has

(24:57):
told me that Tyrone Tracy reminds him a lot of him,
his running style, his slashing style, his ability to catch it.
So I'm with you on that, Paul, what's your X factor?

Speaker 4 (25:07):
I like how Art and Biz were pandering to the
fantasy football you know, they absolutely trying to get a
fantasy football action here. Oh, the tight end, the tight
end is going to have a million.

Speaker 2 (25:19):
Catches, target shares, a target share.

Speaker 6 (25:26):
Target.

Speaker 2 (25:26):
Yeah, you're in.

Speaker 4 (25:27):
A if you're in a uh you know uh what
reception per point point per you know you go with him. Look, look,
I'm old school, okay, you know who the key to
this offense is Andrew Thomas.

Speaker 3 (25:41):
Well, by the way, we've set a record. We've done
a million of these. We're like twenty five minutes in.

Speaker 1 (25:47):
That's the first time someone mentioned the offensive wide.

Speaker 4 (25:50):
It is Andrew Thomas.

Speaker 2 (25:51):
You know when I'm hanging fruit.

Speaker 4 (25:53):
Come on, no, no, because if you know what, if
you know, you know what I do. Sometimes I always
think and I try to project team, and I'll say,
if you could give me like one or two stats
at the end of the year, if you tell him
to me at the start of the year, like what
would be the most important to me? You know what
I mean? Like, Okay, maybe it is Tyron Tracy fourteen hundred,

(26:13):
maybe it's Neighbors, you know, fourteen touchdowns, and maybe it's
Russell Wilson. You know, this is an interesting one, Russell
Wilson games played, Right, If Russell Wilson's game played is
fifteen or sixteen or seventeen, then they've had a pretty
darn good year to Yeah, games played. Andrew Thomas. We
know he's a good player. I mean, you guys saw him, right.

(26:35):
I mean he didn't have a lot of time to
run because of his because of his foot, he had
a lot of time to lift right man alive his
upper body is. I mean, he's never to look like
that before.

Speaker 6 (26:47):
So I was talking about that yesterdays. Abotter of fact point.

Speaker 4 (26:50):
I mean he's got some guns on him now. So
to me, games played Andrew Thomas, because I know he's
a good player, you know, I know he's good. I
know he could be really good. If Andrew Thomas is
playing fifteen games this year, I can say the offensive
line is gonna be Okay. It's not gonna be It's
not gonna be top ten, I don't think, but it's

(27:11):
gonna be not gonna be bottom ten. It's gonna be okay.
They have answers now, and they have some depth and
they have some pieces, but they don't have an answer
for fifteen games that left tackle without him. So, I mean,
I really want to see him on the field in Washington,
I get it. If he can't be. If he can't be,
I really want to see him on the field in
Dallas because they need him. They need him, they need him.

(27:32):
You know, it's about time us, all of us stop
hyperventilating about the offensive line, right and it's been more
than a decade and we have to do it because
they just cripple the team half the time. So if
he plays, I think they'll be okay. So he is
my ex factor. Just get on the field and do
what you do because we know what he can do.

Speaker 3 (27:53):
And look, I'll be honest with you guys, I think
I think the Giants' best player offensively in the summer
might have been Jamada Luminor. I mean he's had the
block Brian Burns and Abdul Carter and he did not
lose many of those reps against some very good pass
rushers in those one on one drills. I think that's
to Paul's point, if this offensive line can be what
the seventeenth best offensive line in the league this year,

(28:15):
I think little, okay, fine, fourteenth, right, I think that
is more than good enough for this offense to function
the way Biz and Art you guys described that you
want this offense to look like. And I think they
have the guys to do it. And I do think
to Paul's point, they have some depth behind the guys.
If they have some injuries too.

Speaker 2 (28:33):
I would get enough.

Speaker 5 (28:36):
No, No, I was just saying, man, I'll take seventeenth best.
Know Schwartz is getting greedy over it, and I'll want fourteenth.
I'll take seventeen best, but what this line has been
the last few years.

Speaker 2 (28:45):
I'll take seventeenth best NFL ranking of the offensive lines.
Post Sports Plus Paul will have it next week for you.
I'll give you a little, uh little hatchet. You know
what the other X factor I was going to go for.
I was going for players, but to go on the
offensive line. To me, John Michael Schmiz. Will John Michael

(29:07):
Schmitz be the player that the Giants thought they were drafting.
I remember talking to Sean o'harow when Schmiz was drafted
and it was one of those you know, give him
a little time. You know, he's gotta gotta get into
his NFL body, he's got to get stronger, and you know,
we think that he could be this and that's what
O'Hara told me. Obviously, the Giants loved him. If John

(29:29):
Michael Schmiz can deal with the behemoths that will be
up front, you know, the jail and Carters of the world,
and give a semblance of continuity up front at the center,
I think that that could make a big difference. And
on the flip side, if JMS can't be that guy, now,

(29:51):
all of a sudden are you're looking at having to
move guys around? Do you want Van Roten at center?
And I think that kind of specula so I agree
with Paul as far as Andrew Thomas goes, but I
think it even goes deeper. I think illumin Or is
a big player. I think Marcus bo eventually could be
a big component to this offensive line at some point
this year, the rookie fifth rounder. He's shown really really

(30:14):
well at both tackle spots this summer. I personally thought
they were going to move him the guard immediately when
they drafted him. They stuck him at tackle and he's
looked really good this summer. But I go back, I
keep going back to JMS. JMS is funny. You know,
we kind of have this thing, you know, past each
other in the locker room and laugh and you know,
AJMS a R what's up? What's up? And he probably

(30:35):
does it with you guys too. It's funny because JMS
has the center when the Giants are going well, I
mean from O'Hara and then I even remember talking to
David Boss and when Kevin Booth played center here and
even Weston Richburg when he was here. It was always
that's the guy you want to talk to. You want
to talk about the guy. It's the center of the
offensive line. JMS has managed to kind of you know,

(30:58):
he'll do his media responsibility, but he won't tell you anything.
You know, you go and you interview him, and I've
joked with him about that. You know, if JMS can
be a front line player here, not in the league,
but a frontline player for the Giants, I think it
changes the complexion of this offense because now all of
a sudden, you're not just saying Andrew Thomas and who

(31:20):
you can actually say, Okay, they have their center, and
this guy, now a Joe Shane draft pick, is stepping
into big shoes and actually coming into his own and developing.
So that would would have been I was thinking about
him when I went with Tracy. But you know, you
guys talking the offensive line got me going in terms of,
you know, a real key that really isn't talked about.

(31:41):
I mean, let's be honest, how many times has John
Michael Schmid's been on the podium this summer? Because I
think the media, the beat, I'll speak for myself, we've
given up on the idea of getting good answers from JMS.
So every time John Runyan gets trotted out to the podium,
it's like, hey, it's great because running's great. Running gives
great answers running. You know, he's the guy. But like

(32:01):
to me, the key cog right here is JMS.

Speaker 3 (32:05):
All right, let's jump to the defensive side of the ball. Here, guys,
a reminder of the Johnson. The podcast is bart to
you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants, from
gaming a celebrations to your everyday financial needs. Big Blue
fans can get the most out of every moment with Citizens.
Learn more at citizens bank dot com slash Giants. All right,
defensive side of the ball, Biz, let's.

Speaker 2 (32:23):
Start du Carner Abdul Carter, Abdul Carter A Carter.

Speaker 1 (32:27):
Let's talk about the from.

Speaker 3 (32:31):
So, I guess Mike, I'm gonna start this way though
we know the personnel's better. They drafted Carter, they bring
in Holland into de Bo. But do you think the
way this defense plays BIZ, and the way the personnel
is going to be utilized by Shane Bowen will look
different than what it looked like last year?

Speaker 5 (32:52):
Scheme wise, Yeah, it better, John, it better. You have
to just to your talent. I expect a lot of
diff schemes from Shane Bonen this year. You got you
got man press corners. That's what you brought Paulson over
here for. Okay, he could play that man press and
the other side you got Tate Banks, you got flat
whatever on the other side is going to be.

Speaker 6 (33:13):
You got to change your scheme.

Speaker 5 (33:14):
Brother. And I think Shane brook Bowing well, as far
as that duel, you're gonna see him lined up all
over the damn place, all right, So Shane Bone's gonna
adjust to his personal I think we've talked about this before.
I think everybody's been talking about that. In the summer.
You always have to adjust to what you have. I
think Shane Bone, well, I think you see a lot
You're gonna see a lot morement you still. Look, we
saw in practices, we saw in preseason games. You're gonna

(33:36):
see a lot more man press this this starting next week.
You know you got the person that will to do it. Now,
I'm sure they feeling have the person that will do it.
I think you'll see that.

Speaker 6 (33:48):
Paul.

Speaker 3 (33:48):
I think the the combination of bringing in the two
veteran dbs last year's defensive backfield was very young, and
I think we saw that turn in the big plays.
Having Holland at the debo here and not just how
good they play, but they're in tels. Combined with the
fact that I think you can count on the front
to get to the quarterback, I think it is going
to allow a lot more freedom to Bowen to basically
do whatever he wants, right, whether it's post snapped the skies,

(34:11):
moving the secondary around to try to confuse the quarterback.
You know, these guys can sit on routes a little bit.
The Giants had five interceptions last year, five only one
event fewer the Cleveland Browns who had four. There should
be a lot more freedom here for Bowen to basically
do whatever he wants on defense to try to create
some more big plays, which they desperately need.

Speaker 4 (34:31):
Look, it's really hard to run a defense when you
like trust eight or nine guys, right, it's really good,
But it's also a challenge to run a defense when
you have like thirteen or fourteen and they all have
to get on the field at some point and you
got to now figure out I mean, Chauncey Goldston was
signed here to play to play, you know, and so

(34:55):
is he on the field at first down? And maybe
Brian Burns is not on the field, you know, I
mean this things they need to figure out now, Roy
Robertson Harris was signed to play to stop the run,
So is he on the field? And then Micah and
then and then you know a case.

Speaker 6 (35:14):
That's like what.

Speaker 4 (35:16):
You know what I'm obsessed with. I'm obsessed with the
Packers roster.

Speaker 6 (35:21):
What can I tell you?

Speaker 2 (35:22):
He's talking about McFadden, You guys, stay, the best Micah
in the NFC East is McFadden.

Speaker 4 (35:31):
The New York Post might have a Michael McFadden's feature
coming up soon. Okay, that's why. Yeah, And as Art
mentioned sports plus plus sports plus, he didn't mention it's
only four ninety nine. It's like the greatest bargain ever.
But I digress obviously. I just think it's a big challenge. Now.
You know, it's easy to say, oh, Burns, Carter, Decks, Cavon,

(35:56):
let him run. You know, that's easy. But if it's
if it's second and three, they can't be on a field.
They can't be on a field, you know what I mean?
So I think the biggest challenge, Yes, I look at
this and other than the other boundary corner. You know,
I don't think Deontay Banks or Cordell Flott won the job.

(36:18):
Someone will get the job. You know, they both will
hurt the summer. I don't think anyone I look at
and say it was a challenge and he picked it up.
They were both fine, they were okay, But no one
I won the job. So that I question. But I
think almost every defense in the league. I don't think
you go one through eleven and say I have no
questions about anything. So my question is with this imported

(36:41):
talent with Abdul Carter, who we think is going to
be a you know, stand them up, put him down,
go here, go here inside outside. You know, I can
probably scheme something for him, but they're paying Shane Bowen
to scheme it right and exactly right. Golston with Paris,

(37:02):
with all the you know, just to it's not just
cookie cutter anymore. And I think he's the key to
the defense. Really is the defensive coordinator? Is he up
to this?

Speaker 5 (37:12):
Do you see a lot of different schemes? Do you
see him changing a lot of this year?

Speaker 4 (37:17):
Well, I think they're going to play more man.

Speaker 7 (37:18):
I just do.

Speaker 4 (37:19):
I mean they have they have two men boundary corners.
I think you know, look, Tyler Neuban was a unbelievable
ballhawk at Minnesota, right he had eleven or thirteen, I
mean that was thirteen. I mean you know I saw
those games. He was taking a ball out of the
air all the time. Was he even near the ball
last year? So I mean, you know, I mean and

(37:41):
and I think javal Holland is going to be a
huge impact. First of all, he can go sideline to sideline.
He is going to run down touchdowns that you know,
rundown plays that were touchdowns last year. And he's good
with us, with the media, He's good. A little bit attitudey,
but good.

Speaker 5 (37:58):
He's good.

Speaker 6 (38:00):
Yeah, he's right.

Speaker 4 (38:01):
But I think he's really good in the room. I
think he's really good in the room. And I think
whoever said about you know they were young last year,
I mean Nubin and and and Drew Phillips, I mean
they have two guys now that they Tay Banks unquestionably,
you know what I mean. You know, Tay Banks is
not going to be able to pull stuff that he

(38:21):
pulled last year. He's got new coaches, and I think
these guys will jump down his throat if they don't
see him hustling, now, you know, so yeah, I mean
on paper, Adebo and Holland are really smart, good you know,
twenty five, twenty six year old Silings signings. You know,
these are guys in their prime. We'll see if it
works out that way. You know, there's always a reason

(38:42):
why guys are free agents, right. George Young said that,
always a reason why he was a free agent. You
know what I mean. So we'll see. I mean, dex L.
Lawrence never is never going to become a free agent,
right because he won't be allowed to. We'll see, we'll see.
But it's it's the guy who's who's who's cooking the
medians now, has got to get it right.

Speaker 1 (39:02):
What are you thinking about with the defense?

Speaker 2 (39:05):
I think it's I think it's three significant upgrades. And
I'll put it like this, Javon Holland over Jason Pinnock.
Uh And again we all I'll speak for myself, I
think we all liked JP what he brought to the table, waiverclaim,
solid player in the NFL, and still think he might
still be running on that interception down in Miami. You know,

(39:28):
they brought back for a pick six. But I think
the Holland from Pinnock is huge. I think you know,
I'll give you four. I think Tyler nuben year two
is a big upgrade from Tyler Nuban year one. Hill
it even a bit that I was talking to him
yesterday he said, my head was spinning. I had no
idea last year. You know how fast I could play

(39:52):
Paulson Adebo to what Tay Banks was last year. In
year two, I think should be a significant upgrade and
that allows either bangs are floted to be the second
corner as you guys said, and Abdul Carter from Azizo Jalari.
I think is it as significant just based on again
fingers crossed, he's on the field and he's healthy, because

(40:15):
that was always Easy's biggest issue. But I think that
upgrade in of itself when you're talking about Abdul and
the things you can do with him versus remember last
year when Shane Bowen talked about getting the three pass
rushers on the field, and it was the idea of
can we play a z's inside. They could not do
that with disease, So maybe that package got scrapped. That

(40:38):
maybe Bowen was willing to do, but they just didn't
have the personnel to do it. They're gonna do it
this year with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns and Kevon
Tibeaux and Chauncey Golston. I think that edge group is
a significant upgrade. So I think that's why this defense
will be better, just because on paper they've upgraded in
numerous spots and then bring back everybody else that that

(41:01):
did their jobs for the most part last year.

Speaker 5 (41:03):
And Paul ahead, miss, I'm sorry, yeah, fell all we
all in agreement that there's a lot of pressure on
Shane boning this shit to get it done because Joe. Look,
Joe provided him more upgrading talent. Now it's like, okay, Shane,
get it done. I think there's a lot of pressure
on Shane this year.

Speaker 3 (41:23):
All right, So Paul, you kind of mentioned this, and
I'll go back to what has you guys worried about
the defense? What could be the pendulum swing that can
make this not work? And you mentioned I think Paul,
and I don't need to lead you into an answer
here if you disagree with me, but you can't unleash
your pass rusher if it's second to three. If it's
started in four, you can't you know, put your you know,

(41:44):
four guys on him. They're just gonna run the ball
and they're gonna get a first down. So everyone keeps
asking me about the run defense, and my answer is
that we haven't seen Dexter Lawrence on the field yet
with the first team defense in a real situation.

Speaker 1 (41:55):
So what the hell do we know what this run
defense is gonna look like?

Speaker 3 (41:58):
And I don't think we're gonna know until we get
until we get into that first game in a real
situation against a real team, do you think that's going
to be good enough? And frankly, the authense can get
to seem enough leads to allow this pass rush to
be everything that it could be.

Speaker 4 (42:14):
I'm not sure, you know, I'm not afraid to say,
I'm not sure. You know, Art was bringing down the
guys who you know, this is who they have now,
this is who they replaced them with, which I didn't
think of it that way. And it's like, oh yeah,
when you think of it that way, big upgrade, big upgrade.
And you mentioned Nuben now versus Nuben, then how about
BOBBYO Karaka twenty twenty five versus BOBBYO Karaka twenty twenty

(42:35):
four versus BOBBYO Karak twenty twenty three. Right, I mean,
I'm not sure what BOBBYO Karaka is is he was
he the guy? I mean, Bobbyokarake came in and was
named the captain within ten minutes, right, you know what
I mean, and and deserved it. You know, nobody even
knew who the heck he was and he was voted
a captain because he was such a forceful personality in

(42:57):
the locker room and in the meetings with us. And
then last year we know, you know, no more wing Martindale,
his his his sense of being to seem to dissipate,
you know, in front of our eyes. He was not
the same player. He did have a back issue, which
is alarming, but he says he feels better about it.
So what is Bobbiokaake? Because if Bobbio Caaake is one

(43:17):
hundred and thirty five tackle guy, one hundred and forty
tackle guy, then okay, this run defense is gonna be
pretty good, you know what I mean. So I'm you know,
looking at him also, I mean I thought, sitting here
now at this time, Darius Alexander would have won a
starting job as a rookie. You know, I think the

(43:38):
front office and the coaching staff was looking and thinking,
you know what, this third round pick from Toledo. We
think when the summer goes through, he's going to win
a job. He got hurt a little bit, and he
did not win the starting job, you know, he did not.
I mean, I think Roy Robinson Harrison is going to
be the starting defensive tackle next to Dexter larn. That
doesn't mean he's not going to play, and that doesn't
mean he's a bust, but so you know, I thought

(43:59):
he would be more horse right now. So I think
I'm in wait and see with the run defense, you know,
I mean, I mean, look, Dexter's we know that. I'm
just gonna wait and see because I I don't know,
I don't know. I mean, I mean, I'm not the
wait and see with the pass rush. I mean, if
the pass rush is not good, it's a big problem,
you know, if they were allowed to pass rush. But
the run defense, I'm you know, is Bobby Okarake, that

(44:19):
guy I mentioned, we mentioned MIKEL. McFadden, right, He's a
really good player, you know, he's a good player, so
we'll see. We'll see.

Speaker 3 (44:26):
So, Biz, I want to jump build on that with
with the run defense, and you're gonna add to that.
Do you think we might see more base defense on
early downs this year where you have Nacho Lawrence and
Roy Robertson Harris with the two edge guys at the
same time.

Speaker 5 (44:42):
Yeah, I think you will.

Speaker 6 (44:43):
I mean, and then you gotta get like you before
we gotta get Goalston.

Speaker 5 (44:47):
I mean. One of the reasons they bought Golston over
here is for run defense too.

Speaker 3 (44:51):
Sure, Okay, were you surprised that he got listed as
a defensive lineman on the depth chart and not like
it outside linebacker, which which which I thought was a
little interesting.

Speaker 6 (45:01):
Yeah. I found that a little interesting too.

Speaker 2 (45:03):
I had heard, guys that there's not to intructor you.
I had heard that may have been a processing thing
through the through the league, and that's how the that
if you looked at the roster, he had been listed
as d L all year. That's through the database that
Golston was a defensive lineman in Dallas, So that's how
he's listed. So I agree with you. That definitely jumped

(45:26):
out and said, wait a minute, but I wonder if
it's just when they were putting together the roster they
just kind of spit it out and it had d
l and nowhere took the time to change it. Maybe
that that's what I had heard.

Speaker 5 (45:37):
That's very very possible.

Speaker 6 (45:39):
Very it's very possible.

Speaker 5 (45:40):
But but John, you know, getting back to the run defense,
that's why he brought That's why Shane Boyd, Roy Robinson, Harrison,
Georgy Golston over here.

Speaker 6 (45:46):
But a run defense, and.

Speaker 5 (45:47):
We're gonna have to see how how it turns out,
because right now that's still a question mark, you know.

Speaker 6 (45:52):
And you could, like Paul was saying before, you know, you.

Speaker 5 (45:54):
Could have all these set carters on the field all
you want.

Speaker 6 (45:57):
They were in third, three, third, four's all the time.

Speaker 5 (45:59):
It's not to mean anything, man, I mean, the run
defense has been a big issue the last two years.
If they don't get that straightened out, I don't care
how many guys you have on a feel to get
to the quarterback, it's not gonna matter.

Speaker 2 (46:10):
I have a defensive tackle that we haven't mentioned that
had really impressed me the last three weeks of the summer.

Speaker 6 (46:16):
And ya, I know you go with this, so I
know where you go with this.

Speaker 2 (46:20):
DJ Davidson is somebody that I know they really like
that has had his issues with inconsistency and everything else.
And I'm not trying to make him out to be again,
not a frontline player, but one of those things. You know,
I think of DJ Davidson, I think of like Daniel Bellinger.
The value of him is much more internal than it
is external. People aren't going to look at DJ Davidson

(46:41):
and all of a sudden say, we got to get
this guy on our roster. But I think Davidson shouldn't
be forgotten in this mix. I think that's why Elijah
Chapman ended up on the practice squad is because Davidson
is one of those guys that in early downs you
could see them putting him in the base and saying,
you know what, try to run at this guy. You

(47:02):
know what I mean, Like run at these guys and
we have some muscle, some beef up front, rather than
them taking their shots at trying to run at you know,
Abdulah at defensive tackle or Elijah Chapman or you know,
anyone else that they may try to just stick in there.
So he's another guy that I think David's in the
last couple of weeks has kind of flown under the radar.

(47:22):
I think they're really happy with how he kind of
came out of the spring, coming back from an injury
and played really well the last couple of weeks.

Speaker 4 (47:32):
And you don't know what and you know what else,
I mean, this is going to mitigate the having these guys,
these edge rushers on the field too much. I really
think that's going to be where they're gassed in the
fourth quarter, right, you know, where they they're playing too
many snaps. I mean, I mean, I don't think it's crazy.
I mean, it's probably not true, but I don't think
it's crazy that the first snap on defense, Brian Burns

(47:55):
is not on the field and Golston is. I don't
think that's insane, you know, I mean, I mean, it
probably won't happen. I just think that they're a cognizant
of we're not you know, kvon and and and Burns
do not have to play ninety percent of the snaps anymore.

Speaker 1 (48:11):
Eighty Yeah, have him at seventy, right.

Speaker 4 (48:13):
You know, you know what I mean, just just and
so when they really need it in the fourth quarter,
God forbid, they have a lead, right and and they
can play that way that they're fresh. So I think
you know that's part of this manipulation now is who
goes where? And then what's gonna happen is, look, you
can get burned that way right all of a sudden,
you know, a play goes bust and Art or or

(48:34):
Biz or me not you, John, you won't do this.
You know, as as in print or you know, says
why was this guy on the field? You know that
was a bad matchup? Why was he on the field?

Speaker 2 (48:47):
Why wasn't Dexter Lawrence on the field? How many times
have we said that? And as of those things where
it's like you gotta give the guy a break. You
can't play one.

Speaker 5 (48:55):
Hundred, you can't play sixty game.

Speaker 4 (48:57):
Why wasn't Brian Burns on the field. Why Golston on
the field during that play? Well, because you know, for
that screen pass or whatever that went bust? So you know,
I mean, you can get too cute here with this stuff.
But they do have more depth and you don't. There's
no reason to have depth just because you're waiting for
guys to get hurt. You know, maybe DJ Davison can

(49:17):
be a guy on the third series on defense. You
put them out there for decks, right, you put them
out there for decks, and it's not it's not just okay,
it's it's it's you know, it's it's the Cross Bronx
Express away at two in the morning. Let's just, you know,
the only time where it's open. So maybe maybe that
can work. I mean, that's what you need. You can't
wear these guys down too much, even though you have

(49:39):
to lean on them.

Speaker 1 (49:40):
If you want to know how to manage two minutes
of crunch time football, I'm your man.

Speaker 7 (49:43):
But if you're wondering about a long term financial plan,
you should talk to citizens.

Speaker 1 (49:47):
Hey, I can also talk long care.

Speaker 7 (49:49):
I'd like to learn about amiliar team. Yes, I knew
I could help make sense of your money with citizens.

Speaker 6 (49:55):
So Paul first and ten. Next week, first and ten.
Washington's got the ball. Who do you have about you?
Up front? You have the base?

Speaker 5 (50:03):
You have you do you have a Nacho Decks where
Robinson Harrison look with burns and tips.

Speaker 4 (50:08):
I think so, because I think you have.

Speaker 3 (50:11):
I'm not sure as Washing Washington doesn't run it though
they're gonna have all these receivers out there.

Speaker 1 (50:15):
I don't know if they're gonna have big personnel.

Speaker 2 (50:17):
And I think that's the big thing. John, you nailed it.
Look at their schedule early on. Look at their schedule.
Who's especially after Washington just got just traded away Brian
Robinson Junior last week. The reality is that, yeah, I
know they have crosskey merit that you know Bill that

(50:37):
everyone wants to talking. If they're gonna come out and
give him thirty carries, I think the Giants will say, Okay,
that's great, we'd rather have that. So to me, I'm
looking at it going if the Giants defense, the run
defense is so much of an Achilles heel, and you
could make teams like Washington and Dallas and Kansas City,
those first three want to just come out and try

(50:59):
to run the football at you. You know what, I'll
take that. I'd rather have that than have Jade and
Daniels running all around like he did last year. And
you know, then all of a sudden, Dak Prescott when
I'm going to Dallas, I'm worried about Dak and the
receivers and how am I going to cover these guys?
And Dak gets the ball out quick, I'm not worried about.
You know, it's no more emmittt Smith, Ezekiel Elliott. You

(51:22):
know guys that Dallas is gonna run the football with.
So it's a very interesting aspect of this is that
the Giants may want teams to test their run defense
because then it takes them away from their strength, and
I think their strength. Uh, you know, Busy, you mentioned
just the last thing I thought of. Abdul Carter could
be an off the ball linebacker starting the game in Washington.

(51:44):
And you know what, Abdull, you're gonna You're gonna be
the guy that's spying Jayden Daniels and you're on the field,
and we trust your instincts and your your goal is
number five. You watch number five. You tell me, we
got our guys, we know who's gonna rush, We got
their responsibilities. We want Abdul to be off the ball,

(52:05):
use his instincts, use his vision, and just say wherever
Daniels goes, get them.

Speaker 1 (52:09):
And I think the third down maybe, are we really
see him? You get used as an off ball linebacker
on early downs in camp.

Speaker 2 (52:15):
That's not something you see more than us. But do
you really think they've shown everything?

Speaker 1 (52:19):
John, No, of course not.

Speaker 2 (52:21):
And I think that's the thing, is that the fact
that they've shown it wouldn't surprise me to see it
out there right off the bat, the idea of give
Washington something that they weren't anticipating and see how it works,
you know, and if it's a failure on the first drive,
well then you shelve it and you do something else.
But I think they cannot also go into a game

(52:44):
where they're putting their best players on the sideline either.
I mean, that's the hard part. And it goes back
to Shane Bowen. I mean, I know it circles back,
but you know, this defensive staff has to be cognizant
of the fact that these are our best players. What
can we do to max their talents, give them breaks,
give them ideas that they're not not at one hundred
percent snap count, but also what are their best talents

(53:08):
Where can they fit best. You're not gonna want to
put Abdul first and ten from the twenty at defensive tackle,
but we got to also have Abdul Carter on the field.
I mean, if Abdul Carter is this good, we got
to maximize as snaps. And I think that's kind of
that back and forth that they're gonna have to go
through week to week. It really is a week to
week thing based on the opponent.

Speaker 3 (53:30):
All right, let's let's wrap your boys. I'm not gonna
ask for a wins prediction. We've all looked dumb enough
over the past five years trying to play that game.
But give me some type of what you think this
season is going to look like something that you're watching.
Just you're kind of a big overarching thought about what
this season is going to look like. What's important? Anywhere
you want to go, I'll start here with mine. Look,

(53:52):
you just got to figure out a way when to
win one of those first two games. And people of
that listen programming here, they're tired of me saying this.
The last thing you want to do is come into
your home building at oh and two oh into in
the division and you're staring at Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelsey,
Chris Jones, and Taylor Swift like that is not what
you want to be looking at. In week three at
oh and two, you gets you got to figure out

(54:15):
a way to win one of these division games on
the road.

Speaker 1 (54:16):
I think both teams have vulnerabilities.

Speaker 3 (54:18):
I think it's possible and you just have to get
off to a reasonably good start this year for the
path for what this season, if it goes well, is
going to look like it has to start well early
in some way, shape or form.

Speaker 1 (54:32):
So that's where I'll go. Uh, Paul, I'll let you
lead off here. Arth and Biz.

Speaker 3 (54:36):
Just give me some overarching thoughts here. You want to
make a prediction, you can of kind of well. Season
for the Giants is going.

Speaker 6 (54:42):
To bait Schwartz can't wait the week three John.

Speaker 5 (54:45):
He can't wait to meet tailor Swift. That's what I heard.
I have he's looking phone to tail.

Speaker 4 (54:52):
I have someone in my family who's already trying to
figure out just do you have access Do you have
access to the suits there? I think she might be
sitting in the Jets suite. Do you have access to
the sweets? I'm like, oh, Bullieve, yeah, that is early
season pressure. I'm telling you, yeah, that is early season pressure. Look,
I'm not gonna I understand. I mean I can look

(55:14):
at the schedule two and say you can't be owing
to then you have the chiefs. I'm gonna take a
bigger picture. Okay, this is not an unseerious roster Okay,
this is not a fly by night situation anymore. It's
time to win some games, okay, and by some I'm
not saying ten. I'm not saying nine. I'm not saying eight.

(55:36):
I'm not saying eleven. I don't know what I'm saying.
I'm not saying three, okay, and I'm probably not saying
six either. This roster, I can this roster is better
than last year's. Art just went this guy, this guy,
this guy, this guy. This roster is better. Okay. There
is no reason why this defense is not a top
ten defense in the league. There is no reason. I mean,
there's just no reason for it. We think the quarterbacks

(55:59):
are better. We think the offensive line is better.

Speaker 6 (56:02):
You know.

Speaker 4 (56:02):
I don't think anyone's thinking that the skilled position guys
are bonkers, but we think they're okay, you know, potentially
better than okay.

Speaker 1 (56:10):
And they have a real number.

Speaker 3 (56:11):
One of the elite neighbors who haven't talked a lot
about by the way, he could have an absolutely monster year.

Speaker 4 (56:15):
Yeah, yeah, he's yes, he's he's you know, I mean,
fantasy football whatever, he's he's the first guy on the
Giants who's taken you know, in fantasy football, and you
know what, is it going to be number three? Is
it going to be number eight? Whatever it's gonna be,
it's gonna be. It's gonna be high right, fine, And
they have a quarterback and we think and can you know,
get him the ball in some some way shape or form.

(56:35):
But I'm just looking at this and I'm saying, this
can't be that again. You know, this can't be one
in six. I mean, if it's owing to it's own two,
it's not good, you know what I mean, It's not good.
But it can't be owned five, you know it Just
this is a team that needs to win. This is
a front office that needs to win. It's a coaching
staff that needs to win. You know, I'm not putting

(56:56):
hot seats on anybody.

Speaker 5 (56:57):
We know this.

Speaker 4 (56:57):
That Jackson Dart specter at there, you know what I mean.
But you know I thought, Jackson Dart, I'll leave you
with this. Jackson Dart, you know, was really remarkable on
the podium, on the field, on the practice field. I
mean he really was. You know, it's like, really this
guy was. I mean, this guy's hitting everything here. When
he said after that game where he started and played

(57:18):
really well right against the Patriots, and he said it's
time for me, you know, And we were all leading
him with the questions, you know, you think you should play,
you know, how is it going to feel to sit
now after this great summer? And he said, it's time
for me to change my perspective. Right that he told
us what he said, it's time for me to change
my perspective. And I was thinking, holy smokes, he's right.

(57:40):
He's telling me what I should do. It's time for
me to change my perspective. We put him away for now,
and it's Russell Wilson, and it's about the commander's week one,
Russell Wilson and this team trying to play and win.
And that's it's time for this whole operation to change
its perspective. They're not sad sacks anymore. It's a decent
roster and they have to in some games. And that's

(58:01):
whatever prediction you want to make of that big at
the end of this year, there's no reason why this
group shouldn't say we got something cooking. You know, I'm
looking forward to twenty twenty six as opposed to my god,
I couldn't wait for the twenty twenty five to be over.

Speaker 5 (58:16):
Art.

Speaker 2 (58:19):
I think it's it's all about the panic button and
doing enough so that the only people who are pressing
the panic button are people who want to see you
fail this year. And I think for the Giants, Paul,
you mentioned the Jackson Dart thing. Jet halftime of Week one,
people are going to be talking about is a time

(58:40):
for Jackson Dart. If Russell Wilson throws a pick or
they only have three points. That is the overarching storyline
for this season is that people see Jackson Dart's presence
as a parachute of sorts for the coaching staff, for
the front office that well, if they put Jackson Dart in,

(59:02):
even if they're struggling, you can look at the future
and say, look we got a guy, we got our guy.
You panic too soon and you put him in too
soon and he doesn't look good, kind of takes away
your parachute. You know, there is no failsafe there. So
I think that is the challenge. Whether it's not internal,
I think it's externally. They need to fight that off

(59:25):
as long as they possibly can, and that comes with
winning games. Like you guys said, because it's not going
to be easy. It's easy when you're winning games to
tune out the people who are criticizing you. It's not
easy to tune out criticism, and you know, people slamming
you if you're not winning games and you're losing games
and you're not producing the way you need to. And

(59:46):
I do think that that does start at the quarterback.
And I think Russell Wilson is the one who's probably
under the most pressure starting the year is because everybody
saw what Jackson did this summer. Everybody he knows where
the future is. The writing's on the wall. Russell Wilson
has to keep that at arm's length, and he does

(01:00:06):
that by the Giants winning games and Russell Wilson playing
well at quarterback because I think internally there are a
lot of players in this locker room who believe Jackson's
time will come. But this is Russell's team.

Speaker 5 (01:00:21):
Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (01:00:22):
That can change quickly if things are not going well,
because all of a sudden, you're looking for answer, and
then you look at that locker over there and you
see number six and you say, hmm, is he our
answer to turn this around? You don't want that question
in October. You don't want that question in September. If
Russell Wilson could push that question by leading this team

(01:00:44):
to wins until December and after Thanksgiving and then you
see where you're at. I think that's kind of what
this season is all about.

Speaker 1 (01:00:52):
I Diz wrap us up.

Speaker 5 (01:00:54):
Yeah, I hate to agree with a Mets fan and
boll Schwartz, you know, because I'll still never forgive him
for eighty six and that lucky World Series win for
his team. But look, you gotta win some games. This
roster is the best roster Joe Shane has had in
his four years. John better than even the playoff roster.

Speaker 6 (01:01:11):
This is a better roster.

Speaker 5 (01:01:13):
And this it brought in Russell Wilson, a guy that's
going to camp one day, Okay, So you gotta win
some games, no question about it. You don't want to
start off that zero to four, one in five type record,
because like God said that, a hip comes to Jackson,
dark questions, a million of them. By week three, week four,
it's all everybody's gonna be talking about. So, hey, you
brought in Russell Wilson to win games.

Speaker 6 (01:01:35):
You upgrade the roster.

Speaker 5 (01:01:37):
Like I just said, this is Joe's bet. Joe Shane's
best roster the four years is yere. You have to
win some games, no question about it. You want to
like and like Aunt just said too, you want to
be around Thanksgiving, okay, talking about Giants football, talking about
meaningful games. It's gonna be so important to do that.
You don't want to have that. You know, your family

(01:01:59):
sitting around you, sitting around Thanksgiving dinner saying yeah, another
year we've done useless December. No, you want to have
meetingful football, but the end of them going into December,
that's gonna be so important for this organization. That's something
you have to keep it. Onye Let Russell Wilson, this
is like Art just said, this is Russell Wilson's team.
Forget about the Jackson darts stuff. Now this is Russell's team.

(01:02:21):
Get some wins. Try to get a split out of
the first two games. Because John's funny because when the
schedule came out in May, nobody had the Giants winning
for any of the first two games. First three games, right,
different story. Now they change really quick.

Speaker 6 (01:02:35):
Yeah, I guess you could say four with the charges too.

Speaker 5 (01:02:37):
You're right on. Hey, now it's a different story. Dallas
is a mess. We all know what's going on in Washington.

Speaker 6 (01:02:43):
Will see in the year.

Speaker 5 (01:02:44):
Two they just got the Terry situation resolved. But John
got to get a couple wins early in the season.
Get some wins, you know, don't don't don't start that
oh four and five stuff and taken from there. So
hopefully that's you get some wins he got Russell, and
we'll see what.

Speaker 1 (01:03:00):
Gentleman, same Water. Thank you for doing this. I know
Paul Aready kind of did this once, but he can
do it again. Promote what you want to promote. The
floor is yours, mister Schwartz, aren't then biz.

Speaker 4 (01:03:10):
What I want to promote? Well? Post Sports plus, New
York Post dot Com, New York Post newspaper edition. We're
starting a California Post fairly soon, so you can you
can based out of LA how about that? Maybe I'll
go cover the the the Rams.

Speaker 1 (01:03:28):
Is it going to be called the California Post of
the Los Angeles.

Speaker 4 (01:03:30):
Post California Posts.

Speaker 1 (01:03:32):
Oh okay, so it's statewide.

Speaker 4 (01:03:33):
Okay, but I'm not really promoting that so much yet
because I'm really based in New York here. You know,
you know what, No, this is fun. I enjoy this
every year business A newcomer to this, and you know,
we all compete, and we all you know, bust each other,
and we you know, kid around and everything like that.
But I think I hope everyone else does. I think

(01:03:54):
we all make ourselves better, We make each other better,
and I think we you know, I don't know if
there's any day that I go out there and when
I don't laugh with one of these one of these
two or three guys at least once, you know what
I mean, And that's that's good, you know what I mean,
that's good in his crazy world. It's good to you know,

(01:04:15):
you know what I mean. There's plenty of people who
don't do that. So yeah, And by the way, I
was at Game seven in eighty six, this up in
the stands.

Speaker 1 (01:04:29):
I was there. I was there.

Speaker 3 (01:04:30):
Okay, congratulations A very deep and profound answer from from
from Paul Schwartz there.

Speaker 1 (01:04:37):
I like that.

Speaker 4 (01:04:39):
I don't know what happened with that. You can edit
that out if you want, and I can just say
something else.

Speaker 3 (01:04:44):
But okay, no, I think we've seen a different side
of the Paul Sorts personality.

Speaker 1 (01:04:49):
I like that. How about you?

Speaker 5 (01:04:50):
Art?

Speaker 1 (01:04:50):
Is your is your landscaping done behind you? They've done? Okay?

Speaker 2 (01:04:55):
Good? You know where you want to talk California po today,
we got the USA today. We're all a USA baby.
North Jersey dot Com print editions of the record obviously
and are all in with Art Stableton Podcast year five,
which is amazing that we've done it this long. So

(01:05:19):
much appreciated to everyone who enjoys our coverage and always
to you guys and to John thanks for having us on.
This is always a fun thing and bye week. Didn't
we do what we do it on bye week? Don't
we where the rest of the season is? Don't we
have In the past? Every year it's always been, well,
you said they would win this many games and guess
what now the last There's one thing that the Giants

(01:05:43):
need to lose this year. That's the bookmark and everybody's
search engine for Tankathon.

Speaker 6 (01:05:51):
Lose it.

Speaker 2 (01:05:53):
You have to lose it. The Giants have to earn
the right to not be involved with Tankathon in dec
because that's where the fan base has been and they've
been conditioned to go there and see where are they
going to be picking in the next draft?

Speaker 1 (01:06:08):
Yes or right?

Speaker 3 (01:06:08):
Please don't don't make me start breaking down the opponent's
with average winning percentage for tiebreaker purposes for draft picks.

Speaker 2 (01:06:17):
Please, we've done way too much of that over the
last fifteen years or I don't even know how long
Tankathon has existed, but yeah, that would be my parting shot.
Go away Takathon earn the right to not be included
in Tankathon when everyone is pumping up their traffic on
the website to see where they're going to be drafting
in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 5 (01:06:38):
All right, biz, yeah, John, First of all, thank you
for having me on, and Paul brings up a good point.

Speaker 7 (01:06:43):
Man.

Speaker 6 (01:06:43):
We just you know, so many times we.

Speaker 5 (01:06:45):
Just standing there and watching practice. Somebody we just enjoy
I have a last we ought all other guys and
it's so important today, right, So he Schwartz will continue
this conversation about the Mets what I see in person?

Speaker 2 (01:06:56):
Okay, your finger down, you know all right?

Speaker 1 (01:06:59):
I love how the thing it's the Red Sox Mets
rival the Yankees crazy, you.

Speaker 2 (01:07:05):
Know, right, job, you got.

Speaker 5 (01:07:11):
Armust breaking my chops in April, and then all of
a sudden he's faded with that. I don't hear much
of him anymore so anyway, football season, yeah, right, so hey,
you can find you know, me and Jerry falling the
Giant's side of the podcast, and of course you can
find me and Bob Popper on the Magic Cast talking
a lot of good food, a lot of good football.

Speaker 1 (01:07:31):
So to bring any pasta today, Biz, what's going on?

Speaker 6 (01:07:34):
Man?

Speaker 1 (01:07:37):
What's going on here?

Speaker 5 (01:07:39):
It's nine in the morning.

Speaker 6 (01:07:40):
John, you know you know what I mean?

Speaker 1 (01:07:42):
So little sandwich, maybe come on give me something here.

Speaker 5 (01:07:46):
I should have put the English muffin I eight. But anyway, Hey,
thanks everybody.

Speaker 6 (01:07:50):
Hey, it's been a blast. Hey, let's hope we have
a really a.

Speaker 5 (01:07:53):
Really good season. Something that's everybody wants to talk about it.
Like I just said, no tank on tour at the
end of in December and all that.

Speaker 6 (01:08:02):
So hey, let's have a good season. Thanks. It was
a blessed being on with.

Speaker 3 (01:08:05):
Everybody, gentlemen, from your lips to God's ears, Thank you
gentlemen for doing this right here on the Giants Little
Podcast or annual Riders Roundtable to previe the season. Brought
to you by Citizens Official Banking the Giants for Paul
for Art for Biz from the Hackensack Marine Hell Podcast.

Speaker 1 (01:08:18):
Do you keep getting better? I'm John Schmilk. We will
see you next time. Everybody