December 12, 2025 • 40 mins
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk sits down with Giants offensive lineman, Jermaine Eluemunor, to talk about how the offensive line has played this season, John chats with host of the Commanding the Huddle Podcast, Ryan Fowler, about the matchup with Washington, and Bob Papa has his weekly sit down with Giants interim Head Coach, Mike Kafka.
:00 - Jermaine Eluemunor
18:00 - Ryan Fowler
32:08 - Mike Kafka
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Tottle Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens, the official bank at the Giants.
We're here in the Hackensack and Marity Health podcast studio,
Keep getting Better, a big time show for you today
our normal Friday format, We're gonna have Bob Pop with
head coach of the Giants, Mike Kafka. Ryan Fowler from
the Commanding of the Huddle podcast will join us. But
first our player interview is going to be Giants offensive
(00:21):
tackle Jermaine Illuminar. But first, just to remind their folks,
you can find the Giants Huddle Podcast on the Giants
Official Podcast network feed on your favorite podcast platform. Make
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And we know this is the time of year where
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(00:41):
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Speaker 2 (00:50):
Please send it our way.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
We'd love to see it and we appreciate all our
listeners out there at the end of the year that
have stuck with us, despite the fact that Giants have
had a rough year record wise and not wanted a
ton of games. But we appreciate all the people that
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and we love to see them.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
All right. With that out of the way, we appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Now, let's turned to our content today and we'll lead
off with my interview with Giants right tackle jermainea Luminor Throw,
to be joined by Giants starting right tackle Jamada Lumur Jimmye.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
What's going on, man, Nothing much, just another day in
the life, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So I'm going to give you a very broad question
and I'm curious to see where you.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Go with it.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Why is the Giants offensive line playing so well this year?
I'd say give be the longest answer in the world, don'tkay.
They take it wherever you want.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I'd say the biggest factor is carm Brissoll. I think
he's one of the best online coaches in the NFL, and
I've been a voice that I think the entire season.
He pushes us in practice the way he prepares us,
and the way we practice is a huge part in
why we got there and were successful because there's no
drop off. We treat practice as the game. You know,
you take game reps in practice, so when you get
(01:58):
out there, there's no drop off and there's no changes
like speed and no change of pace. Conditioning, I think
we're really wealll conditioned as well is the work we
put in in the offseason and during the season. And
also we just really want to be great. You know,
we've heard about how the offensive lines here haven't been
that good, and I'm just tired of it. And having
guys like at Runyon, Schmidt, GVR and me who really
(02:20):
care about this game and this franchise I think means
a lot.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I want to go back to Briscilla because you guys
don't just do one thing right. You're not just a
duo team. You're not just a gap scheme team. There
are some teams that run nothing but outside zone. You
don't you do everything right. So how does he manage
to get you guys square? Running so many different things,
especially in the run game, where a lot of teams
have trouble mastering. Just one of those techniques being their
(02:43):
primary mechanism.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I'd say Karma is probably one of, if not the
smartest guy in the building and the way he has
us prepared, you know, going of the scheme, making sure
everyone knows where they're going, you know, how to get
from point A to point be the quickest, but with
the best technique and with the knowledge of knowing how
they're going to react to once you get to the
point of attacking, how you're gonna you know, figure out
(03:07):
how to block them. So Karm is really good with
the schematics of the game, but then also the technique,
and he knows what it takes in order for us
to be a great offensive line because he's been around
great offensive lines and through his entire career he's coached
some good players. And yeah, I mean without Karm, I
don't think the boat is moving.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Seeing how the group made a jump from last year
to this year. And last year when everyone was healthy,
you guys played pretty well too, but I think you've
taken it to another level this year. Where have you
seen the value come that you have the same five
guys back in the same spot for a second year.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Yeah, I'd say that chemistry is huge with the offensive
line play, a lot of the offensive lines, and then
for a lot of the great ones, they don't have
that many injuries that they have to deal with. There's
not too many line combinations. In lust year, we had
a bunch of oline combinations and so that's why it
wasn't as clean as we would like it to be. But
this year, you know, at has a mistake since he's
come back. Ryan gv lead the nphon snapstack and I
(04:03):
missed the one game. But then also the depth that
we have on this team too. You know Bo stepped
in Hut earlier in the year was bawling Austin Schlotman
when he had step in for Schmidt for two games.
He came in and there was no drop off at all.
And the oldies back to carm and you know the
way he prepares the starters and the backups and prepare
like you're going to play, and take every single work
in practice like you're about to play on Sunday. So
(04:24):
when you get to the game on Sunday, if you
have to step in because someone goes down for a
player too, I have to miss a drive, then there's
no drop off at all. We know how to work
with everyone around us. But yeah, I think that having
the same five is huge for teams, and chemistry is
one of the bigges things are offensive line play.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Where specifically does that show up? Is it handling twist
and stunts? Is it passing guys off when you're trying
to get to the second level. Where do you see
that chemistry actually show up when you go and watch
the tape on Monday mornings.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
I'd say play style is a big thing. Okay, I've
been with GV for now three years, and so GV
knows how I like to play, he my tendency is,
and he knows what I'm thinking when I get a
certain guy out there. You know, I treat everyone the
same and I think that's why I've had a lot
of success this year. But some guys you have to
give more emphasis to, like the Michael Parsons eight hudgets
and the Max Crosby is Grenard's game Caos, Benito's Coopers
(05:16):
of the World. So you know, he knows what I'm thinking,
and so he knows how I'm going to set those guys.
And throughout the week, you know, we communicate on what
I'm thinking, what he's thinking, how we're going to pursh
the game. And also I know how he likes to
run block and his techniques, and he knows how I
like to run block and the same thing with running
in at You know, they've been playing to you over
two years now, and Schmidt is kind of like the
(05:37):
key to everything because he knows all of us. And
without Schmidt, I mean, like I said, Schluckman came in
there and did a hell of a job and I
think he's a great player, But Schmid's kind of like
the tape that keeps us alf together.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
All right, let's talk about Jams. But I was going
to ask you about him. I think he's really taking
a jump here in his thirty year. I think he's
played really well this year. You kind of just talked
about it a little bit, a little bit more detail.
How does he bring the group together? How is he
the tape that hold you guy together?
Speaker 3 (06:00):
I mean it all starts with the center. I think
the center is an extension of the coach on the field,
and Jams is the smartestkind of the field next to
a GV. So with him out there, you can trust
that he's gonna make sure it makes the Mike points
tells you where to go sometimes, you know, we have
an extensive playbook, and so with this playbook sometimes you
can forget things or need help when it comes to
(06:22):
remember in certain plays. And James knows everything, like in
the back of his hands. So he's been huge rusted
this year, but also to see the progress he's made
in the jump that he's made too, because you obviously
he came into the second round pick with high expectations
and you know, he played good last year, he probably
would have wanted to play better in certain situations. By
this year he's been balling and he's starting to come
to his own. But I think you know, when you're
(06:44):
giving the keys at such a young age, you have
you don't really have any room for you don't have
any time to develop. You got to get hit the
wrong running. And so with James, you know, he's been running, running, running,
and there's certain things that he did really well and
certain things he probably wanted to improve on. But this
year he's really put it together and it's been really
cool to just play with him and see his growth
(07:04):
and progress, and he's really started to come into his
own nine. I think he has a long, long career
ahead of him.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
You've mentioned Greg vav Rul in a couple of times.
How much do you think he's helped JMS coming along?
You talk about how smart he is. He's also played
center before, so he kind of knows what that world
is like and how he's kind of helped build that
chemistry in the group overall with his veteran experience.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Yeah, I think gv is a huge part of the
offensive line too, just because he's a veteran. But then
obviously he's kind of like an extension of Schmidt and
Karen on the field, so he helps out Schmidt in
certain situations, and you know, he's been a hell of
a player his career, helping us throughout the plus te
years I've been here, and the guys around him, and
it's funny because we kind of, I want to say,
(07:45):
we pick on Schmid because he's the youngest on the
offensive line, but you know, we kind of make life
hard from a little bit, but it comes from a
place of love because you know, I mean it's the
offensive line room, and you know, on teams is generally
the closest room because we're together damn may single day
for what from April to January, and so you know, we,
(08:07):
like I said, we don't pick on Schmidt, but we
depend on him and it's been great to f him.
But then we depend on GV as well because GV is,
like I said, with Schmidt, one of the smartest guys
on the field. And I think he's been huge for
Schmidt because he's helped bringing Schmid's confidence up, and confidence
is hues thing and offensive line play have to be
confident enough to go out there and know where you're going,
(08:27):
how you're gonna block them, and how you're gonna win
your matchup. And that's been huge.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
I still remember when you got here, the first day
you signed, you came in, we did an interview. It
was a great conversation. We talked like twelve or fifteen
minutes and kind of what you predicted and said, what's
going to happen has kind of happened. The offensive line
has turned it around, is now more of a strength
of the team. You've elevated your play to the point
now where you're being talked about as a potential Pro
(08:52):
Bowl candidate this year. For you personally, where do you
think the jump has occurred these last two years? Where
what you envisioned when you walked in this building, you
signed here has ended up coming true.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I think it was my mentality coming in this building.
You know, having the career I've had where I've been
on multiple teams, I've been cut, I've been on pre squads.
You know, I've been benched, I've been putting back in
the starting lineup and benched again. And I've had to
travel in literally from coast to coast, from Vegas to
New York. It really made me like I had to
(09:27):
decide whether I was going to really take this serious
or just kind of be a journeyman the rest of
my career. And you know, having two daughters as well
right now really puts things into perspective. And how do
I want them to see me when they look back
on my career and say, my dad was this, my
dad was that. You know, I would love for them
to be like, my dad was all Pro, Pro Bowl
right tackle. So that's been huge. But also I like
(09:53):
to say things that I know that I'm kid beloved,
and also set goals that people may think are out
of reach for me, but I know or within reach
because is the way I work, the way I approached
this game. And also just I'm a confident guy. I'm confident.
I can't say it, I'm radio obviously, but I'm confident
in AF and there's no one who I go against
to I don't think I can beat. I've been vocal
(10:13):
about that obviously. You know micah Aiden Max coming up
in a couple of weeks, Von Miller this week, Grenard
and Van Ginco next week. It doesn't matter who I'm
going against. I think I'm gonna win that matchup every
single time. And that's just my mentality. And it's been
cool to come into my own this year. But it's
nothing that I'm surprised by because I put the work
in every single day in the off season, every single
(10:35):
day during the season. I don't think any repairs like
me have one of the best old line coaches the NFL.
I get to play it next to a guy who
I've played next to for three years now, and so,
like I said, that chemistry has been huge for me.
But then also I just I want this really bad,
Like I want to be the best right attack in
the league. I try to compare myself to Laying and
Peney because they're the standard and if you watch their ting,
you watch my tape. I truly don't see their I
(10:55):
don't think that's a drop off at all. And I
know that's that's some people may like, Oh, you know,
maybe there is, but go put my tape on. You know,
we played the Lions, we played the Packers, Detroy played
the Lions De Troy, they played the Packers.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
That's much the way you led the league in Sax
when you.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Played them exactly. Lane played against Hutchison, He played against Micah. Well,
I don't think they played against Mikey. Yeah, I think
that's coming up soon if he comes back off Iira,
but you know, Peny played against Micah, and you know,
if you want to compare us, go watch that matchup.
And that's not a shot at anyone. That's just my
self belief and my mentality, Like I think I'm the
best right attack in the league, and I'm going to
shy away from that.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
You said earlier that you treat everybody the same way,
but I know you look forward to these big matchup
against these elite pass rushers and you do a lot
of work studying how they play, and you do prepare
for their moves as individuals and adjust accordingly. So bring
those two statements together for me, how you prep for
their individual skill sets against these, you know, ulture talented
(11:53):
pass rushers at the same time you treat them the
same so that you can maintain chemistry with your guys.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I think that when you make matchups bigger than they are,
which I've done in the past, you can fall into
the trap where if you mess up then it's all over.
Like a couple of years ago, I was playing TJ.
Watt on Sunday Night Football. It's the second game of
the year when I was playing with the Raiders, and
I built up this scene in my head of me
and him just going at a twenty four to seven,
(12:19):
just like gladiators, you know. And so I get out there,
I'm doing my thing and something goes wrong and he
gets a sack and technically it's not my phone, but
it's on me. And so after that play happened, mentally,
I kind of just lost it and I was like, gosh, damnit,
Like I put in all this work, I've been waiting
for this matchup. I had to circle on my calendar,
and I just went out there and bang, it's over.
You know, Like now, all I was gonna talk about
(12:41):
is how TJ work got the sack, and TJ want
this and Teacher want that. And I fell into that
trip last year again playing him where you know, I'm
doing my thing against in the entire game, and then
in the fourth quarter on third down, he gets around
me and you know, things weren't It wasn't all how
it was meant to be, but he got around me
and he got the strips sack and I ultimately won
the game for the and so you know, that kind
(13:02):
of made me go into like a downward sporer as well,
because I was like, I put all this work and
again to play this matchup again and he got me
and ultimately I you know, one on one, I won
more reps than I lost, and I think that's really
the only rep you got me on And it just
kind of made me crash out mentally because I was like,
I put in so much work for this one matchup
and you know, I didn't want it. But this year
(13:24):
it's been different because every matchup to me is huge.
It doesn't matter if I'm going against a guy who
they edled off Peace Squad or the Radam Defensive Player
of the Year who's a perennial All Pro I don't
care who you are. I'm gonna treat you like you're
in the NFL. You're talented and you wouldn't be out
there if you wasn't capable of being one of the
best of your positions. So that's how I treat everyone.
(13:44):
And I think that's why I have had success here
this year because you know, we played against great players
this year. I've been on islands against great players this year.
But that mentality of I'm gonna treat you the same
as I like I would treat Micah the same I
would treat you, know, the Broncos four string edge rusher.
You know you're going to get the best out of me,
and you're gonna get my best every single rep. And
(14:07):
like I said, that's been huge for me this season,
and I think that's why I've been able to make
a huge drump.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
You talk about all the work you put in, Can
you explain for fans what's your process is like when
you're getting ready for one of these you know, elite
ed rushers each week or any edge rusher each week,
trying to study them and because you're prepared for their
individual skill set.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
So I watched every single game they play whether. So
week one we were playing von Miller, and we're playing
them again this year this week. But von Miller is
still famillier to me. He's taking less reps, but that
just means he has way more gas in his tank
and he has more trances to beat you because he's
gonna come in a third down. He's playing a little
bit more now, but he's still a hell of a
edge rusher in my opinion. And so week one to
(14:43):
play him, I went back and watched all his games
in twenty four. But then I also went back and
watched him when he was at the Rams, when you know,
he was when he was just dominating dudes. So I
watched him with the Bills, and then I went back
and watching them with the Rams, so I could kind
of get a grip on how he likes to rush
guys and his moves, and that helped me that week.
But then also, you know Cooper and Benito. I played
(15:05):
against them multiple times when I was with the Raiders,
but they've really taken their game to a new level
this year, and so I had to pay them the
respect of going back and watching all their tape. You know,
Benito was a seconde more pro last year, and Cooper
got a big time contract because he earned it and
he played his butt off and he turned into a
really good player. So I went back and watching all
their tape. The same thing with Micah. I went back
and watched all the games in Dallas. And what I
like to do is I like to pull out their
(15:26):
stats on Google and see what games they had multiple
hits or sacks or pressures, and so I'll go back
and watch that game, but then also look at the
game where they didn't do anything and the production was
really low, and see what that tackle did against them
that worked and kept them out the game. And so
you know, with Mike, I went back and watched his
tape against the Tampa Bay right tackle Goodecki, who I
think is a really good player. Von Miller. I went
(15:46):
back and watched them when he played Brian O'Neil last
year and the playoff game and Buffalo last season against
Denver Aiden Hutchinson, I watched my shoot three years worth
the tape for him because I won that match a
really bad. Same thing this week, I watched every single
week I played against a guy. I watched multiple games
from the Commanders earlier this year, and I'm familiar with them,
(16:07):
but I went back and watched I think I watched
maybe like six seven Commanders game so far, and you know,
just studying the way they rush, what tennessees they have,
how they like to react to certain sets I'll take,
and just coming up with a game plan. I need
to go out there and win my matchup.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
I usually ask about the individual game, but I think
fans got plenty of the offensive line talk here. So
let me just close with this. You talked about how
you like the visualized things, but you're trying to say
discipline mentally, Have you let yourself think ahead to what
this march might look like when you have to make
a decision and the Giants had to make a decision
as to whether or not this partnership will continue.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
If I'm being honest, I think about it a little bit,
but I don't let myself get carried away because it's
still a job to do. I still have form more games.
It's a former big matchups Von Miller and Jake Martin
this week, Renard and Gano next week. You know, all
Pro Pro Bowl caliber players who bait Pro Bowls and
all pros. The Raider game which is you know, going
(17:00):
to mean a lot for me going back to the
place where I feel like my career really got started
and going against a guy in mess Chasty who really
helped my career get started. And then the last game
Gains Dallas, you know, the last game at home. So
I still have a lot to do and a lot
to accomplish and for me to be able to make
the push in order to be considered for the Pro
Bowl or even you know, all bro, I want to
go out there and make sure I cement myself as
(17:23):
one of the best art tacks in the league. And
people are going to really watch these games now because
I've been vocal about me being one of the best
of my positions. So it's like this guy's talking, let's
see what he's doing. So, you know, like I said,
I talked to talk by. I also believe I walked
the walk, and I feel like you need to be
able to do that as a professional, and I think
I'm doing it how I need to do it.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
It's fun watching to play Jerman. Good luck with the
Pro Bowl, all Pro votes, and good luck this weekend.
It's commandments.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Thank you get in here.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
If you're lined up here. You gotta go over the
middle with it.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
The score great.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I don't know, but Citizens does.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
It makes sense of your money with Citizens Official Bank
of Eli Manning.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Great stuff from Jermaine there and the John Podcast. A
reminder is brought to you by Citizens, the official bank
of the Giants from gaming. They celebrations to your everyday
financial needs. Big Blue fans can get the most out
of everyone with Citizens. Learn more at Citizens bank dot
com slash Giants. All right, let's turn our attention to
the Washington Commanders Ryan Fowler, who hosts the Commanding the
Huddle podcast. And now we welcome to our next guest
(18:19):
to give us a look at the Giants' opponent this week,
the Washington Commanders front of the program, Ryan fowlery is
the host of the Commanding the Huddle podcast. Used to
work for the Commanders. Ryan, Good to talk to you, man.
How's your December going?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Go well?
Speaker 4 (18:33):
John, Happy holidays to you and yours. And I always
appreciate having on him.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Yeah, and look, I know this is a division game
and it really doesn't matter, but I will throw the
stat out. There's only the fifth time in NFL history
between two teams entering a game on a seven or
longer game losing streak this week between the between the
Giants and the Commanders, So two teams that have struggled.
So let us on my first question with you Ryan
pretty broadly here, why, aside from the Jaden Daniels injury,
(19:00):
have the Commander struggled so much this year and taken
such a huge step back from what they did in
twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
Yeah, John, I think it would be very easy right
to sit here and talk about injuries, but at the
end of the day, nobody cares about injuries. You know,
you got to show up and you have to compete.
And for Adam Peters and for dan Quinn specifically for
dan Quinn being a defensive mind and head coach, the
defense was the same issue this time last year before
they went into Philadelphia and Saquon Barkley scored in his
(19:32):
first two touches in the NFC title game. You know,
they thought that they were going to accelerate their timeline
of course, with Jayden Daniels under center, and they brought
in stopgap options on defense, Von Miller, Will Harris, guys
in the edge like Jacob Martin and it hasn't worked out.
Now again, that's where the injuries come into play. But overall,
at all three levels, players have regressed a lot of
their picks that they picked on Day two and twenty
(19:54):
twenty four. Guys like Mike Sanders still, guys like Johnny Newton,
players that you're going to see on the field this
Sunday have immensely regressed. And then comes back to coaching.
It comes back to execution. They can't run man, they
can't run zone, they can't pressure the quarterback, they can't
seal the edges. They feel like they haven't been able
to seal the edges in probably a decade. Down there
in Washington, they still have Bobby Wagner at darn you're
(20:15):
forty five years old, play in the middle of this
defense every single snap. So it's really a culmination john
of everything for this Washington group this year where a
lot of the focus has been on defense, but now
as we're working at the back end of the year,
where of course the Jade and Daniels stuff has come up,
now the questions are also stemming to the offensive side
of the ball as well. Bye, let's stick with the
(20:35):
defense first.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
What changes has Dan Quinn, if any, implemented since he
took over play calling and hasn't made any sort of
discernible difference.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Yeah, it's a great question. Yeah, more zone for the
back end for this Washington defense. You know, when Joe
Witt was a defensive coordinator of course, following Dan in
from Dallas and it lasted a year and a half.
That was a relationship that they thought was going to
work as far as getting home with four drop in
seven and playing man the glear safeties in Kwan Martin
and Will Harris to get over the top. But now
(21:06):
these last three weeks or so, regardless of what happened
last week in the shutout thirty one zhing against Minnesota,
you look back to the Miami game. You look back
to the Denver game, where there was more zone, allowing
guys to read and react on the outside, a little
bit more exotic in your front seven. As far as hey,
Frankie Louv, we're not asking you to play typical off
ball backer. We're gonna allow you to do what you
(21:27):
do best, and that's be a hybrid spinner type of
player like you see from a guy like Nick Bonito
out there in Denver, you look to the middle, Sheldon Day,
a rotational, rotational piece. Johnny Newton in the middle. He's
a guy John that they drafted to be an every
down interior lineman playing next to Ron Pain. That's the
reason why they let John Allen walk. He's been relegated
(21:49):
now to basically being a third down pass rusher. So
changing some things in that fastt were the positives. But
then you come back to last week where you're playing
zone seven years off of Justin Jefferson Jordan Addison, and
you're giving up these easy completions. You cannot stop the
runner get off blocks. But it's been a major issue
now for two straight years. So again there's been some
(22:11):
slight positives, specifically before the Minnesota game. But when Dan
Quinn comes out John, he says, hey, look, guys, we're
starting to find ourselves a little bit. And then you
go out and you lay an absolute dud against a
team that got shut out by the Seattle Seahawks the
week prior. There's beginning to ask all these questions for
a defensive minded staff, where are we as a group
(22:32):
if Dan does not want to make the calls for
this defense moving forward into next year, do you bring
somebody else in an adjust scheming personnel. There's a whole
lot of questions here, aligning again personnel and scheme for
what this team's going to be moving forward.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Two guys did not practice on your defense Jonathan Jones
the corner, Bobby Wagner knee Jones as a rib I
did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. What do you think
on defense? Their availability is going to be on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Yeah, Bobby's an interesting case for the most of the
year because he usually has that veteran rest day, right
John in the middle of the middle of the week.
But haven't seen him all year not practice both days.
And I will say this some conversations with folks inside
that building, they want to see more Jordan McGee play
more in the middle of this defense as that ninety
percent plus guy percent of the snaps that Bobby Wagner is.
(23:21):
So Bobby can't go, You're gonna see number fifty eight,
a second year player that they really do like in
that building. But if Bobby again, he's a guy that
will stop up no matter what he as far as
what his health is. But as of right now, I
would say Bobby's probably a limited to a twenty to
thirty percent guy to go and on the outside with
Jonathan Jones. He's been a guy, John, that's been banged
up the entirety of twenty twenty five. And if he
(23:42):
can't go, you're gonna see a lot of Noah Igbanogany
slide in and out, and you're probably gonna see also
some Antonio Hamilton, who's been a guy they brought from
the practice squad earlier in the season to play some
inside out as well.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
So I think I know the answer to this question,
but I'll ask you anyway. So this is, it's kind
of like teams are picking however they want to attack
the Commander's defense.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Right.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
It's not like, AH, they're rushed defenses weak is we're
running against AH, they can't defend the pass will pass
on them. Teams can seat the bill to pretty much
attack this defense whatever the way they want, because the
Commanders have really not been able to stop anything, right.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
John, This is you know, I've been following this team
for a long time and I have never seen a
team this bad. Maybe someone will find stats out there
as far as there's been a worse team historically, I
have not seen it.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
This is right.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Now.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
There's been at times where do you look at this
group of eleven and they have been no more than
strategically placed road codes. John, it is Oh, it's bad
at all three levels. They don't have the athletes. They
cannot run, they cannot play manner zone because they can't
get after the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
It is bad.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
And then you look at it from a long term
point of view and pull the lens back a little bit. Yes,
they're gonna have some cap money. They could save seventeen
million by cutting Deron payin eighteen million by cutting Marshall Natimore,
which has been an absolute failed trade.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
They only have.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Six picks in the draft and not one guy at
Caleb Down and r vil Reese from Ohio State are
going to fix everything that's wrong with this defense. It's
really been all bad of twenty twenty five. And again,
as I mentioned earlier, John, the same questions that this
group was asking this time last year.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Now I will say this, at least offensively, Ryan, I
don't think the offense was as bad as the zero
points on the scoreboard would indicate. Last weekends Minnesota, there
was some turnovers. You got into the red zone a
couple of times deep in their territory, turned it over
on downs a couple of times. The offense is still
pretty dangerous.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
Right with Jayden under center, you'd think that they'd be
able to be a group john that would score, you know,
twenty five plus points a game. That's what they expected
right heading after last year. But now, and this is
what the major concern is in Washington is the longevity
of Jade and Daniels. Right, he can't stay healthy for
four quarters. And last week when they got shut out,
(25:50):
the ban was back together a little bit for those
offensive structure. You had your quarterback, you had Terry Deebo
and Noah Brown on the outside. Zach Ertz has been
this blanket for two Daniels all if his career, at
least the last two years in Washington. He's now out
with the torn acl This ground game doesn't have Austin Eckler.
But you're catching my drift here and that every single
guy that they really wanted out there was out there
(26:12):
against Minnesota. And my questions now stemmed to Cliff Kingsbury
as far as the play calling from last week, specifically
where the pressure plan against Minnesota was get the ball
out of your hands and really flowed out of bounds
and this horizontal rate, it was not good. It was
not good last week against Minnesota. Now coming into this
game where the Giants can absolutely get out for the passer. Now,
(26:34):
Washington's front five, headlined by Laramie Tunseel, that left tackle
has been as good as any left tackle in all
of football, has been excellent. But what are they gonna
look like now with Marcus Mariota under center where he's
been having this gunslinger type of mentality.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Now he's been better. I will say this, John, It's
crazy to say, but Marcus has been better than Jaden
Daniels this year when Marcus has been under center. But now,
what is that.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Offensive structure going to look like?
Speaker 4 (26:58):
I'm not entirely sure that we're gonna try to win
the football game, but they're gonna have to score probably
twenty five or more to win this game.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Well, you mentioned offensive structure. How does the structure change
without zach Ertz available. We going to see a lot
more three wide receiver sets. We got to see Sinna
and Bates together. How are they going to adjust what
they do with those tight ends given zach Ertz is
out for the year.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Yeah, great question. I think you're also going to see
some more pony personnel, right, two running backs on the
field that Yeah, they really like Chris Rodriquez. They really
like Jeron McNichols on third down, he'll stick his face
in the pass pro as well. I know Bill Krosky.
Merritt's been a slower story the last two months or so,
but they still like him. And that's been a hit
as a seventh round guy out of Arizona. But overall,
when you look at this offensive structure on the outside,
(27:39):
you hit it on the nail. John I started hit
it on the nose. Excuse me, You're gonna see a
lot of eleven personnel. They're going to try to get
Benson involved. He's the guy that was a second round pick,
you know. And John, I remember when they drafted him
out of Kansas State and had a scout text me
and say, look, they just overdrafted this guy. This guy
cannot run. And that's a quote for quote, he can't run.
And now through two years, this is a guy that
hasn't done it and he gets maybe one catch a month,
(28:01):
and people are over over their head as far as say, man,
this guy could be a heavily involved piece for the future.
So he's going to have an opportunity. But overall, really
on the outside, it starts with Terry McLaurin, it starts
with Deebo Samuel Marcus. Marriot is not afraid to sling
it downfield. He's not afraid to get his legs involved.
At thirty two years old, he has absolutely nothing to lose.
(28:22):
And I think he's potentially a guy john that moving
into maybe the next year of his career, he could
be somewhere with someone that starts somewhere considering a quarterback
ACKs and the names that we're seeing like Philip Rivers
out there in Indianapolis right now.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Do you think Chris Roriez is going to play?
Speaker 1 (28:35):
He was limited on Thursday with a groin injury, and
how is he kind of taken over that number one
running back spot.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
Yeah, as of right now, I do think Chris will go.
He's about as tough a kid as you will find
number seeing him a Kentucky you remember seeing him at
the Senior Bowl up close in person. It's a very
tough kid that really takes advantage of every single snap.
Now they let Brian Robinson go to San Francisco in
the offseason for a reason, and the injuried Austin Eckler,
of course was unfortunate. But Chris Rodriguez in between the tackles,
taking advantage of every single carry. He's got a little
(29:03):
bit more wiggle, a little more juice to the perimeter.
I think that people give him credit for, but he's
not a guy John that gets your fifteen to twenty
allotment of an RB one workload every single week. Because
they do have three guys that you'll see, you may
not see Bill Merritt for the entire half or Jeremy
McNichols for the first quarter and a half. It really
is Chris Rodriguez to kick this thing off. But he
(29:24):
is a guy that's earned these touches and really has
been the guy that's lived up to this commander's mantra
that Dan Quinn has tried to install and that every
snap is earned, that's not given, and we have a
culture of competitiveness. Chris Rodriguez has been that guy and
you can't help but say good things for a guy
like that. And really a season that's gone to hell
with this group.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
How as Josh Connelly progressed. For my eye, I feel
like he's playing a lot better now than he did
at the beginning of the year.
Speaker 4 (29:49):
Yeah, it's not easy right to joke from left tackle
the right tackle right at the NFL level, but really
everything starts for Josh in the lower half right. The
athleticism he turned on that Big Ten title game tape
last year against Abdulla Order, he did a heck of
a job. And then now at right tackle, he's playing
opposite of Laramy and learning from those types of guys
and meeting rooms. He had a heck of a start
to the year where he faced, of course, the Giants,
(30:09):
and he had Max Crosby and in the first few
weeks of the year Michael Parson's Week two. There were
some lumps there, but then as the season's gone on,
the game started to slow down a little bit. He's
not trying to every single time verticle set. He's jumped
setting some guys, he's short setting some guys. He's mixing
up his looks with his hands a little bit. It's
just development. John and I think we live in this
(30:29):
era now where it's a microwave society, where everybody expects
things so quickly allow guys to develop, allow guys to
be coached a little bit upfront, because this has been
the best unit for Washington all year long, has been
this front five. I think Josh has been absolutely fine.
I completely agree with you. He has taken steps and
I think he absolutely is a piece for the future.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
All right, final, finally, here Ryan, anything that Giant fans
should know about the Commanders that we did not touch
on that they should be ready for at MetLife Stadium
Sunday at one o'clock.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
I think some creativity little bit more in this offense.
You know, Terry McLaurin really was rather uninvolved in that
Minnesota game. When he is going there at their best,
I not only think that's a secret, but if he's going,
it opens up everything in the ground game over the
middle oflle Field. I do think they're going to get
Benson involved. If you don't see him, look for Colson
Yankoff in the red zone a little bit. He's the
younger player that they really do like and they want
(31:20):
to get him some more touches. And then in the backfield,
they're gonna have to get this ground game going. They're
not going to ask Marcus Mariota to do everything himself.
So the ground game, getting Terry mcluin involved. I think
it's going to be a good ballgame. But this defense, John,
I can't sit here and say, Hey, they're gonna limit
the Giants. This might be a little sneaky shootout type
of ball game this week up there in the Middle
Lands giving out the Giants defense is playing.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
That would non surprise me. Ryan, I up, But yeah,
I think it's almost like a little bit of a
mirror image with these two teams look at each other
a little bit, with the issues they've had on the
defensive side of the ball. Yeah, I appreciate it. Man,
Enjoy your weekend, happy holidays, enjoy the game. We'll talk
to you too, of course. Thanks as always, Sean. If
you want to know how to manage two minutes of
crunch time football, I'm your man. But if you're wondering
about a long term financial plan, you should talk to Citizens.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Hey, I can also talk long care.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
I'd like to learn about amilia routine.
Speaker 6 (32:04):
Yes, I knew I.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Could help makes sense of your money with Citizens. Good
stuff from Ryan and guys.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Remember if you like this podcast, you also like Big
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(32:32):
All right, now, let's go to our final interview. It's
the Voice of the Giants, Bob Papa. He is with
the head coach of the Giants, Mike Kafka.
Speaker 7 (32:40):
The Giants are back at home as they take on
the watching and commanders at MetLife Stadium. As always, were
joined by the head coach of the New York Giants,
Mike Kafka and coach, you're gonna come off the buy
here this week? What we able to get accomplished with
that time off, because listen, it's an unusually late buy,
it's pretty deep into the season. What did you learn
(33:03):
about your football team on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 5 (33:05):
Yeah, the beauty beauty of the bye week really was,
you know, having an opportunity to kind of sit back,
look at look at the season, talk with the coordinators
and put together a great self scout plan, and and
just talk through some of the things we've done really well,
build on that things that we need to get corrected,
find solutions to those to those issues, whether it's by scheme,
(33:26):
whether it's by personnel, whether it's by play call. So
just really kind of doing a deep dive on who
we are and and and how we can continue to
get better.
Speaker 7 (33:35):
Obviously, you know, everyone of those thinks about it in
a negative standpoint, but when you look back on it,
there's got to be a lot of things that have
to have you very excited about what can happen here
over these last four games. And then just moving forward
on player potential. When you when you sat back and
you watch it, whether it's some things that you look
(33:56):
back on you said, damn, you know, I didn't realize
like how good we did this or that or whatever.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
Yeah, absolutely a lot of those things popped up really
in all three phases, and so there's certainly a lot
of excitement. There's a lot of excitement for this week,
which is you know, really our main focus. But yeah,
our guys have been having a great practice. These guys
are juiced up, so you know, got to finish the
week strong.
Speaker 7 (34:18):
So you played Washington in week one of the season.
When you kind of look back at that game and
you try to get ready for this game. When you
look at it, does it almost look like it gets
from another season with how long ago it.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Was, Yeah, I mean it has. It's a long time ago.
They're certainly a different team. We're certainly a different team.
So you know, that's kind of the way that the
NFL works and the seasons. The way these seasons go.
Sometimes you know, you grow and you continue to get
better and you develop into an identity, and I think,
you know, for us, it's about, you know, just continuing
(34:53):
to play good ball and then you know, obviously we
get these opportunities late in the game. Let's go shut
it down and let's go, you know, make the play
to go win it.
Speaker 7 (35:00):
When you've played them the first time, they had Austin Eckler,
who's like the veteran hand at the running back position.
They don't have them anymore. He's gotten hurt, but they've
run the ball. They're fourth best in the league and
their seventh best in yards per carry. What makes their
run scheme difficult for defenses to deal with.
Speaker 5 (35:19):
Yeah, they're very multiple, you know, they they have they
also have the you know, ability to run the quarterback,
which you know adds another element to it. So even
just the threat of that, you know, allows allows the
has the defense you know, they have to occupy another gap.
And then once you start adding pullers, once you start
adding motion, those are adding more gaps to the run fit.
So it's just puts stress in the defense and their
(35:41):
and their run fits and the gap responsibilities. And then
they do it from multiple different personnel groupings. They do
it with different you know, skill receivers, skill running backs
and the quarterback. So it's a dynamic package and they
have a lot of you know, a lot of different
ways to get the certain things.
Speaker 7 (35:57):
Yeah, let's talk about Marcus Mariota, who you know, has
stepped in with Jaden Daniels has been down and you know,
the record says one thing, the numbers say something else.
I mean, with him a starting quarterback, they're averaging twenty
three points a game, three hundred and forty yards of offense,
you know, ten touchdowns, five interceptions, six point one yards
(36:20):
per carry. Like he has been very effective for them
and been a really good ad for this football team.
What do you have to do to kind of make
sure he doesn't get going?
Speaker 5 (36:32):
No, our defenses has to play sound ball, play aggressive,
and when they have their opportunities to make a play
on the football or make a play in the backfield,
you know, we got to make the play. And I'm
excited our guys have been doing it all week. I'm
excited about Charlie and how he's calling it and how
he's continuing to put his fingerprint on the defense. And
I think you'll see, you know, even cleaner version of
it this coming week.
Speaker 7 (36:51):
All right, let's go to the other side of the
ball where Washington. They got some players there that Bobby Wagner.
It's unbelievable. I mean, he's gonna start his two hundred
and thirty third game, you know, which is sixth most
or sixth most for any linebacker in the history of
the National Football League since nineteen seventy. Are you amazed
(37:14):
when you put on the tape to watch how this
guy still performs at such a high level.
Speaker 5 (37:18):
Yeah, man, I have a ton of respect for Bobby
and how he plays the game. You know, how he
is is from Afar watching him as a leader. You know,
watching him lead a defensive group, he's really the heartbeat
of that defense. And you know, a ton of respect
for him and how he plays. But yeah, absolutely, he's
He's a guy you turn on the tape, you got
to know where he's at every single play.
Speaker 7 (37:37):
Dan Quinn had taken over some of the calling of
the defense. You know, he's a guy that's been doing
this for a long time, both as a head coach
and as a coordinator. What are some of the hallmarks
of a dan Quinn defense.
Speaker 5 (37:51):
Yeah, that's a great one. I have a lot of
respect for Dan and you know, even his time in
Atlanta and in Dallas, just watching him and getting to
know him over the course of several years. But you know,
his teams are always gonna play hard, They're gonna play
be physical, they're gonna play aggressive, and so you know,
we got to be prepared for that, and they got
to be prepared for us to do the same thing.
(38:11):
But a ton of respect for Dan and how he
operates and how he coaches his group.
Speaker 7 (38:17):
Finally, coach, what's what's been the message to your team?
I mean, coming off to buy here, there's four games
to go, it's a month of football. I mean, it's
it's you know, it's almost a third of the season
or twenty something percent of the season still left. Obviously
everyone's disappointed about not having an opportunity to get to
the postseason. But what has been the thing that you're
(38:38):
kind of hammering home with the team.
Speaker 5 (38:40):
Yeah, you know, when you come off of buye, you
have an opportunity to, like I said, self, scout and
look at the things that we can improve on. So
I think initially it was let's give our guys the
answers to the kind of the problems that we've been having.
You know, it's the solutions, right, be solution oriented. So
that's been the biggest focus. And then at the end
of the day, it's about winning. So how are we
(39:01):
gonna find a way to win? And putting those things
out in front of them and showing them the ways
we can win offensively, defensively and special teams wise.
Speaker 7 (39:09):
Coach, we appreciate a couple of minutes. Best of luck
this afternoon against the Commanders, and we'll do it next week.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Sounds great, Thank you, good stuff from Bob and coach.
There just a reminder of the special Olympics. New Jersey's
annual Snowbowl is heading to Rutgers Football Stadium in twenty
twenty six. The annual Flag Football Tournament will be on
the field from March sixth through the eighth, twenty twenty six.
The six on six tournament will feature competitive, recreational and
cooed divisions, and all proceeds benefit thousands with special Olympic
(39:35):
New Jersey athletes across the Garden State. Register your team
today at njsnowball dot org. That's njsnowbowll dot org. We
thank Mike Kafka, Bob Poppa, Ryan Fowler, and Jamaane Luminor
for joining us on this episode of The Giants Little Podcast,
brought to you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
You can find Big Book.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
Kickoff live Saturday on Wfan at seven am live, Mark
Melwsis and I will talk Giants football and take your calls,
and then our pregame show on Sunday for the Giants
and Commanders clumbs your way at eleven am again on
the Fan here in New York City. We thank everyone
for joining us. That's all the time we have for
the Giants. Total Podcast brought to you by citizens, Official
Bank of the Giants. Coming to you from the Hackensack
(40:13):
Mariney Health podcast studio. Keep getting better. I'm John Schmulk.
We'll see you next time. Everybody
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Tottle Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens, the official bank at the Giants.
We're here in the Hackensack and Marity Health podcast studio,
Keep getting Better, a big time show for you today
our normal Friday format, We're gonna have Bob Pop with
head coach of the Giants, Mike Kafka. Ryan Fowler from
the Commanding of the Huddle podcast will join us. But
first our player interview is going to be Giants offensive
(00:21):
tackle Jermaine Illuminar. But first, just to remind their folks,
you can find the Giants Huddle Podcast on the Giants
Official Podcast network feed on your favorite podcast platform. Make
sure you go and subscribe. It would really help us out.
And we know this is the time of year where
you're starting to get your end of year reports and raps,
whether it's on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, whatever podcast platform
(00:41):
you're on. If we happen to be near the top
and you get those reports and you see Big Blue
Kickoff with the Giants Podcast Network or Draft Season on
there any of our podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Please send it our way.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
We'd love to see it and we appreciate all our
listeners out there at the end of the year that
have stuck with us, despite the fact that Giants have
had a rough year record wise and not wanted a
ton of games. But we appreciate all the people that
are still listening and watching. We see in the numbers
and even though you're there, so send them our away
and we love to see them.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
All right. With that out of the way, we appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Now, let's turned to our content today and we'll lead
off with my interview with Giants right tackle jermainea Luminor Throw,
to be joined by Giants starting right tackle Jamada Lumur Jimmye.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
What's going on, man, Nothing much, just another day in
the life, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So I'm going to give you a very broad question
and I'm curious to see where you.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Go with it.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Why is the Giants offensive line playing so well this year?
I'd say give be the longest answer in the world, don'tkay.
They take it wherever you want.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I'd say the biggest factor is carm Brissoll. I think
he's one of the best online coaches in the NFL, and
I've been a voice that I think the entire season.
He pushes us in practice the way he prepares us,
and the way we practice is a huge part in
why we got there and were successful because there's no
drop off. We treat practice as the game. You know,
you take game reps in practice, so when you get
(01:58):
out there, there's no drop off and there's no changes
like speed and no change of pace. Conditioning, I think
we're really wealll conditioned as well is the work we
put in in the offseason and during the season. And
also we just really want to be great. You know,
we've heard about how the offensive lines here haven't been
that good, and I'm just tired of it. And having
guys like at Runyon, Schmidt, GVR and me who really
(02:20):
care about this game and this franchise I think means
a lot.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I want to go back to Briscilla because you guys
don't just do one thing right. You're not just a
duo team. You're not just a gap scheme team. There
are some teams that run nothing but outside zone. You
don't you do everything right. So how does he manage
to get you guys square? Running so many different things,
especially in the run game, where a lot of teams
have trouble mastering. Just one of those techniques being their
(02:43):
primary mechanism.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I'd say Karma is probably one of, if not the
smartest guy in the building and the way he has
us prepared, you know, going of the scheme, making sure
everyone knows where they're going, you know, how to get
from point A to point be the quickest, but with
the best technique and with the knowledge of knowing how
they're going to react to once you get to the
point of attacking, how you're gonna you know, figure out
(03:07):
how to block them. So Karm is really good with
the schematics of the game, but then also the technique,
and he knows what it takes in order for us
to be a great offensive line because he's been around
great offensive lines and through his entire career he's coached
some good players. And yeah, I mean without Karm, I
don't think the boat is moving.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Seeing how the group made a jump from last year
to this year. And last year when everyone was healthy,
you guys played pretty well too, but I think you've
taken it to another level this year. Where have you
seen the value come that you have the same five
guys back in the same spot for a second year.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Yeah, I'd say that chemistry is huge with the offensive
line play, a lot of the offensive lines, and then
for a lot of the great ones, they don't have
that many injuries that they have to deal with. There's
not too many line combinations. In lust year, we had
a bunch of oline combinations and so that's why it
wasn't as clean as we would like it to be. But
this year, you know, at has a mistake since he's
come back. Ryan gv lead the nphon snapstack and I
(04:03):
missed the one game. But then also the depth that
we have on this team too. You know Bo stepped
in Hut earlier in the year was bawling Austin Schlotman
when he had step in for Schmidt for two games.
He came in and there was no drop off at all.
And the oldies back to carm and you know the
way he prepares the starters and the backups and prepare
like you're going to play, and take every single work
in practice like you're about to play on Sunday. So
(04:24):
when you get to the game on Sunday, if you
have to step in because someone goes down for a
player too, I have to miss a drive, then there's
no drop off at all. We know how to work
with everyone around us. But yeah, I think that having
the same five is huge for teams, and chemistry is
one of the bigges things are offensive line play.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Where specifically does that show up? Is it handling twist
and stunts? Is it passing guys off when you're trying
to get to the second level. Where do you see
that chemistry actually show up when you go and watch
the tape on Monday mornings.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
I'd say play style is a big thing. Okay, I've
been with GV for now three years, and so GV
knows how I like to play, he my tendency is,
and he knows what I'm thinking when I get a
certain guy out there. You know, I treat everyone the
same and I think that's why I've had a lot
of success this year. But some guys you have to
give more emphasis to, like the Michael Parsons eight hudgets
and the Max Crosby is Grenard's game Caos, Benito's Coopers
(05:16):
of the World. So you know, he knows what I'm thinking,
and so he knows how I'm going to set those guys.
And throughout the week, you know, we communicate on what
I'm thinking, what he's thinking, how we're going to pursh
the game. And also I know how he likes to
run block and his techniques, and he knows how I
like to run block and the same thing with running
in at You know, they've been playing to you over
two years now, and Schmidt is kind of like the
(05:37):
key to everything because he knows all of us. And
without Schmidt, I mean, like I said, Schluckman came in
there and did a hell of a job and I
think he's a great player, But Schmid's kind of like
the tape that keeps us alf together.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
All right, let's talk about Jams. But I was going
to ask you about him. I think he's really taking
a jump here in his thirty year. I think he's
played really well this year. You kind of just talked
about it a little bit, a little bit more detail.
How does he bring the group together? How is he
the tape that hold you guy together?
Speaker 3 (06:00):
I mean it all starts with the center. I think
the center is an extension of the coach on the field,
and Jams is the smartestkind of the field next to
a GV. So with him out there, you can trust
that he's gonna make sure it makes the Mike points
tells you where to go sometimes, you know, we have
an extensive playbook, and so with this playbook sometimes you
can forget things or need help when it comes to
(06:22):
remember in certain plays. And James knows everything, like in
the back of his hands. So he's been huge rusted
this year, but also to see the progress he's made
in the jump that he's made too, because you obviously
he came into the second round pick with high expectations
and you know, he played good last year, he probably
would have wanted to play better in certain situations. By
this year he's been balling and he's starting to come
to his own. But I think you know, when you're
(06:44):
giving the keys at such a young age, you have
you don't really have any room for you don't have
any time to develop. You got to get hit the
wrong running. And so with James, you know, he's been running, running, running,
and there's certain things that he did really well and
certain things he probably wanted to improve on. But this
year he's really put it together and it's been really
cool to just play with him and see his growth
(07:04):
and progress, and he's really started to come into his
own nine. I think he has a long, long career
ahead of him.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
You've mentioned Greg vav Rul in a couple of times.
How much do you think he's helped JMS coming along?
You talk about how smart he is. He's also played
center before, so he kind of knows what that world
is like and how he's kind of helped build that
chemistry in the group overall with his veteran experience.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Yeah, I think gv is a huge part of the
offensive line too, just because he's a veteran. But then
obviously he's kind of like an extension of Schmidt and
Karen on the field, so he helps out Schmidt in
certain situations, and you know, he's been a hell of
a player his career, helping us throughout the plus te
years I've been here, and the guys around him, and
it's funny because we kind of, I want to say,
(07:45):
we pick on Schmid because he's the youngest on the
offensive line, but you know, we kind of make life
hard from a little bit, but it comes from a
place of love because you know, I mean it's the
offensive line room, and you know, on teams is generally
the closest room because we're together damn may single day
for what from April to January, and so you know, we,
(08:07):
like I said, we don't pick on Schmidt, but we
depend on him and it's been great to f him.
But then we depend on GV as well because GV is,
like I said, with Schmidt, one of the smartest guys
on the field. And I think he's been huge for
Schmidt because he's helped bringing Schmid's confidence up, and confidence
is hues thing and offensive line play have to be
confident enough to go out there and know where you're going,
(08:27):
how you're gonna block them, and how you're gonna win
your matchup. And that's been huge.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
I still remember when you got here, the first day
you signed, you came in, we did an interview. It
was a great conversation. We talked like twelve or fifteen
minutes and kind of what you predicted and said, what's
going to happen has kind of happened. The offensive line
has turned it around, is now more of a strength
of the team. You've elevated your play to the point
now where you're being talked about as a potential Pro
(08:52):
Bowl candidate this year. For you personally, where do you
think the jump has occurred these last two years? Where
what you envisioned when you walked in this building, you
signed here has ended up coming true.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I think it was my mentality coming in this building.
You know, having the career I've had where I've been
on multiple teams, I've been cut, I've been on pre squads.
You know, I've been benched, I've been putting back in
the starting lineup and benched again. And I've had to
travel in literally from coast to coast, from Vegas to
New York. It really made me like I had to
(09:27):
decide whether I was going to really take this serious
or just kind of be a journeyman the rest of
my career. And you know, having two daughters as well
right now really puts things into perspective. And how do
I want them to see me when they look back
on my career and say, my dad was this, my
dad was that. You know, I would love for them
to be like, my dad was all Pro, Pro Bowl
right tackle. So that's been huge. But also I like
(09:53):
to say things that I know that I'm kid beloved,
and also set goals that people may think are out
of reach for me, but I know or within reach
because is the way I work, the way I approached
this game. And also just I'm a confident guy. I'm confident.
I can't say it, I'm radio obviously, but I'm confident
in AF and there's no one who I go against
to I don't think I can beat. I've been vocal
(10:13):
about that obviously. You know micah Aiden Max coming up
in a couple of weeks, Von Miller this week, Grenard
and Van Ginco next week. It doesn't matter who I'm
going against. I think I'm gonna win that matchup every
single time. And that's just my mentality. And it's been
cool to come into my own this year. But it's
nothing that I'm surprised by because I put the work
in every single day in the off season, every single
(10:35):
day during the season. I don't think any repairs like
me have one of the best old line coaches the NFL.
I get to play it next to a guy who
I've played next to for three years now, and so,
like I said, that chemistry has been huge for me.
But then also I just I want this really bad,
Like I want to be the best right attack in
the league. I try to compare myself to Laying and
Peney because they're the standard and if you watch their ting,
you watch my tape. I truly don't see their I
(10:55):
don't think that's a drop off at all. And I
know that's that's some people may like, Oh, you know,
maybe there is, but go put my tape on. You know,
we played the Lions, we played the Packers, Detroy played
the Lions De Troy, they played the Packers.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
That's much the way you led the league in Sax
when you.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Played them exactly. Lane played against Hutchison, He played against Micah. Well,
I don't think they played against Mikey. Yeah, I think
that's coming up soon if he comes back off Iira,
but you know, Peny played against Micah, and you know,
if you want to compare us, go watch that matchup.
And that's not a shot at anyone. That's just my
self belief and my mentality, Like I think I'm the
best right attack in the league, and I'm going to
shy away from that.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
You said earlier that you treat everybody the same way,
but I know you look forward to these big matchup
against these elite pass rushers and you do a lot
of work studying how they play, and you do prepare
for their moves as individuals and adjust accordingly. So bring
those two statements together for me, how you prep for
their individual skill sets against these, you know, ulture talented
(11:53):
pass rushers at the same time you treat them the
same so that you can maintain chemistry with your guys.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I think that when you make matchups bigger than they are,
which I've done in the past, you can fall into
the trap where if you mess up then it's all over.
Like a couple of years ago, I was playing TJ.
Watt on Sunday Night Football. It's the second game of
the year when I was playing with the Raiders, and
I built up this scene in my head of me
and him just going at a twenty four to seven,
(12:19):
just like gladiators, you know. And so I get out there,
I'm doing my thing and something goes wrong and he
gets a sack and technically it's not my phone, but
it's on me. And so after that play happened, mentally,
I kind of just lost it and I was like, gosh, damnit,
Like I put in all this work, I've been waiting
for this matchup. I had to circle on my calendar,
and I just went out there and bang, it's over.
You know, Like now, all I was gonna talk about
(12:41):
is how TJ work got the sack, and TJ want
this and Teacher want that. And I fell into that
trip last year again playing him where you know, I'm
doing my thing against in the entire game, and then
in the fourth quarter on third down, he gets around
me and you know, things weren't It wasn't all how
it was meant to be, but he got around me
and he got the strips sack and I ultimately won
the game for the and so you know, that kind
(13:02):
of made me go into like a downward sporer as well,
because I was like, I put all this work and
again to play this matchup again and he got me
and ultimately I you know, one on one, I won
more reps than I lost, and I think that's really
the only rep you got me on And it just
kind of made me crash out mentally because I was like,
I put in so much work for this one matchup
and you know, I didn't want it. But this year
(13:24):
it's been different because every matchup to me is huge.
It doesn't matter if I'm going against a guy who
they edled off Peace Squad or the Radam Defensive Player
of the Year who's a perennial All Pro I don't
care who you are. I'm gonna treat you like you're
in the NFL. You're talented and you wouldn't be out
there if you wasn't capable of being one of the
best of your positions. So that's how I treat everyone.
(13:44):
And I think that's why I have had success here
this year because you know, we played against great players
this year. I've been on islands against great players this year.
But that mentality of I'm gonna treat you the same
as I like I would treat Micah the same I
would treat you, know, the Broncos four string edge rusher.
You know you're going to get the best out of me,
and you're gonna get my best every single rep. And
(14:07):
like I said, that's been huge for me this season,
and I think that's why I've been able to make
a huge drump.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
You talk about all the work you put in, Can
you explain for fans what's your process is like when
you're getting ready for one of these you know, elite
ed rushers each week or any edge rusher each week,
trying to study them and because you're prepared for their
individual skill set.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
So I watched every single game they play whether. So
week one we were playing von Miller, and we're playing
them again this year this week. But von Miller is
still famillier to me. He's taking less reps, but that
just means he has way more gas in his tank
and he has more trances to beat you because he's
gonna come in a third down. He's playing a little
bit more now, but he's still a hell of a
edge rusher in my opinion. And so week one to
(14:43):
play him, I went back and watched all his games
in twenty four. But then I also went back and
watched him when he was at the Rams, when you know,
he was when he was just dominating dudes. So I
watched him with the Bills, and then I went back
and watching them with the Rams, so I could kind
of get a grip on how he likes to rush
guys and his moves, and that helped me that week.
But then also, you know Cooper and Benito. I played
(15:05):
against them multiple times when I was with the Raiders,
but they've really taken their game to a new level
this year, and so I had to pay them the
respect of going back and watching all their tape. You know,
Benito was a seconde more pro last year, and Cooper
got a big time contract because he earned it and
he played his butt off and he turned into a
really good player. So I went back and watching all
their tape. The same thing with Micah. I went back
and watched all the games in Dallas. And what I
like to do is I like to pull out their
(15:26):
stats on Google and see what games they had multiple
hits or sacks or pressures, and so I'll go back
and watch that game, but then also look at the
game where they didn't do anything and the production was
really low, and see what that tackle did against them
that worked and kept them out the game. And so
you know, with Mike, I went back and watched his
tape against the Tampa Bay right tackle Goodecki, who I
think is a really good player. Von Miller. I went
(15:46):
back and watched them when he played Brian O'Neil last
year and the playoff game and Buffalo last season against
Denver Aiden Hutchinson, I watched my shoot three years worth
the tape for him because I won that match a
really bad. Same thing this week, I watched every single
week I played against a guy. I watched multiple games
from the Commanders earlier this year, and I'm familiar with them,
(16:07):
but I went back and watched I think I watched
maybe like six seven Commanders game so far, and you know,
just studying the way they rush, what tennessees they have,
how they like to react to certain sets I'll take,
and just coming up with a game plan. I need
to go out there and win my matchup.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
I usually ask about the individual game, but I think
fans got plenty of the offensive line talk here. So
let me just close with this. You talked about how
you like the visualized things, but you're trying to say
discipline mentally, Have you let yourself think ahead to what
this march might look like when you have to make
a decision and the Giants had to make a decision
as to whether or not this partnership will continue.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
If I'm being honest, I think about it a little bit,
but I don't let myself get carried away because it's
still a job to do. I still have form more games.
It's a former big matchups Von Miller and Jake Martin
this week, Renard and Gano next week. You know, all
Pro Pro Bowl caliber players who bait Pro Bowls and
all pros. The Raider game which is you know, going
(17:00):
to mean a lot for me going back to the
place where I feel like my career really got started
and going against a guy in mess Chasty who really
helped my career get started. And then the last game
Gains Dallas, you know, the last game at home. So
I still have a lot to do and a lot
to accomplish and for me to be able to make
the push in order to be considered for the Pro
Bowl or even you know, all bro, I want to
go out there and make sure I cement myself as
(17:23):
one of the best art tacks in the league. And
people are going to really watch these games now because
I've been vocal about me being one of the best
of my positions. So it's like this guy's talking, let's
see what he's doing. So, you know, like I said,
I talked to talk by. I also believe I walked
the walk, and I feel like you need to be
able to do that as a professional, and I think
I'm doing it how I need to do it.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
It's fun watching to play Jerman. Good luck with the
Pro Bowl, all Pro votes, and good luck this weekend.
It's commandments.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Thank you get in here.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
If you're lined up here. You gotta go over the
middle with it.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
The score great.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I don't know, but Citizens does.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
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of Eli Manning.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Great stuff from Jermaine there and the John Podcast. A
reminder is brought to you by Citizens, the official bank
of the Giants from gaming. They celebrations to your everyday
financial needs. Big Blue fans can get the most out
of everyone with Citizens. Learn more at Citizens bank dot
com slash Giants. All right, let's turn our attention to
the Washington Commanders Ryan Fowler, who hosts the Commanding the
Huddle podcast. And now we welcome to our next guest
(18:19):
to give us a look at the Giants' opponent this week,
the Washington Commanders front of the program, Ryan fowlery is
the host of the Commanding the Huddle podcast. Used to
work for the Commanders. Ryan, Good to talk to you, man.
How's your December going?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Go well?
Speaker 4 (18:33):
John, Happy holidays to you and yours. And I always
appreciate having on him.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Yeah, and look, I know this is a division game
and it really doesn't matter, but I will throw the
stat out. There's only the fifth time in NFL history
between two teams entering a game on a seven or
longer game losing streak this week between the between the
Giants and the Commanders, So two teams that have struggled.
So let us on my first question with you Ryan
pretty broadly here, why, aside from the Jaden Daniels injury,
(19:00):
have the Commander struggled so much this year and taken
such a huge step back from what they did in
twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
Yeah, John, I think it would be very easy right
to sit here and talk about injuries, but at the
end of the day, nobody cares about injuries. You know,
you got to show up and you have to compete.
And for Adam Peters and for dan Quinn specifically for
dan Quinn being a defensive mind and head coach, the
defense was the same issue this time last year before
they went into Philadelphia and Saquon Barkley scored in his
(19:32):
first two touches in the NFC title game. You know,
they thought that they were going to accelerate their timeline
of course, with Jayden Daniels under center, and they brought
in stopgap options on defense, Von Miller, Will Harris, guys
in the edge like Jacob Martin and it hasn't worked out.
Now again, that's where the injuries come into play. But overall,
at all three levels, players have regressed a lot of
their picks that they picked on Day two and twenty
(19:54):
twenty four. Guys like Mike Sanders still, guys like Johnny Newton,
players that you're going to see on the field this
Sunday have immensely regressed. And then comes back to coaching.
It comes back to execution. They can't run man, they
can't run zone, they can't pressure the quarterback, they can't
seal the edges. They feel like they haven't been able
to seal the edges in probably a decade. Down there
in Washington, they still have Bobby Wagner at darn you're
(20:15):
forty five years old, play in the middle of this
defense every single snap. So it's really a culmination john
of everything for this Washington group this year where a
lot of the focus has been on defense, but now
as we're working at the back end of the year,
where of course the Jade and Daniels stuff has come up,
now the questions are also stemming to the offensive side
of the ball as well. Bye, let's stick with the
(20:35):
defense first.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
What changes has Dan Quinn, if any, implemented since he
took over play calling and hasn't made any sort of
discernible difference.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Yeah, it's a great question. Yeah, more zone for the
back end for this Washington defense. You know, when Joe
Witt was a defensive coordinator of course, following Dan in
from Dallas and it lasted a year and a half.
That was a relationship that they thought was going to
work as far as getting home with four drop in
seven and playing man the glear safeties in Kwan Martin
and Will Harris to get over the top. But now
(21:06):
these last three weeks or so, regardless of what happened
last week in the shutout thirty one zhing against Minnesota,
you look back to the Miami game. You look back
to the Denver game, where there was more zone, allowing
guys to read and react on the outside, a little
bit more exotic in your front seven. As far as hey,
Frankie Louv, we're not asking you to play typical off
ball backer. We're gonna allow you to do what you
(21:27):
do best, and that's be a hybrid spinner type of
player like you see from a guy like Nick Bonito
out there in Denver, you look to the middle, Sheldon Day,
a rotational, rotational piece. Johnny Newton in the middle. He's
a guy John that they drafted to be an every
down interior lineman playing next to Ron Pain. That's the
reason why they let John Allen walk. He's been relegated
(21:49):
now to basically being a third down pass rusher. So
changing some things in that fastt were the positives. But
then you come back to last week where you're playing
zone seven years off of Justin Jefferson Jordan Addison, and
you're giving up these easy completions. You cannot stop the
runner get off blocks. But it's been a major issue
now for two straight years. So again there's been some
(22:11):
slight positives, specifically before the Minnesota game. But when Dan
Quinn comes out John, he says, hey, look, guys, we're
starting to find ourselves a little bit. And then you
go out and you lay an absolute dud against a
team that got shut out by the Seattle Seahawks the
week prior. There's beginning to ask all these questions for
a defensive minded staff, where are we as a group
(22:32):
if Dan does not want to make the calls for
this defense moving forward into next year, do you bring
somebody else in an adjust scheming personnel. There's a whole
lot of questions here, aligning again personnel and scheme for
what this team's going to be moving forward.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Two guys did not practice on your defense Jonathan Jones
the corner, Bobby Wagner knee Jones as a rib I
did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. What do you think
on defense? Their availability is going to be on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Yeah, Bobby's an interesting case for the most of the
year because he usually has that veteran rest day, right
John in the middle of the middle of the week.
But haven't seen him all year not practice both days.
And I will say this some conversations with folks inside
that building, they want to see more Jordan McGee play
more in the middle of this defense as that ninety
percent plus guy percent of the snaps that Bobby Wagner is.
(23:21):
So Bobby can't go, You're gonna see number fifty eight,
a second year player that they really do like in
that building. But if Bobby again, he's a guy that
will stop up no matter what he as far as
what his health is. But as of right now, I
would say Bobby's probably a limited to a twenty to
thirty percent guy to go and on the outside with
Jonathan Jones. He's been a guy, John, that's been banged
up the entirety of twenty twenty five. And if he
(23:42):
can't go, you're gonna see a lot of Noah Igbanogany
slide in and out, and you're probably gonna see also
some Antonio Hamilton, who's been a guy they brought from
the practice squad earlier in the season to play some
inside out as well.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
So I think I know the answer to this question,
but I'll ask you anyway. So this is, it's kind
of like teams are picking however they want to attack
the Commander's defense.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Right.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
It's not like, AH, they're rushed defenses weak is we're
running against AH, they can't defend the pass will pass
on them. Teams can seat the bill to pretty much
attack this defense whatever the way they want, because the
Commanders have really not been able to stop anything, right.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
John, This is you know, I've been following this team
for a long time and I have never seen a
team this bad. Maybe someone will find stats out there
as far as there's been a worse team historically, I
have not seen it.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
This is right.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Now.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
There's been at times where do you look at this
group of eleven and they have been no more than
strategically placed road codes. John, it is Oh, it's bad
at all three levels. They don't have the athletes. They
cannot run, they cannot play manner zone because they can't
get after the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
It is bad.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
And then you look at it from a long term
point of view and pull the lens back a little bit. Yes,
they're gonna have some cap money. They could save seventeen
million by cutting Deron payin eighteen million by cutting Marshall Natimore,
which has been an absolute failed trade.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
They only have.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Six picks in the draft and not one guy at
Caleb Down and r vil Reese from Ohio State are
going to fix everything that's wrong with this defense. It's
really been all bad of twenty twenty five. And again,
as I mentioned earlier, John, the same questions that this
group was asking this time last year.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Now I will say this, at least offensively, Ryan, I
don't think the offense was as bad as the zero
points on the scoreboard would indicate. Last weekends Minnesota, there
was some turnovers. You got into the red zone a
couple of times deep in their territory, turned it over
on downs a couple of times. The offense is still
pretty dangerous.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
Right with Jayden under center, you'd think that they'd be
able to be a group john that would score, you know,
twenty five plus points a game. That's what they expected
right heading after last year. But now, and this is
what the major concern is in Washington is the longevity
of Jade and Daniels. Right, he can't stay healthy for
four quarters. And last week when they got shut out,
(25:50):
the ban was back together a little bit for those
offensive structure. You had your quarterback, you had Terry Deebo
and Noah Brown on the outside. Zach Ertz has been
this blanket for two Daniels all if his career, at
least the last two years in Washington. He's now out
with the torn acl This ground game doesn't have Austin Eckler.
But you're catching my drift here and that every single
guy that they really wanted out there was out there
(26:12):
against Minnesota. And my questions now stemmed to Cliff Kingsbury
as far as the play calling from last week, specifically
where the pressure plan against Minnesota was get the ball
out of your hands and really flowed out of bounds
and this horizontal rate, it was not good. It was
not good last week against Minnesota. Now coming into this
game where the Giants can absolutely get out for the passer. Now,
(26:34):
Washington's front five, headlined by Laramie Tunseel, that left tackle
has been as good as any left tackle in all
of football, has been excellent. But what are they gonna
look like now with Marcus Mariota under center where he's
been having this gunslinger type of mentality.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Now he's been better. I will say this, John, It's
crazy to say, but Marcus has been better than Jaden
Daniels this year when Marcus has been under center. But now,
what is that.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Offensive structure going to look like?
Speaker 4 (26:58):
I'm not entirely sure that we're gonna try to win
the football game, but they're gonna have to score probably
twenty five or more to win this game.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Well, you mentioned offensive structure. How does the structure change
without zach Ertz available. We going to see a lot
more three wide receiver sets. We got to see Sinna
and Bates together. How are they going to adjust what
they do with those tight ends given zach Ertz is
out for the year.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Yeah, great question. I think you're also going to see
some more pony personnel, right, two running backs on the
field that Yeah, they really like Chris Rodriquez. They really
like Jeron McNichols on third down, he'll stick his face
in the pass pro as well. I know Bill Krosky.
Merritt's been a slower story the last two months or so,
but they still like him. And that's been a hit
as a seventh round guy out of Arizona. But overall,
when you look at this offensive structure on the outside,
(27:39):
you hit it on the nail. John I started hit
it on the nose. Excuse me, You're gonna see a
lot of eleven personnel. They're going to try to get
Benson involved. He's the guy that was a second round pick,
you know. And John, I remember when they drafted him
out of Kansas State and had a scout text me
and say, look, they just overdrafted this guy. This guy
cannot run. And that's a quote for quote, he can't run.
And now through two years, this is a guy that
hasn't done it and he gets maybe one catch a month,
(28:01):
and people are over over their head as far as say, man,
this guy could be a heavily involved piece for the future.
So he's going to have an opportunity. But overall, really
on the outside, it starts with Terry McLaurin, it starts
with Deebo Samuel Marcus. Marriot is not afraid to sling
it downfield. He's not afraid to get his legs involved.
At thirty two years old, he has absolutely nothing to lose.
(28:22):
And I think he's potentially a guy john that moving
into maybe the next year of his career, he could
be somewhere with someone that starts somewhere considering a quarterback
ACKs and the names that we're seeing like Philip Rivers
out there in Indianapolis right now.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Do you think Chris Roriez is going to play?
Speaker 1 (28:35):
He was limited on Thursday with a groin injury, and
how is he kind of taken over that number one
running back spot.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
Yeah, as of right now, I do think Chris will go.
He's about as tough a kid as you will find
number seeing him a Kentucky you remember seeing him at
the Senior Bowl up close in person. It's a very
tough kid that really takes advantage of every single snap.
Now they let Brian Robinson go to San Francisco in
the offseason for a reason, and the injuried Austin Eckler,
of course was unfortunate. But Chris Rodriguez in between the tackles,
taking advantage of every single carry. He's got a little
(29:03):
bit more wiggle, a little more juice to the perimeter.
I think that people give him credit for, but he's
not a guy John that gets your fifteen to twenty
allotment of an RB one workload every single week. Because
they do have three guys that you'll see, you may
not see Bill Merritt for the entire half or Jeremy
McNichols for the first quarter and a half. It really
is Chris Rodriguez to kick this thing off. But he
(29:24):
is a guy that's earned these touches and really has
been the guy that's lived up to this commander's mantra
that Dan Quinn has tried to install and that every
snap is earned, that's not given, and we have a
culture of competitiveness. Chris Rodriguez has been that guy and
you can't help but say good things for a guy
like that. And really a season that's gone to hell
with this group.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
How as Josh Connelly progressed. For my eye, I feel
like he's playing a lot better now than he did
at the beginning of the year.
Speaker 4 (29:49):
Yeah, it's not easy right to joke from left tackle
the right tackle right at the NFL level, but really
everything starts for Josh in the lower half right. The
athleticism he turned on that Big Ten title game tape
last year against Abdulla Order, he did a heck of
a job. And then now at right tackle, he's playing
opposite of Laramy and learning from those types of guys
and meeting rooms. He had a heck of a start
to the year where he faced, of course, the Giants,
(30:09):
and he had Max Crosby and in the first few
weeks of the year Michael Parson's Week two. There were
some lumps there, but then as the season's gone on,
the game started to slow down a little bit. He's
not trying to every single time verticle set. He's jumped
setting some guys, he's short setting some guys. He's mixing
up his looks with his hands a little bit. It's
just development. John and I think we live in this
(30:29):
era now where it's a microwave society, where everybody expects
things so quickly allow guys to develop, allow guys to
be coached a little bit upfront, because this has been
the best unit for Washington all year long, has been
this front five. I think Josh has been absolutely fine.
I completely agree with you. He has taken steps and
I think he absolutely is a piece for the future.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
All right, final, finally, here Ryan, anything that Giant fans
should know about the Commanders that we did not touch
on that they should be ready for at MetLife Stadium
Sunday at one o'clock.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
I think some creativity little bit more in this offense.
You know, Terry McLaurin really was rather uninvolved in that
Minnesota game. When he is going there at their best,
I not only think that's a secret, but if he's going,
it opens up everything in the ground game over the
middle oflle Field. I do think they're going to get
Benson involved. If you don't see him, look for Colson
Yankoff in the red zone a little bit. He's the
younger player that they really do like and they want
(31:20):
to get him some more touches. And then in the backfield,
they're gonna have to get this ground game going. They're
not going to ask Marcus Mariota to do everything himself.
So the ground game, getting Terry mcluin involved. I think
it's going to be a good ballgame. But this defense, John,
I can't sit here and say, Hey, they're gonna limit
the Giants. This might be a little sneaky shootout type
of ball game this week up there in the Middle
Lands giving out the Giants defense is playing.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
That would non surprise me. Ryan, I up, But yeah,
I think it's almost like a little bit of a
mirror image with these two teams look at each other
a little bit, with the issues they've had on the
defensive side of the ball. Yeah, I appreciate it. Man,
Enjoy your weekend, happy holidays, enjoy the game. We'll talk
to you too, of course. Thanks as always, Sean. If
you want to know how to manage two minutes of
crunch time football, I'm your man. But if you're wondering
about a long term financial plan, you should talk to Citizens.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Hey, I can also talk long care.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
I'd like to learn about amilia routine.
Speaker 6 (32:04):
Yes, I knew I.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Could help makes sense of your money with Citizens. Good
stuff from Ryan and guys.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Remember if you like this podcast, you also like Big
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(32:32):
All right, now, let's go to our final interview. It's
the Voice of the Giants, Bob Papa. He is with
the head coach of the Giants, Mike Kafka.
Speaker 7 (32:40):
The Giants are back at home as they take on
the watching and commanders at MetLife Stadium. As always, were
joined by the head coach of the New York Giants,
Mike Kafka and coach, you're gonna come off the buy
here this week? What we able to get accomplished with
that time off, because listen, it's an unusually late buy,
it's pretty deep into the season. What did you learn
(33:03):
about your football team on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 5 (33:05):
Yeah, the beauty beauty of the bye week really was,
you know, having an opportunity to kind of sit back,
look at look at the season, talk with the coordinators
and put together a great self scout plan, and and
just talk through some of the things we've done really well,
build on that things that we need to get corrected,
find solutions to those to those issues, whether it's by scheme,
(33:26):
whether it's by personnel, whether it's by play call. So
just really kind of doing a deep dive on who
we are and and and how we can continue to
get better.
Speaker 7 (33:35):
Obviously, you know, everyone of those thinks about it in
a negative standpoint, but when you look back on it,
there's got to be a lot of things that have
to have you very excited about what can happen here
over these last four games. And then just moving forward
on player potential. When you when you sat back and
you watch it, whether it's some things that you look
(33:56):
back on you said, damn, you know, I didn't realize
like how good we did this or that or whatever.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
Yeah, absolutely a lot of those things popped up really
in all three phases, and so there's certainly a lot
of excitement. There's a lot of excitement for this week,
which is you know, really our main focus. But yeah,
our guys have been having a great practice. These guys
are juiced up, so you know, got to finish the
week strong.
Speaker 7 (34:18):
So you played Washington in week one of the season.
When you kind of look back at that game and
you try to get ready for this game. When you
look at it, does it almost look like it gets
from another season with how long ago it.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Was, Yeah, I mean it has. It's a long time ago.
They're certainly a different team. We're certainly a different team.
So you know, that's kind of the way that the
NFL works and the seasons. The way these seasons go.
Sometimes you know, you grow and you continue to get
better and you develop into an identity, and I think,
you know, for us, it's about, you know, just continuing
(34:53):
to play good ball and then you know, obviously we
get these opportunities late in the game. Let's go shut
it down and let's go, you know, make the play
to go win it.
Speaker 7 (35:00):
When you've played them the first time, they had Austin Eckler,
who's like the veteran hand at the running back position.
They don't have them anymore. He's gotten hurt, but they've
run the ball. They're fourth best in the league and
their seventh best in yards per carry. What makes their
run scheme difficult for defenses to deal with.
Speaker 5 (35:19):
Yeah, they're very multiple, you know, they they have they
also have the you know, ability to run the quarterback,
which you know adds another element to it. So even
just the threat of that, you know, allows allows the
has the defense you know, they have to occupy another gap.
And then once you start adding pullers, once you start
adding motion, those are adding more gaps to the run fit.
So it's just puts stress in the defense and their
(35:41):
and their run fits and the gap responsibilities. And then
they do it from multiple different personnel groupings. They do
it with different you know, skill receivers, skill running backs
and the quarterback. So it's a dynamic package and they
have a lot of you know, a lot of different
ways to get the certain things.
Speaker 7 (35:57):
Yeah, let's talk about Marcus Mariota, who you know, has
stepped in with Jaden Daniels has been down and you know,
the record says one thing, the numbers say something else.
I mean, with him a starting quarterback, they're averaging twenty
three points a game, three hundred and forty yards of offense,
you know, ten touchdowns, five interceptions, six point one yards
(36:20):
per carry. Like he has been very effective for them
and been a really good ad for this football team.
What do you have to do to kind of make
sure he doesn't get going?
Speaker 5 (36:32):
No, our defenses has to play sound ball, play aggressive,
and when they have their opportunities to make a play
on the football or make a play in the backfield,
you know, we got to make the play. And I'm
excited our guys have been doing it all week. I'm
excited about Charlie and how he's calling it and how
he's continuing to put his fingerprint on the defense. And
I think you'll see, you know, even cleaner version of
it this coming week.
Speaker 7 (36:51):
All right, let's go to the other side of the
ball where Washington. They got some players there that Bobby Wagner.
It's unbelievable. I mean, he's gonna start his two hundred
and thirty third game, you know, which is sixth most
or sixth most for any linebacker in the history of
the National Football League since nineteen seventy. Are you amazed
(37:14):
when you put on the tape to watch how this
guy still performs at such a high level.
Speaker 5 (37:18):
Yeah, man, I have a ton of respect for Bobby
and how he plays the game. You know, how he
is is from Afar watching him as a leader. You know,
watching him lead a defensive group, he's really the heartbeat
of that defense. And you know, a ton of respect
for him and how he plays. But yeah, absolutely, he's
He's a guy you turn on the tape, you got
to know where he's at every single play.
Speaker 7 (37:37):
Dan Quinn had taken over some of the calling of
the defense. You know, he's a guy that's been doing
this for a long time, both as a head coach
and as a coordinator. What are some of the hallmarks
of a dan Quinn defense.
Speaker 5 (37:51):
Yeah, that's a great one. I have a lot of
respect for Dan and you know, even his time in
Atlanta and in Dallas, just watching him and getting to
know him over the course of several years. But you know,
his teams are always gonna play hard, They're gonna play
be physical, they're gonna play aggressive, and so you know,
we got to be prepared for that, and they got
to be prepared for us to do the same thing.
(38:11):
But a ton of respect for Dan and how he
operates and how he coaches his group.
Speaker 7 (38:17):
Finally, coach, what's what's been the message to your team?
I mean, coming off to buy here, there's four games
to go, it's a month of football. I mean, it's
it's you know, it's almost a third of the season
or twenty something percent of the season still left. Obviously
everyone's disappointed about not having an opportunity to get to
the postseason. But what has been the thing that you're
(38:38):
kind of hammering home with the team.
Speaker 5 (38:40):
Yeah, you know, when you come off of buye, you
have an opportunity to, like I said, self, scout and
look at the things that we can improve on. So
I think initially it was let's give our guys the
answers to the kind of the problems that we've been having.
You know, it's the solutions, right, be solution oriented. So
that's been the biggest focus. And then at the end
of the day, it's about winning. So how are we
(39:01):
gonna find a way to win? And putting those things
out in front of them and showing them the ways
we can win offensively, defensively and special teams wise.
Speaker 7 (39:09):
Coach, we appreciate a couple of minutes. Best of luck
this afternoon against the Commanders, and we'll do it next week.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Sounds great, Thank you, good stuff from Bob and coach.
There just a reminder of the special Olympics. New Jersey's
annual Snowbowl is heading to Rutgers Football Stadium in twenty
twenty six. The annual Flag Football Tournament will be on
the field from March sixth through the eighth, twenty twenty six.
The six on six tournament will feature competitive, recreational and
cooed divisions, and all proceeds benefit thousands with special Olympic
(39:35):
New Jersey athletes across the Garden State. Register your team
today at njsnowball dot org. That's njsnowbowll dot org. We
thank Mike Kafka, Bob Poppa, Ryan Fowler, and Jamaane Luminor
for joining us on this episode of The Giants Little Podcast,
brought to you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
You can find Big Book.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
Kickoff live Saturday on Wfan at seven am live, Mark
Melwsis and I will talk Giants football and take your calls,
and then our pregame show on Sunday for the Giants
and Commanders clumbs your way at eleven am again on
the Fan here in New York City. We thank everyone
for joining us. That's all the time we have for
the Giants. Total Podcast brought to you by citizens, Official
Bank of the Giants. Coming to you from the Hackensack
(40:13):
Mariney Health podcast studio. Keep getting better. I'm John Schmulk.
We'll see you next time. Everybody
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