July 21, 2025 • 18 mins
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk is joined by the Giants cornerbacks, including Deonte Banks, Dru Phillips, Tre Hawkins, Cor’Dale Flott, and Korie Black. They discuss the depth in the room, what they worked on in the offseason, and their goals for 2025.
:00 - Dru Phillips
3:55 - Cor’Dale Flott
7:30 - Deonte Banks
12:22 - Tre Hawkins
15:20 - Korie Black
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to get inside the Giants. Let's go, Let's go,
Let's go Giants. I like it out on the Giants
Bubbling give me some job, part of the Giants podcast network.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Let's roll.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It's time to talk to the cornerback group right here
on the Giants Little podcast brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the Giants. A group that the
Giants put a lot of work into this offseason. They've
put a lot of work in the draft as well
over the past three or four years, added a veteran
or two over the course of this offseason. It should
be fun to see where this group winds up. We'll
talk to all of them. Coming up right now. All right, now,
we're joined by a Giants second year cornerback, Drew Phillips.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Sh what's up, dude, what's going on?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
All right? As you look back at your rookie year,
what'd you think of it?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It's a lot of fun, a lot of fun, a
lot of a lot of ups and downs. But I'd
say this one thing going through the year, I look
back at it and I'm like, that was a lot
of fun year one. So it's like that's where it is.
We can grow off of that, met a lot of
these cool guys around here being in New York and
just this football team. It was an amazing year in
my opinion. I had fun the entire way so due
(00:57):
to ups and downs. So let's just I look forward
to being better though.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
And I'm sure you're someone that's gonna pick your game, right,
You're gonna go back and you'd be very hard on yourself.
What are some of the things that you kind of
look back at and you may be a little disappointed
in that you want to really try to go out
a way to try to improve in your two.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, for me, just after year one, I want more
ball production now. I feel like run game. I was
in there to put they threw me inn there. I
can go in there. You know, I got a hard nose,
and even with the passing game, I was always sticky.
But now this year I want to tradition more getting
more ball hands on balls, that's pass deflections, interceptions, I
want more of those.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Now. I've talked to a couple of different guys and
they think with the addition of a couple veterans, you
guys have in the secondary Jamon Holland and Pulse in
the debo that maybe there's gonna be a little bit
more disguise, a little bit more pre impost that movement
to try to create opportunities for the type of ball
production you're talking about, because you're gonna maybe make the
quarterback think twice before they throw the pass. Yeah, I
(01:55):
agree with that.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
You know, these two guys, they've already been here for
what it's been like a month, and they've already bring
so much to the room and kind of that vet
feeling or some things I just didn't understand last year.
But now with them being here, they definitely showed me
away and showed me ways you do this or quarterbet's
not gonna expect it. Ball can come there, get a
play on ball. So you know, I really I really
(02:16):
enjoy the addition that Joe brought in with them two
guys in the secondary. It helps me.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Out a lot.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I feel like you've really embraced everything that goes with
playing the slot. You talk about the physicality of the
run game, get the blitz a little bit, you feel
about fun, Like a lot of people think that's fun.
Like you gotta deal with like super quick wide receivers
and like two way gos, you gotta set the edge
against Like pulling guards and stuff doesn't sound like a
ton of fun, but it seems like you've really embraced
like the dirty work part of that job.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, because like, no one ever expects me to do that.
I mean, I'm a little drew man like and I
just go one dare and I do what I gotta do.
So but no, like I find the responsibilities I got
in football to be fun in that sense and have
a lot of fun playing.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Now that that's awesome, What do you think this defense
can can be this year in terms of Because it's funny,
we talked about all the great pass rushes you have,
but everything's so interconnected. Right, If you don't stop the
run well off on first the second, then the pass
rush can't get off. The offense doesn't get you a lead, right,
it's for the pass rush to get off. So what
has to happen for all of this to come together
this year for all the talent you have on defense
(03:20):
to turn into the results that you want to see?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, I mean, you're right, this is on paper our mail, Like,
this team is so talented, especially this defense, and what
I'm part with, what I'm part of each day with
the defense and pit guys, and you look down the paper,
you're like, holy, like this is a this is a
studded roster. But you know, we just got to there's
nothing abnormal that we have to do if we just
stick to what you know, Daves has on our plan
(03:45):
and our our fundamentals that we have to live by
each day as a giant. You know it's gonna come
to everything's uncoming to what we want it to be.
You know, we are who we make ourselves. So with
the guys we got, I mean, it's crazy, and I
know we're gonna go out there each day. We're gonna
we have high expectations for ourselves. But you know, we
just sticked it through what we're supposed to.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Do, true good stuff and appreciate the time, dude, Benjamin,
And now we welcome in Giants cornerback Cordell Foqudo. What's
going on?
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Man?
Speaker 6 (04:08):
Much? How's it going?
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I feel like you've got your hand on the football
an awful lot in the spring. Man. You're smiling, Yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's what I do. Have you done it?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (04:16):
Just you know, getting older in the league now, you know,
gaining you know, confidence trust game slowing down for you
just making players on the ball.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Now you've had the opportunity to slide in with the
ones a lot over the course of the spring and
going up against Russ and some of the veteran wide
receivers on the team. Do you like that challenge, even
this early in the offseason, just as to to try
to test you and everything you've worked on to see
if you are where you need to be.
Speaker 6 (04:39):
Yeah, it's always been a challenge. I take pride in
being with the ones and you know, getting rushed those
guys and competing every day, so it is get me better.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Are you also improving because I feel like, you know,
you've moved inside and out, you kind of yo yo
back and forth over the course of your career. I
haven't watched you every snap, but you correct me if
I'm incorrect, but I feel like your focus has been
much more on the outside right in the spring. Has
that helped being able to really focusing and locking on
that one spot because the technique's playing outside and inside,
it's really different things.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Yeah, either way, it go like, you know, being prepared
for both spots obviously, but yeah, it can't help to
be able to focus on one of them. But for me,
I just do whatever the teamd and just kind of,
you know, be have an I in for both and
both techniques and how to master both.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
So the one thing I've noticed with the corner is
that's been a little bit different than last year. Even
when you're in zone and you've done this a bunch
of times, you're quick to anticipate the pass, come down
and make a play on the football even though you're
an off.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
What is it about this year? Do you see a
sense that the defensive coordinator and your secondary coach is
trying to have you guys be more aggressive at the
ball when it's in front of you in those off
zone situations.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Yeah, being more aggressive on the ball, just putting the
defense in a better spot being made plays on the ball.
You know what I'm saying. When you was off, you
kind of you know, playing off just you know, giving
more space and opportunities. So we're gonna narrow that space
down and we're gonna play tight. So that's how we're
gonna do it.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
What has it been like having you Jeff Berson there
a new quarterbacks coach. You have markwan Manuel and there
on new dp's coach, if they taught you anything different
in terms of technique. Has it been a continuation of
what you had before? What has it been like with
the new coaches?
Speaker 6 (06:12):
Continuation what I had before? But as well as you know,
gaining the trust with them too. You know, we're still
getting to know each other, so they getting to feel
for everybody else as well, and that's collectively as the
DV unit. So that's we're working on so far. Then
we'll keep transitioning into count Does it.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Help to have a guy like Burson there who played
corner in the NFL at a high level that can
really relate to some of the situational stuff that you
have to deal with.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
Yeah, definitely helped because, like you said, in situations that
we he' been in before, obviously we're gonna be in
or times ten. So you know, having a player or
a coach who was a player by then tell us
and give us nick knack things on small details on
what we can do better at started situation helps a lot.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
So what are some of your goals you've kind of
set for yourself this year? They get to you're for
you right?
Speaker 6 (06:54):
Yeah? You four? My goal is to get the ball more. Yeah,
that's my goal. That's what I'm gonna do.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Is that because of what's going on up here, and
you can anticipate a little bit better.
Speaker 6 (07:04):
Both oh my traits and what's going on there, and
just continue to learn the game.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
For the folks listening on podcasts. That was me pointing
to my head when I sat up there by the way,
just just say, you know, courtell good stuff that I
appreciate you. Thank you very much, man, good stuff. The
Giants Total podcast is brought to you by Citizens, the
official bank of the Giants. From game day celebrations to
your everyday financial needs, Big Blue fans can get the
most out of every moment with Citizens. Go to Citizens
bank dot com slash Giants hoddle up, get in here.
(07:30):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great? How do we make
that happen?
Speaker 7 (07:36):
I don't know, Bud Citizens does it makes sense of
your money with Citizens official Bank of Eli Manning and.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Now we're joined by Giants cornerback the anti banks. Tay
what's going on?
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Man?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Feel?
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So what's up with the new look?
Speaker 5 (07:49):
I just wanted it. I really ain't want my days
no more. Why I ain't want him no more?
Speaker 1 (07:53):
And I just felt hot. It gets good hot, and
like I ain't want him no more.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
It's just too much.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Are you coming in with like a little bit of
a different approach this year? In year three?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
I'm just trying to be as best as i can,
just to be the best version of Tabanks.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
How do you go about trying to be the best
version of Tabank?
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Trying to be consistent being in a film room, you know,
just trying to be me.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Have you seen that extra work in the film room
and being a little bit more meticulous? Have you seen
that show up when you're at practice in the spring?
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Yeah, I've been in there a lot and I've been
I feel like I've been more focused.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
It's a different energy for me.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
How do you think that shows up on the field
when you're going one on one against wide receivers in practice?
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Just about how like how tight I am or how
like how I'm moving my press just everything really, how
I'm getting in and out of routes, how I'm coming back,
like how I'm challenging them.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Being in this defense now for a second year, is
there a greater comfort level to allow you to do
those things.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yes, definitely, definitely a better comfort level for me.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
How does that translate to the field. Is it just
more reacting and less thinking out there? Uh?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
To me?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Yes, like down they putting me in situations where I'm
more comfortable.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Now I feel like then you can look at this
one of two ways. You haven't been challenged a ton
in the spring. They haven't thrown to your side a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
They haven't. None, they haven't.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
I thought I thought I was the only one I
noticed it.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
I thought I was the only one I noticed it.
Not real.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
No, you can look at that two ways. One that
means you're just covering guys really well. So the quarterback
doesn't want to go your way, right, But I'm sure
it's also a little frustrating for you because you can't
get your hand on.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
I been trying to, Like I've been telling Russ I've
been texting Rusts, I've been telling them in practice, bro,
if you're gonna throw me to the bar, bro, like,
please please throw me to the bar.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
What has it been like going against Russell Wilson to practice?
M It's been good.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
It's been good.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Even No, I don't get a lot of targets, but
it's been cool.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
It's been cool.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Anything you talk about just having a different approach and
being you know a little bit more riticulous anything technique wise,
that really has been a focus of your off season
work that you're trying to get better at.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
Trying that's that's why I've been trying to tell just
like giving the ball, because I've been trying to like
work on my ball production. Like I'm always in a
right spot, I feel like so, but I really just
trying to get the ball out.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
What are some of the things that because you have
an new quarterbacks coach, Jeff Burros, who has been a
league for a long time, right, and you have Manuel
Yeah marcont who's been you know, defensive back in the league,
been coaching for a long time. Have they taught you
different techniques in terms of locating the ball and playing
the ball. Is it similar to what you had with
Jerome Henderson before? How has that process been like trying
to adjust to the coach.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
You just like to do a lot of bar jokes,
like you do a lot of bard just to try
to like make sure the ball anything like even like
walk through I try to like even throw around the
ball just to make sure the bar is in my hand.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
On deep balls, right. Yeah, if you're playing man running
with the guy deep, your backs to the quarterback generally
because you're running with them, right, what's your process for
locating the ball? Playing it all the while not committing
that hated defensive pass and it's probably the toughest thing
for a cornerback to day.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
Yes, so really my off season I was really training
to deep ball, like just to try to like not
more so like trying to touch him or more so
trying to beat him to the spot and look for it.
Now is to like touch him that way, he don't
have to he don't have a chance to push me
out for you, feel me mess up my way of
trying to touch trying to look at the ball.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
You have to feel where he is, feel where he is,
but then also being to locate the ball. Yeah, now
be And I've talked to different defensive back coach and
they have different philosophies on this. If you were in
phase right, if you're in the right spot, then it's
easier to look back at the ball.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Right.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
If you're trailing a little bit, do they then teach
you to kind of you and you play through the hands.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Right, get their hands at that point? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Is it tough in the moment to figure out which
technique you should use based on where you are? Is
that something that that you've a pretty good feel for?
Speaker 5 (11:41):
I mean you can get a feel for it, but
as that's why you try to get comfortable with positions
and how that's why you try to train it so
you're comfortable in those in those positions, so you can
get used to it in those situations to be able
to make a play.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Have you set out any specific goals for yourselves this year?
Speaker 5 (11:57):
I got ghosts, but like I kind of just keep
it in to myself for that's Are.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You happy with the progress you've seen so far from
yourself in the spread?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
First, guy like you who is so big and physical,
does getting into the summer when the pads come on?
Does that help you house?
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Because I can be more facebook, I can be me
all right.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
We tell you we can't wait to see it.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Man.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Best of all, do you appreciate you? If you want
to know how to manage two minutes of crunch time football,
I'm your man. But if you're wondering about a long
term financial plan, you should talk to citizens. Hey, I
can also talk long care. I'd like to learn about
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of your money with citizens, all right, and then we're
joined by giants cornerback trail all can show what's going on?
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Man none man count just working, just working.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
All right. So you're heading into your third year now, right,
So where do you think you've progressed the most as
you've kind of made your way through the giants the
first couple of years and everything you've learned.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Just experience, like just learning situation awareness, just actually being
out on the field and just.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Just getting that experience I think is nothing.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
There's no better teachers than experience than actually like playing
on the football field.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
How do you think that experience has helped you become
a better player on the field.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
It just helps slow the game down, understanding critical situations,
understanding what the offense personnel wants to do.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
I know, on people scout corners, a size, speed, all
that stuff. That's the top things they worry about. But
I think they probably underrate the mental part of it
a little bit and the type of things you're talking
about and experience. So how do you think the mental
part of the game that you're talking about compliments the
physical skills, and obviously you have size speed wise.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
I mean, yeah, you're able to. Like my physical skills,
I'm able to probably guard anybody. But if you're not
going to be situational aware, you're going to be playing
off on third and two.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Like and they throw a quick slant.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
You know what I mean, It's like you just got
to be real situational where I think mental is more
than it's They always say it's ninety percent mental ten
percent physical.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
So I agree with that. Now.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
I think in this training can probably more in this spring,
rather more so than you've had your first two years.
Just offense is throwing the ball down the field. Man,
they've not been trying to push it. Is that fun
for you as a cornerback?
Speaker 4 (13:58):
No, yeah, it's for sure fun.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Like I was telling Dark the other day, I was like,
I like that, like you know what I mean, Like
just so like you competitive, like I like seeing like
somebody like trot me, you know what I mean. Like
it just makes it make us better on both sides.
I don't want to be in practice just not getting
a deep ball, like because we'll will never practice and
then our first time of being the game, like we
want those to be in practice as well.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Now you mentioned Dark what has it been like going
against him?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
He's a good player. Your dog man, her dog. He's
sure a dog.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
He's a competitor, right, yeah, yeah he talk is Is
he a talker?
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Uh No, I wouldn't say.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
I never just like had talk mess him to see
if you're talking for real, But I'll say like he
dove and he dove one practice and I was like, yeah,
you you you you for sure a competitor like the pylon,
right yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Yeah. I was like, yeah, that's that's the ultimate competitor
right there.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
So did you got to calm down?
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Posted a debo, big veteran lineback, quarterback quarterback that they
brought in similar in terms of stature and size to you. Right,
Have you been able to pick his brain at all
and learn from it all about oh yeah, oh yeah
in the NFL?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Oh yes, for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
And he's been openly just telling me things as well,
like even if I don't act, he had just come
and like just check up on me or something like that.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
So he's been a great vet to me as well.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
All Right, Finally, What are the big steps that you
think you can take in your thirty year Areas that
you've really been working on, that that you think you
can get better at, that will show up when you
get your opportunity on the field.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Just the mental part of the game, like just keep
learning and keep growing and just keep staying staying in
shape physically but mentally as far as mentally, just keep
learning and growing learning.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
The game tree.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Good stuff, man, Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
All right now we're joined by another one of the
Giants draft picks. We're joined by cornerback Cory black Corery.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
How are you, man, I'm good.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
So how was life in the NFL been for the
first you know, month and a half two months?
Speaker 4 (15:41):
It's been fun.
Speaker 7 (15:42):
You know, just learning a lot and you know, just
trying to you know, really just catch up to the
tempo and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
But it's been fun.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
No. I had a chance to talk to UH coach Gundy,
who obviously it was a b a big part of
your career, and he talked about your size and speed
and how that it really helps you play corner What
would you consider your strongest physical attributes in terms of
what you bring to the feel that helped make you
a prop.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Just my size. I would say it's kind of the
biggest thing.
Speaker 7 (16:07):
I played my whole college career basically around like one
ninety or something like that. So now I'm like to
two hundred, so I gained some weight and also on
my speed. Just keeping being being able to keep my
speed and just use that for like, you know, special
teams and things like that, you know, defense, I feel
like will help me.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
And I don't get the special teams in a second
talking to him, he said, you played all sorts of
coverages in college, right, Yeah, A man a lot of zone,
so you were asked to do a lot of different things. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (16:38):
I played a lot of coverages in college. But it
was fun just being able to you know, showcase. You
know that I'm you know, versus time. I'm not just
like a man on man corner or just his own corner.
I'm able to do everything. So I feel like that
helped me a lot.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And you'll do that in the pros too. What do
you like to play? What do you think you're best at?
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Best at everything? Really?
Speaker 7 (16:56):
But I mean if I gotta pick, obviously.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I'll go big third down, like third and seven, you
need to stop. What do you want to be in man?
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Oh man?
Speaker 7 (17:05):
Just you know, let me just do you know, do
what I do and let the team, you know, defense
do what they do best and you know we need
to rest the quarterback or anything like that. You know,
I'm you know, I feel like I'm able to play
man on man.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
You want to press up and play man, You'll playoff man.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Just based on the situation. Okay, you know, but.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
That that's a thinking man's answer. I like that. That's good.
Special teams, what are you trying to show the Giants,
because that's how you're going to earn your helmet in
New Jersey every every game, right to get on that
active forty six. So what do you trying to show
them special teams wise in the spring of the summer
to try to earn that spot.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
Really just that I'm valuable, you know, not just for defense,
but for special teams, and that I'm willing to do
like whatever it takes just for you know, just to
see the team win.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
You know, it's just bigger than me.
Speaker 7 (17:49):
So like doing whatever they asked me to do, I'm
willing to do on special teams, just you know, for
the better man.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Of the team.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
How much of that did you do in college?
Speaker 7 (17:58):
I did it my first two years, two or three years,
and then I was able to get a starting roll,
so that, you know, just kind of slowed down a
little bit.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yeah, gunner, I was gunner.
Speaker 7 (18:11):
Also on point return, I was with the corner and
that did a little bit of all my freshman I
did a little bit of like kickoff and kickoff return.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Did you like it? You enjoyed it?
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (18:21):
Yeah, yeah, it was fun, you know, just for one
just being you know, young, you know, I was like eighteen.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
Just being able to be out there.
Speaker 7 (18:27):
You know, I ain't really cure offense, defense, special teams
didn't matter. Just out there being able to compete was
you know, big for me. So it was real fun.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Awesome, Corey, good stuff, man, I appreciate times. Thank you
so much. Ye that's the cornerback group. It would be
a very important group this year for this Giants defense
to get back where they need to be, preventing those
big plays, making plays on the ball and taking the
football away. Those are the cornerbacks. We still have a
little bit more to go here in the Giants Little
Podcast brought to you by Citizens Official Bank of the Giants.
Stay tuned, we'll be back with more in the next episode.
It's time to get inside the Giants. Let's go, Let's go,
Let's go Giants. I like it out on the Giants
Bubbling give me some job, part of the Giants podcast network.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Let's roll.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It's time to talk to the cornerback group right here
on the Giants Little podcast brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the Giants. A group that the
Giants put a lot of work into this offseason. They've
put a lot of work in the draft as well
over the past three or four years, added a veteran
or two over the course of this offseason. It should
be fun to see where this group winds up. We'll
talk to all of them. Coming up right now. All right, now,
we're joined by a Giants second year cornerback, Drew Phillips.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Sh what's up, dude, what's going on?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
All right? As you look back at your rookie year,
what'd you think of it?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It's a lot of fun, a lot of fun, a
lot of a lot of ups and downs. But I'd
say this one thing going through the year, I look
back at it and I'm like, that was a lot
of fun year one. So it's like that's where it is.
We can grow off of that, met a lot of
these cool guys around here being in New York and
just this football team. It was an amazing year in
my opinion. I had fun the entire way so due
(00:57):
to ups and downs. So let's just I look forward
to being better though.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
And I'm sure you're someone that's gonna pick your game, right,
You're gonna go back and you'd be very hard on yourself.
What are some of the things that you kind of
look back at and you may be a little disappointed
in that you want to really try to go out
a way to try to improve in your two.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, for me, just after year one, I want more
ball production now. I feel like run game. I was
in there to put they threw me inn there. I
can go in there. You know, I got a hard nose,
and even with the passing game, I was always sticky.
But now this year I want to tradition more getting
more ball hands on balls, that's pass deflections, interceptions, I
want more of those.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Now. I've talked to a couple of different guys and
they think with the addition of a couple veterans, you
guys have in the secondary Jamon Holland and Pulse in
the debo that maybe there's gonna be a little bit
more disguise, a little bit more pre impost that movement
to try to create opportunities for the type of ball
production you're talking about, because you're gonna maybe make the
quarterback think twice before they throw the pass. Yeah, I
(01:55):
agree with that.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
You know, these two guys, they've already been here for
what it's been like a month, and they've already bring
so much to the room and kind of that vet
feeling or some things I just didn't understand last year.
But now with them being here, they definitely showed me
away and showed me ways you do this or quarterbet's
not gonna expect it. Ball can come there, get a
play on ball. So you know, I really I really
(02:16):
enjoy the addition that Joe brought in with them two
guys in the secondary. It helps me.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Out a lot.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I feel like you've really embraced everything that goes with
playing the slot. You talk about the physicality of the
run game, get the blitz a little bit, you feel
about fun, Like a lot of people think that's fun.
Like you gotta deal with like super quick wide receivers
and like two way gos, you gotta set the edge
against Like pulling guards and stuff doesn't sound like a
ton of fun, but it seems like you've really embraced
like the dirty work part of that job.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, because like, no one ever expects me to do that.
I mean, I'm a little drew man like and I
just go one dare and I do what I gotta do.
So but no, like I find the responsibilities I got
in football to be fun in that sense and have
a lot of fun playing.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Now that that's awesome, What do you think this defense
can can be this year in terms of Because it's funny,
we talked about all the great pass rushes you have,
but everything's so interconnected. Right, If you don't stop the
run well off on first the second, then the pass
rush can't get off. The offense doesn't get you a lead, right,
it's for the pass rush to get off. So what
has to happen for all of this to come together
this year for all the talent you have on defense
(03:20):
to turn into the results that you want to see?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, I mean, you're right, this is on paper our mail, Like,
this team is so talented, especially this defense, and what
I'm part with, what I'm part of each day with
the defense and pit guys, and you look down the paper,
you're like, holy, like this is a this is a
studded roster. But you know, we just got to there's
nothing abnormal that we have to do if we just
stick to what you know, Daves has on our plan
(03:45):
and our our fundamentals that we have to live by
each day as a giant. You know it's gonna come
to everything's uncoming to what we want it to be.
You know, we are who we make ourselves. So with
the guys we got, I mean, it's crazy, and I
know we're gonna go out there each day. We're gonna
we have high expectations for ourselves. But you know, we
just sticked it through what we're supposed to.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Do, true good stuff and appreciate the time, dude, Benjamin,
And now we welcome in Giants cornerback Cordell Foqudo. What's
going on?
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Man?
Speaker 6 (04:08):
Much? How's it going?
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I feel like you've got your hand on the football
an awful lot in the spring. Man. You're smiling, Yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's what I do. Have you done it?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (04:16):
Just you know, getting older in the league now, you know,
gaining you know, confidence trust game slowing down for you
just making players on the ball.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Now you've had the opportunity to slide in with the
ones a lot over the course of the spring and
going up against Russ and some of the veteran wide
receivers on the team. Do you like that challenge, even
this early in the offseason, just as to to try
to test you and everything you've worked on to see
if you are where you need to be.
Speaker 6 (04:39):
Yeah, it's always been a challenge. I take pride in
being with the ones and you know, getting rushed those
guys and competing every day, so it is get me better.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Are you also improving because I feel like, you know,
you've moved inside and out, you kind of yo yo
back and forth over the course of your career. I
haven't watched you every snap, but you correct me if
I'm incorrect, but I feel like your focus has been
much more on the outside right in the spring. Has
that helped being able to really focusing and locking on
that one spot because the technique's playing outside and inside,
it's really different things.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Yeah, either way, it go like, you know, being prepared
for both spots obviously, but yeah, it can't help to
be able to focus on one of them. But for me,
I just do whatever the teamd and just kind of,
you know, be have an I in for both and
both techniques and how to master both.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
So the one thing I've noticed with the corner is
that's been a little bit different than last year. Even
when you're in zone and you've done this a bunch
of times, you're quick to anticipate the pass, come down
and make a play on the football even though you're
an off.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
What is it about this year? Do you see a
sense that the defensive coordinator and your secondary coach is
trying to have you guys be more aggressive at the
ball when it's in front of you in those off
zone situations.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Yeah, being more aggressive on the ball, just putting the
defense in a better spot being made plays on the ball.
You know what I'm saying. When you was off, you
kind of you know, playing off just you know, giving
more space and opportunities. So we're gonna narrow that space
down and we're gonna play tight. So that's how we're
gonna do it.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
What has it been like having you Jeff Berson there
a new quarterbacks coach. You have markwan Manuel and there
on new dp's coach, if they taught you anything different
in terms of technique. Has it been a continuation of
what you had before? What has it been like with
the new coaches?
Speaker 6 (06:12):
Continuation what I had before? But as well as you know,
gaining the trust with them too. You know, we're still
getting to know each other, so they getting to feel
for everybody else as well, and that's collectively as the
DV unit. So that's we're working on so far. Then
we'll keep transitioning into count Does it.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Help to have a guy like Burson there who played
corner in the NFL at a high level that can
really relate to some of the situational stuff that you
have to deal with.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
Yeah, definitely helped because, like you said, in situations that
we he' been in before, obviously we're gonna be in
or times ten. So you know, having a player or
a coach who was a player by then tell us
and give us nick knack things on small details on
what we can do better at started situation helps a lot.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
So what are some of your goals you've kind of
set for yourself this year? They get to you're for
you right?
Speaker 6 (06:54):
Yeah? You four? My goal is to get the ball more. Yeah,
that's my goal. That's what I'm gonna do.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Is that because of what's going on up here, and
you can anticipate a little bit better.
Speaker 6 (07:04):
Both oh my traits and what's going on there, and
just continue to learn the game.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
For the folks listening on podcasts. That was me pointing
to my head when I sat up there by the way,
just just say, you know, courtell good stuff that I
appreciate you. Thank you very much, man, good stuff. The
Giants Total podcast is brought to you by Citizens, the
official bank of the Giants. From game day celebrations to
your everyday financial needs, Big Blue fans can get the
most out of every moment with Citizens. Go to Citizens
bank dot com slash Giants hoddle up, get in here.
(07:30):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great? How do we make
that happen?
Speaker 7 (07:36):
I don't know, Bud Citizens does it makes sense of
your money with Citizens official Bank of Eli Manning and.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Now we're joined by Giants cornerback the anti banks. Tay
what's going on?
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Man?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Feel?
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So what's up with the new look?
Speaker 5 (07:49):
I just wanted it. I really ain't want my days
no more. Why I ain't want him no more?
Speaker 1 (07:53):
And I just felt hot. It gets good hot, and
like I ain't want him no more.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
It's just too much.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Are you coming in with like a little bit of
a different approach this year? In year three?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
I'm just trying to be as best as i can,
just to be the best version of Tabanks.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
How do you go about trying to be the best
version of Tabank?
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Trying to be consistent being in a film room, you know,
just trying to be me.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Have you seen that extra work in the film room
and being a little bit more meticulous? Have you seen
that show up when you're at practice in the spring?
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Yeah, I've been in there a lot and I've been
I feel like I've been more focused.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
It's a different energy for me.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
How do you think that shows up on the field
when you're going one on one against wide receivers in practice?
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Just about how like how tight I am or how
like how I'm moving my press just everything really, how
I'm getting in and out of routes, how I'm coming back,
like how I'm challenging them.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Being in this defense now for a second year, is
there a greater comfort level to allow you to do
those things.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yes, definitely, definitely a better comfort level for me.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
How does that translate to the field. Is it just
more reacting and less thinking out there? Uh?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
To me?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Yes, like down they putting me in situations where I'm
more comfortable.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Now I feel like then you can look at this
one of two ways. You haven't been challenged a ton
in the spring. They haven't thrown to your side a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
They haven't. None, they haven't.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
I thought I thought I was the only one I
noticed it.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
I thought I was the only one I noticed it.
Not real.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
No, you can look at that two ways. One that
means you're just covering guys really well. So the quarterback
doesn't want to go your way, right, But I'm sure
it's also a little frustrating for you because you can't
get your hand on.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
I been trying to, Like I've been telling Russ I've
been texting Rusts, I've been telling them in practice, bro,
if you're gonna throw me to the bar, bro, like,
please please throw me to the bar.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
What has it been like going against Russell Wilson to practice?
M It's been good.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
It's been good.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Even No, I don't get a lot of targets, but
it's been cool.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
It's been cool.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Anything you talk about just having a different approach and
being you know a little bit more riticulous anything technique wise,
that really has been a focus of your off season
work that you're trying to get better at.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
Trying that's that's why I've been trying to tell just
like giving the ball, because I've been trying to like
work on my ball production. Like I'm always in a
right spot, I feel like so, but I really just
trying to get the ball out.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
What are some of the things that because you have
an new quarterbacks coach, Jeff Burros, who has been a
league for a long time, right, and you have Manuel
Yeah marcont who's been you know, defensive back in the league,
been coaching for a long time. Have they taught you
different techniques in terms of locating the ball and playing
the ball. Is it similar to what you had with
Jerome Henderson before? How has that process been like trying
to adjust to the coach.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
You just like to do a lot of bar jokes,
like you do a lot of bard just to try
to like make sure the ball anything like even like
walk through I try to like even throw around the
ball just to make sure the bar is in my hand.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
On deep balls, right. Yeah, if you're playing man running
with the guy deep, your backs to the quarterback generally
because you're running with them, right, what's your process for
locating the ball? Playing it all the while not committing
that hated defensive pass and it's probably the toughest thing
for a cornerback to day.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
Yes, so really my off season I was really training
to deep ball, like just to try to like not
more so like trying to touch him or more so
trying to beat him to the spot and look for it.
Now is to like touch him that way, he don't
have to he don't have a chance to push me
out for you, feel me mess up my way of
trying to touch trying to look at the ball.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
You have to feel where he is, feel where he is,
but then also being to locate the ball. Yeah, now
be And I've talked to different defensive back coach and
they have different philosophies on this. If you were in
phase right, if you're in the right spot, then it's
easier to look back at the ball.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Right.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
If you're trailing a little bit, do they then teach
you to kind of you and you play through the hands.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Right, get their hands at that point? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Is it tough in the moment to figure out which
technique you should use based on where you are? Is
that something that that you've a pretty good feel for?
Speaker 5 (11:41):
I mean you can get a feel for it, but
as that's why you try to get comfortable with positions
and how that's why you try to train it so
you're comfortable in those in those positions, so you can
get used to it in those situations to be able
to make a play.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Have you set out any specific goals for yourselves this year?
Speaker 5 (11:57):
I got ghosts, but like I kind of just keep
it in to myself for that's Are.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You happy with the progress you've seen so far from
yourself in the spread?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
First, guy like you who is so big and physical,
does getting into the summer when the pads come on?
Does that help you house?
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Because I can be more facebook, I can be me
all right.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
We tell you we can't wait to see it.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Man.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Best of all, do you appreciate you? If you want
to know how to manage two minutes of crunch time football,
I'm your man. But if you're wondering about a long
term financial plan, you should talk to citizens. Hey, I
can also talk long care. I'd like to learn about
anoliar routine. Yes, I knew I could help make sense
of your money with citizens, all right, and then we're
joined by giants cornerback trail all can show what's going on?
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Man none man count just working, just working.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
All right. So you're heading into your third year now, right,
So where do you think you've progressed the most as
you've kind of made your way through the giants the
first couple of years and everything you've learned.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Just experience, like just learning situation awareness, just actually being
out on the field and just.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Just getting that experience I think is nothing.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
There's no better teachers than experience than actually like playing
on the football field.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
How do you think that experience has helped you become
a better player on the field.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
It just helps slow the game down, understanding critical situations,
understanding what the offense personnel wants to do.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
I know, on people scout corners, a size, speed, all
that stuff. That's the top things they worry about. But
I think they probably underrate the mental part of it
a little bit and the type of things you're talking
about and experience. So how do you think the mental
part of the game that you're talking about compliments the
physical skills, and obviously you have size speed wise.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
I mean, yeah, you're able to. Like my physical skills,
I'm able to probably guard anybody. But if you're not
going to be situational aware, you're going to be playing
off on third and two.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Like and they throw a quick slant.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
You know what I mean, It's like you just got
to be real situational where I think mental is more
than it's They always say it's ninety percent mental ten
percent physical.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
So I agree with that. Now.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
I think in this training can probably more in this spring,
rather more so than you've had your first two years.
Just offense is throwing the ball down the field. Man,
they've not been trying to push it. Is that fun
for you as a cornerback?
Speaker 4 (13:58):
No, yeah, it's for sure fun.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Like I was telling Dark the other day, I was like,
I like that, like you know what I mean, Like
just so like you competitive, like I like seeing like
somebody like trot me, you know what I mean. Like
it just makes it make us better on both sides.
I don't want to be in practice just not getting
a deep ball, like because we'll will never practice and
then our first time of being the game, like we
want those to be in practice as well.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Now you mentioned Dark what has it been like going
against him?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
He's a good player. Your dog man, her dog. He's
sure a dog.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
He's a competitor, right, yeah, yeah he talk is Is
he a talker?
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Uh No, I wouldn't say.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
I never just like had talk mess him to see
if you're talking for real, But I'll say like he
dove and he dove one practice and I was like, yeah,
you you you you for sure a competitor like the pylon,
right yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Yeah. I was like, yeah, that's that's the ultimate competitor
right there.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
So did you got to calm down?
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Posted a debo, big veteran lineback, quarterback quarterback that they
brought in similar in terms of stature and size to you. Right,
Have you been able to pick his brain at all
and learn from it all about oh yeah, oh yeah
in the NFL?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Oh yes, for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
And he's been openly just telling me things as well,
like even if I don't act, he had just come
and like just check up on me or something like that.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
So he's been a great vet to me as well.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
All Right, Finally, What are the big steps that you
think you can take in your thirty year Areas that
you've really been working on, that that you think you
can get better at, that will show up when you
get your opportunity on the field.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Just the mental part of the game, like just keep
learning and keep growing and just keep staying staying in
shape physically but mentally as far as mentally, just keep
learning and growing learning.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
The game tree.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Good stuff, man, Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
All right now we're joined by another one of the
Giants draft picks. We're joined by cornerback Cory black Corery.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
How are you, man, I'm good.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
So how was life in the NFL been for the
first you know, month and a half two months?
Speaker 4 (15:41):
It's been fun.
Speaker 7 (15:42):
You know, just learning a lot and you know, just
trying to you know, really just catch up to the
tempo and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
But it's been fun.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
No. I had a chance to talk to UH coach Gundy,
who obviously it was a b a big part of
your career, and he talked about your size and speed
and how that it really helps you play corner What
would you consider your strongest physical attributes in terms of
what you bring to the feel that helped make you
a prop.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Just my size. I would say it's kind of the
biggest thing.
Speaker 7 (16:07):
I played my whole college career basically around like one
ninety or something like that. So now I'm like to
two hundred, so I gained some weight and also on
my speed. Just keeping being being able to keep my
speed and just use that for like, you know, special
teams and things like that, you know, defense, I feel
like will help me.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
And I don't get the special teams in a second
talking to him, he said, you played all sorts of
coverages in college, right, Yeah, A man a lot of zone,
so you were asked to do a lot of different things. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (16:38):
I played a lot of coverages in college. But it
was fun just being able to you know, showcase. You
know that I'm you know, versus time. I'm not just
like a man on man corner or just his own corner.
I'm able to do everything. So I feel like that
helped me a lot.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And you'll do that in the pros too. What do
you like to play? What do you think you're best at?
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Best at everything? Really?
Speaker 7 (16:56):
But I mean if I gotta pick, obviously.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I'll go big third down, like third and seven, you
need to stop. What do you want to be in man?
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Oh man?
Speaker 7 (17:05):
Just you know, let me just do you know, do
what I do and let the team, you know, defense
do what they do best and you know we need
to rest the quarterback or anything like that. You know,
I'm you know, I feel like I'm able to play
man on man.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
You want to press up and play man, You'll playoff man.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Just based on the situation. Okay, you know, but.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
That that's a thinking man's answer. I like that. That's good.
Special teams, what are you trying to show the Giants,
because that's how you're going to earn your helmet in
New Jersey every every game, right to get on that
active forty six. So what do you trying to show
them special teams wise in the spring of the summer
to try to earn that spot.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
Really just that I'm valuable, you know, not just for defense,
but for special teams, and that I'm willing to do
like whatever it takes just for you know, just to
see the team win.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
You know, it's just bigger than me.
Speaker 7 (17:49):
So like doing whatever they asked me to do, I'm
willing to do on special teams, just you know, for
the better man.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Of the team.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
How much of that did you do in college?
Speaker 7 (17:58):
I did it my first two years, two or three years,
and then I was able to get a starting roll,
so that, you know, just kind of slowed down a
little bit.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yeah, gunner, I was gunner.
Speaker 7 (18:11):
Also on point return, I was with the corner and
that did a little bit of all my freshman I
did a little bit of like kickoff and kickoff return.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Did you like it? You enjoyed it?
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (18:21):
Yeah, yeah, it was fun, you know, just for one
just being you know, young, you know, I was like eighteen.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
Just being able to be out there.
Speaker 7 (18:27):
You know, I ain't really cure offense, defense, special teams
didn't matter. Just out there being able to compete was
you know, big for me. So it was real fun.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Awesome, Corey, good stuff, man, I appreciate times. Thank you
so much. Ye that's the cornerback group. It would be
a very important group this year for this Giants defense
to get back where they need to be, preventing those
big plays, making plays on the ball and taking the
football away. Those are the cornerbacks. We still have a
little bit more to go here in the Giants Little
Podcast brought to you by Citizens Official Bank of the Giants.
Stay tuned, we'll be back with more in the next episode.
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