October 8, 2025 • 32 mins
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk sits down with Giants inside linebacker, Bobby Okereke, to talk about defending against a potent Eagles offense, John chats with Dave Spadaro, who covers the Eagles for the team site, about the Thursday night matchup, and Bob Papa and Carl Banks sit down with Giants Head Coach, Brian Daboll.
:00 - Bobby Okereke
10:35 - Dave Spadaro
24:20 - Brian Daboll
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to get inside the Giants Hut. Let's go.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Let's go Giants. The Giants mobul give me some job.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Part of the Giants Podcast Network.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Let's roll.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Hello everybody, and welcome to a Wednesday preview edition of
the Giants Little Podcast, brought to you by Citizens, the
official bank of the Giants. The Giants get ready on
a short week to host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday
Night Football. I am John Schmelk, Normal preview show coming
your way. We're gonna have Bob Popay and Carl Banks
with Brian Dable. We are going to have my interview
with Bobby o'caake, and then Dave Spidaro from the Philadelphia
(00:32):
Eagles team website would join us to preview the team.
So we're gonna lead off with my interview with Giants
middle linebacker and Captain Bobby ocaaka. All right, back for
another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought to you
by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants, joined by
Giants middle linebacker and Captain Bobby Ocake.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Bobby, what's going on, man?
Speaker 1 (00:48):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I'm good to say thanks for doing this man. I
know it's a short week. You got a lot of
stuff going on, sir, all right, so let's get to it.
How do you think about the defense last week? Because
you've got a lot of calls on our calling shows
about the defense, and my answer has generally been, well,
if you take the takeaways a wain the points that
came off of those, do you guys give up sixteen
points almost a third of the yards you gave up
(01:09):
or a quarter came on that one play the Rashiet
shahad Ye.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
But at the same time, no takeaways, no sacks.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
So when you look at the defense and how you
did against Saints last week, how do you look at it?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah? Tough.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
You know, our number one emphasis was obviously to stop
the run. I thought we did a pretty good job
of doing that. Limited them to less than three yards
per carry, So it was good. You know, we knew
that was going to be a physical running attack. Obviously
we got to liliminate the explosive plays. Set ourselves up,
you know, to be successful when the field position, battle
with our offense and make big plays like he talks about,
(01:40):
get sacks, get turnovers. You know, any game as a
defense you don't get any turnovers, it's hard to expect
to win. So we just got to have a conscious
effort and you know, have tenacity, you know, to create
those big plays.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
All right, you mentioned the rush defense. Did you think
that was the best fundamentally sound rush defense you guys
have played all year?
Speaker 4 (01:56):
For sure, And obviously we knew they were a little
bit more one dimensional. They wanted to run the ball.
There are a lot of thirteen personnel, get the tight
ends involved. Kamara is obviously the future guy. But yeah,
definitely an identity game and just a growth game for
us in stopping the run, and you know that's what
we need with, you know, consistency with that going forward.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
What do you think you did well with it? Was
it fitting the gaps? So what was it about the
run defense that it allows you to be successful?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
I think was everything really just from d lineman to
defensive ends, to safeties to corners to linebackers, kind of
everybody understanding where you know your counterpart is fitting on
the on the defense and you know, we talk about
it in the linebacker room. You know, details and violence,
details about position, whether it's leverage, whether I'm inside outside
of splattering this guy. And you know, at the end
of the day, changing the math. You know they're gonna
(02:41):
have a guy for a guy, a puller for a puller.
But uh, you know, physicality, you know wins in football.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You talk about math.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
How tough does it make the math when you know
last week you got like Taysom Hill back there, this
week you go out like Jay when Hurt back there?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
How does that change the math?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
And how you guys have to fit an approach you
when you have a quarterback, the guy getting the ball
that can also be a guy you have to account
for one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
You know, that's this emerging land escape of the NFL.
Once a quarterback can run, it becomes eleven on football,
eleven man football. So you know your post safety's got
to be keyed in because that quarterback can take off
and change the math pretty quick. So yeah, it's a
unique challenge like it is every week in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
How's Darius Mousseau coming along. He's been playing a huge
role since Mike and Big Fatting got hurt.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yeah, Yeah, he's coming along excellent. He's always been a
really smart kid, plays with great energy. You know, he's
finding his groove in the defense. You know, he's figuring
out how I play, how the d lineman play in
front of him, and it's been exciting to see him
get better and better every week.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
He Di missed that game two weeks ago and Abdul
Carter basically at the turn back the clock two years
from his next to last year of Penn State and
play off ball linebacker with you.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, what was that like?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
And kind of wasn't crazy seeing him a guy that
really wasn't asked to do that much on early downs
in the summer just kind of get thrown in there
and being asked to do that.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, it was fun.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I thought he hit an elite mentality and demeanor about it.
You know, whether I've always said whether he lines up
a defensive end three tech at linebacker, you know, he's
got the mentality he's going to make a play. So
I thought he did a great job. He played physical.
He's such a dynamic player, so a lot of times
he's cutting up the front and I'm just flowing behind him.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
One of the guys playing in front of you that
you know started the season as in inactive in week
one and now he's coming along. He's getting penetration, getting
the backfield. His rookie Darius Alexander. Yeah, what have you
seen from him in the progress that he's been making
in front of you on this defense?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Yeah? Growth.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
You know, he's an exciting player. He's got great length,
great physicality, great football IQ. So just the growth growth
process that comes with that. Obviously, he's got great competition
in that room guys, you know, bringing him along with Dex,
Nacho Roy, guys playing really well up front, even DJ.
So it's you know, kind of that mentality competition berees excellence.
But you know, as a rookie, it's that growing process.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
How about you your fourth in the NFL and tackles
this year?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
They tackle numbers are back where they work traditionally in
your career, I think you have the highest stop rate
percentage to cause unsuccessful plays among the linebackers. One of
these crazy advents that's that you're basically stopping guys when
you have to for losses or not allowing them to
get allowing them to get the first down. How do
you feel like you're playing in this defense this year
and how much progress I think you've made from when
you had to kind of cut your season short middle
(04:55):
of last year.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Yeah, I feel like I'm getting better and better every week.
I feel like, you know, going back to LA season,
that's what I was doing. Obviously, new scheme, you know,
figuring out just play style, responsibilities. But I feel like
towards the end kind of before I got hurt that
Cowboys game, you know, I was flying around, making big hits,
had that force fumble that got called back. So to
be back playing now, obviously, I just feel blessed, and
you know, I'm improving every week. Obviously, the tackles are
(05:18):
a standard for me, just be a sidelined, a sideline
guy who can fly around, but just expecting, you know,
some big plays, some force fumbles, some pictures start coming in.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
You know, I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Do you see that with the other new additions to
this defense too? The word Robertson Harris is the Chauncey
Golsten's the Paulson Deebles of Javon Holland. As they're playing
more and more, do you think more is coming from
those guys as they continue to get used to what
they're being asked to do a.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Hundred percent, And that's when you have a growth mindset.
Obviously we're in the performance business, but you know, I
think everybody thinks results in progress are going to be linear,
and sometimes you know, the trajectory is up and down,
and you know, sometimes you got to get in the
rhythm and a feel and.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
It's not a straight line.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
At the end of the day, it's time on task.
And you know, the guys who trust the process and
keep putting the work day after day, you know it comes,
and it comes, you know, very fruitfully. So we just
trust our process and we keep going to work every day.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Now you've been here long enough.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
When you guys think about the Eagles rivalry in that
locker room, what do you guys think about it?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
How do you see it?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
I mean obviously physical, run game, physical aligne Jalen Hurts,
super Bowl winning quarterback. You know, never sleep on a champion.
So having all those things in mind, and obviously Saquon
adds an extra piece to that. You know, I said earlier,
he's an elite player and you know he's got potential
to be the best player on the field anytime he's
on the field. So just extremely excited for the matchup.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
At the same time, the run game has not been
as effective this year as it was last year. Saquon's
at three point two yards per carrier. That is the
lowest of his career. His longest run is seventeen yards.
That is very strange considering what we saw them do
last year. They were banging out long runs again and again.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
What's different is this scheme different? Is the execution not
the same? What do you see that's different from the
run game last year compared to this year?
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I mean, I think early on in the season, obviously
everyone's got a whole year of tape on you, so
they're studying you. Got people are going to the game
saying we're not going to let Saquon rip off sixty
yards seventy yard runs. So yeah, that's kind of you know,
as you have success in this league, guys you know
watch film on you and they try to eliminate that
make you play left handed. So just very excited for
the matchup. Obviously they can hurt you in the past
(07:10):
game and the run game, so it'll be fun.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Now they have a new offensive coordinator, but Nick Sirianna
is still there and Jalen Orts is still there, so
they're not gonna have that many changes. Do you see
a lot of differences with the new offensive coordinator beewing there,
just in terms of how they're trying to attack schematically, not.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Per se obviously, you know, only five games in the season,
you know, limited limited, limited tape for sure, limited data points,
but similar run game. They like their pullers, they like
their zone scheme. Really just like to get saquanted space
and whether it's in tight spaces where you know he
can make a guy miss in the whole or get
him run to the sideline where he can make guy miss,
you know, he presents a unique challenge.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Jeff Statlin one of the best offensive line coaches in
the league. What are some of the telltale signs of
a Jet Statland offensive line, Whether it's the schematics in
the run game, which you just talked about, or just
the attitude in which the guys play.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Yeah, attitude, physicality upfront. Obviously they got really great tackles,
physical upfront with their center and go arts, some pole schemes,
some one off tackle pulls, some some center folds, some
zone schemes with a polar in there so some cross
counteraction with the back and the pollers going the other way.
So you really got to be on your p's and q'
as a linebacker, and you know this is this is
(08:15):
what you want.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
You know, these are fun games.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Is what makes the Eagles difficult. We talked about Hurts
as a runner. Barkley is a run of their offense line.
But at the same time, they have two monsters in
wide receiver, They've got it the tight end. So how
do they try to present that as the main problem
that the defense has to deal with? Right, you want
to press up against the run, but once you let
these guys get behind you on those incuts and stuff
like that, then you get those big plays in the
(08:38):
middle of the field. So how is the linebacker you
deal with those two parts of their offensive attack?
Speaker 1 (08:42):
For sure?
Speaker 4 (08:43):
You know, you just have great discipline and great eyes.
You know, you study throughout the week and try to
get a key whether you know offensive lineans and a
three point stance or two point stance, whether he's leaning
back or heavy. But you just trust your instincts out
there when you see pass. You know, just have discipline,
knowing where you need to get to in your spot
because a lot of time it's timing throw, so you
just got to get in that window. And then when
it comes to the run, just playing with the elaite physicality,
(09:06):
and it's a lot easier on the offense when they're
in second and four, second and five than when they're
second and eight, second and nine. So try to keep
them behind the sticks, playing in the yellow and playing
in the red.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Final question.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
I know you're not studying their defense, but I know
at every position, game respects game. Zac Bond had a
great year last year, and their rookie Gi Campbell's having
a heck of a start to his career too.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Have you watched those guys at all and kind of
what do you think of those two guys as maybe
what could be one of the best inside linebacking pairs
in the National Football League?
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yeah, I have.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
I thought Zach Bonn had an incredible season last year.
You know, just a guy who run around sideline a sideline,
playing the mic position, getting guys lined up and you know,
getting picks, getting forced fumbles and getting his hands on
the ball. Stuff that you know all linebackers pride ourselves on.
So I think he started off the year to a
great He's got off to a great start this year,
and you know the rook's been playing really well too.
Doesn't really look too much like a rookie. You know
(09:54):
he's playing fast and you know he's playing physical, so.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
He's also huge, like he's like an old school like
two one hundred and fifty five pounds linebacker.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Yeah, and he can run too, so you know it's exciting.
You know, I think I feel like every week in
the NFL, you know, you try to measure yourself against
the linebackers you're playing that week and try to face
off against them, so you know, competition. Bereed's excellence.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Bobby good stuff man appreciate it, Bobby Ochaca in The
Giants Total Podcast brought to you by Citizens, the Official
Bank and the Giants enjoy the game on Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Sure, huddle up, get in here.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 7 (10:28):
I don't know, but Citizens does makes sense of your
money with Citizens Official Bank of Eli Manning.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Good stuff from Bobby Oh, don't forget The Giants Totle
podcast is brought to you by Citizens. The Official Bank
is the Giants from game day celebrations to your everyday
financial needs. Big Blue Fans and get the most out
of every moment with citizens learn more at citizens bank dot.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Com slash Giants. Let's go to Dave Spidarro.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
We've had him on many times. He covers the Eagles
for the team site. All right, and now we welcome
in Dave Spidarro. He covers the Phoadelphia Eagles for the
team site. Dave's joined us many times to talk Philadelphia Eagles. Dave,
how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Short week, always a rough one.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, John doing well.
Speaker 8 (11:04):
Really interesting start to the Eagles season, and I think
the NFL season for a lot of teams really a
feeling out process in September and now it gets kind
of real, so we'll find out what the Eagles and
the Giants.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Are all about.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, and that's what I want to talk to you about.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
The Philadelphia Eagles new offensive coordinator, Dave coming off the
Super Bowl obviously, what has it been like trying to
see what this offense looks like? And this is something
Jalen Hurts and your team have gone through over the
last couple of years when they, you know, lost Kella Moore.
So how how has this looked this year and why
do you think it hasn't quite come together yet?
Speaker 8 (11:35):
Well, look, to back up it's been it's been Shane Stikeen,
Brian Johnson, Kellen Moore, Kevin Pittulo.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
It has been extremely.
Speaker 8 (11:45):
Inconsistent, and I cannot tell you what this Eagles offense
is all about. There have been some glimpses of really
good offense, particularly in the past game, but most of
it's been defined by a maddening inconsistency.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
And the run game has just not been there.
Speaker 8 (12:04):
And so there are a lot of people pointing a
lot of fingers at a lot of different places, and
everybody is, you know, shares in responsibility. But to me,
it always goes back to the offensive line. And in
years past the Eagles have just dominated on the offensive line.
But this year, you know, they came into the season.
Landon Dickerson had two surgeries in the offseason, Cam Jurgens
(12:27):
the center, had a surgery. Lank Johnson's been banged up
throughout the course of the year. So they just have
not gotten anything going.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
You know.
Speaker 8 (12:36):
Saquan's longest run is seventeen yards. He is a far
cry from the two thousand yard runner of last year.
It's not him, it's there's just nowhere to go there.
The negative plays in the run game have been you know,
quadruple what they were last year. So and then the
offensive the pass game has been just you know, hit
and miss. And on Sunday against Denver they had to
(12:59):
go and for a while and then it went away.
And so it's been like a good quarter here and
two bad quarters there, and then Eagles somehow straight through
and won the first four games, but all that cut
up to them in Week five against Denver.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, I want to ask you about Saquon.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
You know, you mentioned the lack of explosives, and that
to me, Dave, watching some of your games is what
jumps out to me. You talk about the offense once.
I won't go back there. Does it look like Saquon
has a little less juice coming off as almost five
hundred touch season last year or do you think this
is pretty much a product of the offensive one.
Speaker 8 (13:29):
Yeah, I think it's a product of the offensive line.
I mean we saw him on Sunday run a wheel route,
ran ray pass Alex Singleton of the Broncos forty five
yard touchdown catch and run, and so I don't think
it's a lack of explosiveness from Saquon. He has had
not a single opportunity really to get into the second
and third level. It has been stop, start, and look,
(13:51):
I mean, I get the whole narrative about Saquon and
the Giants and people wondering if you lost it, and
it's It's not like Saquon Barkley all of a sudden
last year became a great running back.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
He's been a great running back his whole career.
Speaker 8 (14:04):
In New York. When it worked for him in New York,
the offensive line open holes. When it didn't work for
him in New York, the offensive line didn't work open holes.
And when it's worked in Philadelphia, the offensive line worked holes.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
And right now they've got to get back to that.
Speaker 8 (14:17):
Because the offensive line is not opening holes and the
running game has not worked.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yeah, and in more ways than any other position. I
think running backs you're beholden to the circumstances around them.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I'm absolutely with you on that, Dave.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
All Right, so we hit the run game with the
offensive line. How about the passing game here? It seemed
like last week the Eagles saw a lot of Manta
man defense, or at least they saw some opportunities to
get the ball to the wide receivers. Aj Brown and
DeVante Smith were very involved, but we still haven't seen
those guys explode yet this year either. What do you
think is kind of standing away of that passing game
from blowing up?
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, a lot of things.
Speaker 8 (14:48):
Look, I mean, there's been obviously a lot of media
attention spent in the direction of aj Brown and his
frustration with the offense. He has not really gotten unleashed yet.
We saw a little bit from DeVante one hundred and
fourteen yards receiving against Denver, so he got going a bit.
They went to the vernical passing game against Denver and
(15:09):
hit some plays down the field against a really good secondaries.
So I think the Eagles feel like, maybe that's a
really good sign and we'll see on Sunday or rather
on Thursday night you're against the Giants. But I don't,
I don't, I don't know. I can't put my finger
on it. Again, I always go back and everybody shares it.
Maybe it's maybe it's getting used to what Kevin Patula
(15:30):
is trying to do with the offensive scheme.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (15:33):
But I never point a finger at one thing. It's
it's a combination of everyone, and that's usually the case.
But the Eagles have not been nearly as effective throwing
the football. You know, generally Aj and Davante are impossible.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
To match up against. They've used a good bit of
Dallas Carter the tight end.
Speaker 8 (15:54):
Look the way the Eagles won the first four games
John they were eleven for eleven in the red zone,
eleven trips to the red zone, eleven touchdowns, They committed
just one turnover, and they were able to win football games.
Against the Broncos on Sunday, they were one for two
in the red zone, so that missed opportunity really hurt them.
They kicked a field goal instead of a touchdown, and
(16:15):
they did not win the turnover battle. So the margin
for error has been extremely, extremely thin. And that's, you know,
generally the way it is. It's really hard to win
the Super Bowl and come back the next year with
that same explosiveness, the same freshness in.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Your legs long season before.
Speaker 8 (16:35):
So, but then the Eagles also go look ay, last
year twenty twenty four, they struggled through four games two
and two, they had a bye week, they came back,
they barely beat the Cleveland Browns, and then they took off.
So I think they're hoping for this game against the Giants,
is maybe a point where they start the upward ascension offensively?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Yeah, yeah, David, I think you hit it. And this
is the final question on the offense.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
We've seen this with the Eagles before, right where they
started slow and they figured it out. Now in some
years like twenty twenty three, they didn't figure it out.
So what's your feel in terms of how this group
is working together? Do you feel like this will come together?
You know, guys aren't gonna get frustrated with lack of production,
lack of touches, all that stuff. Do you have a
good feel for this group that they're holding it together
(17:19):
as they kind of figure things out as a unit.
Speaker 8 (17:21):
I think that what's really really going to be telling
in this game is the Giants excellent, deep, young, aggressive
defensive line. How will the Eagles offensive line match up
against the Giants front? And we look again, if you're
(17:42):
not winning up front, you're not winning offensively. It doesn't
matter who you have with skill positions. We have seen
teams blitz the Eagles through five games and the Eagles
not really make them pay. In the past, they had
answers to the blitz, whether it was Jalen hurt scrambling,
whether it was a hot read, just not a lot
of answers. So, I mean, I want to see can
(18:03):
the Eagles handle what the Giants have up front?
Speaker 1 (18:06):
That will be very telling to me.
Speaker 8 (18:08):
Until this offensive line gets it going to the level
that they've played at the last several years, it's gonna
be really hard. I mean, the hallmark of Nick Sirianni's
teams here have been it's been physical play, the lot
of scrimmage, and a run game. They've always been able
to run the football. That is what's been missing just
from the foundation of this offense.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yeah, all right, so Dave, let's jump to the defense.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Not surprisingly, I think mcfangio's helpings together pretty well heading
into his second year there.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
And it starts with your two defensive tackles.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
And we know Jalen Carter is awesome, but it looks
like Jordan Davis is in the best shape of his
life and playing the best ball of his life.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yeah, he's played.
Speaker 8 (18:46):
Really well, and he's been very solid and made some
big plays both on defense and of course special teams
against the Rams with a block field goal in return
for the touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
So that's been good.
Speaker 8 (18:57):
Jalen Carter has not been as dominating as he was
last year, and he was arguably the best defensive lineman
in the league. That has not been the case in
terms of production this year, so he's got to get
back to that level. They've played pretty well defensively, they
have not had the pass rush that they would like.
They've lost some people off the edge, certainly coming into
(19:17):
a season where Brandon Graham retires, Josh Swt signs with
the Cardinals, Bryce Huff gets traded to the forty nine ers,
you're down a bit. You're counting on some young players.
Nolan Smith, juniors on injured reserve. Jlex Hunt still hasn't
gotten to that next step that the Eagles expect him
to get to. They've had to go on out and
they've goneut and gotten Zadarius Smith, who's been a productive player,
(19:38):
a nice, really veteran piece to this defense. So the
front has been good, not great, and in the past
we've seen it great and that set up everything fortunately
for Vic and the defense. John Campbell, the first round pick,
is on his way to being a very very very
good player phenom if you will. I mean, he's played
(19:58):
everywhere off the edge coverage. He's played well against the run.
He's been bothered by a biceps injury a little bit,
so it'll be interesting to see how he does against
the Giants.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Here.
Speaker 8 (20:06):
Zack Bond, the Eagles find of the century and free
agency a year ago, signed the contract.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
He's been outstanding.
Speaker 8 (20:13):
They've gotten pretty good play in the back end, so
they've held it together as well. Have not had the
number of takeovers takeaways that they liked it like to have,
but they've had some timely ones red zone takeaways against
the Cowboys, against the Chiefs, against the Rams, that has
helped the Eagles, I'm sorry, against the Bucks.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
That has helped the Eagles get to four to one.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
All right, two more, Dave real quick. It's funny.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I feel like the Eagles one of their weaknesses was
always are inside linebackers, and now all of a sudden,
you got Zack Bond there you mentioned him, and gi
High Cando's playing great.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
That's almost the strength of this defense now, No, yeah.
Speaker 8 (20:44):
It is that John Campbell is really an outstanding young player.
Zach Bond is every bit as good as he was
last year. Nikobe Dean's practice windows open, so he'll be
coming back.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Jeremiah Trotter Junior is a good reserve piece.
Speaker 8 (20:57):
They're really excellent at linebacker, and to use them in
a lot of different ways, and that versatility has helped
Vic Fangil kind of structure the defense and take away
favorable matchups and give the Eagles that advantage.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
And you mentioned the great young players in the secondary.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Mitchell Dejean mccuba's come on, done really well, Dave, you
could give me something on the young guys. And then
what's going on with that second outside corner position. What's
that looking like? Dori Jackson, Keelee Ringo. How the Eagles
tried to piece that together?
Speaker 1 (21:25):
It was all really good.
Speaker 8 (21:26):
Now, Denver came on with eighteen points unanswered in the
fourth quarter on Sunday, picked apart the secondary bit. So
that's a bit of a concern because there's a blueprint
here and teams are gonna copy that. But Mitchell's been great.
Mitchell's taken the next step. Dejene is an outstandling tackler.
Outstanding tackler. He's played little outside, he's played nicol, he's
played safety, very physical kid, excellent football player. Macuba has
(21:49):
had a couple of key takeaways one against the Cowboys,
the end zone interception against the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
That turned that game around.
Speaker 8 (21:55):
Slight guy, but really finds the football and read blanket
Ship the veteran back. There's a solid player, So they've
been good. The cornerback two been tough a Dori Jackson
really got picked on.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Early in the season.
Speaker 8 (22:06):
Cowboys really went after him, and so that's they've replaced
him with Ringo. Last week against the against the Broncos,
he got picked on a bit after playing well against
Tampa Bay. So cornerback two has been a spot and
the Eagles are trying to figure that out. And when
you don't really get the pass rush, a cornerback spot
is going to be in jeopardy and then it's going
(22:28):
to be a target and teams are looking at that,
and so Vick's been trying to cover that up a bit,
hoping that either Jackson or Ringo would step up, or
Jacry and Bennett who they acquired from the Raiders in
the preseason.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
None of that has happened.
Speaker 8 (22:41):
So it's a work in progress, I would say with
that cornerback two position. Otherwise, not a bad group in
the back end, and they've kept teams off the scoreboard.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
It seems like the last two weeks day and I'll
rap with this the second half. Eagles have a great
first half, they shut down a couple teams, and the
second half it's gotten away from a little bit.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Has there been a common thread between those two games.
Speaker 8 (23:00):
That's the common thread of this football team, John, I
mean offensively and defensively. Look, they have won, as I said,
by the offense being great in the red zone. They
have won by being really good on special teams. They
blocked the two field goals against the Rams. They opened
the game against Tampa Bay with a block punt to
set up the offense for a touchdown. The defense has
kept teams off the scoreboard, and they've taken the football
away in a timely manner. And that's it. And so
(23:23):
this is a team that's living on a very very
narrow margin of victory and that has been reflective in
five games. I mean that is the way every single
game is gone looking really good and then a dry period.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Looking good.
Speaker 8 (23:35):
Dry period has been very very inconsistent. The Eagles have
been able to some victories and now they're looking to
take that you know, middle of the season here and
play better football. They realize on Sunday it found it
get all caught up to them.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
They can't get away with.
Speaker 8 (23:51):
Inconsistent football, lack of attention to details, and just playing
on the edge against good football teams. It caught up
to them Sunday. They hope it doesn't catch up to
them against the New York Giants.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Dave, awesome stuff. We'll talk to you Thursday. Thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Thanks John.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
If you want to know how to manage two minutes
of crunch time football, I'm your man. But if you're
wondering about a long term financial plan, you should talk
to Citizens.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Hey, I can also talk long care.
Speaker 7 (24:14):
I'd like to learn about a million routine. Yes, I
knew I could help make sense of your money with Citizens.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Good stuff from Dave Spidaro. Don't forget folks.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
The Giants most a five K Racing Kids weren presented
by Quest on Sunday, October twenty six, nine am a stadium.
Net Proceeds will benefit the Giants Foundation, a five oh
one C three nonprofit corporation. All participants will receive a
commemorative T shirt after the race day for a post
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DJ Rogerson now with Giants dot Com Slash five K.
Now we turned the head coach of the Giants Bob
(24:42):
Pop and Carl Banks talk to him.
Speaker 9 (24:44):
Short turnaround is the Giants take on the Eagles. But
as always'd like to welcome in my co host Carl Banks,
two times Super Bowl champion and the head coach of
the New York Giants, Brian Dable and coach. Obviously, very
frustrating game on Sunday, but now you got this short
week to turn it around. How do you process that
with your players to kind of flush it but not
(25:05):
forget it. Well, tuesdays like a Friday, so there's really
no time to you go through it.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
We went through.
Speaker 9 (25:12):
It on the plane ride home the coaches and we
were right onto Philadelphia.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
You know, the players.
Speaker 9 (25:19):
Are coming in doing the things that they need to
do and get ready and watching their tape and you
know we'll have two productive walkthrough days. But it's the
same for every team that has to plan on Thursday night.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
Coach, you know, having sat in the locker room and
been through adversity, they are good things that you focus
on meaning as a team that people outside don't. But
then when you look at the stats, it says, well,
they were one hundred percent in the red zone scoring
touchdowns to field goals. Tho, that's improvement, right, There's well
(25:53):
the team held them the field goals instead of touchdowns.
But then as a group, because it is a team effort,
the one play here that negated all of that, or
the five fumbles here that negated all of that. But
you still have to focus on the things that you
did well so that you can continue to build on those,
but yet get rid of all of the mess.
Speaker 9 (26:15):
Yeah, you know, red zone has been something we've been
working extremely hard on, and I thought early in the game,
you know, we were good offensively and had a couple
of action passes down there. Jackson made a nice throw
and and eighty four made a nice catch, and defensively
did a good job in.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
The red zone. That was a positive. The run game defense.
Speaker 9 (26:34):
Something we've been working on, and we knew Camara was
going to be a big, you know, big threat. I
thought we did a good job in that area. And
then it goes back to you know, explosive plays. Gave
up one defensively that we shouldn't have and had multiple
opportunities down the field to make plays that really could
have changed the beginning part of the game. But ultimately,
when you when you turn the ball over five times
(26:55):
and don't get any turnovers, it's you know, close to
zero percent chance of getting what you want to get,
which is a w So I thought the quarterback did
a lot of good things. You know, obviously he'd like
to have that fumble back, but we got to do
a better job of protecting the ball. So, speaking of
that coach coming into this week's game against the Eagles,
(27:15):
obviously they're coming off their first loss, but being able
to get some chunk plays because in the last two games, right,
longest pass against the Chargers was eighteen, longest play from
scrimmage against Saints twenty. It's hard to go on a
lot of fourteen play draws, isn't it. Yeah, I mean,
but this is what Vic's gonna do. H Coach Fanjo
(27:35):
is notorious for that. We've we've competed against them many
of times at different spots, and you know, he does
a good job of you know, preventing explosive plays, playing
tight underneath, making you earn it.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
We're gonna have to do a good job with that.
Speaker 9 (27:49):
But again, when you have an opportunity to make an
explosive play when need you to come down with those
So again, they help big time scoring points. But if
they're not gonna they're going to stay way back and
they're going to make you drive it, then you have
to do a good job of executing on a consistent
basis like we did early in the game.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
Coach.
Speaker 6 (28:09):
When you play a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, they are,
you know, kind of the goal standard in terms of
excellence and wins and losses. It takes playing above the
exis and obles when those players are there, but it
also takes mental stamina. You've got to always stay locked
in so that nothing creeps up on you like a
(28:30):
blown coverage when the game is on the line.
Speaker 9 (28:32):
Absolutely, and all their games this year have come down
to seven points or less. I think they're a battle
tested team with a lot of good players. They've been
successful for a long time. They've got good defensive players.
They good defensive players are doing a heck of a
job and special teams with their block kicks.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
That's why they're where they're at.
Speaker 9 (28:49):
You know, I had a tough game last week against
Denver that Denver hung in there and I think score
eighteen points in the fourth quarter, which is a hard
thing to do. But you know, they're they're top of
the line man coachum. When you look at them defense,
you mentioned Vic Fango and then they got Jalen Carter
in the middle just to kind of anchor everything. How
do you deal with them over play in play out, Yeah,
(29:15):
a lot of people are trying to. You know, it's
like dealing with decks. You have a dynamic interior player
that can, you know, demand double teams. But it's hard
with some of the fronts that they play the six
man stuff where they have everybody up at the line
of scrimmage from their base stuff and two outside linebackers
on the end a line of scrimmage for defensive linement
(29:37):
in you know, try to create single matchups for their
defensive lineman. And you know, again it's a it's a
challenge when you're playing against a dominant interior player like
that how to allocate your help to him. The edge
guy is a little bit different when you're when you're
game planning, because you can get a tight end or
a back and chip and things like that.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
But the interior stuff we're gonna.
Speaker 9 (29:58):
Have to do a good job of making sure we
know where he's at and trying to allocate as many
guys we can to him. Coaching is almost like you
know you're picking your poison right when playing again, teams
have been very committed to not let them run wild
against them, but then they get you in other areas.
Stained discipline is very important, right, not trying to make
(30:19):
the hero play or else as it leads to a breakdown. Yeah,
doing our job, you know again, I thought we took
a step in our run defense last week and we're
going to need to continue due to that this week.
Dynamic player in Saquon. We have to be gap sound,
control the line of scrimmage, make our forced players come
up and tackle.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
But then they have, you know, legit perimeter threats.
Speaker 9 (30:43):
Two excellent receivers, really really good receivers that are going
to require you know, good coverage coach.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
Last one for me is when you talk about those
perimeter guys out there. You you know Smith from Alabama,
But is this one of these conversations you have with
your defensive backs, like you can never relax because the
game could be going one way. Brown can break a tackle,
He's a big, physical guy and Smith can get behind
(31:11):
your defense, So you just have to stay really locked
in on whatever the coverage responsibilities are.
Speaker 9 (31:16):
Yeah, absolutely, anytime you have two I'd say very very
good to dominate players on the perimeter. That makes a
challenging on the defense. And then you know, do you
want to add play man, do you want to play
zone because you know Hurts can get you in any coverage.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
To be honest with you, he's not much. He hasn't seen.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
I think he's done a tremendous job in this league
of playing a quarterback position and winning a lot of
football games. And whether you get zone and he reads
it out or again, he's one of the terms of scrambling.
This year he's got the most yards or near the
top of the league in terms of scrambling. So you know,
you got to pick your poison when you're playing this team.
Saquon to two receivers, Hurts off, that's Linder. You know
(31:56):
they're pretty good cult. We appreciate it a couple minutes.
I know it's a tight week. Luck on Thursday, Thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Good stuff from Brian Dable.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
We thank him, Dave Spidara and Bobbio Cake for joining
us on this special Wednesday preview edition of the Johnsttle Podcast.
Thanks for being with us. Everybody enjoy the game on
Thursday night.
It's time to get inside the Giants Hut. Let's go.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Let's go Giants. The Giants mobul give me some job.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Part of the Giants Podcast Network.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Let's roll.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Hello everybody, and welcome to a Wednesday preview edition of
the Giants Little Podcast, brought to you by Citizens, the
official bank of the Giants. The Giants get ready on
a short week to host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday
Night Football. I am John Schmelk, Normal preview show coming
your way. We're gonna have Bob Popay and Carl Banks
with Brian Dable. We are going to have my interview
with Bobby o'caake, and then Dave Spidaro from the Philadelphia
(00:32):
Eagles team website would join us to preview the team.
So we're gonna lead off with my interview with Giants
middle linebacker and Captain Bobby ocaaka. All right, back for
another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought to you
by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants, joined by
Giants middle linebacker and Captain Bobby Ocake.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Bobby, what's going on, man?
Speaker 1 (00:48):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I'm good to say thanks for doing this man. I
know it's a short week. You got a lot of
stuff going on, sir, all right, so let's get to it.
How do you think about the defense last week? Because
you've got a lot of calls on our calling shows
about the defense, and my answer has generally been, well,
if you take the takeaways a wain the points that
came off of those, do you guys give up sixteen
points almost a third of the yards you gave up
(01:09):
or a quarter came on that one play the Rashiet
shahad Ye.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
But at the same time, no takeaways, no sacks.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
So when you look at the defense and how you
did against Saints last week, how do you look at it?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah? Tough.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
You know, our number one emphasis was obviously to stop
the run. I thought we did a pretty good job
of doing that. Limited them to less than three yards
per carry, So it was good. You know, we knew
that was going to be a physical running attack. Obviously
we got to liliminate the explosive plays. Set ourselves up,
you know, to be successful when the field position, battle
with our offense and make big plays like he talks about,
(01:40):
get sacks, get turnovers. You know, any game as a
defense you don't get any turnovers, it's hard to expect
to win. So we just got to have a conscious
effort and you know, have tenacity, you know, to create
those big plays.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
All right, you mentioned the rush defense. Did you think
that was the best fundamentally sound rush defense you guys
have played all year?
Speaker 4 (01:56):
For sure, And obviously we knew they were a little
bit more one dimensional. They wanted to run the ball.
There are a lot of thirteen personnel, get the tight
ends involved. Kamara is obviously the future guy. But yeah,
definitely an identity game and just a growth game for
us in stopping the run, and you know that's what
we need with, you know, consistency with that going forward.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
What do you think you did well with it? Was
it fitting the gaps? So what was it about the
run defense that it allows you to be successful?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
I think was everything really just from d lineman to
defensive ends, to safeties to corners to linebackers, kind of
everybody understanding where you know your counterpart is fitting on
the on the defense and you know, we talk about
it in the linebacker room. You know, details and violence,
details about position, whether it's leverage, whether I'm inside outside
of splattering this guy. And you know, at the end
of the day, changing the math. You know they're gonna
(02:41):
have a guy for a guy, a puller for a puller.
But uh, you know, physicality, you know wins in football.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You talk about math.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
How tough does it make the math when you know
last week you got like Taysom Hill back there, this
week you go out like Jay when Hurt back there?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
How does that change the math?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
And how you guys have to fit an approach you
when you have a quarterback, the guy getting the ball
that can also be a guy you have to account
for one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
You know, that's this emerging land escape of the NFL.
Once a quarterback can run, it becomes eleven on football,
eleven man football. So you know your post safety's got
to be keyed in because that quarterback can take off
and change the math pretty quick. So yeah, it's a
unique challenge like it is every week in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
How's Darius Mousseau coming along. He's been playing a huge
role since Mike and Big Fatting got hurt.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yeah, Yeah, he's coming along excellent. He's always been a
really smart kid, plays with great energy. You know, he's
finding his groove in the defense. You know, he's figuring
out how I play, how the d lineman play in
front of him, and it's been exciting to see him
get better and better every week.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
He Di missed that game two weeks ago and Abdul
Carter basically at the turn back the clock two years
from his next to last year of Penn State and
play off ball linebacker with you.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, what was that like?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
And kind of wasn't crazy seeing him a guy that
really wasn't asked to do that much on early downs
in the summer just kind of get thrown in there
and being asked to do that.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, it was fun.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I thought he hit an elite mentality and demeanor about it.
You know, whether I've always said whether he lines up
a defensive end three tech at linebacker, you know, he's
got the mentality he's going to make a play. So
I thought he did a great job. He played physical.
He's such a dynamic player, so a lot of times
he's cutting up the front and I'm just flowing behind him.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
One of the guys playing in front of you that
you know started the season as in inactive in week
one and now he's coming along. He's getting penetration, getting
the backfield. His rookie Darius Alexander. Yeah, what have you
seen from him in the progress that he's been making
in front of you on this defense?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Yeah? Growth.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
You know, he's an exciting player. He's got great length,
great physicality, great football IQ. So just the growth growth
process that comes with that. Obviously, he's got great competition
in that room guys, you know, bringing him along with Dex,
Nacho Roy, guys playing really well up front, even DJ.
So it's you know, kind of that mentality competition berees excellence.
But you know, as a rookie, it's that growing process.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
How about you your fourth in the NFL and tackles
this year?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
They tackle numbers are back where they work traditionally in
your career, I think you have the highest stop rate
percentage to cause unsuccessful plays among the linebackers. One of
these crazy advents that's that you're basically stopping guys when
you have to for losses or not allowing them to
get allowing them to get the first down. How do
you feel like you're playing in this defense this year
and how much progress I think you've made from when
you had to kind of cut your season short middle
(04:55):
of last year.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Yeah, I feel like I'm getting better and better every week.
I feel like, you know, going back to LA season,
that's what I was doing. Obviously, new scheme, you know,
figuring out just play style, responsibilities. But I feel like
towards the end kind of before I got hurt that
Cowboys game, you know, I was flying around, making big hits,
had that force fumble that got called back. So to
be back playing now, obviously, I just feel blessed, and
you know, I'm improving every week. Obviously, the tackles are
(05:18):
a standard for me, just be a sidelined, a sideline
guy who can fly around, but just expecting, you know,
some big plays, some force fumbles, some pictures start coming in.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
You know, I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Do you see that with the other new additions to
this defense too? The word Robertson Harris is the Chauncey
Golsten's the Paulson Deebles of Javon Holland. As they're playing
more and more, do you think more is coming from
those guys as they continue to get used to what
they're being asked to do a.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Hundred percent, And that's when you have a growth mindset.
Obviously we're in the performance business, but you know, I
think everybody thinks results in progress are going to be linear,
and sometimes you know, the trajectory is up and down,
and you know, sometimes you got to get in the
rhythm and a feel and.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
It's not a straight line.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
At the end of the day, it's time on task.
And you know, the guys who trust the process and
keep putting the work day after day, you know it comes,
and it comes, you know, very fruitfully. So we just
trust our process and we keep going to work every day.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Now you've been here long enough.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
When you guys think about the Eagles rivalry in that
locker room, what do you guys think about it?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
How do you see it?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
I mean obviously physical, run game, physical aligne Jalen Hurts,
super Bowl winning quarterback. You know, never sleep on a champion.
So having all those things in mind, and obviously Saquon
adds an extra piece to that. You know, I said earlier,
he's an elite player and you know he's got potential
to be the best player on the field anytime he's
on the field. So just extremely excited for the matchup.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
At the same time, the run game has not been
as effective this year as it was last year. Saquon's
at three point two yards per carrier. That is the
lowest of his career. His longest run is seventeen yards.
That is very strange considering what we saw them do
last year. They were banging out long runs again and again.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
What's different is this scheme different? Is the execution not
the same? What do you see that's different from the
run game last year compared to this year?
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I mean, I think early on in the season, obviously
everyone's got a whole year of tape on you, so
they're studying you. Got people are going to the game
saying we're not going to let Saquon rip off sixty
yards seventy yard runs. So yeah, that's kind of you know,
as you have success in this league, guys you know
watch film on you and they try to eliminate that
make you play left handed. So just very excited for
the matchup. Obviously they can hurt you in the past
(07:10):
game and the run game, so it'll be fun.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Now they have a new offensive coordinator, but Nick Sirianna
is still there and Jalen Orts is still there, so
they're not gonna have that many changes. Do you see
a lot of differences with the new offensive coordinator beewing there,
just in terms of how they're trying to attack schematically, not.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Per se obviously, you know, only five games in the season,
you know, limited limited, limited tape for sure, limited data points,
but similar run game. They like their pullers, they like
their zone scheme. Really just like to get saquanted space
and whether it's in tight spaces where you know he
can make a guy miss in the whole or get
him run to the sideline where he can make guy miss,
you know, he presents a unique challenge.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Jeff Statlin one of the best offensive line coaches in
the league. What are some of the telltale signs of
a Jet Statland offensive line, Whether it's the schematics in
the run game, which you just talked about, or just
the attitude in which the guys play.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Yeah, attitude, physicality upfront. Obviously they got really great tackles,
physical upfront with their center and go arts, some pole schemes,
some one off tackle pulls, some some center folds, some
zone schemes with a polar in there so some cross
counteraction with the back and the pollers going the other way.
So you really got to be on your p's and q'
as a linebacker, and you know this is this is
(08:15):
what you want.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
You know, these are fun games.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Is what makes the Eagles difficult. We talked about Hurts
as a runner. Barkley is a run of their offense line.
But at the same time, they have two monsters in
wide receiver, They've got it the tight end. So how
do they try to present that as the main problem
that the defense has to deal with? Right, you want
to press up against the run, but once you let
these guys get behind you on those incuts and stuff
like that, then you get those big plays in the
(08:38):
middle of the field. So how is the linebacker you
deal with those two parts of their offensive attack?
Speaker 1 (08:42):
For sure?
Speaker 4 (08:43):
You know, you just have great discipline and great eyes.
You know, you study throughout the week and try to
get a key whether you know offensive lineans and a
three point stance or two point stance, whether he's leaning
back or heavy. But you just trust your instincts out
there when you see pass. You know, just have discipline,
knowing where you need to get to in your spot
because a lot of time it's timing throw, so you
just got to get in that window. And then when
it comes to the run, just playing with the elaite physicality,
(09:06):
and it's a lot easier on the offense when they're
in second and four, second and five than when they're
second and eight, second and nine. So try to keep
them behind the sticks, playing in the yellow and playing
in the red.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Final question.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
I know you're not studying their defense, but I know
at every position, game respects game. Zac Bond had a
great year last year, and their rookie Gi Campbell's having
a heck of a start to his career too.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Have you watched those guys at all and kind of
what do you think of those two guys as maybe
what could be one of the best inside linebacking pairs
in the National Football League?
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yeah, I have.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
I thought Zach Bonn had an incredible season last year.
You know, just a guy who run around sideline a sideline,
playing the mic position, getting guys lined up and you know,
getting picks, getting forced fumbles and getting his hands on
the ball. Stuff that you know all linebackers pride ourselves on.
So I think he started off the year to a
great He's got off to a great start this year,
and you know the rook's been playing really well too.
Doesn't really look too much like a rookie. You know
(09:54):
he's playing fast and you know he's playing physical, so.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
He's also huge, like he's like an old school like
two one hundred and fifty five pounds linebacker.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Yeah, and he can run too, so you know it's exciting.
You know, I think I feel like every week in
the NFL, you know, you try to measure yourself against
the linebackers you're playing that week and try to face
off against them, so you know, competition. Bereed's excellence.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Bobby good stuff man appreciate it, Bobby Ochaca in The
Giants Total Podcast brought to you by Citizens, the Official
Bank and the Giants enjoy the game on Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Sure, huddle up, get in here.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 7 (10:28):
I don't know, but Citizens does makes sense of your
money with Citizens Official Bank of Eli Manning.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Good stuff from Bobby Oh, don't forget The Giants Totle
podcast is brought to you by Citizens. The Official Bank
is the Giants from game day celebrations to your everyday
financial needs. Big Blue Fans and get the most out
of every moment with citizens learn more at citizens bank dot.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Com slash Giants. Let's go to Dave Spidarro.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
We've had him on many times. He covers the Eagles
for the team site. All right, and now we welcome
in Dave Spidarro. He covers the Phoadelphia Eagles for the
team site. Dave's joined us many times to talk Philadelphia Eagles. Dave,
how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Short week, always a rough one.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, John doing well.
Speaker 8 (11:04):
Really interesting start to the Eagles season, and I think
the NFL season for a lot of teams really a
feeling out process in September and now it gets kind
of real, so we'll find out what the Eagles and
the Giants.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Are all about.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, and that's what I want to talk to you about.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
The Philadelphia Eagles new offensive coordinator, Dave coming off the
Super Bowl obviously, what has it been like trying to
see what this offense looks like? And this is something
Jalen Hurts and your team have gone through over the
last couple of years when they, you know, lost Kella Moore.
So how how has this looked this year and why
do you think it hasn't quite come together yet?
Speaker 8 (11:35):
Well, look, to back up it's been it's been Shane Stikeen,
Brian Johnson, Kellen Moore, Kevin Pittulo.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
It has been extremely.
Speaker 8 (11:45):
Inconsistent, and I cannot tell you what this Eagles offense
is all about. There have been some glimpses of really
good offense, particularly in the past game, but most of
it's been defined by a maddening inconsistency.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
And the run game has just not been there.
Speaker 8 (12:04):
And so there are a lot of people pointing a
lot of fingers at a lot of different places, and
everybody is, you know, shares in responsibility. But to me,
it always goes back to the offensive line. And in
years past the Eagles have just dominated on the offensive line.
But this year, you know, they came into the season.
Landon Dickerson had two surgeries in the offseason, Cam Jurgens
(12:27):
the center, had a surgery. Lank Johnson's been banged up
throughout the course of the year. So they just have
not gotten anything going.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
You know.
Speaker 8 (12:36):
Saquan's longest run is seventeen yards. He is a far
cry from the two thousand yard runner of last year.
It's not him, it's there's just nowhere to go there.
The negative plays in the run game have been you know,
quadruple what they were last year. So and then the
offensive the pass game has been just you know, hit
and miss. And on Sunday against Denver they had to
(12:59):
go and for a while and then it went away.
And so it's been like a good quarter here and
two bad quarters there, and then Eagles somehow straight through
and won the first four games, but all that cut
up to them in Week five against Denver.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, I want to ask you about Saquon.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
You know, you mentioned the lack of explosives, and that
to me, Dave, watching some of your games is what
jumps out to me. You talk about the offense once.
I won't go back there. Does it look like Saquon
has a little less juice coming off as almost five
hundred touch season last year or do you think this
is pretty much a product of the offensive one.
Speaker 8 (13:29):
Yeah, I think it's a product of the offensive line.
I mean we saw him on Sunday run a wheel route,
ran ray pass Alex Singleton of the Broncos forty five
yard touchdown catch and run, and so I don't think
it's a lack of explosiveness from Saquon. He has had
not a single opportunity really to get into the second
and third level. It has been stop, start, and look,
(13:51):
I mean, I get the whole narrative about Saquon and
the Giants and people wondering if you lost it, and
it's It's not like Saquon Barkley all of a sudden
last year became a great running back.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
He's been a great running back his whole career.
Speaker 8 (14:04):
In New York. When it worked for him in New York,
the offensive line open holes. When it didn't work for
him in New York, the offensive line didn't work open holes.
And when it's worked in Philadelphia, the offensive line worked holes.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
And right now they've got to get back to that.
Speaker 8 (14:17):
Because the offensive line is not opening holes and the
running game has not worked.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yeah, and in more ways than any other position. I
think running backs you're beholden to the circumstances around them.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I'm absolutely with you on that, Dave.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
All Right, so we hit the run game with the
offensive line. How about the passing game here? It seemed
like last week the Eagles saw a lot of Manta
man defense, or at least they saw some opportunities to
get the ball to the wide receivers. Aj Brown and
DeVante Smith were very involved, but we still haven't seen
those guys explode yet this year either. What do you
think is kind of standing away of that passing game
from blowing up?
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, a lot of things.
Speaker 8 (14:48):
Look, I mean, there's been obviously a lot of media
attention spent in the direction of aj Brown and his
frustration with the offense. He has not really gotten unleashed yet.
We saw a little bit from DeVante one hundred and
fourteen yards receiving against Denver, so he got going a bit.
They went to the vernical passing game against Denver and
(15:09):
hit some plays down the field against a really good secondaries.
So I think the Eagles feel like, maybe that's a
really good sign and we'll see on Sunday or rather
on Thursday night you're against the Giants. But I don't,
I don't, I don't know. I can't put my finger
on it. Again, I always go back and everybody shares it.
Maybe it's maybe it's getting used to what Kevin Patula
(15:30):
is trying to do with the offensive scheme.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (15:33):
But I never point a finger at one thing. It's
it's a combination of everyone, and that's usually the case.
But the Eagles have not been nearly as effective throwing
the football. You know, generally Aj and Davante are impossible.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
To match up against. They've used a good bit of
Dallas Carter the tight end.
Speaker 8 (15:54):
Look the way the Eagles won the first four games
John they were eleven for eleven in the red zone,
eleven trips to the red zone, eleven touchdowns, They committed
just one turnover, and they were able to win football games.
Against the Broncos on Sunday, they were one for two
in the red zone, so that missed opportunity really hurt them.
They kicked a field goal instead of a touchdown, and
(16:15):
they did not win the turnover battle. So the margin
for error has been extremely, extremely thin. And that's, you know,
generally the way it is. It's really hard to win
the Super Bowl and come back the next year with
that same explosiveness, the same freshness in.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Your legs long season before.
Speaker 8 (16:35):
So, but then the Eagles also go look ay, last
year twenty twenty four, they struggled through four games two
and two, they had a bye week, they came back,
they barely beat the Cleveland Browns, and then they took off.
So I think they're hoping for this game against the Giants,
is maybe a point where they start the upward ascension offensively?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Yeah, yeah, David, I think you hit it. And this
is the final question on the offense.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
We've seen this with the Eagles before, right where they
started slow and they figured it out. Now in some
years like twenty twenty three, they didn't figure it out.
So what's your feel in terms of how this group
is working together? Do you feel like this will come together?
You know, guys aren't gonna get frustrated with lack of production,
lack of touches, all that stuff. Do you have a
good feel for this group that they're holding it together
(17:19):
as they kind of figure things out as a unit.
Speaker 8 (17:21):
I think that what's really really going to be telling
in this game is the Giants excellent, deep, young, aggressive
defensive line. How will the Eagles offensive line match up
against the Giants front? And we look again, if you're
(17:42):
not winning up front, you're not winning offensively. It doesn't
matter who you have with skill positions. We have seen
teams blitz the Eagles through five games and the Eagles
not really make them pay. In the past, they had
answers to the blitz, whether it was Jalen hurt scrambling,
whether it was a hot read, just not a lot
of answers. So, I mean, I want to see can
(18:03):
the Eagles handle what the Giants have up front?
Speaker 1 (18:06):
That will be very telling to me.
Speaker 8 (18:08):
Until this offensive line gets it going to the level
that they've played at the last several years, it's gonna
be really hard. I mean, the hallmark of Nick Sirianni's
teams here have been it's been physical play, the lot
of scrimmage, and a run game. They've always been able
to run the football. That is what's been missing just
from the foundation of this offense.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yeah, all right, so Dave, let's jump to the defense.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Not surprisingly, I think mcfangio's helpings together pretty well heading
into his second year there.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
And it starts with your two defensive tackles.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
And we know Jalen Carter is awesome, but it looks
like Jordan Davis is in the best shape of his
life and playing the best ball of his life.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yeah, he's played.
Speaker 8 (18:46):
Really well, and he's been very solid and made some
big plays both on defense and of course special teams
against the Rams with a block field goal in return
for the touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
So that's been good.
Speaker 8 (18:57):
Jalen Carter has not been as dominating as he was
last year, and he was arguably the best defensive lineman
in the league. That has not been the case in
terms of production this year, so he's got to get
back to that level. They've played pretty well defensively, they
have not had the pass rush that they would like.
They've lost some people off the edge, certainly coming into
(19:17):
a season where Brandon Graham retires, Josh Swt signs with
the Cardinals, Bryce Huff gets traded to the forty nine ers,
you're down a bit. You're counting on some young players.
Nolan Smith, juniors on injured reserve. Jlex Hunt still hasn't
gotten to that next step that the Eagles expect him
to get to. They've had to go on out and
they've goneut and gotten Zadarius Smith, who's been a productive player,
(19:38):
a nice, really veteran piece to this defense. So the
front has been good, not great, and in the past
we've seen it great and that set up everything fortunately
for Vic and the defense. John Campbell, the first round pick,
is on his way to being a very very very
good player phenom if you will. I mean, he's played
(19:58):
everywhere off the edge coverage. He's played well against the run.
He's been bothered by a biceps injury a little bit,
so it'll be interesting to see how he does against
the Giants.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Here.
Speaker 8 (20:06):
Zack Bond, the Eagles find of the century and free
agency a year ago, signed the contract.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
He's been outstanding.
Speaker 8 (20:13):
They've gotten pretty good play in the back end, so
they've held it together as well. Have not had the
number of takeovers takeaways that they liked it like to have,
but they've had some timely ones red zone takeaways against
the Cowboys, against the Chiefs, against the Rams, that has
helped the Eagles, I'm sorry, against the Bucks.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
That has helped the Eagles get to four to one.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
All right, two more, Dave real quick. It's funny.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I feel like the Eagles one of their weaknesses was
always are inside linebackers, and now all of a sudden,
you got Zack Bond there you mentioned him, and gi
High Cando's playing great.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
That's almost the strength of this defense now, No, yeah.
Speaker 8 (20:44):
It is that John Campbell is really an outstanding young player.
Zach Bond is every bit as good as he was
last year. Nikobe Dean's practice windows open, so he'll be
coming back.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Jeremiah Trotter Junior is a good reserve piece.
Speaker 8 (20:57):
They're really excellent at linebacker, and to use them in
a lot of different ways, and that versatility has helped
Vic Fangil kind of structure the defense and take away
favorable matchups and give the Eagles that advantage.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
And you mentioned the great young players in the secondary.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Mitchell Dejean mccuba's come on, done really well, Dave, you
could give me something on the young guys. And then
what's going on with that second outside corner position. What's
that looking like? Dori Jackson, Keelee Ringo. How the Eagles
tried to piece that together?
Speaker 1 (21:25):
It was all really good.
Speaker 8 (21:26):
Now, Denver came on with eighteen points unanswered in the
fourth quarter on Sunday, picked apart the secondary bit. So
that's a bit of a concern because there's a blueprint
here and teams are gonna copy that. But Mitchell's been great.
Mitchell's taken the next step. Dejene is an outstandling tackler.
Outstanding tackler. He's played little outside, he's played nicol, he's
played safety, very physical kid, excellent football player. Macuba has
(21:49):
had a couple of key takeaways one against the Cowboys,
the end zone interception against the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
That turned that game around.
Speaker 8 (21:55):
Slight guy, but really finds the football and read blanket
Ship the veteran back. There's a solid player, So they've
been good. The cornerback two been tough a Dori Jackson
really got picked on.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Early in the season.
Speaker 8 (22:06):
Cowboys really went after him, and so that's they've replaced
him with Ringo. Last week against the against the Broncos,
he got picked on a bit after playing well against
Tampa Bay. So cornerback two has been a spot and
the Eagles are trying to figure that out. And when
you don't really get the pass rush, a cornerback spot
is going to be in jeopardy and then it's going
(22:28):
to be a target and teams are looking at that,
and so Vick's been trying to cover that up a bit,
hoping that either Jackson or Ringo would step up, or
Jacry and Bennett who they acquired from the Raiders in
the preseason.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
None of that has happened.
Speaker 8 (22:41):
So it's a work in progress, I would say with
that cornerback two position. Otherwise, not a bad group in
the back end, and they've kept teams off the scoreboard.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
It seems like the last two weeks day and I'll
rap with this the second half. Eagles have a great
first half, they shut down a couple teams, and the
second half it's gotten away from a little bit.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Has there been a common thread between those two games.
Speaker 8 (23:00):
That's the common thread of this football team, John, I
mean offensively and defensively. Look, they have won, as I said,
by the offense being great in the red zone. They
have won by being really good on special teams. They
blocked the two field goals against the Rams. They opened
the game against Tampa Bay with a block punt to
set up the offense for a touchdown. The defense has
kept teams off the scoreboard, and they've taken the football
away in a timely manner. And that's it. And so
(23:23):
this is a team that's living on a very very
narrow margin of victory and that has been reflective in
five games. I mean that is the way every single
game is gone looking really good and then a dry period.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Looking good.
Speaker 8 (23:35):
Dry period has been very very inconsistent. The Eagles have
been able to some victories and now they're looking to
take that you know, middle of the season here and
play better football. They realize on Sunday it found it
get all caught up to them.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
They can't get away with.
Speaker 8 (23:51):
Inconsistent football, lack of attention to details, and just playing
on the edge against good football teams. It caught up
to them Sunday. They hope it doesn't catch up to
them against the New York Giants.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Dave, awesome stuff. We'll talk to you Thursday. Thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Thanks John.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
If you want to know how to manage two minutes
of crunch time football, I'm your man. But if you're
wondering about a long term financial plan, you should talk
to Citizens.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Hey, I can also talk long care.
Speaker 7 (24:14):
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knew I could help make sense of your money with Citizens.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Good stuff from Dave Spidaro. Don't forget folks.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
The Giants most a five K Racing Kids weren presented
by Quest on Sunday, October twenty six, nine am a stadium.
Net Proceeds will benefit the Giants Foundation, a five oh
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DJ Rogerson now with Giants dot Com Slash five K.
Now we turned the head coach of the Giants Bob
(24:42):
Pop and Carl Banks talk to him.
Speaker 9 (24:44):
Short turnaround is the Giants take on the Eagles. But
as always'd like to welcome in my co host Carl Banks,
two times Super Bowl champion and the head coach of
the New York Giants, Brian Dable and coach. Obviously, very
frustrating game on Sunday, but now you got this short
week to turn it around. How do you process that
with your players to kind of flush it but not
(25:05):
forget it. Well, tuesdays like a Friday, so there's really
no time to you go through it.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
We went through.
Speaker 9 (25:12):
It on the plane ride home the coaches and we
were right onto Philadelphia.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
You know, the players.
Speaker 9 (25:19):
Are coming in doing the things that they need to
do and get ready and watching their tape and you
know we'll have two productive walkthrough days. But it's the
same for every team that has to plan on Thursday night.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
Coach, you know, having sat in the locker room and
been through adversity, they are good things that you focus
on meaning as a team that people outside don't. But
then when you look at the stats, it says, well,
they were one hundred percent in the red zone scoring
touchdowns to field goals. Tho, that's improvement, right, There's well
(25:53):
the team held them the field goals instead of touchdowns.
But then as a group, because it is a team effort,
the one play here that negated all of that, or
the five fumbles here that negated all of that. But
you still have to focus on the things that you
did well so that you can continue to build on those,
but yet get rid of all of the mess.
Speaker 9 (26:15):
Yeah, you know, red zone has been something we've been
working extremely hard on, and I thought early in the game,
you know, we were good offensively and had a couple
of action passes down there. Jackson made a nice throw
and and eighty four made a nice catch, and defensively
did a good job in.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
The red zone. That was a positive. The run game defense.
Speaker 9 (26:34):
Something we've been working on, and we knew Camara was
going to be a big, you know, big threat. I
thought we did a good job in that area. And
then it goes back to you know, explosive plays. Gave
up one defensively that we shouldn't have and had multiple
opportunities down the field to make plays that really could
have changed the beginning part of the game. But ultimately,
when you when you turn the ball over five times
(26:55):
and don't get any turnovers, it's you know, close to
zero percent chance of getting what you want to get,
which is a w So I thought the quarterback did
a lot of good things. You know, obviously he'd like
to have that fumble back, but we got to do
a better job of protecting the ball. So, speaking of
that coach coming into this week's game against the Eagles,
(27:15):
obviously they're coming off their first loss, but being able
to get some chunk plays because in the last two games, right,
longest pass against the Chargers was eighteen, longest play from
scrimmage against Saints twenty. It's hard to go on a
lot of fourteen play draws, isn't it. Yeah, I mean,
but this is what Vic's gonna do. H Coach Fanjo
(27:35):
is notorious for that. We've we've competed against them many
of times at different spots, and you know, he does
a good job of you know, preventing explosive plays, playing
tight underneath, making you earn it.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
We're gonna have to do a good job with that.
Speaker 9 (27:49):
But again, when you have an opportunity to make an
explosive play when need you to come down with those
So again, they help big time scoring points. But if
they're not gonna they're going to stay way back and
they're going to make you drive it, then you have
to do a good job of executing on a consistent
basis like we did early in the game.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
Coach.
Speaker 6 (28:09):
When you play a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, they are,
you know, kind of the goal standard in terms of
excellence and wins and losses. It takes playing above the
exis and obles when those players are there, but it
also takes mental stamina. You've got to always stay locked
in so that nothing creeps up on you like a
(28:30):
blown coverage when the game is on the line.
Speaker 9 (28:32):
Absolutely, and all their games this year have come down
to seven points or less. I think they're a battle
tested team with a lot of good players. They've been
successful for a long time. They've got good defensive players.
They good defensive players are doing a heck of a
job and special teams with their block kicks.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
That's why they're where they're at.
Speaker 9 (28:49):
You know, I had a tough game last week against
Denver that Denver hung in there and I think score
eighteen points in the fourth quarter, which is a hard
thing to do. But you know, they're they're top of
the line man coachum. When you look at them defense,
you mentioned Vic Fango and then they got Jalen Carter
in the middle just to kind of anchor everything. How
do you deal with them over play in play out, Yeah,
(29:15):
a lot of people are trying to. You know, it's
like dealing with decks. You have a dynamic interior player
that can, you know, demand double teams. But it's hard
with some of the fronts that they play the six
man stuff where they have everybody up at the line
of scrimmage from their base stuff and two outside linebackers
on the end a line of scrimmage for defensive linement
(29:37):
in you know, try to create single matchups for their
defensive lineman. And you know, again it's a it's a
challenge when you're playing against a dominant interior player like
that how to allocate your help to him. The edge
guy is a little bit different when you're when you're
game planning, because you can get a tight end or
a back and chip and things like that.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
But the interior stuff we're gonna.
Speaker 9 (29:58):
Have to do a good job of making sure we
know where he's at and trying to allocate as many
guys we can to him. Coaching is almost like you
know you're picking your poison right when playing again, teams
have been very committed to not let them run wild
against them, but then they get you in other areas.
Stained discipline is very important, right, not trying to make
(30:19):
the hero play or else as it leads to a breakdown. Yeah,
doing our job, you know again, I thought we took
a step in our run defense last week and we're
going to need to continue due to that this week.
Dynamic player in Saquon. We have to be gap sound,
control the line of scrimmage, make our forced players come
up and tackle.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
But then they have, you know, legit perimeter threats.
Speaker 9 (30:43):
Two excellent receivers, really really good receivers that are going
to require you know, good coverage coach.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
Last one for me is when you talk about those
perimeter guys out there. You you know Smith from Alabama,
But is this one of these conversations you have with
your defensive backs, like you can never relax because the
game could be going one way. Brown can break a tackle,
He's a big, physical guy and Smith can get behind
(31:11):
your defense, So you just have to stay really locked
in on whatever the coverage responsibilities are.
Speaker 9 (31:16):
Yeah, absolutely, anytime you have two I'd say very very
good to dominate players on the perimeter. That makes a
challenging on the defense. And then you know, do you
want to add play man, do you want to play
zone because you know Hurts can get you in any coverage.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
To be honest with you, he's not much. He hasn't seen.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
I think he's done a tremendous job in this league
of playing a quarterback position and winning a lot of
football games. And whether you get zone and he reads
it out or again, he's one of the terms of scrambling.
This year he's got the most yards or near the
top of the league in terms of scrambling. So you know,
you got to pick your poison when you're playing this team.
Saquon to two receivers, Hurts off, that's Linder. You know
(31:56):
they're pretty good cult. We appreciate it a couple minutes.
I know it's a tight week. Luck on Thursday, Thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Good stuff from Brian Dable.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
We thank him, Dave Spidara and Bobbio Cake for joining
us on this special Wednesday preview edition of the Johnsttle Podcast.
Thanks for being with us. Everybody enjoy the game on
Thursday night.
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