September 5, 2025 • 40 mins
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk chats with Giants outside linebacker, Brian Burns, about the Giants defense, John speaks with the play-by-play announcer for the Washington Commanders, Bram Weinstein, and Bob Papa has his weekly sit down with head coach, Brian Daboll.
:00 - Brian Burns
14:00 - Bram Weinstein
31:00 - 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,
Let's Giants on the Giants Mobulo, give Me some Job
part of the Giants Podcast Networks. Welcome to another edition
of The Giants Little Podcast, brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the Giants. I am John Schmelk.
Today it'll be our Friday show. The video version of
(00:20):
this will just be the Brian Burns interview. You can
find that on the Giants app, Giants dot Com, or
on the Giants YouTube channel. The audio version gives you
the full Brian Burns interview, but also gives you additional
game preview. We have Bram Weinstein, who's the play by
playman for the Washington Commanders, and we have Bob Papa
with the head coach of the Giants, Brian dabos So.
A lot coming your way, but before we get there,
(00:40):
but first, I want to make sure that everybody saw
everything that we popped up on The Giants Little Podcast
this week, because it was a lot going all the
way back to last week. We had Jory Epstein and
Albert Breer previewing the NFL season and the Giants as well,
both great national reporters. Mark Melusis will be my co
host on Big Blue Kickoff Live Saturday, which you can
you're on WFAN at seven am every Saturday morning. You
(01:02):
can also find that episode every week on the Giants
and Media Pass podcast feed. Then, earlier this week you
had our Beat Reporter roundtable Chris Busy Nano from Giants Inside,
Art Stapleton, Paul Schwartz from the Record in the post
they join Me. We had a good, lively talk about
the Giants this year. Then as you moved a little
bit further onto the week, we had another Draft season episode.
(01:23):
We recapped a very busy first week in college football.
That's on the Draft Season feed, also on the Again
Giants podcast network feed, which you can find all our
Giants Tuttle episodes. Kevin Burkhart, who's calling the game for
w for Fox at one o'clock this weekend, he joined
me on Wednesday. Our new reimagined version of Giants Hangout
(01:45):
was on Thursday, This is Friday, and then tomorrow, so
make sure you tune in on Saturday morning. We're gonna
have a bonus episode this week kind of fell in
my lap. It was unplanned. Had a talk chance to
talk to what are my kind of heroes in this industry,
of the reasons I got into it. Chris maddog Russo
a first timer on The Giants Little Podcast. That's coming.
(02:05):
We're on Saturday. We talk Giants mostly, but we talk
a little NFL overall as well. So just a really
really fun week on the Giants Little Podcast. Make sure
everyone goes and checks out all of those episodes. All right,
let's get to it. We're gonna lead off with Giants
edge rusher Brian Burns talking about the off season, the
upcoming season, what he's thinking, his captainship, and of course
(02:29):
the matchup against the Commanders. Joining me in the Hackensack
Marine Health Podcast studio. Keep Getting Better is Giants defender,
edge player, outside linebacker, defensive end. Take your pick. He's
Brian Burns. Brian, what's going on? Man?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
What's going on? Man's going good?
Speaker 1 (02:43):
So you've been at this a while now, and I
feel I gotta imagine over the course of an offseason
you kind of get a feel for a team and
how they're coming together. You haven't played a game yet,
so it remains to be seen. But what's your feel
for the twenty twenty five Giants After being with this
group for about five months.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
The energy is high. It feels different from last year.
And you know, every year you feel hopeful, you feel excited,
you know, to play ball again, get these opportunities. But yeah,
it just feels different, you know. I feel like everybody's
locked in on a different level and I really feel
like the sky's limit.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
One thing Brian Dables talked a little bit about, and
I wonder of why this is why it feels different,
is player driven leadership. How much of that you think
is what part of the difference is and what you
feel in this offseason.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
I think that plays a big part, and I definitely
see most of it coming from Russ and even like
unintentionally so I would say like it's definitely a big
part of why it feels different. Like I feel like
there's leaders stepping up in different areas of I would say,
in different areas of leadership, you know, in different ways
(03:47):
they touching different touching different guys, connecting with different guys,
And I feel like that's what brings the team together.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
When you have someone like Russell Wilson come into the
building where you guys have all seen him win Super Bowls,
be in Super bowls. Does that lift and just bring
a larger confidence level to the group in general, knowing
that he is your field general and he frankly knows
what he's doing.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
He's done it. Yeah, yeah, no, it definitely does. You know.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I try to pick a rest brain every day for
the most part, because I mean, we're right next to
each other, and I think he's a valuable resource to get,
you know, information from just as far as being a vet,
being a professional, and being a man even on.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
The outside of outside of these walls.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
But you know, to see a guy like him, the
way he handles himself, the way he talks to everybody.
He's a nice guy, but he's also done this at
a very high level and he's accomplished what we all
want to accomplish.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
So it's good to have him as our leader.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
You know, is it odd to see a quarterback even
have that big of an impact on a defense beause
I know a lot of times it's kind of siphoned
off a little bit, right, depending on the team.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I wouldn't say it's odd, you know, the quarterback is
the leader of the team for the most part. I mean,
of course, the defense we got our own thing He's
not going to affect us too much. But just as
far as affecting me as a professional, sure and as
a man is It's a beautiful thing to see you.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Talk about leadership. I know you wanted to try to
be a better leader and be a leader this offseason.
You're an into captain. So what you talk about leading
in different ways? What does player driven leadership mean to you?
How do you assert your leadership on the team on defense?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Mainly by just showing the guys how it's done, you know,
And I have.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
To uphold that standard. You know, sometimes I will.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Slack and I give them free would have called me out,
you know, just because in the game, in the situation,
I'm not perfect.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
And the same way I.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Hold y'all accountable or hold y'all up to the standard,
y'all should hold me up to the standard as well.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
So I'm free for anybody.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
To call me out. And if they call me out,
I don't have any excuses or nothing like that. I'm
just like, all right, I got you, and I go
back out and I do it better.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
So is that why leadership is important, so that there
is accountability across the roster, not just to the coaches.
But to have to look your fellow teammate in the
locker room in the eye knowing that they put everything
out there and you didn't. Is that really what the
differences it is?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
It is, and that's why that's why I too.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I go by example like it's it's I'm not going
to lead somebody to do something that I won't do,
and I give you free range to call me out
if I'm if I'm tripping, or if I'm not doing
what I need to do, and vice versa.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So what's it cool to be named captain?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I was, Yeah, it was cool. It was real cool,
very good.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
All right, So a lot of editions on defense. We
told by Russell on offense, what has been their impact?
The pulse and the Deebos, the Javon Hollands throwing abdu
Quartern or Droy for Robertson Harris. Now that you've seen
you guys together in you know, preseason games, real practice
situations with pads, what kind of impact have those newcomers
had on the defense.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
It's been a great impact, honestly, I would say from
a debo Holland and Roy, I would say it's mainly
just from an experienced type of type of feel like
the communication is so much smoother. Uh, there's there's times
I don't even have to say anything to Roy because
he already knows. That's just the level of ball he's
played in the experience that he has. And Holland has
(06:58):
been flying around making play. He's all around the field
from training camp to now. So I'm excited to see
what Holland's gonna do. And a Debo has been doing
this thing as well. But it's just an experience, like
they just I just feel like I'm playing with some ballers,
you know.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And then card of the rookie we spoke back in June.
The pads have not gone on yet. You said, I
want to see when pads go on, what it looks like.
What it looked like with pads on.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
It looked damn good. It looked good, man. I mean,
Carter has unbelievable traits you and me. He has a motor.
You know, he's going he's gonna be a great, a
great talent in his league.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Obviously, did the power show up once the pads come on?
Speaker 2 (07:34):
He has it. He has it.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
He has his quick twitch, and he can get to
his power and his extension very very easy.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
And another thing we talked about in June was you
want to see what Chaine Bowen does with the playbook
once everyone's hearing in place. Have you seen it? And
I'm not gonna ask Cowle because you're not going to
give away state secrets, but have you seen it? Expand?
Is as menu larger? Given the new pieces here are
more veterans and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I wouldn't say I wouldn't necessarily necessarily say larger.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I would just say that the details have become a
little more emphasized, if that makes sense, just just due
to the versatility that this defense does have.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
And I assume since the guys aren't so young, you
can there's a bigger trust actor, right, Yeah, you guys,
if you give them more that they can, you.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Can put it on that plate.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yeah, you can definitely put whatever you want on their
plate because they can handle.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
It, all right. The pass rush, I don't want to
ask you how exciting it's going to be. What do
you think this is going to look like? Or do
you even not know what's gonna look like when you
finally do get a team into a third and eight
or a third and nine, when who knows who's gonna
be on the field. What could fans expect when you
do get teams into those passing situations.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I really just want to say, four crazy men going
after the man with the ball. That's what it's gonna
look like, honestly, just absolute, relentless, relentless, just trying to
get at the ball. I mean, I understand officers gonna
try to scheme us, chip us, double team, all that
type of stuff, but at the end of the day,
once we have a lead, you can't.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Do that for so much longer. Otherwise you're just gonna
lose the game.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
So when we get into those those situations where they
just have to block us with the five linemen that
they have, it's gonna be interesting.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And that's only rushing four times. If you bring your
fifth game, they got to know one on one, right.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah, I don't think we're gonna need five, but if
we do use five, if we do use five, yeah,
good night, Irene.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I love it. You mentioned taking getting a lead and
that I don't know. I don't know if anything helps
a pass rush more than having a lead, because then
the offense can't dictate what they're doing. Play action, run,
it early. The other thing you gotta do is stopped
running early downs. I know that's been a big emphasis
for you guys this offseason, and I know you really
can't tell to you get in a real game, but
from what you've seen, do you think you're going to
(09:46):
be able to stop the run enough on early downs
to get into those pass rushing situations.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I definitely think so.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
And obviously we've we've went through all the the trials
and tribulations of you know, trying to get the run
fits you know, exactly right. But the main reason of
why I say it's gonna be good is because everybody's
mindset is on stopping the run first, because we know
once we stop the run, once we solidify that we
can handle that that part of the game, we're gonna
get into what we actually want to do.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
So all right, let's get Let's get the opponent real quick.
Jend and Daniels, we know how good he was last
year you faced him twice. Are there any special or
specific challenges to him, maybe even different than some other
scrambling quarterbacks that you guys have to be aware of
when you go up against him in again.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Yeah, I feel like he poses the same that most
quarterbacks that can run pose. He is a little bit
different of a runner, so like he's not so much
like Lamar, Like Lamar is one of a kind, you know,
stop stop on the dime cut Like that's just he's
a little more change of direction, right, Yeah, he's a
little more He's like a mix between Lamar and Kyler.
(10:53):
You know, it's hard to really put a finger on it,
but I mean, he's doesn't exceptional job as a rookie.
I'm excited to see what he does for his his
second year. But at the end of the day, all
quarterbacks look the same at the pocket collapse.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Absolutely. We've been talking about the Commander's offensive line a lot.
I know you've probably done studied them a bunch a
lot of different guys in different spots, right, people have
moved around, So how do you go about preparing for
that when you haven't seen this combination really together in
a real game for a large number of snaps.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
You know, I honestly think that gives us somewhat of
an advantage, and that that's just me saying.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
That's just me talking.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I necessarily feel like, obviously we haven't seen some of
these guys in different spots, like they're rookie tackle, they
drafted last year and is now playing golf.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Randon things of that nature. But even Connorly their rookie.
He was a left tackle in college. He's playing the
right side.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Right and that doesn't bother me necessarily.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
And what I mean by an advantage, it's just, you know,
sometimes you can get caught up in what a guy
looks like on tape or what he looks like against
somebody else. But you know, when you really like you
studied him, you know what type of person he is.
But when you line up, you kind of just rely
of your instincts and.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You feel it, you feel it out.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, so that's kind of how I'm viewing it. I
don't really view it as a disadvantage.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Same deal the run game. No more Brian Robinson, he
was kind of the battering ram. I know they have
Chris Rodriguez tho he can kind of play that same
type of role, but merits rookie. New guy Eckler is Echeler.
You think the run game might look a little bit
different than the last year because the new personnel not
only up front, put in the backfield.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
I think the players will still be the same. I
just think it's gonna be a different type of runner
running him. You know, Brian was more downhill, big body,
turnover his feet constantly. Now we have a little more
of a scat back in the rookie and you know,
Eckler is also very shifty, so I feel like.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
He's gonna be a different runner, but the same plays.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
What's your message with Giant fans heading into the twenty
twenty five season.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Honestly, man, just expect big things.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
I want you all to come out support, you know,
give us all your energy, and we're gonna do our best.
This is what we do, you know. And I'm very
excited for this year. I'm very excited for all the guys.
We have all the new additions, and I think it's
gonna be a great year for sure.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
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Speaker 4 (13:18):
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Speaker 1 (13:23):
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Speaker 4 (13:28):
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Speaker 1 (13:28):
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slash Giants. All right, let's turn our attention to the
opponent this week. Bram Weinstein has joined us many times
(13:50):
on our platforms here and he calls the games for
the Commanders. Some really get insight from him talking about
this week's matchup. And now we turn our attention to
the Giant's opponent this week, we're joined by the play
by play man, the voice of the Washington Commanders, Bran Weinstein. Bran,
what's going on? Man?
Speaker 5 (14:07):
Hey?
Speaker 4 (14:07):
John? How are you.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Always good to talk to you? New season, another season
in the NFC. East. You kind of get a feel
for these teams as you wash them throughout the spring
of the summer. What's your feel right now for the
twenty twenty five Washington Commanders.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
I think they have a better team than they did
a year ago. I don't know that that means they'll
be twelve and five again, because as you know, we
all have the same basically the same schedules there. It's
a rough road, you know, NFC North, AFC West, and
you know they're the IT team of the NFL, so
we're profiled more than anybody else in the league. We've
got six night games and a game in Madrid and
(14:44):
a game on Christmas Day and Hard Knocks. While you're
dealing with that too, Hard Knock is showing up. Netflix
is going to be here Christmas Week. We're playing Week
two at Green Bay on a Thursday night, so Amazon's
going to be around. So this is it's a very
different atmosphere, you know, down at the park this year
because of all the what I would describe as earned expectations.
Like when we talked this time last year, nobody expected
(15:07):
them to do this, including myself. You know, I'm an optimist.
I thought they'd be, you know, better than what people
said they were gonna be. But twelve and five was
their best season they had since nineteen ninety one. So
I didn't see that coming. No one saw it coming.
The quarterback is way beyond his years, so we have
earned expectations here and I do think the roster is better,
so we're we're excited.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
What's the next step for the quarterback? I mean, Jane
and Daniels I liked them coming out of college. I
never thought he'd be that in year one. What's kind
of the next step for him? What were they focusing
on with him this offseason so he doesn't kind of
have that second year backslide like CJ. Stride had last year.
Speaker 6 (15:44):
Well, I actually I think, like you know, we've heard
a lot of that, and obviously it's possible, it's the NFL.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
My answer typically is what if he gets better?
Speaker 6 (15:53):
And you know, the reality is, like they had an
offensive line that like looked like might be a weakness
for them a season ago with a rookie left tackle
who was a third round pick and a backup guard
from Kansas City playing in there, and a right tackle
that was a journeyman, So it didn't really look like,
you know, a group that was going to be formidable,
(16:16):
but it was well schemed up. And Jaden is maybe
one of the best instinctual.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Players I've seen in a long time.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
And what I really loved about him coming out of college,
and I think what we were really, you know, excited about,
was he's actually a pass first quarterback. You might not
have noticed that a year ago because of I think
he had to become superman by the middle of the
year and run a lot as the injuries started to
hit their offensive line, and I don't think that that's
going to be the case this year. They acquired Laramie Tunsel,
(16:45):
they moved Brandon Coleman inside. They used the first round
pick on a tackle. He's going to start on Sunday
against the Giants. Sam Cosby will be back, hopefully by
week five at the earliest. Their offensive line is one
of two units that they've had that has gone from
what looks to be either a weakness to a strength.
Corner would be the other one, but it looks like
it's gone from weakness to strength. If he has better pockets,
(17:08):
if he's not forced to use his legs as often
as he did a year ago, does he throw the
ball five to ten more times a game? And if
that's the case, what if he's a four thousand to
forty five hundred yard passer, let alone an effective runner.
And so that's I think where I think we're going
to see a bigger progression.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
And then add in Deebo Samuel.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
They needed a secondary explosive playmaker. They add him and
suddenly they have the makings with him.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Really it's based around him.
Speaker 6 (17:37):
They have the makings of I think a more prolific
passing offense than they had a year ago.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Yeah, I agree. I think the one thing I loved
what Adam Peters did this offseason is that he said, look,
Jaan Daniel was great last year. Let's make it even
a better situation around him and see how much better
you can get in year two. And I think they
did a real nice job that you mentioned some of
the changes in the offensive line, a lot of changes
in the running game too. In the backfield O'Brian Robinson,
they traded him over to San Francisco. How much different
(18:02):
is this run game going to look like for the
Commanders this year?
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Yeah? It was interesting.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
Like yesterday when we talked to Dan Quinn. He acknowledged
that this is a kind of a work in progress
and that they're gonna be different roles throughout the year,
for sure, and this read all along Robinson or no Robinson,
that this was going to be a running back by.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Committee team for sure. This year.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Austin Eckler comes back as probably if there is a
primary back, as in the beginning of the season, likely
the primary back Chris Rodriguez is in his thirty year team.
He's going to be used, I don't know in what form.
And they're very excited about a seventh round draft pick
by the name of Jacory Crosskey Merritt, who goes by
Bill and he kind of looks the part and looks
(18:47):
like a modern running back and is very shifty, is
bigger than it looks on film. He's a very good
pass catcher, and they're very excited about him, but they're
slow rolling him. So I would say, you could probably
ask me this quote five times during the season, and
I have a different answer, because I think it's going
to be they're going to rely on very different people
throughout the course of the season. My gut says you're
(19:08):
gonna see a lot of Austin Eckler in Week one,
But when they play the Giants again, I couldn't tell
you what.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
It's going to look like.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Cliff Kingsbury. Offensive coordinators always tend to evolve as they
move along here. Offenses are never the same one year
to the next. You talk about all these personnel changes
they made outside and on the offensive line, how off
at all do you think this offense schematically might look
different under Cliff in year number two.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
So it's not even just him.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
The whole staff is back, And think about who's on
their staff, Cliff Kingsbury, Anthony Lynn, Joe Witt.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Who got interviews.
Speaker 6 (19:45):
You know, like they have a very deep staff off
a twelve and five team. They came back in tax,
so they're very lucky that nobody ended up leaving off
of in I think it's a big deal as they
head into the season.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
How does it look different? That's a really good open question.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
So throughout the summer, Tunsall was in and out of
the lineup minor injury stuff. Brandon Coleman got dinged up,
was barely practicing for three weeks. Sam coused Me didn't
because he's coming off of the ACL injury and hasn't
been out there. Terry McLaurin had a protracted contract stalemate
and wasn't practicing with the team, and Noah Brown missed
a lot of time with an injury as well. They
(20:22):
never had their starting unit out on the field during
training camp at any point in time until the very end.
So now that we're not watching practice anymore, the answer
I'm going to give you is, I don't know, because
what I would have told you during camp was it's.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Not clicking right now.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
But there's just a lot of moving parts and a
lot of missing parts, so it's hard to know what
it's going to be. I do trust Cliff, I trust
number five that it's going to end up being just
fine and it's going to work out. I do think
the addition of Deebo Samuel is the force multiplier here.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
How much of the running game is he part of?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Much?
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Is he the movable part through all of this?
Speaker 6 (21:03):
So when people talk about their run game like who's
gonna get the carries, It's gonna get a lot of people.
Jayden Daniels had the most rush yards of any quarterback
in the NFL a year ago. Deebo Samuel figures to
get at least a few carries a game, and then
all these different running backs will be utilized in different ways.
It's a long answer to I'm not really sure, and
I'm as curious as you to see what it looks
like on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Final question on the offense before I jump over to
the defense here, Bram, who's the third wide receiver? And
I guess the second part of it. Does that matter
as much? Or are we going to see the Commanders
play a lot of twelve personnel with two tight ends
on the field, something I thought they did a really
good job of last year.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
Yes, because John Bates might as well be an offensive lineman.
So when he's he you'll not catch a lot. He's
maybe the best blocking tight end in the NFL. So yeah,
they will have a lot of you know, two tight
end sets for sure, but not for him to be
a pass catcher in general.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
He'll catch a few here and there. Who's the third
wide receiver?
Speaker 6 (21:58):
It's interesting you asked that because last year we were
asking who's the number two wide receiver? It all ended
up working out for them. So the number three, if
you're asking, is Noah Brown?
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Like that is? Now?
Speaker 6 (22:10):
How healthy is he going to be. He had a
really big impact for them a year ago after they
got him, after he was waived late in the preseason
and then he had an internal injury that ended his season.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
We weren't sure if he was coming back.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
Came back, got an injury in mini camp, came back
to training camp, got another injury, missed a lot of
time in camp. So he's someone that they've been relying on,
but I'm not sure how much we can rely on him.
So right now, in name, he's the number three. It's
McLaurin brown debo. If he's not able to be there
(22:45):
week in, week out, then that's that's gonna be an
interesting one. They liked this rookie, Jalen Lane, who really
was drafted to kind of be their primary punt returner.
He was really good at Virginia Tech. He's got four
to three speed. Because of all the injuries and the
contractual thing with McLaurin, he got a lot of opportunities
on the outside and I don't think they ever intended
him to do that, but they needed people out there
(23:07):
and he.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Actually flashed a few times.
Speaker 6 (23:09):
So if there's someone that will emerge for them as
someone that they kind of lean on. If Brown is
not available to them, it will be jailing lane.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Okay, let's jump over to the defense. Brim their defensive front.
They don't have that kind of one elite pass rush
or a team will you know, circle with a red
sharpie and say, all right, we got to block that guy.
Von Miller was that guy. I'm not sure if he
still was at his age. Is this still going to
be more of a use a lot of twists, stunts,
move guys around. Blit's a little bit to try to
(23:38):
use all the composite parts together along with the scheme
to have a consistent pass rush.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Yes, they really.
Speaker 6 (23:46):
There were two things that were very important to them
in the offseason with the defense. One was to get
bigger on the defensive line and get deeper on the
defensive line, and it will be noticeable. You'll see it.
Javon Kinlaw is a monster right like he makes Deron
Payne looked small. They went and got Dietrich Wise from
New England. So and they're very deep with veterans across
(24:07):
the defensive line. But you're right, there isn't Michaeh Parsons
on this team or for you got three of them.
You know, we think we don't have any that are
like Brian Burns or Thibodeau or.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Potentially Abdol Carter.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
So that is still someone that I think they'll tell
you they don't think that they need the personification of
this person that they believe they can get their pass rush.
What I think you'll see is there's a lot of
confidence in the corner room now. Marshall Lattimore healthy, Trey Amos,
their second round pick, has totally looked apart. Day one
starter Mike Sanders still led a great rookie season, goes
(24:43):
back to the inside and they believe that's where he's
gonna thrive. Had an outstanding rookie season for them. And
they're deep there too. Noah Igbinogny Jonathan Jones former Patriot,
are their two primary backups. They're very deep. They're ball
hawking type players. The thing that they lamented last year
more than anything wasn't the sack. They didn't get enough turnovers.
They were, you know, bottom half of the league and
(25:03):
turnovers caused. So there were two things they wanted to
deal with. One, can they get playmakers on the back end.
They feel they have them now and secondarily, can they
stop the run, And they felt they needed to get
much more formidable upfront to do that. So I think
you're going to see a lot of package. It's a
long way of saying I think you're going to see
a lot of packages. You're going to see a large
(25:24):
group to try to limit the run, to get in
better third down situations. And the hope is to, as
you put it, generate a pass rush from I don't
know who, and I don't know how, and I don't
know how they're going to do it, but generate a
pass rush to force balls into potentially hazardous situations where
they believe they have playmakers on the other side.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
And that's the plan. So we'll see how it works out.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
You mentioned the run defense. That was gonna make my
follow up because I think both the Giants and the
Commanders had issues stopped the run last year. Do they
think and look, and I tell fans that call us
about this all the time, you, yeah, can't really tell
how good the run defense is in practices. You're not
tackling to the ground. It's not the same as a
real game situation. Do they feel like they've done enough
to address that run defense?
Speaker 6 (26:06):
They think they have, but you know, again, I agree
with you.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
We have to see it.
Speaker 6 (26:10):
And you know, unfortunately they're not playing believe it or not,
they're not playing the Eagles until week sixteen. That's the
last time they actually play them. They are our opponent
in two of the last three games. So I guess
you know that's where you get tested, tested, tested. But
the Giants have an emerging run game here now too,
so it's a good interesting first test. Josh Jacobs is
(26:31):
for them in week two and Askton Genties for them
in week three, So I think we're gonna find out
very quickly where they are. They felt they just needed
to get bigger on the edge more than anything, and
they did accomplish that. Does that mean they have a
better run defense. We'll find out.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
You already talked about the corners. I was gonna ask
about them. I thought you ran that down really well.
The linebackers a very unique group. You know. Bobby Wagner
seems to be taking found the foundin of you somewhere.
He keeps playing great football. And then Frankie Luva is
just this like hybrid blitzer guy who's a really good player.
I really love the way dan Quinn uses as linebackers.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
Yeah, I think of the question of who's where the
sacks is gonna come from, my gut says Luver's gonna
lead the team in sacks. That's what I think is
gonna end up happening this year because they're gonna use
him as a stand up pass rusher, a blitzer, and
because of the size up front, they're hoping to get
some to generate some opportunities for people like him. So
that would be my guess. I think we're gonna have
a lot of guys with four or five six sacks.
(27:28):
He might be the one with double digits if I
were to guess at who that would actually be, if
anyone is going to have it this year for them.
I like how they use their linebackers too. They have
hinted they might use three linebackers a little more than
they have in the past. That means Jordan McGee would
play more. He was a mid round draft pick, I
think fifth round a year ago, had a lot of injuries,
kind of he's having what might as well be like
(27:49):
kind of a red shirt year for them. They're very
high on him.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
I think the.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
Goal is is that he ends up being the heir
apparent to Bobby Wagner in a year or two, and
so I think you're gonna see him on field as well.
They did use some draft ass sets on linebacker again
this year. I don't know how much they're going to factor.
You know, early there was an undrafted free agent that
made the team at that position, and there was a
late round pick who's really more like a hybrid safety
(28:14):
slash linebacker. He's got speed. They so they're trying to
find answers there and they know that Wagner's not.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Going to be here forever. But I agree with you,
I like to use them too.
Speaker 6 (28:23):
I think like what you're going to see, and they've
already said this publicly, you're going to see a much
more aggressive style from them than they had a year ago.
This is going to be way more reminiscent stylistically of
the group that they had in Dallas a couple of
years ago. And the hope is that it's going to
turn into turnovers, which was really the secret recipe of
those Dallas defenses was they were flipping games upside down
(28:46):
with so many turnovers. And I think that's the hope
here in Washington this year too.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Yeah, and then brand you led into my final question perfectly.
You talked about the personnel and the defensive backfield. I
feel like last year Quinn at the lead into a
little bit more too high, safe the stuff and little
cover two. I feel like he has the personnel now.
If they have the type of confidence in trams that
you're talking about, well, we're going to see much more
that traditional dan Quinn Cover one, Cover three, single high,
(29:12):
and that I think leans into the type of being
more aggressive type of defense that you're talking about.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
Yes, they believe they have press corners now. They trust
these corners now, they believe they can play more man now,
and they're going to put.
Speaker 4 (29:24):
Them to the test now.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
I think a lot of that has to do with
Marshaun Lattimore remaining healthy, which he has not been able
to do for the last couple of years. When they
acquired him, you know, mid season last year, they knew
he was injured and they didn't know what they would
get out of him for the rest of that season.
But they needed help dramatically that position group, and they
were hoping that he would be he would be a
(29:47):
help for them a year ago, but they really acquired
him for a long term, and he's looked healthy throughout camp.
If he is going to be back to the way
he was a few years ago, where he's a Pro
Bowl caliber corner in New Orleans, then I think that
what they're envisioning is possible here.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
That they can be a very aggressive group.
Speaker 6 (30:05):
They don't have to play back as much, and they're
going to test their corners and they're going to put
a lot on them. And who better do they get
a test against the Elik neighbors this weekend. I think
it's a first, real good test to see where they are.
I'll be very interested to see if he ends up
lined up on Trey Amos, because that's gonna be a
heck of a welcome to the NFL for him.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Yeah, that'll be a fun matchup to watch. Bram good Stuff,
enjoyed the game on Sunday. We appreciate time as always,
and good luck this season. I guess just not too
much luck.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Yeah, you too. Thanks appreciating.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
If you want to know how to manage two minutes
of crunch time football, I'm your man.
Speaker 7 (30:37):
But if you're wondering about a long term financial plan,
you should talk to citizens.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
Hey, I can also talk long care. I'd like to
learn about a Mollia routine.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Yes, I knew I.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Could help make sense of your money with citizens.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
Great stuff from Bram as always. Now we turn to
our weekly interview with the head coach of the nyg
the Voice of the Giants, Bob Papa with Brian Dable.
Speaker 7 (30:59):
As always, we're joined by the head coach of the
New York Giants, Brian Dables. We get set for the
season opener against the Commanders here in Landover, Maryland and
coach obviously to kick off this season, a lot of
excitement within the building. Just talk about the way your
team is prepared, not only in the spring, but throughout
training camp in the summer, and kind of the excitement
(31:20):
level that they've brought this year to the team.
Speaker 5 (31:23):
Yeah, the guys have come in, they've really had a
discipline approach about the way they're handling their jobs. You know,
they've they've built some strong relationships in the offseason and
you know, improved every day throughout training camp and you know,
did some good things in the preseason. Had a good
week of practice here. I think everybody's ready to get
this game going.
Speaker 7 (31:42):
You know, we've talked so much about the eternal optimism
that Russell Wilson brings, whether it's in his meetings dealing
with his teammates. Has that spread over to the defensive
side of the ball as well.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
Yeah, Russ has been been a good leader for us
off the field, on the field, offense, special teams, kicking game.
He's a guy that's played in this league for a
long time at a high level. You know, it's been
very successful and I think he has done a good job
of bringing guys along with them.
Speaker 7 (32:12):
Is there still jitters on opening day when you get
to the professional level.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Yeah, you know, opening day is a unique unique you
never know, you know what you're gonna get. You can prepare,
you know, throughout the off season and in training camp
and you know, getting up to this week of really
diving into it. But you know they've they've done the
same thing as well. So again, these these games come
(32:38):
down to fundamentals, to blocking, to throwing, to catching, to
making good decision, taking care of the football, tackling, shedding blocks,
kicking the ball. Well, it's it's the basic things that
you need to do as football team to give yourself
a chance to win.
Speaker 7 (32:52):
Was that one of the things that was kind of
on your mind going into the preseason as far as
you know, you got starters, some decent reps in preseason
action to kind of hit the ground a little bit
more running in week number one as opposed to, you know,
keeping guys on the side and trying to protect them
and rest them a little bit.
Speaker 5 (33:12):
Yeah, there's always a balance to that, but I thought,
you know, for our football team, that's what we needed.
We needed to go out there and play, and you know,
I think we did a good job with with a
lot of the fundamentals things you can correct off of.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
You know, hopefully you can see that in beginning part
of the season.
Speaker 7 (33:28):
Coach, you had mentioned to us during camp that you
were going to mix things up a little bit because
you never know what's going to happen in a game.
And you know, you did it in that preseason game
with the Jets where Jackson Dark came in for one
play and then Russell Wilson was back in the game
and different things that you did during the preseason and
training camp. You know, we saw that play out in
(33:49):
real time on Thursday night with that bizarre situation at
the beginning of the game, and then there's an objection.
Is that sort of what you were thinking of, Like,
we could plan all the stuff that we want to plan,
but something crazy can happen. How do we react immediately?
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Yeah, it's a game of adjustments. Where the guy gets injured,
guy gets ejected. You know, you have a poor call
go against you. You know there's a lot of things
that are going to happen throughout a game, and you
know you try to do the best job you can
prepare for those things. You can't prepare for everything, but
you know, the key is to stay disciplined in your approach,
(34:28):
in your process, be able to play the next play
regardless of what happens, to play before the series, before
the half before. You know, got to be focused on,
you know, one play at a time and doing your
job at a high level.
Speaker 7 (34:40):
Washington certainly gives you a lot of things to focus on.
And we'll start with their quarterback Jaden Daniels, who was
brilliant last year as a rookie, and you saw as
the year went on, he just kept getting better and
better and better. What are some of the things Obviously
we know about his ability to run, but sort of
his decision making that puts so much pressure on a defense. Yeah,
(35:03):
I mean, he's a total package relative to playing a
quarterback position. He's a very difficult person to defend with
his arm, with his legs, and with his mind. You've
seen a tremendous amount of growth as the season went on.
Proper decision making when to leave the pocket, when to
make yards with his legs, when to throw the ball away,
(35:26):
doesn't put the ball in jeopardy very much, gives his
playmakers opportunities to make the ball. And he's you know,
five skilled guys really have six with him relative to
what he can do both with his arm and his
leg and that makes it difficult on any defense. And
then we all know that Terry McLaurin is a fantastic
(35:47):
player and one of the better receivers in the National
Football League. Add Deebo Samuel to the mix, who has
more rushing yards than any wide receiver in the NFL
going back to twenty twenty one, almost yards rushing. How
do you prepare for an insertion of that kind of
player into their lineup, you know, not having seen it,
(36:10):
you know in real time.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
Really, what it's going to come down to game day
is running to the football and making tackles against high
quality players in this league that you know you've seen
break tackles and go the distance plenty of times throughout
their career. Not only that they can run right by you.
You know, you throw the balls up to seventeen, which
they do plenty. Makes it a difficult challenge. And then
(36:34):
you add veterans like Ertz and Eckler who have played
this game at a high level for a long time
and know how to play it. It's a very difficult
offense to defend. That's why they score a lot of points.
That's why they've increased their point total, you know, more
than any team since two thousand in terms of nine
points per game. Situational football, they're very good at. It's
(36:56):
a difficult offense.
Speaker 7 (36:58):
Got to go to the other side of the here defensively, obviously,
you know they've got pain in the middle. He was
a pro bowler a couple of years ago. They've added
some veteran pieces to it. Louvo was very active. Von
Miller has now been brought in as a veteran guy
to get after the quarterback. And it looks like Bobby
Wagner just hasn't lost a step. What are some of
(37:20):
the challenges that they face defensively and some things that
they just do really well.
Speaker 5 (37:26):
Yeah, very talented group, veteran defensive line with pain and
kin Law and Armstrong and Wise. You had Newton in
there from Illinois, that's a young player, and then obviously
bringing Vaughn in and like you said, Bobby and Louv.
I think those are two challenging middle linebackers who bring
it every time. You know, they do a great job
(37:46):
blitzing running over backs, very instinctive players. So it's a
challenging to play this team relative to you know, they
get up with points, their defense is fast and can
play the football and get the turnovers. And you know,
coach Quinn and coach went run a difficult scheme once
you get to third down in those passing situations and
(38:07):
the looks they give you, so total team coach.
Speaker 7 (38:11):
Finally, going back to the opening day theme, You've participated
in a whole bunch of Super Bowls, National championship games.
You know opening day has that extra energy. Is it
important to remind your team to, you know, take a
deep breath here, because you want to let the game
just settle in and let it become a game and
(38:33):
not get too over hyped or or expend too much
energy right out of the shoot and then you kind
of get gassed. How do you manage stuff like that?
Speaker 5 (38:43):
Yeah, you talk about it, Bob, which I think is important.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
But you let these guys go.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Every player prepares differently when they're sitting down and getting
ready to play a game on game day, you know,
I think the veterans add good insight to the rookies,
and ultimately you're ready to go once that, you know,
go out to the coin toss and strap it up
and get it on.
Speaker 7 (39:07):
Well, let's see, let's get it going.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Man.
Speaker 7 (39:09):
I'm fired up. I think the fans are fired up.
I know you and your team are ready to go,
and we're looking forward to this twenty twenty five season.
Best of luck today, coach, Thanks Bob.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Join us at the Ultimate New York Giants Women's Tailgate,
presented by Joe Malone. It'll take place on Sunday, September
twenty eighth, from ten am to noon in a lot
g ahead of the Giants Week four game against the Chargers.
Attendees will have a chance to connect with Giants team
reporter and tailgate host Metal and Burke and some Giants legends.
They can enjoy a created custom merchandise shop, exclusive Kendris
(39:40):
Scott activation, tailgate games, giveaways, photos, live DJ, entertainment and more.
Tailgate food and one drink ticket are included with the
ticket purchase twenty one or older only. We thank Giants
head coach Brian Dable for joining us. We thank Brian Burns,
We thank Bram Weinstein. As the Giants try to start
their season fast with two Big Time Division games against
(40:05):
the Commanders and the Cowboys. Commanders first up in our
nation's capital in week number one. Thank you to all
our guests for joining us on the Giants Little Podcast,
brought to you by Citizens the official Bank of the Giants.
I am John Schmelck. We will see you next time.
It's time to get inside the Giants Hut. Let's go,
Let's Giants on the Giants Mobulo, give Me some Job
part of the Giants Podcast Networks. Welcome to another edition
of The Giants Little Podcast, brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the Giants. I am John Schmelk.
Today it'll be our Friday show. The video version of
(00:20):
this will just be the Brian Burns interview. You can
find that on the Giants app, Giants dot Com, or
on the Giants YouTube channel. The audio version gives you
the full Brian Burns interview, but also gives you additional
game preview. We have Bram Weinstein, who's the play by
playman for the Washington Commanders, and we have Bob Papa
with the head coach of the Giants, Brian dabos So.
A lot coming your way, but before we get there,
(00:40):
but first, I want to make sure that everybody saw
everything that we popped up on The Giants Little Podcast
this week, because it was a lot going all the
way back to last week. We had Jory Epstein and
Albert Breer previewing the NFL season and the Giants as well,
both great national reporters. Mark Melusis will be my co
host on Big Blue Kickoff Live Saturday, which you can
you're on WFAN at seven am every Saturday morning. You
(01:02):
can also find that episode every week on the Giants
and Media Pass podcast feed. Then, earlier this week you
had our Beat Reporter roundtable Chris Busy Nano from Giants Inside,
Art Stapleton, Paul Schwartz from the Record in the post
they join Me. We had a good, lively talk about
the Giants this year. Then as you moved a little
bit further onto the week, we had another Draft season episode.
(01:23):
We recapped a very busy first week in college football.
That's on the Draft Season feed, also on the Again
Giants podcast network feed, which you can find all our
Giants Tuttle episodes. Kevin Burkhart, who's calling the game for
w for Fox at one o'clock this weekend, he joined
me on Wednesday. Our new reimagined version of Giants Hangout
(01:45):
was on Thursday, This is Friday, and then tomorrow, so
make sure you tune in on Saturday morning. We're gonna
have a bonus episode this week kind of fell in
my lap. It was unplanned. Had a talk chance to
talk to what are my kind of heroes in this industry,
of the reasons I got into it. Chris maddog Russo
a first timer on The Giants Little Podcast. That's coming.
(02:05):
We're on Saturday. We talk Giants mostly, but we talk
a little NFL overall as well. So just a really
really fun week on the Giants Little Podcast. Make sure
everyone goes and checks out all of those episodes. All right,
let's get to it. We're gonna lead off with Giants
edge rusher Brian Burns talking about the off season, the
upcoming season, what he's thinking, his captainship, and of course
(02:29):
the matchup against the Commanders. Joining me in the Hackensack
Marine Health Podcast studio. Keep Getting Better is Giants defender,
edge player, outside linebacker, defensive end. Take your pick. He's
Brian Burns. Brian, what's going on? Man?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
What's going on? Man's going good?
Speaker 1 (02:43):
So you've been at this a while now, and I
feel I gotta imagine over the course of an offseason
you kind of get a feel for a team and
how they're coming together. You haven't played a game yet,
so it remains to be seen. But what's your feel
for the twenty twenty five Giants After being with this
group for about five months.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
The energy is high. It feels different from last year.
And you know, every year you feel hopeful, you feel excited,
you know, to play ball again, get these opportunities. But yeah,
it just feels different, you know. I feel like everybody's
locked in on a different level and I really feel
like the sky's limit.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
One thing Brian Dables talked a little bit about, and
I wonder of why this is why it feels different,
is player driven leadership. How much of that you think
is what part of the difference is and what you
feel in this offseason.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
I think that plays a big part, and I definitely
see most of it coming from Russ and even like
unintentionally so I would say like it's definitely a big
part of why it feels different. Like I feel like
there's leaders stepping up in different areas of I would say,
in different areas of leadership, you know, in different ways
(03:47):
they touching different touching different guys, connecting with different guys,
And I feel like that's what brings the team together.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
When you have someone like Russell Wilson come into the
building where you guys have all seen him win Super Bowls,
be in Super bowls. Does that lift and just bring
a larger confidence level to the group in general, knowing
that he is your field general and he frankly knows
what he's doing.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
He's done it. Yeah, yeah, no, it definitely does. You know.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I try to pick a rest brain every day for
the most part, because I mean, we're right next to
each other, and I think he's a valuable resource to get,
you know, information from just as far as being a vet,
being a professional, and being a man even on.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
The outside of outside of these walls.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
But you know, to see a guy like him, the
way he handles himself, the way he talks to everybody.
He's a nice guy, but he's also done this at
a very high level and he's accomplished what we all
want to accomplish.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
So it's good to have him as our leader.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
You know, is it odd to see a quarterback even
have that big of an impact on a defense beause
I know a lot of times it's kind of siphoned
off a little bit, right, depending on the team.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I wouldn't say it's odd, you know, the quarterback is
the leader of the team for the most part. I mean,
of course, the defense we got our own thing He's
not going to affect us too much. But just as
far as affecting me as a professional, sure and as
a man is It's a beautiful thing to see you.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Talk about leadership. I know you wanted to try to
be a better leader and be a leader this offseason.
You're an into captain. So what you talk about leading
in different ways? What does player driven leadership mean to you?
How do you assert your leadership on the team on defense?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Mainly by just showing the guys how it's done, you know,
And I have.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
To uphold that standard. You know, sometimes I will.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Slack and I give them free would have called me out,
you know, just because in the game, in the situation,
I'm not perfect.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
And the same way I.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Hold y'all accountable or hold y'all up to the standard,
y'all should hold me up to the standard as well.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
So I'm free for anybody.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
To call me out. And if they call me out,
I don't have any excuses or nothing like that. I'm
just like, all right, I got you, and I go
back out and I do it better.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
So is that why leadership is important, so that there
is accountability across the roster, not just to the coaches.
But to have to look your fellow teammate in the
locker room in the eye knowing that they put everything
out there and you didn't. Is that really what the
differences it is?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
It is, and that's why that's why I too.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I go by example like it's it's I'm not going
to lead somebody to do something that I won't do,
and I give you free range to call me out
if I'm if I'm tripping, or if I'm not doing
what I need to do, and vice versa.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So what's it cool to be named captain?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I was, Yeah, it was cool. It was real cool,
very good.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
All right, So a lot of editions on defense. We
told by Russell on offense, what has been their impact?
The pulse and the Deebos, the Javon Hollands throwing abdu
Quartern or Droy for Robertson Harris. Now that you've seen
you guys together in you know, preseason games, real practice
situations with pads, what kind of impact have those newcomers
had on the defense.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
It's been a great impact, honestly, I would say from
a debo Holland and Roy, I would say it's mainly
just from an experienced type of type of feel like
the communication is so much smoother. Uh, there's there's times
I don't even have to say anything to Roy because
he already knows. That's just the level of ball he's
played in the experience that he has. And Holland has
(06:58):
been flying around making play. He's all around the field
from training camp to now. So I'm excited to see
what Holland's gonna do. And a Debo has been doing
this thing as well. But it's just an experience, like
they just I just feel like I'm playing with some ballers,
you know.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And then card of the rookie we spoke back in June.
The pads have not gone on yet. You said, I
want to see when pads go on, what it looks like.
What it looked like with pads on.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
It looked damn good. It looked good, man. I mean,
Carter has unbelievable traits you and me. He has a motor.
You know, he's going he's gonna be a great, a
great talent in his league.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Obviously, did the power show up once the pads come on?
Speaker 2 (07:34):
He has it. He has it.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
He has his quick twitch, and he can get to
his power and his extension very very easy.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
And another thing we talked about in June was you
want to see what Chaine Bowen does with the playbook
once everyone's hearing in place. Have you seen it? And
I'm not gonna ask Cowle because you're not going to
give away state secrets, but have you seen it? Expand?
Is as menu larger? Given the new pieces here are
more veterans and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I wouldn't say I wouldn't necessarily necessarily say larger.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I would just say that the details have become a
little more emphasized, if that makes sense, just just due
to the versatility that this defense does have.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
And I assume since the guys aren't so young, you
can there's a bigger trust actor, right, Yeah, you guys,
if you give them more that they can, you.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Can put it on that plate.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yeah, you can definitely put whatever you want on their
plate because they can handle.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
It, all right. The pass rush, I don't want to
ask you how exciting it's going to be. What do
you think this is going to look like? Or do
you even not know what's gonna look like when you
finally do get a team into a third and eight
or a third and nine, when who knows who's gonna
be on the field. What could fans expect when you
do get teams into those passing situations.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I really just want to say, four crazy men going
after the man with the ball. That's what it's gonna
look like, honestly, just absolute, relentless, relentless, just trying to
get at the ball. I mean, I understand officers gonna
try to scheme us, chip us, double team, all that
type of stuff, but at the end of the day,
once we have a lead, you can't.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Do that for so much longer. Otherwise you're just gonna
lose the game.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
So when we get into those those situations where they
just have to block us with the five linemen that
they have, it's gonna be interesting.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And that's only rushing four times. If you bring your
fifth game, they got to know one on one, right.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah, I don't think we're gonna need five, but if
we do use five, if we do use five, yeah,
good night, Irene.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I love it. You mentioned taking getting a lead and
that I don't know. I don't know if anything helps
a pass rush more than having a lead, because then
the offense can't dictate what they're doing. Play action, run,
it early. The other thing you gotta do is stopped
running early downs. I know that's been a big emphasis
for you guys this offseason, and I know you really
can't tell to you get in a real game, but
from what you've seen, do you think you're going to
(09:46):
be able to stop the run enough on early downs
to get into those pass rushing situations.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I definitely think so.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
And obviously we've we've went through all the the trials
and tribulations of you know, trying to get the run
fits you know, exactly right. But the main reason of
why I say it's gonna be good is because everybody's
mindset is on stopping the run first, because we know
once we stop the run, once we solidify that we
can handle that that part of the game, we're gonna
get into what we actually want to do.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
So all right, let's get Let's get the opponent real quick.
Jend and Daniels, we know how good he was last
year you faced him twice. Are there any special or
specific challenges to him, maybe even different than some other
scrambling quarterbacks that you guys have to be aware of
when you go up against him in again.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Yeah, I feel like he poses the same that most
quarterbacks that can run pose. He is a little bit
different of a runner, so like he's not so much
like Lamar, Like Lamar is one of a kind, you know,
stop stop on the dime cut Like that's just he's
a little more change of direction, right, Yeah, he's a
little more He's like a mix between Lamar and Kyler.
(10:53):
You know, it's hard to really put a finger on it,
but I mean, he's doesn't exceptional job as a rookie.
I'm excited to see what he does for his his
second year. But at the end of the day, all
quarterbacks look the same at the pocket collapse.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Absolutely. We've been talking about the Commander's offensive line a lot.
I know you've probably done studied them a bunch a
lot of different guys in different spots, right, people have
moved around, So how do you go about preparing for
that when you haven't seen this combination really together in
a real game for a large number of snaps.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
You know, I honestly think that gives us somewhat of
an advantage, and that that's just me saying.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
That's just me talking.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I necessarily feel like, obviously we haven't seen some of
these guys in different spots, like they're rookie tackle, they
drafted last year and is now playing golf.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Randon things of that nature. But even Connorly their rookie.
He was a left tackle in college. He's playing the
right side.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Right and that doesn't bother me necessarily.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
And what I mean by an advantage, it's just, you know,
sometimes you can get caught up in what a guy
looks like on tape or what he looks like against
somebody else. But you know, when you really like you
studied him, you know what type of person he is.
But when you line up, you kind of just rely
of your instincts and.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You feel it, you feel it out.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, so that's kind of how I'm viewing it. I
don't really view it as a disadvantage.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Same deal the run game. No more Brian Robinson, he
was kind of the battering ram. I know they have
Chris Rodriguez tho he can kind of play that same
type of role, but merits rookie. New guy Eckler is Echeler.
You think the run game might look a little bit
different than the last year because the new personnel not
only up front, put in the backfield.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
I think the players will still be the same. I
just think it's gonna be a different type of runner
running him. You know, Brian was more downhill, big body,
turnover his feet constantly. Now we have a little more
of a scat back in the rookie and you know,
Eckler is also very shifty, so I feel like.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
He's gonna be a different runner, but the same plays.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
What's your message with Giant fans heading into the twenty
twenty five season.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Honestly, man, just expect big things.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
I want you all to come out support, you know,
give us all your energy, and we're gonna do our best.
This is what we do, you know. And I'm very
excited for this year. I'm very excited for all the guys.
We have all the new additions, and I think it's
gonna be a great year for sure.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
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Speaker 4 (13:18):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
How do we make that happen? I don't know, Bud
Citizens does it?
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Makes sense?
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Of your money?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
With Citizens, Official Bank of Eli Manning. The Johnson Podcast
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the Giants from gaining. They celebrations to your everyday financial needs,
big move. Fans can get the most out of every
moment with Citizens. Learn more at Citizens bank dot com
slash Giants. All right, let's turn our attention to the
opponent this week. Bram Weinstein has joined us many times
(13:50):
on our platforms here and he calls the games for
the Commanders. Some really get insight from him talking about
this week's matchup. And now we turn our attention to
the Giant's opponent this week, we're joined by the play
by play man, the voice of the Washington Commanders, Bran Weinstein. Bran,
what's going on? Man?
Speaker 5 (14:07):
Hey?
Speaker 4 (14:07):
John? How are you.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Always good to talk to you? New season, another season
in the NFC. East. You kind of get a feel
for these teams as you wash them throughout the spring
of the summer. What's your feel right now for the
twenty twenty five Washington Commanders.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
I think they have a better team than they did
a year ago. I don't know that that means they'll
be twelve and five again, because as you know, we
all have the same basically the same schedules there. It's
a rough road, you know, NFC North, AFC West, and
you know they're the IT team of the NFL, so
we're profiled more than anybody else in the league. We've
got six night games and a game in Madrid and
(14:44):
a game on Christmas Day and Hard Knocks. While you're
dealing with that too, Hard Knock is showing up. Netflix
is going to be here Christmas Week. We're playing Week
two at Green Bay on a Thursday night, so Amazon's
going to be around. So this is it's a very
different atmosphere, you know, down at the park this year
because of all the what I would describe as earned expectations.
Like when we talked this time last year, nobody expected
(15:07):
them to do this, including myself. You know, I'm an optimist.
I thought they'd be, you know, better than what people
said they were gonna be. But twelve and five was
their best season they had since nineteen ninety one. So
I didn't see that coming. No one saw it coming.
The quarterback is way beyond his years, so we have
earned expectations here and I do think the roster is better,
so we're we're excited.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
What's the next step for the quarterback? I mean, Jane
and Daniels I liked them coming out of college. I
never thought he'd be that in year one. What's kind
of the next step for him? What were they focusing
on with him this offseason so he doesn't kind of
have that second year backslide like CJ. Stride had last year.
Speaker 6 (15:44):
Well, I actually I think, like you know, we've heard
a lot of that, and obviously it's possible, it's the NFL.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
My answer typically is what if he gets better?
Speaker 6 (15:53):
And you know, the reality is, like they had an
offensive line that like looked like might be a weakness
for them a season ago with a rookie left tackle
who was a third round pick and a backup guard
from Kansas City playing in there, and a right tackle
that was a journeyman, So it didn't really look like,
you know, a group that was going to be formidable,
(16:16):
but it was well schemed up. And Jaden is maybe
one of the best instinctual.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Players I've seen in a long time.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
And what I really loved about him coming out of college,
and I think what we were really, you know, excited about,
was he's actually a pass first quarterback. You might not
have noticed that a year ago because of I think
he had to become superman by the middle of the
year and run a lot as the injuries started to
hit their offensive line, and I don't think that that's
going to be the case this year. They acquired Laramie Tunsel,
(16:45):
they moved Brandon Coleman inside. They used the first round
pick on a tackle. He's going to start on Sunday
against the Giants. Sam Cosby will be back, hopefully by
week five at the earliest. Their offensive line is one
of two units that they've had that has gone from
what looks to be either a weakness to a strength.
Corner would be the other one, but it looks like
it's gone from weakness to strength. If he has better pockets,
(17:08):
if he's not forced to use his legs as often
as he did a year ago, does he throw the
ball five to ten more times a game? And if
that's the case, what if he's a four thousand to
forty five hundred yard passer, let alone an effective runner.
And so that's I think where I think we're going
to see a bigger progression.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
And then add in Deebo Samuel.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
They needed a secondary explosive playmaker. They add him and
suddenly they have the makings with him.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Really it's based around him.
Speaker 6 (17:37):
They have the makings of I think a more prolific
passing offense than they had a year ago.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Yeah, I agree. I think the one thing I loved
what Adam Peters did this offseason is that he said, look,
Jaan Daniel was great last year. Let's make it even
a better situation around him and see how much better
you can get in year two. And I think they
did a real nice job that you mentioned some of
the changes in the offensive line, a lot of changes
in the running game too. In the backfield O'Brian Robinson,
they traded him over to San Francisco. How much different
(18:02):
is this run game going to look like for the
Commanders this year?
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Yeah? It was interesting.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
Like yesterday when we talked to Dan Quinn. He acknowledged
that this is a kind of a work in progress
and that they're gonna be different roles throughout the year,
for sure, and this read all along Robinson or no Robinson,
that this was going to be a running back by.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Committee team for sure. This year.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Austin Eckler comes back as probably if there is a
primary back, as in the beginning of the season, likely
the primary back Chris Rodriguez is in his thirty year team.
He's going to be used, I don't know in what form.
And they're very excited about a seventh round draft pick
by the name of Jacory Crosskey Merritt, who goes by
Bill and he kind of looks the part and looks
(18:47):
like a modern running back and is very shifty, is
bigger than it looks on film. He's a very good
pass catcher, and they're very excited about him, but they're
slow rolling him. So I would say, you could probably
ask me this quote five times during the season, and
I have a different answer, because I think it's going
to be they're going to rely on very different people
throughout the course of the season. My gut says you're
(19:08):
gonna see a lot of Austin Eckler in Week one,
But when they play the Giants again, I couldn't tell
you what.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
It's going to look like.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Cliff Kingsbury. Offensive coordinators always tend to evolve as they
move along here. Offenses are never the same one year
to the next. You talk about all these personnel changes
they made outside and on the offensive line, how off
at all do you think this offense schematically might look
different under Cliff in year number two.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
So it's not even just him.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
The whole staff is back, And think about who's on
their staff, Cliff Kingsbury, Anthony Lynn, Joe Witt.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Who got interviews.
Speaker 6 (19:45):
You know, like they have a very deep staff off
a twelve and five team. They came back in tax,
so they're very lucky that nobody ended up leaving off
of in I think it's a big deal as they
head into the season.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
How does it look different? That's a really good open question.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
So throughout the summer, Tunsall was in and out of
the lineup minor injury stuff. Brandon Coleman got dinged up,
was barely practicing for three weeks. Sam coused Me didn't
because he's coming off of the ACL injury and hasn't
been out there. Terry McLaurin had a protracted contract stalemate
and wasn't practicing with the team, and Noah Brown missed
a lot of time with an injury as well. They
(20:22):
never had their starting unit out on the field during
training camp at any point in time until the very end.
So now that we're not watching practice anymore, the answer
I'm going to give you is, I don't know, because
what I would have told you during camp was it's.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Not clicking right now.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
But there's just a lot of moving parts and a
lot of missing parts, so it's hard to know what
it's going to be. I do trust Cliff, I trust
number five that it's going to end up being just
fine and it's going to work out. I do think
the addition of Deebo Samuel is the force multiplier here.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
How much of the running game is he part of?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Much?
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Is he the movable part through all of this?
Speaker 6 (21:03):
So when people talk about their run game like who's
gonna get the carries, It's gonna get a lot of people.
Jayden Daniels had the most rush yards of any quarterback
in the NFL a year ago. Deebo Samuel figures to
get at least a few carries a game, and then
all these different running backs will be utilized in different ways.
It's a long answer to I'm not really sure, and
I'm as curious as you to see what it looks
like on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Final question on the offense before I jump over to
the defense here, Bram, who's the third wide receiver? And
I guess the second part of it. Does that matter
as much? Or are we going to see the Commanders
play a lot of twelve personnel with two tight ends
on the field, something I thought they did a really
good job of last year.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
Yes, because John Bates might as well be an offensive lineman.
So when he's he you'll not catch a lot. He's
maybe the best blocking tight end in the NFL. So yeah,
they will have a lot of you know, two tight
end sets for sure, but not for him to be
a pass catcher in general.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
He'll catch a few here and there. Who's the third
wide receiver?
Speaker 6 (21:58):
It's interesting you asked that because last year we were
asking who's the number two wide receiver? It all ended
up working out for them. So the number three, if
you're asking, is Noah Brown?
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Like that is? Now?
Speaker 6 (22:10):
How healthy is he going to be. He had a
really big impact for them a year ago after they
got him, after he was waived late in the preseason
and then he had an internal injury that ended his season.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
We weren't sure if he was coming back.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
Came back, got an injury in mini camp, came back
to training camp, got another injury, missed a lot of
time in camp. So he's someone that they've been relying on,
but I'm not sure how much we can rely on him.
So right now, in name, he's the number three. It's
McLaurin brown debo. If he's not able to be there
(22:45):
week in, week out, then that's that's gonna be an
interesting one. They liked this rookie, Jalen Lane, who really
was drafted to kind of be their primary punt returner.
He was really good at Virginia Tech. He's got four
to three speed. Because of all the injuries and the
contractual thing with McLaurin, he got a lot of opportunities
on the outside and I don't think they ever intended
him to do that, but they needed people out there
(23:07):
and he.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Actually flashed a few times.
Speaker 6 (23:09):
So if there's someone that will emerge for them as
someone that they kind of lean on. If Brown is
not available to them, it will be jailing lane.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Okay, let's jump over to the defense. Brim their defensive front.
They don't have that kind of one elite pass rush
or a team will you know, circle with a red
sharpie and say, all right, we got to block that guy.
Von Miller was that guy. I'm not sure if he
still was at his age. Is this still going to
be more of a use a lot of twists, stunts,
move guys around. Blit's a little bit to try to
(23:38):
use all the composite parts together along with the scheme
to have a consistent pass rush.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Yes, they really.
Speaker 6 (23:46):
There were two things that were very important to them
in the offseason with the defense. One was to get
bigger on the defensive line and get deeper on the
defensive line, and it will be noticeable. You'll see it.
Javon Kinlaw is a monster right like he makes Deron
Payne looked small. They went and got Dietrich Wise from
New England. So and they're very deep with veterans across
(24:07):
the defensive line. But you're right, there isn't Michaeh Parsons
on this team or for you got three of them.
You know, we think we don't have any that are
like Brian Burns or Thibodeau or.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Potentially Abdol Carter.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
So that is still someone that I think they'll tell
you they don't think that they need the personification of
this person that they believe they can get their pass rush.
What I think you'll see is there's a lot of
confidence in the corner room now. Marshall Lattimore healthy, Trey Amos,
their second round pick, has totally looked apart. Day one
starter Mike Sanders still led a great rookie season, goes
(24:43):
back to the inside and they believe that's where he's
gonna thrive. Had an outstanding rookie season for them. And
they're deep there too. Noah Igbinogny Jonathan Jones former Patriot,
are their two primary backups. They're very deep. They're ball
hawking type players. The thing that they lamented last year
more than anything wasn't the sack. They didn't get enough turnovers.
They were, you know, bottom half of the league and
(25:03):
turnovers caused. So there were two things they wanted to
deal with. One, can they get playmakers on the back end.
They feel they have them now and secondarily, can they
stop the run, And they felt they needed to get
much more formidable upfront to do that. So I think
you're going to see a lot of package. It's a
long way of saying I think you're going to see
a lot of packages. You're going to see a large
(25:24):
group to try to limit the run, to get in
better third down situations. And the hope is to, as
you put it, generate a pass rush from I don't
know who, and I don't know how, and I don't
know how they're going to do it, but generate a
pass rush to force balls into potentially hazardous situations where
they believe they have playmakers on the other side.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
And that's the plan. So we'll see how it works out.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
You mentioned the run defense. That was gonna make my
follow up because I think both the Giants and the
Commanders had issues stopped the run last year. Do they
think and look, and I tell fans that call us
about this all the time, you, yeah, can't really tell
how good the run defense is in practices. You're not
tackling to the ground. It's not the same as a
real game situation. Do they feel like they've done enough
to address that run defense?
Speaker 6 (26:06):
They think they have, but you know, again, I agree
with you.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
We have to see it.
Speaker 6 (26:10):
And you know, unfortunately they're not playing believe it or not,
they're not playing the Eagles until week sixteen. That's the
last time they actually play them. They are our opponent
in two of the last three games. So I guess
you know that's where you get tested, tested, tested. But
the Giants have an emerging run game here now too,
so it's a good interesting first test. Josh Jacobs is
(26:31):
for them in week two and Askton Genties for them
in week three, So I think we're gonna find out
very quickly where they are. They felt they just needed
to get bigger on the edge more than anything, and
they did accomplish that. Does that mean they have a
better run defense. We'll find out.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
You already talked about the corners. I was gonna ask
about them. I thought you ran that down really well.
The linebackers a very unique group. You know. Bobby Wagner
seems to be taking found the foundin of you somewhere.
He keeps playing great football. And then Frankie Luva is
just this like hybrid blitzer guy who's a really good player.
I really love the way dan Quinn uses as linebackers.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
Yeah, I think of the question of who's where the
sacks is gonna come from, my gut says Luver's gonna
lead the team in sacks. That's what I think is
gonna end up happening this year because they're gonna use
him as a stand up pass rusher, a blitzer, and
because of the size up front, they're hoping to get
some to generate some opportunities for people like him. So
that would be my guess. I think we're gonna have
a lot of guys with four or five six sacks.
(27:28):
He might be the one with double digits if I
were to guess at who that would actually be, if
anyone is going to have it this year for them.
I like how they use their linebackers too. They have
hinted they might use three linebackers a little more than
they have in the past. That means Jordan McGee would
play more. He was a mid round draft pick, I
think fifth round a year ago, had a lot of injuries,
kind of he's having what might as well be like
(27:49):
kind of a red shirt year for them. They're very
high on him.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
I think the.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
Goal is is that he ends up being the heir
apparent to Bobby Wagner in a year or two, and
so I think you're gonna see him on field as well.
They did use some draft ass sets on linebacker again
this year. I don't know how much they're going to factor.
You know, early there was an undrafted free agent that
made the team at that position, and there was a
late round pick who's really more like a hybrid safety
(28:14):
slash linebacker. He's got speed. They so they're trying to
find answers there and they know that Wagner's not.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Going to be here forever. But I agree with you,
I like to use them too.
Speaker 6 (28:23):
I think like what you're going to see, and they've
already said this publicly, you're going to see a much
more aggressive style from them than they had a year ago.
This is going to be way more reminiscent stylistically of
the group that they had in Dallas a couple of
years ago. And the hope is that it's going to
turn into turnovers, which was really the secret recipe of
those Dallas defenses was they were flipping games upside down
(28:46):
with so many turnovers. And I think that's the hope
here in Washington this year too.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Yeah, and then brand you led into my final question perfectly.
You talked about the personnel and the defensive backfield. I
feel like last year Quinn at the lead into a
little bit more too high, safe the stuff and little
cover two. I feel like he has the personnel now.
If they have the type of confidence in trams that
you're talking about, well, we're going to see much more
that traditional dan Quinn Cover one, Cover three, single high,
(29:12):
and that I think leans into the type of being
more aggressive type of defense that you're talking about.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
Yes, they believe they have press corners now. They trust
these corners now, they believe they can play more man now,
and they're going to put.
Speaker 4 (29:24):
Them to the test now.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
I think a lot of that has to do with
Marshaun Lattimore remaining healthy, which he has not been able
to do for the last couple of years. When they
acquired him, you know, mid season last year, they knew
he was injured and they didn't know what they would
get out of him for the rest of that season.
But they needed help dramatically that position group, and they
were hoping that he would be he would be a
(29:47):
help for them a year ago, but they really acquired
him for a long term, and he's looked healthy throughout camp.
If he is going to be back to the way
he was a few years ago, where he's a Pro
Bowl caliber corner in New Orleans, then I think that
what they're envisioning is possible here.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
That they can be a very aggressive group.
Speaker 6 (30:05):
They don't have to play back as much, and they're
going to test their corners and they're going to put
a lot on them. And who better do they get
a test against the Elik neighbors this weekend. I think
it's a first, real good test to see where they are.
I'll be very interested to see if he ends up
lined up on Trey Amos, because that's gonna be a
heck of a welcome to the NFL for him.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Yeah, that'll be a fun matchup to watch. Bram good Stuff,
enjoyed the game on Sunday. We appreciate time as always,
and good luck this season. I guess just not too
much luck.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Yeah, you too. Thanks appreciating.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
If you want to know how to manage two minutes
of crunch time football, I'm your man.
Speaker 7 (30:37):
But if you're wondering about a long term financial plan,
you should talk to citizens.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
Hey, I can also talk long care. I'd like to
learn about a Mollia routine.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Yes, I knew I.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Could help make sense of your money with citizens.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
Great stuff from Bram as always. Now we turn to
our weekly interview with the head coach of the nyg
the Voice of the Giants, Bob Papa with Brian Dable.
Speaker 7 (30:59):
As always, we're joined by the head coach of the
New York Giants, Brian Dables. We get set for the
season opener against the Commanders here in Landover, Maryland and
coach obviously to kick off this season, a lot of
excitement within the building. Just talk about the way your
team is prepared, not only in the spring, but throughout
training camp in the summer, and kind of the excitement
(31:20):
level that they've brought this year to the team.
Speaker 5 (31:23):
Yeah, the guys have come in, they've really had a
discipline approach about the way they're handling their jobs. You know,
they've they've built some strong relationships in the offseason and
you know, improved every day throughout training camp and you know,
did some good things in the preseason. Had a good
week of practice here. I think everybody's ready to get
this game going.
Speaker 7 (31:42):
You know, we've talked so much about the eternal optimism
that Russell Wilson brings, whether it's in his meetings dealing
with his teammates. Has that spread over to the defensive
side of the ball as well.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
Yeah, Russ has been been a good leader for us
off the field, on the field, offense, special teams, kicking game.
He's a guy that's played in this league for a
long time at a high level. You know, it's been
very successful and I think he has done a good job
of bringing guys along with them.
Speaker 7 (32:12):
Is there still jitters on opening day when you get
to the professional level.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Yeah, you know, opening day is a unique unique you
never know, you know what you're gonna get. You can prepare,
you know, throughout the off season and in training camp
and you know, getting up to this week of really
diving into it. But you know they've they've done the
same thing as well. So again, these these games come
(32:38):
down to fundamentals, to blocking, to throwing, to catching, to
making good decision, taking care of the football, tackling, shedding blocks,
kicking the ball. Well, it's it's the basic things that
you need to do as football team to give yourself
a chance to win.
Speaker 7 (32:52):
Was that one of the things that was kind of
on your mind going into the preseason as far as
you know, you got starters, some decent reps in preseason
action to kind of hit the ground a little bit
more running in week number one as opposed to, you know,
keeping guys on the side and trying to protect them
and rest them a little bit.
Speaker 5 (33:12):
Yeah, there's always a balance to that, but I thought,
you know, for our football team, that's what we needed.
We needed to go out there and play, and you know,
I think we did a good job with with a
lot of the fundamentals things you can correct off of.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
You know, hopefully you can see that in beginning part
of the season.
Speaker 7 (33:28):
Coach, you had mentioned to us during camp that you
were going to mix things up a little bit because
you never know what's going to happen in a game.
And you know, you did it in that preseason game
with the Jets where Jackson Dark came in for one
play and then Russell Wilson was back in the game
and different things that you did during the preseason and
training camp. You know, we saw that play out in
(33:49):
real time on Thursday night with that bizarre situation at
the beginning of the game, and then there's an objection.
Is that sort of what you were thinking of, Like,
we could plan all the stuff that we want to plan,
but something crazy can happen. How do we react immediately?
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Yeah, it's a game of adjustments. Where the guy gets injured,
guy gets ejected. You know, you have a poor call
go against you. You know there's a lot of things
that are going to happen throughout a game, and you
know you try to do the best job you can
prepare for those things. You can't prepare for everything, but
you know, the key is to stay disciplined in your approach,
(34:28):
in your process, be able to play the next play
regardless of what happens, to play before the series, before
the half before. You know, got to be focused on,
you know, one play at a time and doing your
job at a high level.
Speaker 7 (34:40):
Washington certainly gives you a lot of things to focus on.
And we'll start with their quarterback Jaden Daniels, who was
brilliant last year as a rookie, and you saw as
the year went on, he just kept getting better and
better and better. What are some of the things Obviously
we know about his ability to run, but sort of
his decision making that puts so much pressure on a defense. Yeah,
(35:03):
I mean, he's a total package relative to playing a
quarterback position. He's a very difficult person to defend with
his arm, with his legs, and with his mind. You've
seen a tremendous amount of growth as the season went on.
Proper decision making when to leave the pocket, when to
make yards with his legs, when to throw the ball away,
(35:26):
doesn't put the ball in jeopardy very much, gives his
playmakers opportunities to make the ball. And he's you know,
five skilled guys really have six with him relative to
what he can do both with his arm and his
leg and that makes it difficult on any defense. And
then we all know that Terry McLaurin is a fantastic
(35:47):
player and one of the better receivers in the National
Football League. Add Deebo Samuel to the mix, who has
more rushing yards than any wide receiver in the NFL
going back to twenty twenty one, almost yards rushing. How
do you prepare for an insertion of that kind of
player into their lineup, you know, not having seen it,
(36:10):
you know in real time.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
Really, what it's going to come down to game day
is running to the football and making tackles against high
quality players in this league that you know you've seen
break tackles and go the distance plenty of times throughout
their career. Not only that they can run right by you.
You know, you throw the balls up to seventeen, which
they do plenty. Makes it a difficult challenge. And then
(36:34):
you add veterans like Ertz and Eckler who have played
this game at a high level for a long time
and know how to play it. It's a very difficult
offense to defend. That's why they score a lot of points.
That's why they've increased their point total, you know, more
than any team since two thousand in terms of nine
points per game. Situational football, they're very good at. It's
(36:56):
a difficult offense.
Speaker 7 (36:58):
Got to go to the other side of the here defensively, obviously,
you know they've got pain in the middle. He was
a pro bowler a couple of years ago. They've added
some veteran pieces to it. Louvo was very active. Von
Miller has now been brought in as a veteran guy
to get after the quarterback. And it looks like Bobby
Wagner just hasn't lost a step. What are some of
(37:20):
the challenges that they face defensively and some things that
they just do really well.
Speaker 5 (37:26):
Yeah, very talented group, veteran defensive line with pain and
kin Law and Armstrong and Wise. You had Newton in
there from Illinois, that's a young player, and then obviously
bringing Vaughn in and like you said, Bobby and Louv.
I think those are two challenging middle linebackers who bring
it every time. You know, they do a great job
(37:46):
blitzing running over backs, very instinctive players. So it's a
challenging to play this team relative to you know, they
get up with points, their defense is fast and can
play the football and get the turnovers. And you know,
coach Quinn and coach went run a difficult scheme once
you get to third down in those passing situations and
(38:07):
the looks they give you, so total team coach.
Speaker 7 (38:11):
Finally, going back to the opening day theme, You've participated
in a whole bunch of Super Bowls, National championship games.
You know opening day has that extra energy. Is it
important to remind your team to, you know, take a
deep breath here, because you want to let the game
just settle in and let it become a game and
(38:33):
not get too over hyped or or expend too much
energy right out of the shoot and then you kind
of get gassed. How do you manage stuff like that?
Speaker 5 (38:43):
Yeah, you talk about it, Bob, which I think is important.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
But you let these guys go.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Every player prepares differently when they're sitting down and getting
ready to play a game on game day, you know,
I think the veterans add good insight to the rookies,
and ultimately you're ready to go once that, you know,
go out to the coin toss and strap it up
and get it on.
Speaker 7 (39:07):
Well, let's see, let's get it going.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Man.
Speaker 7 (39:09):
I'm fired up. I think the fans are fired up.
I know you and your team are ready to go,
and we're looking forward to this twenty twenty five season.
Best of luck today, coach, Thanks Bob.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Join us at the Ultimate New York Giants Women's Tailgate,
presented by Joe Malone. It'll take place on Sunday, September
twenty eighth, from ten am to noon in a lot
g ahead of the Giants Week four game against the Chargers.
Attendees will have a chance to connect with Giants team
reporter and tailgate host Metal and Burke and some Giants legends.
They can enjoy a created custom merchandise shop, exclusive Kendris
(39:40):
Scott activation, tailgate games, giveaways, photos, live DJ, entertainment and more.
Tailgate food and one drink ticket are included with the
ticket purchase twenty one or older only. We thank Giants
head coach Brian Dable for joining us. We thank Brian Burns,
We thank Bram Weinstein. As the Giants try to start
their season fast with two Big Time Division games against
(40:05):
the Commanders and the Cowboys. Commanders first up in our
nation's capital in week number one. Thank you to all
our guests for joining us on the Giants Little Podcast,
brought to you by Citizens the official Bank of the Giants.
I am John Schmelck. We will see you next time.
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