December 19, 2025 • 46 mins
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk sits down with Giants running back, Tyrone Tracy Jr, to talk about the running backs and offensive line, John chats with host of the “Purple Insider”, Matthew Coller, about the matchup with Minnesota, and Bob Papa has his weekly sit down with Giants interim Head Coach, Mike Kafka.
:00 - Tyrone Tracy Jr.
19:50 - Matthew Coller
39:10 - Mika Kafka
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Back for another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, your
Normal Friday Pod. It's all brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the New York Football Giants. I
am John Schmilk. A normal show today, folks. We are
going to start with our player interview. We're also gonna
have Matthew Koller from Purple Insider, and then Bob Papa
will be joined by the head coach of the Giants,
Mike Kafka. But our players of you comes first. This week,
(00:23):
I had a chance to do a lengthy, entertaining and
fun interview with Giants second year running back Tyrone Tracy Junior.
Joined by Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Junior. Tyrone, what's
going on?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Man?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
How are you no good?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Doing good? You know obviously during the week of practice
is trying to just bang out these days and you know,
obviously get ready for this game.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
How do you guys kept spirits high? Because you know,
I was in the locker room the last couple of days.
You wouldn't think this team's record is two and twelve
if you're walking through the locker room on a daily basis.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, I mean, I mean first and Foremo comes with confidence.
You know, we have confidence in our players and our coaches.
And then secondly, we have to understand that, like you know,
it's the NFL, like one is, the winds are hard
to come by. But you also have to look yourself
in the mirror and understand that, like you know, your
your wins, the losses doesn't really define you as as
a person as a team. So and we understand that. So,
(01:12):
like I said, we can't walk around open because that's
really not gonna help anything. So we try to keep
the energy high, keep the you know, positivity throughout the
locker room, throughout practice, throughout the meetings, and just understand that.
Like we got to go out there and h Q
on game.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Day, Tell you're through the two touchdowns last week?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, it was. It was good. It was a good game.
It was it was I I enjoyed. I enjoyed. It
was my first time obviously scoring two touches in the game.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
So, uh, take us through the two plays.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
How'd you do it? The first one, I mean, obviously
is a run. I mean I saw, I saw a lane.
It was kind of like the I don't know if
you remember the one I had Broncos. Yeah, it's nothing
like that one. Obviously bron was a little more clean.
That one was clean. It was me versus versus the.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Bronco and that's when they were really overloaded on one
side or right and you cut back on there.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, it was. It was the same basically the same play,
same type of play, but the safety came down on
this one. Obviously, make a miss, made a move on
Louis who I believe, and then obviously getting there had
a little extra push, little help, you know, on the
two push just to get get in his own. Now
on the second one, we knew that Bobby Wagner was
going to have me, man, So it was basically like, hey,
(02:18):
go win your one on one, you know, I told
I told Jacks during practice, like, bro, like, if you
see this, you see him guard me, you just throw it up.
Just throw it up, man, I got you outside. I
don't I'm not gonna promise you it was gonna be
a catch, but ninety percent is gonna be a catch.
But it won't be an interception. I promise you that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
How much meat is still left on the bone in
terms of how they can use you as a receiver
out of the backfield that they mean you haven't seen
them used completely yet.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, I mean a lot. To be honest, like you said,
they haven't really got dug into that, you know, So
I think that comes with time. I think that comes
with obviously trust. Sure that comes with you know, showing
them that I can you know, I can do that stuff.
So hopefully that was a little glimpse of some of
the stuff I could do. I'm in the past game.
And then also, like in a game, I got to
(03:04):
I got me personally, I have to take advantage when
the opportunity comes. You know, I'm gonna ball comeing all way.
I got to make those plays. So yeah, I got
to think. You know, it's really the tip of the
iceberg when you're talking about the receiving game.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I'm not sure if maybe you did this in the
bye week, maybe having yet, if you take a twenty
thousand foot view of your sophomore season, how would you
evaluate it or think about it? How are you thinking
about how you're playing this year? Just how do you
look at your year in general?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, I mean I think I'm playing well. It's just
off of off of injury towards the end of the year,
getting back on get back on giving back to work,
coming in obviously at a different role with SCAT and
me trying to figure that out, and then hopping back
on homing back on a horse. You know, when I'm
getting more touches, all said, I think I'm playing well.
(03:50):
Think I'm doing my job and king out of high
level when the opportunities do come. So yeah, I mean,
just looking at it Overallice, I think as the season
has progressed, I think my game has progressed as well.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
I during which game it was was a few games
after you came back from the shoulder injury. I feel
like you lifted your physicality level a little bit, Like
you were running over guys. You were really grinding out
some extra few yards. Did you have a mentality shift
or change? Was it a health thing where you just
felt more confident with the shoulder that you banged up,
where you felt like you've gotten a little bit more
(04:24):
physicality to you as the season's gone along a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I mean I wouldn't. I mean I always run like that.
Even last year, I felt like I ran like that.
It was like said, I think it's more so just
me getting comfortable. Like I said, Yeah, I definitely had
the injury, and that was I was just you know,
trying to baby I guess at the beginning, just because
like I didn't want to re injury it.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Of course, so I would do the same thing I
had him.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I didn't want to re injure it. So I was
definitely baby in a little bit. But after getting more
comfortable absolutely practices and you get a couple of games
under you, you you know, you get tackled, you know,
you got these different blocks that you got to take
on because it's hard to replicate a game in practice.
It's hard to do that that obviously, like before you
get clear, you have to do some things so that
(05:04):
you know the trades that feel comfortable senior out there,
but it's hard to replicate getting tackled in certain positions
or landing on your shoulder or just blocking with your shoulder.
It's hard to do that stuff in practice. So like
after I had those game reps and just like obviously
trust in my head and and and within my shoulder, Yeah,
some of the physicality definitely came back.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, I think you looked a lot like you to
as a rookie. To be totally honest with you, do
you think you took a jump from your rookie ar
to your sophomore year or was it more small incremental
progress in a bunch of different areas.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I would I think I took a jump from where
I would say, like mentally, obviously, I think that, like
I said, if I had a full season from starting
to finish, just being healthy and just being who I am,
I think it was that. Uh, the numbers would say
the same. But obviously a lot of stuff happened throughout
the year.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Who played it really well, Well.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
That's sort of started. I'm saying. Yeah, I would say,
you got to understand that, like football is football, Like
people ask me about, you know, this gas situation and everything.
But man, dude's balling. I want he wants me to ball.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
I want him the ball you can only control with
you control, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
At the same time, like I want him to play well,
of course I want and I want him to want
me to play well, Like whoever's in there, I want
both for us. I think there's enough touches for both
of us to go out there and have really good
games every single game.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
He doesn't want to win games ever, and.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Foremost exactly exactly, And I think that I think that
at the end of the day, I think my mental
my football IQ, the game has slowed down a lot.
I think that just the way that I see the
game when I'm playing, how I see the holes, like
I'm being more patient and understanding, like when my blocks
are coming from. Again, this is all just like you know,
(06:41):
football Talk football Q. So I think that's like my
biggest jump from rookie to now.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
When you spoke to the media in the week, you
made the point that you think you run better the
more touches you get. I wonder why you think that is,
and if it has something to do with what you
gave in your last are talking about how you start
seeing things more when you get more comfortable with any
game in terms of how they're trying to kind of
(07:08):
run a little bit.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I would say it's like chess. For those of you
who play chess, you understand it like it's a strategic game.
Like your first your first move is never going to
be a last move. So you know, we may run
a do a run three times, but like the run
may be three different ways. Of course, my my first
move that I do on you is going to be
different than you know, my third move that I do.
So that's why I say, like, the more touches I get,
(07:30):
because now it's kind of like a puppet, like you're
you're making them do what you want to do. And
towards the end of the game, I would say this
last game, if you ever watched some of my runs,
it was like I was like manipulating the defense to
do what I wanted it to do so that I can.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Get You want to move the light back?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
You're a different hole, right yeah, right, Just so again
that's what that's why I say I play better and
more touches I get, just but I also feel like
that's any running back because you know, I said you
you're never gonna come out and first play like it's
going to be you know, a sixty yard bond down
to feel less like the defense messed up or something
like that. Like you gotta understand it's gonna be some
runs that it's gonna be two yards, three yards, four
(08:05):
yards and then down in the fourth quarter, third quarter
like dad, those and when you know the ten plus
and the twelve plus like those are when those those
type of players come out.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
No, that makes sense. You talk over the way two
about how you pointed out three specific coaches you talked
about Tim Kelly, carl And Bricello and Ladell Bets as
three coaches that you think have really helped you. But
I think the way you talked about it helped the
run game as a whole. Talk about how those coaches,
you could take him as a group even individual if
you want, how they've contributed to the run game that's
(08:36):
allowed you and your group to have success.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, I mean, I think the first thing is that
they're very detailed on their work and how they do things.
Like individually, I think each and everyone of them are
really good coaches, but together the way they work, the
way they really just put in a game plan, like
it's never you know, the same play. It might look
the same to you know, the viewers, but it's very
(08:59):
detailed down to the front, down to you know where
the defense is going to be line there with the linebackers,
who's getting who you know the fits and where the
running backs should hit it. And then like again like
LB the running back coach, you know, we'll be in there.
He'll tell us like, hey, this this play is going
to is going to hit here if you have this
guy over the tackle. The tackle's going to do this
(09:21):
and this is where it should be. So like pre snap,
when you're going out there, you should have an understanding
of what's going to happen before the ballsy even snap,
just based off of the knowledge that the coaches are
giving you throughout the week and the formation of the
defense exact yes, yes, and that's what I'm saying formation
on the defense, like prior to even getting after the game.
The coaching staff is doing their due diligence and making
sure that they're giving you the right information that you
(09:42):
can go out there and perform at a high level.
I think that that's key to the run game, especially
when you're talking about you know, getting five six yards
of carry. You know you're you're making everything efficient as
it can be. I think they do a really good job.
Carm he does a thirty presentation like every day on
(10:02):
run game, short yardage, like ball security, everything. So I
think they work really well together just to make sure
that we have an efficient run game for running back.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
How valuable was it to have the same five starting
offenses One of the thing back for a second year
where you can build on the momentum and the rhythm
and the field you developed with them last year and
not have to develop that from scratch in a second season.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's I think it's huge. Man,
It's huge because as a running back, you got to
get a feel for your office on lineman. Everybody is not,
you know, a bulldozer. Every office in Lineman is not
a bulldozer. So you have to understand, you know, who
you have in front of you, who's blocking for you,
and the type of lineman that you have. So for
me to come back and already know that I don't
have to figure that out like that was. That was
big for me. They and they know the type of
(10:51):
runner I am as well, because everybody, every running back
doesn't run the same. You know, some running backs are
you know, straightfor straight ahead, Some much last year, Some
make moves, some as patient. Like a lot of things
has to go together and flow for the offensive line
and the running back to have that camaraderie and relationship
within the run game. So, like you said, I mean,
(11:12):
I think it was huge. I know, I hope the
office of line think that it was huge that you
know I could come they do they do, you know,
So like I said, I don't want to give price
to the Office Line because they do a great job
each and every week, you know, creating scenes for me
to run through. And I think that it's it's it's paramount.
And when you're going back watching the film and you
actually see what's going on, you actually see like the
Office of Line doing their job at.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
A hot low and you guys run every run scheme, maagicable.
You got to do everything. Is there something that you
like the best, that that you think is really like
customize this is like what Hyron trees he's really good at.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yeah, Like I would like counters personally, like counters. So
the gaps game, any any polar one polar too, Like
it really don't matter to me, but just because like
one it flow gets a flow of the defense until
it opens up, seems as well. And the same thing
I like, I like to run outside zone but from
the gun. Look I did it in college. That was
(12:06):
what we ran in college. And I also think that
I get the ball faster. I could, like I said,
see different things after I get the ball, because like
when you're under center, it takes you a little bit longer.
Did he get the ball? So I like, yeah, those
two and those two concepts.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
It's funny. That's gonna make Tiki Barbara very happy. I
do the pre improde game with ten. And it was
also going to make happy when you did your media
and the week you called yourself a slasher. Yeah, that's
what he calls you. And when Scott got hurt and
you moved in, he goes. I want to see him
do a lot more gap scheme stuff because I feel
like that's what's going to be his strength, right, So
I think the funny that you guys are writing the
same page on that. It's funny you mentioned a lot
(12:40):
of running backs, like being under center rather than gun.
Do you like being out of the gun just for
the outside zone or does it depend on the scheme
whether under center or shotgun? And maybe why do you
like one or the other based on that?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, well, I mean I like it just because I
get the ball faster, and when you have the ball,
you can make moves. And like I said, every running
concept is not gonna be perfect. So a defensive lineman
might break through and be two yards in back of people,
But if I'm in gun, I can see that and
react right now. But if I'm under center, I have
to wait till the quarterback give me the ball to
(13:14):
even make a move.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
So that's really the only reason I like gun a
little bit more than under center and the other concepts
that I wouldn't. I don't really prefer either or. But
if I had a choice, I would definitely choose under center.
If we was, like I said, gap scheme, because again,
like the defense don't know which.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Way you're going, you can create better angle.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah, right, yes, that was my next point. You get better.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
You are good.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
You know ball man, you know ball. So I say,
you get better angle. So you know, if I'm going
to the A gap, you know we run to the right,
I'm going to the right A gap. The middle linebacker,
Mike linebacker, he has a choice to make. Am I
going to run over top? Or am I going to
sit right here in the middle, Because if you run
off the top, I'm gonna just keep running straight to
the A gap. Now if we don't, if he says
staying a gap, I'm following my puller to it. Right. So,
(14:02):
like I said, it's just different schemes that will work.
You know a little bit better from under center or
you know, in the gun.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
What's been darks impact on the run game just kind
of the extra physic Uh. You know, Juicy gives with
the legs and you haven't done as much read options
since he came back from percussion and stuff like that.
But just his athleticism what he brings. How is that
impact of the run game. It's at all.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah, I mean it's tremendous. Man to be honest, if
you watch the games, they have to account for his legs.
If they don't, you know, he's gonna make them pay.
What is past or run shure regardless, And like I said,
when he's in the game and when he's doing what
he needs to do, which is affecting the defense, they
have to they have to respect them. I mean, for me,
(14:43):
that takes one less guy off my plate, you know,
because if you know the d N is respecting the quarterback,
he's not coming down on me when I'm running outside
zone and air size zone. And at the same time,
it also allows the officer coordinator to call, you know,
certain plays and feel comfortable calling and plays as well.
And that's where you know, some of the gun stuff
(15:04):
comes in and the pistols, so because you know you
can either read it and even if you're not really
you can make it look like a read to, you know,
influence the defense.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Mike cav Get, Tim Kelly, and Jackson Darto will have
been asked this week about how he's going to handle
Brian Flores and what they do. And obviously the owners
is always on the quarterback, right, but I feel like
the owners is also very much on the running backs
of a game like this too. You know, they line
up those sets. I watched that whole Cowboy game last week.
They line seven or eight guys up in the line
of scrimmage. They don't give any signal if they're coming
or if they're not. It could be four, could be five,
(15:34):
it could be six, it could be seven. You don't
know how many guys are gonna bring as a running back,
how much extra preparation and what is the preparation like
getting ready for this Brian Flora's defense where the front
is always going to try to get two on the
back or make you decide on my blocking this guy,
my blocking that guy and kind of put you and
try to mix you up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Yeah, I think. I mean, obviously you have to do
a lot of studying. You have to do a lot
of studying, wouldn't say, give a lot of a lot
of clues to what they're doing. But we have rules
and within our offense, within our past game that we follow.
So I think, if I trust my fundamentals and understand
the rules that you know, we're calling whatever the quarterback
is saying, whatever old line is calling out, understanding who
(16:16):
I got Because again, if we all work together, see everything,
do the same set of eyes, see everything through the
same set of lenses, and understand you know who got who,
and the quarterback understands who may come free right here,
I think, and you know, we'll be fine. I think that,
like I said, they have a good defense, they have
a they do. They blitch the most in the NFL.
(16:36):
They blow the most NFL.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
It's not close, it's not say it's not close, and
it's on any.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Given down, whether it's first or third down, they blitz
a lot. So it's it's for me. I have to
make sure that you know my eyes are correct because
they do a lot of corner corner blitzes, and not
a lot of teams do that in the NFL. So
they're one team that they do that a lot. I
think last game or two games ago, they did blitt
the corner like seven times, So that's something I have
(17:03):
to be ready for when I go out there on Sunday.
I said, I think as long as we see everything
through the same set of odds, I think we'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
It's two quick follow ups. One. I feel like the
pass pro has been very on point this year just
as a unit. Whenever you don't see free runners, I
think you know that the unit's coached up really well
and the players are listening and taking that coaching. Well,
do you agree with that?
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Yeah, yeah, I definitely do. Like I said, I think
carm he does a great job of making sure the
information that we're getting is legit. He's not giving us
no bs. He's not like he's giving us some having
us chase ghosts. You know they might do this.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
He's not.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
He's not doing that. He's giving us stuff that they
run that we want to see on Sunday. And he
understands that, like we have, we already have a lot
on our plate. So you don't want to give us
extra stuff to study when there's no.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Need for it.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Well, if your rules are sound enough, that will then
prepare you for the stuff that they.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Haven't seen that for right exactly, And that's that's really
his his his motto is just hey, follow our rules,
like our rules will get us through whatever they bring,
like and that's that's really the truth. Because sometimes like
they they do come out and they have some mystery stunt,
some mystery blitz that we haven't seen on film from them,
but they have it for us, and we follow our rules,
(18:18):
we get it blocked up, and like you said, like
it's I'm not gonna say never, but it's a lot
of the time it's not a lot of free runners
coming through. It's you know, if someone gets to be
someone gets beat, is football have to but yeah, yeah,
but but for the most part, it's it's everyone's blocked
up hat on the hat and you know and Minoly
mino our guys versus theirs.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
And then finally can again like this be a little
frustrating few because it takes you out of the past
game a little bit because you have to be back
there so much ready to protect, so you can't even
release late for checkdowns or you know, just get out
into the flat to give jack to an option because
you're needed in pass pro so much.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, protections first, making
sure Jackson just happen to be as that's number one.
So I definitely I don't take that for in it.
Obviously I like catching them ball, but you know I'll
block somebody so Sleigh and one Dale can catch a
seventy yard bomb down the field. I mean I'll do that,
you know, the one hundred times out of out of
one hundred. So I don't I don't really think much
(19:13):
of it. I'm to be honest with you because, like
I said, I know my responsibilities. As you know, running
back is for past is past protection first. Just like
you know when I running ball, I want the receivers
coming there and block the safety.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
So absolutely, that's.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
That's the same that's the same same thing, you know.
So uh, I'm gonna do my job and just like
you know, everybody else doing theirs.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Tyrone good stuff. That always quick luck on Sunday, thank you,
huddle up.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Get in here.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I don't know, but citizens does?
Speaker 4 (19:47):
It makes sense of your money with citizens Official Bank
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Speaker 1 (19:52):
Really good stuff from Tyrone Tracy Junior. There, don't forget
the Giants of The podcast is brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the Giants. From game day celebrations
to your everyday financial needs, Big Blue fans can get
the most out of every moment with Citizens. Learn more
at citizens bank dot com slash Giants. Let's turn our
attention to the Giants opponent this week. Matthew Coller covers
(20:12):
them for Purple Insider. Here's my interview with him. All right,
now we turn our attention to the Giants opponent this week.
We welcome to Matthew Coller. He covers the Vikings for
Purple Insider. Matt, I feel like this is like a
once or twice yearly thing we do now. The Giants
and Vikings just keep playing each other.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I know we've become friends because of it.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So, by the way, with both teams in last place,
we'll probably be doing this again last year too.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Yes, yes, we are the old last play schedule, which
is you know, supposed to help. So no, but it
is great to be back on your show. I do
wish it was under a little bit better circumstances. I
gotta say I've had some severe jealousy watching games around
the league this year, knowing the Vikings. We're in a
lot of those games last year, those big games that
(20:56):
have playoff implications.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
And not so much.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
But you know what, but there is a surprising amount
of intrigue for this game in Minnesota. So I'm excited
to talk about it with you.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Yeah, Viking six and eight, they are officially eliminated from
the playoffs. The Giants are two and twelve. They've been
long eliminated from the playoffs. Why is there intrigue for
the Vikings, Tommy.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Talk to me? Why that would be? Mister nine is
the reason. JJ McCarthy, who probably should have waited a
little bit longer to create an alter ego for himself,
has over the last two weeks really played well. And
he I think had a very very tough season for
multiple reasons. I mean, one, he was coming off that
(21:35):
injury last year, thrown onto a team that won fourteen
games the year before and had huge, huge expectations with
tons of veteran players, And what became pretty evident pretty
quickly was that this kid's gonna need some development. That
he probably needed the season of sitting behind Sam Darnold
and being able to practice every day, but because he
(21:57):
had a meniscus injury that kept him out, he was
not able to and then we saw the fundamental issues
of throwing the ball, but also just the experience stuff
and how to protect the ball in the NFL, which
I think is something that you know in college you
can make certain plays and get away with them, and
in the National Football League these are the best of
(22:18):
the best. The game moves at a completely different speed
and he really had to learn that throughout this year.
But also another unfortunate incident set him back, which was
an ankle injury where he was out for five weeks.
They played Carson Wentz. They went two to three in
those games, which put them back, you know in the
NFC North Race. But then when he returned it was
(22:39):
sort of like resetting the clock again. And so finally
he's been able to string together some games. Some have
been okay and they found some ways to win, like
against Detroit, and some have been an absolute nightmare, like
when he went to lambeau Field, and the most recent
have been much much better of not turning the ball over,
not taking sacks, and then pushing the ball downfield. With
(23:01):
some success, as we saw him do against Dallas. So
the Vikings are trying to do something that's not so easy,
which is to figure out in the next three games
what they really have in JJ McCarthy. So this is
thirty three percent of it, and for them it's viewed
as a big game because of that.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Yet he still cannot seem to get chemistry with Justin Jefferson.
And I realize it's an impossible question to answer because
if you had the answer, you'd be having a much
more lucrative job than the one you have now. But
what's going on there from what you've been able to
see why, even as he's improved the last couple of weeks,
McCarthy and Jefferson just can't seem to build that chemistry.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Yeah, if I had that answer, you know, Justin Jefferson
might give me a couple of his his chains and
his clothing you know that he wears and everything. No, truly,
I think the answer is pretty simple, which is so
I think that they know the answer. It's just how
do you execute it When you have Justin Jefferson on
your team. The other team designs their entire coverage around
(24:05):
trying to stop Justin Jefferson, so you have, you know,
teams bracketing him, teams pressing him. And the way that
Kevin O'Connell has solved this over the years is a
lot of like dagger concepts where you're trying to use
one player to clear out some space, but the windows
close really really tightly around Justin Jefferson because everyone knows
(24:28):
where he is on the field at all times, so
you have to have the ball out into a specific
area of the field on the way traveling to him
as he's coming out of his break. You cannot wait
until he gets out of his break and he's running
across the field open and then throw him the ball.
You could do that with other receivers because you know
(24:48):
other receivers are getting open one on one, but that
just doesn't happen with Jefferson. And I think what we
have not seen much of from JJ McCarthy is those
anticipation type throws where when Carson Wentz the old vet
was in there, you'd see him release the football before
Jefferson broke out toward the sideline and then it hits
him for a first down. And I just don't think
(25:10):
McCarthy is really there yet And the other part is
that he doesn't have a lot of touch on the football.
It's a one speed thrower. It's everything is ninety nine
miles an hour. And that was a big part of
his scouting report coming out to the NFL, and the
big question was how much can you fix that? And
they've worked on fundamentals and he's had some touch throws,
(25:30):
but I mean, you need to really trust that ball,
and Sam Darnold was great at it. Kirk Cousins was
always as an anticipation thrower because he didn't have the
strongest arm in the world, and that really works for
Justin Jefferson. But this has not but we have reached
like a okay, no more excuse this type of moments
(25:51):
with that, because if you can't get the ball to Jefferson,
you can't operate this offense on a week to week basis. Okay,
you know, you beat Dallas they have one of the
worst defense is in the league. You beat Washington, same story,
but like, all right, now it's time to figure it
out how to connect with Justin Jefferson or I don't
know that there's gonna be a ton of confidence going forward.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
And where they're at and unfortunately the Giants. I would
slide into that similar category with how their defensive plate
as well. With Washington and Dallas. What's going on the
offensive line? Who should we expect? Brian one on the
injury report, Ryan Kelly on the injury report, they are
both limited on Thursday. We're recording this on Friday morning.
And then Christian Darisaw with the knee, he's been out
a bit questionable last week, didn't make it. Who should
(26:32):
we expect to see on that Vikings offensive front?
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Yeah, So with Kelly and Brian O'Neil, I think there's
a really good chance that those guys play. They probably
are just needing a little bit of veteran rest coming
out of the Dallas game, where both of them were
really good. Especially Ryan Kelly has been a complete game
changer when he's been in for the Vikings. I mean,
he just commands that offensive line. He's helped JJ McCarthy
(26:56):
so much. He is absolutely excellent at picking up and
stunts and twists and all those things that the defenses
are trying to do up front. So his status is
huge for them. But I think he'll probably play the
Darisaw thing. How long do we have on this podcast.
I mean, it's just it's just been very frustrating for everybody.
I mean, because he had the ACL tear last year,
(27:19):
but my understanding is that it was much worse than
your run of the mill ACL tear. That's nine months
and you're coming back and you're just fine, and the
recovery has just not been like, oh, he gets a
little bit better every day and then he's one hundred
percent and then it's good to go. And it's been
a week to week type of thing where he plays
against Washington and he's absolutely excellent and nothing looks like
(27:41):
it's wrong, and then he doesn't play the next week,
and what exactly is happening here? And I think that
he has not fully come to trust where it's at.
I think that the recovery has dealt with and some
swelling has been mentioned, the soreness has been mentioned to it,
and you know, I think if you're in Darisaw's position
and your team is six and eight and out of
the playoff race, if you don't feel really really good
(28:04):
about that knee, I don't think you want to play
Brian Burns because you know, what are we playing for here?
I mean, we're all playing to find out if JJ
McCarthy's good. But I mean, Christian Darrisol has got a
long career in front of him, so that whole thing
I think has really been tough for him and really
been tough for the team. And the backup justin school
has tried as hard as you can try over there
(28:26):
left tackle. But John, how many how many great backup
left tackles are there? Probably as many as there are
backup great quarterbacks right like zero, So it's a tough task.
And then you know Brian Burns Abdual Carter like, this
is the this is the biggest edge of the game
by far, if Christian Darrisaol does not play, because the
drop off is as big as from a franchise quarterback
(28:48):
to a backup when we're talking about Derisaw to School.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Yeah, jihnny fans have seen firsthand when Andrew Thomas is
not in there, everything looks different for the offense. So
I completely get where you're coming from. Defensively, a couple
big losses. Jonathan Gernardi was kind of playing through that
that shoulder you know, peck thing. It looks like he's
now he's out for the year. Josh Mattelis, you're kind of,
you know, versatile second level defender. He's out for the year.
(29:14):
Javon Hargrave did not practice both the first two days
this week. What are we looking at health wise on
the defense and how do the losses of those two
key pieces affect what Brian Flores wants to do.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Yeah, I mean Grenard is kind of where the entire
defense starts. It's I mean, the things that Floraes does
are incredible, the different blitzes and his connection with Harrison Smith,
who's essentially a defensive coordinator on the field and is
you know, kind of making checks and changes in real time.
I mean that's great. But where it all begins is
(29:44):
one guy who wins his matchup versus the best left
tackles in the league and creates pressure. And you can
look at Grenard's sack numbers and say, well, what are
you talking about? But look at his pressure numbers. As
you and I as data guys, we understand this pass
rush win rate. He's top ten amongst starters. Pressure rate,
he's top ten amongst starters. So he's been in the
(30:05):
backfield causing problems. Just one of the main issues is
they've played a bunch of running quarterbacks who are hard
to sack, I think, but he's been every bit as
good as he was last year. Now it's it's intrigue
for us because it's gonna be Dallas Turner, who when
he filled in for Grenard earlier this year, had four
sacks thirteen pressures in a three game run. But you know,
(30:28):
he hasn't gotten to do that a whole lot. He's
often been trying to emulate Andrew Van Ginkle, who was
injured earlier this year and plays a completely different role,
who's more of a true like outside linebacker, drop it
back and coverage line up in different spots. Grenard is
a pass rusher and starting to get the sense that
Dallas Turner really is just a pass rusher. He can
(30:48):
do the other stuff, but he's not Andrew Van Ginkel.
So this is a huge opportunity for him and kind
of show what you can do at that position and
then maybe they'll know what they have. Overall, his second
year as a first round draft pick, I think has
been progress, but I would not say that he's become
the you know, the next bake star rusher in the
NFL yet And there's a chance here in these final
(31:09):
three games for him to kind of show yeah, like
you guys made the right draft pick and you know
you there you have something to work with here for
the future as a pass rusher, but maybe not quite
as much as a versatile player. But losing Grenard is
absolutely huge. And Mettelis, Look, I mean, that's a guy
who you never know where he's gonna line up. He's
played all sorts of different positions, and they've been playing
(31:31):
mostly three safeties lately rather than you know, a nickel
corner because they lost Jeff Okuda. So yeah, I mean,
Jay Ward's gonna get his opportunity. But you know, Mattellis
is one of the smarter players in the NFL. So
these are these are big losses and chances for the
Giants to face a Vikings team that does not have
(31:51):
its full breadth of players.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
I kind of like Brian Flores takes the point of
blitzing and kind of turns it on its head a
little bit in terms of what he's trying to do.
And I'll try to explain the fans what I mean,
and you correct me if you think I'm off face here.
But it's funny you look at. One that I like
look at every week is how the opposing team's pass
rating versus the blitz. And I think the vikings are
(32:15):
like next to last in the league is like one
twenty five, right, But then you look at this, then
you say, wait a second. They given a fewer twenty
plus yard passes than any other team in the league. Said,
you're trying to figure out what's going on here, And
it's funny. A lot of people think if you blitz
a lot, you're very susceptible, it passes over the top.
Well that's not how Brian Flores does it. He literally
blitzes to force you to do what you're supposed to
(32:38):
do when a team blitzes, which is to throw like
a two yard dump off. But the problem is that
it's third and six, so you gain three yards and
then you have to punt. So I like the way
he's kind of designed this where it's like, all right,
I'm gonna blitz a lot and pressure not to get sacks,
but just to make you run your offense that you
cannot have successful plays and move the chains.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
I think that's a tremendous description. And the other thing
is too sometimes you blitz to then set up not
blitz this ye. He shows so many different things at
the line of scrimmage where if you are quarterback, you're
looking at it and going, Okay, they had this look before,
here's what they're gonna do, or here's what I saw
(33:18):
on tape, and then oh, that's not even close to
what I saw. And really the lynchpint to this is
always Harrison Smith if you watch him, especially the last
couple of weeks, he's been at full health. Earlier this
year he dealt with, you know, kind of a personal
illness that was held back for playing entire games. But
now he's back to full health and you see him
(33:39):
lining up at the edge and then right before the
snap running all the way back to a deep safety spot.
Or I saw another play where he was an edge
rusher and then drop back into like a hook curl
zone and you're like, wait a minute, he just played
linebacker on that play, you know, after lining up as
an edge rusher. Like, there's so many different things that
they do off of him. And then real the revelation
(34:03):
player this year, which I didn't really see coming even
though I was a believer in this guy, was Eric Wilson,
who previously was with the Vikings, and I thought, hey,
this is a great special teamer, great depth linebacker. If
he needs to play, you're gonna be in good shape.
But what Brian Flores discovered is if you can get
this guy blitzing, he will run over running backs. He
(34:25):
is one of the stronger players that they have, and
he has just trucked running backs in the in the blitz.
So they've used a lot of those cross dog type
blitzes where you have the two linebackers go in the
opposite ways. He's gotten free a couple of times, one
on one with a That was the game earlier this
year where Jamiir Gibbs gave up seven pressures because they
(34:48):
just rushed Eric Wilson up the middle over and over
and over again and it caused so many problems. So
that's something I'm sure that the Giants are preparing for.
But it's hard to prepare for when you have so
many guys that are so good, uh at blitzing and
at deception. So it's gonna really test the young quarterback
Jacks Dart.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Yeah. And then in the secondary, they have the slowest
cover one rate in the league. I think it's set
them in front of me. I think six percent something
ridiculous like that. That's so far the least in the
league that like the next team is not even that
close to them. It's just a lot of different zones,
and they'll I imagine they they they disguise those zones.
(35:27):
They don't. You don't, you don't show what you're in.
That's kind of, you know, the new in vogue thing
in the National Football League. And you got a couple
of corners. I think Isaiah Rodgers is playing well. By
m Murphy's playing well. You mentioned Harrison Smith obviously has
been doing this forever. You know, he used to pick
up Eli Manning fifteen years ago. Yeah, talk about what
he does in the back half to compliment all those
(35:49):
you know, double mug shows. All right, we're dropping, we're coming.
How does what he do in the does How does
what he does in the back end compliment what he's
doing up front.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Yeah, it's so interesting because there's always going to be
two deep safeties. But the question usually that the quarterback
has to figure out is is there also going to
be the Tampa player there? And I don't say the
Tampa linebacker because the Tampa player could be anybody. And
what I mean is in the middle of the two
deep safeties, you have another player in the middle of
(36:19):
that zone, and where is that guy even coming from?
Because sometimes that can be, you know, a linebacker. Sometimes
that can be a traditional type of middle linebacker, could
be outside linebacker, could be you know previously a Josh
mittelis a box safety who suddenly arrives there and then
they rotate somebody over. They do the inverted stuff where
(36:40):
you have the safety come down on a cover two
and then the corner go back to where the safety
is supposed to be. It's it's all versions of coverages
that everybody uses, but how they get to that point
and then with who's coming on the pressures, it all
ties together to just look like you know, the conversation
it's been happening with the peer progressions and everything else
(37:02):
like that one. They're trying to get you to, as
you said, like go to the quickest option possible, but
also they're trying to make that quarterback drop back and
look at the defense in the first second of it
and go I have no idea why this player's over there,
Where this player's going is my guy open. But it's
(37:24):
not an invincible defense though. That is one thing that
I should say is it's not certainly they can be
run against Javon Hargrave. If he misses this game, we'll
make that a little bit tougher for them to stop
the run. Josh Mattelis is always one of their best
run defenders. Jonathan Grenard is great at setting edges. Dallas
Turner I would not say that he has reached that
(37:45):
point in his career yet. And if you can get
these guys one on one. Byron Murphy has not had
the same year as last year. And you know, Isaiah
Rodgers is blazing fast, but he's not the biggest guy.
So if you can get some matchups with bigger saw
him struggle with Devonte Smith. We saw this team struggle
with aj Brown.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
So when they've played bigger or better wide receivers, they've
had some trouble if the quarterback can find enough time
to throw. And this is the thing that they've struggled
with with that. Jackson Dart does well is quarterbacks with
some mobility. I mean, if you're able to like a
Jalen Hurtz or a Kleb Williams, slide around, move away
from the rush by yourself a little extra time. This
(38:26):
team does not have players in the secondary who are
going to hang on for four seconds if they get
manned up, It's just not gonna happen. So Jackson Dart's playmaking,
I think really goes into this.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Matt. Awesome stuff, my friend. Tell the folks, we think
you'll find all your great work.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
That would be a Purple Insider on YouTube, Purple Insider
wherever you get your podcasts, and Purple Insider Dot Football
is the newsletter.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Enjoy this. I enjoy the game on Sunday, my friend.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Thanks, Jean, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (38:53):
Man.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
If you want to know how to manage two minutes
of crunch time football, I'm your Matt.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
But if you're wondering about a long term financial plan,
you should talk to Citizens.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Hey, I can also talk long care.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
I'd like to learn about Amili routine.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
Yes, I knew I could help makes sense of your
money with Citizens. Really good stuff from Matt. We appreciate
him joining us right here on the Giants Total Podcast,
brought to you by Citizens. Now let's hear from the
head coach of the NYG interim head coach Mike Kafka
with the voice of the Giants Bob Papa.
Speaker 4 (39:21):
As always, were joined by the head coach of the
New York Giants, Mike Kafka and coach you get this
football game against the Minnesota Vikings. This is a team
that has gotten hot as of late, the averaging thirty
two half thirty two and a half points per game
over there last too, when you study this Minnesota team,
what are some of the things that jump out at
you as far as the way they've progressed as far
(39:44):
as McCarthy's concerning their offensive productivity.
Speaker 5 (39:48):
Yeah, you're seeing the evolution of JJ and you know,
just starting off as a young player and having some opportunities,
you know, early in the season and it's kind of
being up and down. Then he can continue find his
groove and find some consistency on offense. And obviously they
have some skill guys on the perimeter and in the
backfield that can obviously make an impact. And I think
(40:08):
JJ's is just doing a really nice job of not
only just managing the games, but also giving this guys
opportunities and putting the ball in their hands.
Speaker 4 (40:16):
Although the numbers aren't there as far as what we're
used to seeing from Justin Jefferson. Talk about the impact
that he has on your team defensively because of the
threat that exists on literally every snap.
Speaker 5 (40:30):
Yeah, I mean, he's a guy, he's an elite player,
one of the probably the best receiver in the league,
and you have to you know, you have to respect
that and you have to know where he's at in
every single snap. You know, they're going to try and
find ways to get in the football and he's going
to be primary receiver for I said, the majority of
their routes. But they compliment him well with the other
guys around in the offense, you know, Naylor and.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
Addison, Madison, you.
Speaker 5 (40:56):
Know, like they had Hockinson. I mean, these guys are
these guys are well built. So you know, you have
one elite player or you know, a really elite player,
I shouldn't say one, a really elite player, and then
you compliment him with a bunch of different other skill sets.
Makes it hard to depend down coach.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
The running game.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
Obviously, they've used Mason a lot this year. They have Jones.
Both of those guys their threats in a lot of
different ways. Is that something that a lot of teams
are comfortable with as far as having multiple backs to use.
Speaker 5 (41:30):
I'd say, yeah, I think I think a lot of
teams are just mixing up their personnel. They're complimenting their backs,
you know, whether ones are kind of a speedback, ones
a downhill back. You know, every I think every team
kind of carries a different philosophy. But yeah, I think
I think you see that across the league on certain
uncertain teams that they have kind of a you know.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
A little bit of a flexibility there.
Speaker 4 (41:52):
I'd say, let's go to the other side of the ball, right,
Brian Flores's defense is one that they blitz a lot.
They bring pressure, and sometimes it brings the illusion of pressure.
How do you go about deciphering it as a young quarterback?
And Jackson Dart's got to deal with it. And I know, look,
he's played a lot of ball this year. He's played
(42:13):
against a lot of good defensive coordinators. But each step
is a learning process. But what are some of the
keys in trying to sort of diagnose this team defensively?
Speaker 5 (42:24):
Yeah, I think it starts with just your base rules
and fundamentals on offense, you know, you we try to
create a framework of of your movement keys of your
identify your the individuals on defense that you need to
identify that could be put in conflict. So in just
any pass game that we had, we'd have, Hey, we're
looking at a flat defender, We're looking at a crooked
(42:45):
curl defender. And yeah, that body type may be a
dB one play, maybe a linebacker one play. Shoot, it
might even be a defensive end dropp into that play.
So it's but it's about putting your eyes on the
right spot, trusting your eye progression, trusting the base rules
of that concept, and then own just let your natural
ability show. And if you work within the framework of
the offense, I think, and be able to stay on
(43:06):
time and in rhythm. I think all that stuff put
together is going to give you the best opportunity. And
so when you have someone that you're going against that
has a multiple way to get to different different looks
and different coverages and different fronts, I think it all
of us goes back to your base rules.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
Coach.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
You know, last week against Washington, there were a lot
of opportunities in the football game, and it was a
one score game, and you had some chances late in
the football game and some things were just like a
little bit off as far as communication or what everybody
was seeing down the stretch. When you're coaching them during
the course of the week, what are some of the
things that you go back and try to reinforce to
(43:46):
kind of clean those things up.
Speaker 5 (43:48):
Yeah, all the fundamentals and all the communication. That's the
one thing that we stress every single day and trying
to find that one little that one little nugget, that
one little piece that each player can work on and
hold on to can to get consistent improvement. And so
when we look at our guys, when we look at
our group, you know offensive definitely in special teams, you know,
(44:09):
you look at those things and you say, all right, right,
here's where we can really get better this week.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
Here's what we gotta have to do.
Speaker 2 (44:14):
We have to improve.
Speaker 5 (44:15):
And it may be you know, a new player in
a new role, maybe you know a couple of different
players in a different role. So you know, you're getting
those guys caught up the speed, and our coaches do
a great job of doing that. But yeah, I mean
it starts with our base, our base rules and fundamentals.
Speaker 4 (44:30):
Coach Andrew Thomas, I know he's up for consideration for
the Pro Bowl. And I know you look at things
in a team totality, but this guy has been absolutely
fantastics this year and whenever he plays. How impressed have
you been with his ability to come back from what
was a pretty severe injury that forced him to miss
a lot of time and to play at the level
that he's played at this year.
Speaker 5 (44:51):
Yeah, Ri, it's really no surprise to me. Since the
day I got here, he's been, you know, a pillar
of consistency in terms of his play and execution and
and how he approaches the game, how he approaches meetings,
how he approaches you know, his teammates in the locker room.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
It's all consistent.
Speaker 5 (45:07):
And you know, he's a guy that we lean on
as an offense and certainly as a coach and as
the head coach, the guy that I lean on in
terms of leadership and showing, you know, young players and
how the group, how this thing should be, how it
should look.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
Coach, We appreciate a couple minutes. Best of luck this afternoon,
and Merry Christmas to you and your family, and hopefully
Santa delivers victory here this week.
Speaker 1 (45:30):
Thank you you as well. Happy holidays, Great stuff. There
from Bob, from Mike Kafka, we thank them, We thank
Matthew Kohller and of course we thank Tyrone Tracy Junior
for being our guest this week on The Giants Toutle Podcast,
brought to you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants.
I am John Schmelk You and of course Chake Got
Big Blue kickoff live Saturday at seven am on w FAM,
(45:52):
Mark Lewsis and I Talk Giants, take your calls, and
then Tikey Barber and I'll have the pregame show for
you on Sunday at eleven am on the Fan, getting
you ready for Giants and Vikings. Thanks so much for
being with us, everybody. We'll see you next time on
The Giants Total Podcast, brought to you by Citizens
Back for another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, your
Normal Friday Pod. It's all brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the New York Football Giants. I
am John Schmilk. A normal show today, folks. We are
going to start with our player interview. We're also gonna
have Matthew Koller from Purple Insider, and then Bob Papa
will be joined by the head coach of the Giants,
Mike Kafka. But our players of you comes first. This week,
(00:23):
I had a chance to do a lengthy, entertaining and
fun interview with Giants second year running back Tyrone Tracy Junior.
Joined by Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Junior. Tyrone, what's
going on?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Man?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
How are you no good?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Doing good? You know obviously during the week of practice
is trying to just bang out these days and you know,
obviously get ready for this game.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
How do you guys kept spirits high? Because you know,
I was in the locker room the last couple of days.
You wouldn't think this team's record is two and twelve
if you're walking through the locker room on a daily basis.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, I mean, I mean first and Foremo comes with confidence.
You know, we have confidence in our players and our coaches.
And then secondly, we have to understand that, like you know,
it's the NFL, like one is, the winds are hard
to come by. But you also have to look yourself
in the mirror and understand that, like you know, your
your wins, the losses doesn't really define you as as
a person as a team. So and we understand that. So,
(01:12):
like I said, we can't walk around open because that's
really not gonna help anything. So we try to keep
the energy high, keep the you know, positivity throughout the
locker room, throughout practice, throughout the meetings, and just understand that.
Like we got to go out there and h Q
on game.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Day, Tell you're through the two touchdowns last week?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, it was. It was good. It was a good game.
It was it was I I enjoyed. I enjoyed. It
was my first time obviously scoring two touches in the game.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
So, uh, take us through the two plays.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
How'd you do it? The first one, I mean, obviously
is a run. I mean I saw, I saw a lane.
It was kind of like the I don't know if
you remember the one I had Broncos. Yeah, it's nothing
like that one. Obviously bron was a little more clean.
That one was clean. It was me versus versus the.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Bronco and that's when they were really overloaded on one
side or right and you cut back on there.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, it was. It was the same basically the same play,
same type of play, but the safety came down on
this one. Obviously, make a miss, made a move on
Louis who I believe, and then obviously getting there had
a little extra push, little help, you know, on the
two push just to get get in his own. Now
on the second one, we knew that Bobby Wagner was
going to have me, man, So it was basically like, hey,
(02:18):
go win your one on one, you know, I told
I told Jacks during practice, like, bro, like, if you
see this, you see him guard me, you just throw it up.
Just throw it up, man, I got you outside. I
don't I'm not gonna promise you it was gonna be
a catch, but ninety percent is gonna be a catch.
But it won't be an interception. I promise you that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
How much meat is still left on the bone in
terms of how they can use you as a receiver
out of the backfield that they mean you haven't seen
them used completely yet.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, I mean a lot. To be honest, like you said,
they haven't really got dug into that, you know, So
I think that comes with time. I think that comes
with obviously trust. Sure that comes with you know, showing
them that I can you know, I can do that stuff.
So hopefully that was a little glimpse of some of
the stuff I could do. I'm in the past game.
And then also, like in a game, I got to
(03:04):
I got me personally, I have to take advantage when
the opportunity comes. You know, I'm gonna ball comeing all way.
I got to make those plays. So yeah, I got
to think. You know, it's really the tip of the
iceberg when you're talking about the receiving game.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I'm not sure if maybe you did this in the
bye week, maybe having yet, if you take a twenty
thousand foot view of your sophomore season, how would you
evaluate it or think about it? How are you thinking
about how you're playing this year? Just how do you
look at your year in general?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, I mean I think I'm playing well. It's just
off of off of injury towards the end of the year,
getting back on get back on giving back to work,
coming in obviously at a different role with SCAT and
me trying to figure that out, and then hopping back
on homing back on a horse. You know, when I'm
getting more touches, all said, I think I'm playing well.
(03:50):
Think I'm doing my job and king out of high
level when the opportunities do come. So yeah, I mean,
just looking at it Overallice, I think as the season
has progressed, I think my game has progressed as well.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
I during which game it was was a few games
after you came back from the shoulder injury. I feel
like you lifted your physicality level a little bit, Like
you were running over guys. You were really grinding out
some extra few yards. Did you have a mentality shift
or change? Was it a health thing where you just
felt more confident with the shoulder that you banged up,
where you felt like you've gotten a little bit more
(04:24):
physicality to you as the season's gone along a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I mean I wouldn't. I mean I always run like that.
Even last year, I felt like I ran like that.
It was like said, I think it's more so just
me getting comfortable. Like I said, Yeah, I definitely had
the injury, and that was I was just you know,
trying to baby I guess at the beginning, just because
like I didn't want to re injury it.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Of course, so I would do the same thing I
had him.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I didn't want to re injure it. So I was
definitely baby in a little bit. But after getting more
comfortable absolutely practices and you get a couple of games
under you, you you know, you get tackled, you know,
you got these different blocks that you got to take
on because it's hard to replicate a game in practice.
It's hard to do that that obviously, like before you
get clear, you have to do some things so that
(05:04):
you know the trades that feel comfortable senior out there,
but it's hard to replicate getting tackled in certain positions
or landing on your shoulder or just blocking with your shoulder.
It's hard to do that stuff in practice. So like
after I had those game reps and just like obviously
trust in my head and and and within my shoulder, Yeah,
some of the physicality definitely came back.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, I think you looked a lot like you to
as a rookie. To be totally honest with you, do
you think you took a jump from your rookie ar
to your sophomore year or was it more small incremental
progress in a bunch of different areas.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I would I think I took a jump from where
I would say, like mentally, obviously, I think that, like
I said, if I had a full season from starting
to finish, just being healthy and just being who I am,
I think it was that. Uh, the numbers would say
the same. But obviously a lot of stuff happened throughout
the year.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Who played it really well, Well.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
That's sort of started. I'm saying. Yeah, I would say,
you got to understand that, like football is football, Like
people ask me about, you know, this gas situation and everything.
But man, dude's balling. I want he wants me to ball.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
I want him the ball you can only control with
you control, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
At the same time, like I want him to play well,
of course I want and I want him to want
me to play well, Like whoever's in there, I want
both for us. I think there's enough touches for both
of us to go out there and have really good
games every single game.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
He doesn't want to win games ever, and.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Foremost exactly exactly, And I think that I think that
at the end of the day, I think my mental
my football IQ, the game has slowed down a lot.
I think that just the way that I see the
game when I'm playing, how I see the holes, like
I'm being more patient and understanding, like when my blocks
are coming from. Again, this is all just like you know,
(06:41):
football Talk football Q. So I think that's like my
biggest jump from rookie to now.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
When you spoke to the media in the week, you
made the point that you think you run better the
more touches you get. I wonder why you think that is,
and if it has something to do with what you
gave in your last are talking about how you start
seeing things more when you get more comfortable with any
game in terms of how they're trying to kind of
(07:08):
run a little bit.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I would say it's like chess. For those of you
who play chess, you understand it like it's a strategic game.
Like your first your first move is never going to
be a last move. So you know, we may run
a do a run three times, but like the run
may be three different ways. Of course, my my first
move that I do on you is going to be
different than you know, my third move that I do.
So that's why I say, like, the more touches I get,
(07:30):
because now it's kind of like a puppet, like you're
you're making them do what you want to do. And
towards the end of the game, I would say this
last game, if you ever watched some of my runs,
it was like I was like manipulating the defense to
do what I wanted it to do so that I can.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Get You want to move the light back?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
You're a different hole, right yeah, right, Just so again
that's what that's why I say I play better and
more touches I get, just but I also feel like
that's any running back because you know, I said you
you're never gonna come out and first play like it's
going to be you know, a sixty yard bond down
to feel less like the defense messed up or something
like that. Like you gotta understand it's gonna be some
runs that it's gonna be two yards, three yards, four
(08:05):
yards and then down in the fourth quarter, third quarter
like dad, those and when you know the ten plus
and the twelve plus like those are when those those
type of players come out.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
No, that makes sense. You talk over the way two
about how you pointed out three specific coaches you talked
about Tim Kelly, carl And Bricello and Ladell Bets as
three coaches that you think have really helped you. But
I think the way you talked about it helped the
run game as a whole. Talk about how those coaches,
you could take him as a group even individual if
you want, how they've contributed to the run game that's
(08:36):
allowed you and your group to have success.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, I mean, I think the first thing is that
they're very detailed on their work and how they do things.
Like individually, I think each and everyone of them are
really good coaches, but together the way they work, the
way they really just put in a game plan, like
it's never you know, the same play. It might look
the same to you know, the viewers, but it's very
(08:59):
detailed down to the front, down to you know where
the defense is going to be line there with the linebackers,
who's getting who you know the fits and where the
running backs should hit it. And then like again like
LB the running back coach, you know, we'll be in there.
He'll tell us like, hey, this this play is going
to is going to hit here if you have this
guy over the tackle. The tackle's going to do this
(09:21):
and this is where it should be. So like pre snap,
when you're going out there, you should have an understanding
of what's going to happen before the ballsy even snap,
just based off of the knowledge that the coaches are
giving you throughout the week and the formation of the
defense exact yes, yes, and that's what I'm saying formation
on the defense, like prior to even getting after the game.
The coaching staff is doing their due diligence and making
sure that they're giving you the right information that you
(09:42):
can go out there and perform at a high level.
I think that that's key to the run game, especially
when you're talking about you know, getting five six yards
of carry. You know you're you're making everything efficient as
it can be. I think they do a really good job.
Carm he does a thirty presentation like every day on
(10:02):
run game, short yardage, like ball security, everything. So I
think they work really well together just to make sure
that we have an efficient run game for running back.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
How valuable was it to have the same five starting
offenses One of the thing back for a second year
where you can build on the momentum and the rhythm
and the field you developed with them last year and
not have to develop that from scratch in a second season.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's I think it's huge. Man,
It's huge because as a running back, you got to
get a feel for your office on lineman. Everybody is not,
you know, a bulldozer. Every office in Lineman is not
a bulldozer. So you have to understand, you know, who
you have in front of you, who's blocking for you,
and the type of lineman that you have. So for
me to come back and already know that I don't
have to figure that out like that was. That was
big for me. They and they know the type of
(10:51):
runner I am as well, because everybody, every running back
doesn't run the same. You know, some running backs are
you know, straightfor straight ahead, Some much last year, Some
make moves, some as patient. Like a lot of things
has to go together and flow for the offensive line
and the running back to have that camaraderie and relationship
within the run game. So, like you said, I mean,
(11:12):
I think it was huge. I know, I hope the
office of line think that it was huge that you
know I could come they do they do, you know,
So like I said, I don't want to give price
to the Office Line because they do a great job
each and every week, you know, creating scenes for me
to run through. And I think that it's it's it's paramount.
And when you're going back watching the film and you
actually see what's going on, you actually see like the
Office of Line doing their job at.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
A hot low and you guys run every run scheme, maagicable.
You got to do everything. Is there something that you
like the best, that that you think is really like
customize this is like what Hyron trees he's really good at.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yeah, Like I would like counters personally, like counters. So
the gaps game, any any polar one polar too, Like
it really don't matter to me, but just because like
one it flow gets a flow of the defense until
it opens up, seems as well. And the same thing
I like, I like to run outside zone but from
the gun. Look I did it in college. That was
(12:06):
what we ran in college. And I also think that
I get the ball faster. I could, like I said,
see different things after I get the ball, because like
when you're under center, it takes you a little bit longer.
Did he get the ball? So I like, yeah, those
two and those two concepts.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
It's funny. That's gonna make Tiki Barbara very happy. I
do the pre improde game with ten. And it was
also going to make happy when you did your media
and the week you called yourself a slasher. Yeah, that's
what he calls you. And when Scott got hurt and
you moved in, he goes. I want to see him
do a lot more gap scheme stuff because I feel
like that's what's going to be his strength, right, So
I think the funny that you guys are writing the
same page on that. It's funny you mentioned a lot
(12:40):
of running backs, like being under center rather than gun.
Do you like being out of the gun just for
the outside zone or does it depend on the scheme
whether under center or shotgun? And maybe why do you
like one or the other based on that?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, well, I mean I like it just because I
get the ball faster, and when you have the ball,
you can make moves. And like I said, every running
concept is not gonna be perfect. So a defensive lineman
might break through and be two yards in back of people,
But if I'm in gun, I can see that and
react right now. But if I'm under center, I have
to wait till the quarterback give me the ball to
(13:14):
even make a move.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
So that's really the only reason I like gun a
little bit more than under center and the other concepts
that I wouldn't. I don't really prefer either or. But
if I had a choice, I would definitely choose under center.
If we was, like I said, gap scheme, because again,
like the defense don't know which.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Way you're going, you can create better angle.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah, right, yes, that was my next point. You get better.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
You are good.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
You know ball man, you know ball. So I say,
you get better angle. So you know, if I'm going
to the A gap, you know we run to the right,
I'm going to the right A gap. The middle linebacker,
Mike linebacker, he has a choice to make. Am I
going to run over top? Or am I going to
sit right here in the middle, Because if you run
off the top, I'm gonna just keep running straight to
the A gap. Now if we don't, if he says
staying a gap, I'm following my puller to it. Right. So,
(14:02):
like I said, it's just different schemes that will work.
You know a little bit better from under center or
you know, in the gun.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
What's been darks impact on the run game just kind
of the extra physic Uh. You know, Juicy gives with
the legs and you haven't done as much read options
since he came back from percussion and stuff like that.
But just his athleticism what he brings. How is that
impact of the run game. It's at all.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah, I mean it's tremendous. Man to be honest, if
you watch the games, they have to account for his legs.
If they don't, you know, he's gonna make them pay.
What is past or run shure regardless, And like I said,
when he's in the game and when he's doing what
he needs to do, which is affecting the defense, they
have to they have to respect them. I mean, for me,
(14:43):
that takes one less guy off my plate, you know,
because if you know the d N is respecting the quarterback,
he's not coming down on me when I'm running outside
zone and air size zone. And at the same time,
it also allows the officer coordinator to call, you know,
certain plays and feel comfortable calling and plays as well.
And that's where you know, some of the gun stuff
(15:04):
comes in and the pistols, so because you know you
can either read it and even if you're not really
you can make it look like a read to, you know,
influence the defense.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Mike cav Get, Tim Kelly, and Jackson Darto will have
been asked this week about how he's going to handle
Brian Flores and what they do. And obviously the owners
is always on the quarterback, right, but I feel like
the owners is also very much on the running backs
of a game like this too. You know, they line
up those sets. I watched that whole Cowboy game last week.
They line seven or eight guys up in the line
of scrimmage. They don't give any signal if they're coming
or if they're not. It could be four, could be five,
(15:34):
it could be six, it could be seven. You don't
know how many guys are gonna bring as a running back,
how much extra preparation and what is the preparation like
getting ready for this Brian Flora's defense where the front
is always going to try to get two on the
back or make you decide on my blocking this guy,
my blocking that guy and kind of put you and
try to mix you up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Yeah, I think. I mean, obviously you have to do
a lot of studying. You have to do a lot
of studying, wouldn't say, give a lot of a lot
of clues to what they're doing. But we have rules
and within our offense, within our past game that we follow.
So I think, if I trust my fundamentals and understand
the rules that you know, we're calling whatever the quarterback
is saying, whatever old line is calling out, understanding who
(16:16):
I got Because again, if we all work together, see everything,
do the same set of eyes, see everything through the
same set of lenses, and understand you know who got who,
and the quarterback understands who may come free right here,
I think, and you know, we'll be fine. I think that,
like I said, they have a good defense, they have
a they do. They blitch the most in the NFL.
(16:36):
They blow the most NFL.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
It's not close, it's not say it's not close, and
it's on any.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Given down, whether it's first or third down, they blitz
a lot. So it's it's for me. I have to
make sure that you know my eyes are correct because
they do a lot of corner corner blitzes, and not
a lot of teams do that in the NFL. So
they're one team that they do that a lot. I
think last game or two games ago, they did blitt
the corner like seven times, So that's something I have
(17:03):
to be ready for when I go out there on Sunday.
I said, I think as long as we see everything
through the same set of odds, I think we'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
It's two quick follow ups. One. I feel like the
pass pro has been very on point this year just
as a unit. Whenever you don't see free runners, I
think you know that the unit's coached up really well
and the players are listening and taking that coaching. Well,
do you agree with that?
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Yeah, yeah, I definitely do. Like I said, I think
carm he does a great job of making sure the
information that we're getting is legit. He's not giving us
no bs. He's not like he's giving us some having
us chase ghosts. You know they might do this.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
He's not.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
He's not doing that. He's giving us stuff that they
run that we want to see on Sunday. And he
understands that, like we have, we already have a lot
on our plate. So you don't want to give us
extra stuff to study when there's no.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Need for it.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Well, if your rules are sound enough, that will then
prepare you for the stuff that they.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Haven't seen that for right exactly, And that's that's really
his his his motto is just hey, follow our rules,
like our rules will get us through whatever they bring,
like and that's that's really the truth. Because sometimes like
they they do come out and they have some mystery stunt,
some mystery blitz that we haven't seen on film from them,
but they have it for us, and we follow our rules,
(18:18):
we get it blocked up, and like you said, like
it's I'm not gonna say never, but it's a lot
of the time it's not a lot of free runners
coming through. It's you know, if someone gets to be
someone gets beat, is football have to but yeah, yeah,
but but for the most part, it's it's everyone's blocked
up hat on the hat and you know and Minoly
mino our guys versus theirs.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
And then finally can again like this be a little
frustrating few because it takes you out of the past
game a little bit because you have to be back
there so much ready to protect, so you can't even
release late for checkdowns or you know, just get out
into the flat to give jack to an option because
you're needed in pass pro so much.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, protections first, making
sure Jackson just happen to be as that's number one.
So I definitely I don't take that for in it.
Obviously I like catching them ball, but you know I'll
block somebody so Sleigh and one Dale can catch a
seventy yard bomb down the field. I mean I'll do that,
you know, the one hundred times out of out of
one hundred. So I don't I don't really think much
(19:13):
of it. I'm to be honest with you because, like
I said, I know my responsibilities. As you know, running
back is for past is past protection first. Just like
you know when I running ball, I want the receivers
coming there and block the safety.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
So absolutely, that's.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
That's the same that's the same same thing, you know.
So uh, I'm gonna do my job and just like
you know, everybody else doing theirs.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Tyrone good stuff. That always quick luck on Sunday, thank you,
huddle up.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Get in here.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I don't know, but citizens does?
Speaker 4 (19:47):
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of Eli manning.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Really good stuff from Tyrone Tracy Junior. There, don't forget
the Giants of The podcast is brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the Giants. From game day celebrations
to your everyday financial needs, Big Blue fans can get
the most out of every moment with Citizens. Learn more
at citizens bank dot com slash Giants. Let's turn our
attention to the Giants opponent this week. Matthew Coller covers
(20:12):
them for Purple Insider. Here's my interview with him. All right,
now we turn our attention to the Giants opponent this week.
We welcome to Matthew Coller. He covers the Vikings for
Purple Insider. Matt, I feel like this is like a
once or twice yearly thing we do now. The Giants
and Vikings just keep playing each other.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I know we've become friends because of it.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So, by the way, with both teams in last place,
we'll probably be doing this again last year too.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Yes, yes, we are the old last play schedule, which
is you know, supposed to help. So no, but it
is great to be back on your show. I do
wish it was under a little bit better circumstances. I
gotta say I've had some severe jealousy watching games around
the league this year, knowing the Vikings. We're in a
lot of those games last year, those big games that
(20:56):
have playoff implications.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
And not so much.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
But you know what, but there is a surprising amount
of intrigue for this game in Minnesota. So I'm excited
to talk about it with you.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Yeah, Viking six and eight, they are officially eliminated from
the playoffs. The Giants are two and twelve. They've been
long eliminated from the playoffs. Why is there intrigue for
the Vikings, Tommy.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Talk to me? Why that would be? Mister nine is
the reason. JJ McCarthy, who probably should have waited a
little bit longer to create an alter ego for himself,
has over the last two weeks really played well. And
he I think had a very very tough season for
multiple reasons. I mean, one, he was coming off that
(21:35):
injury last year, thrown onto a team that won fourteen
games the year before and had huge, huge expectations with
tons of veteran players, And what became pretty evident pretty
quickly was that this kid's gonna need some development. That
he probably needed the season of sitting behind Sam Darnold
and being able to practice every day, but because he
(21:57):
had a meniscus injury that kept him out, he was
not able to and then we saw the fundamental issues
of throwing the ball, but also just the experience stuff
and how to protect the ball in the NFL, which
I think is something that you know in college you
can make certain plays and get away with them, and
in the National Football League these are the best of
(22:18):
the best. The game moves at a completely different speed
and he really had to learn that throughout this year.
But also another unfortunate incident set him back, which was
an ankle injury where he was out for five weeks.
They played Carson Wentz. They went two to three in
those games, which put them back, you know in the
NFC North Race. But then when he returned it was
(22:39):
sort of like resetting the clock again. And so finally
he's been able to string together some games. Some have
been okay and they found some ways to win, like
against Detroit, and some have been an absolute nightmare, like
when he went to lambeau Field, and the most recent
have been much much better of not turning the ball over,
not taking sacks, and then pushing the ball downfield. With
(23:01):
some success, as we saw him do against Dallas. So
the Vikings are trying to do something that's not so easy,
which is to figure out in the next three games
what they really have in JJ McCarthy. So this is
thirty three percent of it, and for them it's viewed
as a big game because of that.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Yet he still cannot seem to get chemistry with Justin Jefferson.
And I realize it's an impossible question to answer because
if you had the answer, you'd be having a much
more lucrative job than the one you have now. But
what's going on there from what you've been able to
see why, even as he's improved the last couple of weeks,
McCarthy and Jefferson just can't seem to build that chemistry.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Yeah, if I had that answer, you know, Justin Jefferson
might give me a couple of his his chains and
his clothing you know that he wears and everything. No, truly,
I think the answer is pretty simple, which is so
I think that they know the answer. It's just how
do you execute it When you have Justin Jefferson on
your team. The other team designs their entire coverage around
(24:05):
trying to stop Justin Jefferson, so you have, you know,
teams bracketing him, teams pressing him. And the way that
Kevin O'Connell has solved this over the years is a
lot of like dagger concepts where you're trying to use
one player to clear out some space, but the windows
close really really tightly around Justin Jefferson because everyone knows
(24:28):
where he is on the field at all times, so
you have to have the ball out into a specific
area of the field on the way traveling to him
as he's coming out of his break. You cannot wait
until he gets out of his break and he's running
across the field open and then throw him the ball.
You could do that with other receivers because you know
(24:48):
other receivers are getting open one on one, but that
just doesn't happen with Jefferson. And I think what we
have not seen much of from JJ McCarthy is those
anticipation type throws where when Carson Wentz the old vet
was in there, you'd see him release the football before
Jefferson broke out toward the sideline and then it hits
him for a first down. And I just don't think
(25:10):
McCarthy is really there yet And the other part is
that he doesn't have a lot of touch on the football.
It's a one speed thrower. It's everything is ninety nine
miles an hour. And that was a big part of
his scouting report coming out to the NFL, and the
big question was how much can you fix that? And
they've worked on fundamentals and he's had some touch throws,
(25:30):
but I mean, you need to really trust that ball,
and Sam Darnold was great at it. Kirk Cousins was
always as an anticipation thrower because he didn't have the
strongest arm in the world, and that really works for
Justin Jefferson. But this has not but we have reached
like a okay, no more excuse this type of moments
(25:51):
with that, because if you can't get the ball to Jefferson,
you can't operate this offense on a week to week basis. Okay,
you know, you beat Dallas they have one of the
worst defense is in the league. You beat Washington, same story,
but like, all right, now it's time to figure it
out how to connect with Justin Jefferson or I don't
know that there's gonna be a ton of confidence going forward.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
And where they're at and unfortunately the Giants. I would
slide into that similar category with how their defensive plate
as well. With Washington and Dallas. What's going on the
offensive line? Who should we expect? Brian one on the
injury report, Ryan Kelly on the injury report, they are
both limited on Thursday. We're recording this on Friday morning.
And then Christian Darisaw with the knee, he's been out
a bit questionable last week, didn't make it. Who should
(26:32):
we expect to see on that Vikings offensive front?
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Yeah, So with Kelly and Brian O'Neil, I think there's
a really good chance that those guys play. They probably
are just needing a little bit of veteran rest coming
out of the Dallas game, where both of them were
really good. Especially Ryan Kelly has been a complete game
changer when he's been in for the Vikings. I mean,
he just commands that offensive line. He's helped JJ McCarthy
(26:56):
so much. He is absolutely excellent at picking up and
stunts and twists and all those things that the defenses
are trying to do up front. So his status is
huge for them. But I think he'll probably play the
Darisaw thing. How long do we have on this podcast.
I mean, it's just it's just been very frustrating for everybody.
I mean, because he had the ACL tear last year,
(27:19):
but my understanding is that it was much worse than
your run of the mill ACL tear. That's nine months
and you're coming back and you're just fine, and the
recovery has just not been like, oh, he gets a
little bit better every day and then he's one hundred
percent and then it's good to go. And it's been
a week to week type of thing where he plays
against Washington and he's absolutely excellent and nothing looks like
(27:41):
it's wrong, and then he doesn't play the next week,
and what exactly is happening here? And I think that
he has not fully come to trust where it's at.
I think that the recovery has dealt with and some
swelling has been mentioned, the soreness has been mentioned to it,
and you know, I think if you're in Darisaw's position
and your team is six and eight and out of
the playoff race, if you don't feel really really good
(28:04):
about that knee, I don't think you want to play
Brian Burns because you know, what are we playing for here?
I mean, we're all playing to find out if JJ
McCarthy's good. But I mean, Christian Darrisol has got a
long career in front of him, so that whole thing
I think has really been tough for him and really
been tough for the team. And the backup justin school
has tried as hard as you can try over there
(28:26):
left tackle. But John, how many how many great backup
left tackles are there? Probably as many as there are
backup great quarterbacks right like zero, So it's a tough task.
And then you know Brian Burns Abdual Carter like, this
is the this is the biggest edge of the game
by far, if Christian Darrisaol does not play, because the
drop off is as big as from a franchise quarterback
(28:48):
to a backup when we're talking about Derisaw to School.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Yeah, jihnny fans have seen firsthand when Andrew Thomas is
not in there, everything looks different for the offense. So
I completely get where you're coming from. Defensively, a couple
big losses. Jonathan Gernardi was kind of playing through that
that shoulder you know, peck thing. It looks like he's
now he's out for the year. Josh Mattelis, you're kind of,
you know, versatile second level defender. He's out for the year.
(29:14):
Javon Hargrave did not practice both the first two days
this week. What are we looking at health wise on
the defense and how do the losses of those two
key pieces affect what Brian Flores wants to do.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Yeah, I mean Grenard is kind of where the entire
defense starts. It's I mean, the things that Floraes does
are incredible, the different blitzes and his connection with Harrison Smith,
who's essentially a defensive coordinator on the field and is
you know, kind of making checks and changes in real time.
I mean that's great. But where it all begins is
(29:44):
one guy who wins his matchup versus the best left
tackles in the league and creates pressure. And you can
look at Grenard's sack numbers and say, well, what are
you talking about? But look at his pressure numbers. As
you and I as data guys, we understand this pass
rush win rate. He's top ten amongst starters. Pressure rate,
he's top ten amongst starters. So he's been in the
(30:05):
backfield causing problems. Just one of the main issues is
they've played a bunch of running quarterbacks who are hard
to sack, I think, but he's been every bit as
good as he was last year. Now it's it's intrigue
for us because it's gonna be Dallas Turner, who when
he filled in for Grenard earlier this year, had four
sacks thirteen pressures in a three game run. But you know,
(30:28):
he hasn't gotten to do that a whole lot. He's
often been trying to emulate Andrew Van Ginkle, who was
injured earlier this year and plays a completely different role,
who's more of a true like outside linebacker, drop it
back and coverage line up in different spots. Grenard is
a pass rusher and starting to get the sense that
Dallas Turner really is just a pass rusher. He can
(30:48):
do the other stuff, but he's not Andrew Van Ginkel.
So this is a huge opportunity for him and kind
of show what you can do at that position and
then maybe they'll know what they have. Overall, his second
year as a first round draft pick, I think has
been progress, but I would not say that he's become
the you know, the next bake star rusher in the
NFL yet And there's a chance here in these final
(31:09):
three games for him to kind of show yeah, like
you guys made the right draft pick and you know
you there you have something to work with here for
the future as a pass rusher, but maybe not quite
as much as a versatile player. But losing Grenard is
absolutely huge. And Mettelis, Look, I mean, that's a guy
who you never know where he's gonna line up. He's
played all sorts of different positions, and they've been playing
(31:31):
mostly three safeties lately rather than you know, a nickel
corner because they lost Jeff Okuda. So yeah, I mean,
Jay Ward's gonna get his opportunity. But you know, Mattellis
is one of the smarter players in the NFL. So
these are these are big losses and chances for the
Giants to face a Vikings team that does not have
(31:51):
its full breadth of players.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
I kind of like Brian Flores takes the point of
blitzing and kind of turns it on its head a
little bit in terms of what he's trying to do.
And I'll try to explain the fans what I mean,
and you correct me if you think I'm off face here.
But it's funny you look at. One that I like
look at every week is how the opposing team's pass
rating versus the blitz. And I think the vikings are
(32:15):
like next to last in the league is like one
twenty five, right, But then you look at this, then
you say, wait a second. They given a fewer twenty
plus yard passes than any other team in the league. Said,
you're trying to figure out what's going on here, And
it's funny. A lot of people think if you blitz
a lot, you're very susceptible, it passes over the top.
Well that's not how Brian Flores does it. He literally
blitzes to force you to do what you're supposed to
(32:38):
do when a team blitzes, which is to throw like
a two yard dump off. But the problem is that
it's third and six, so you gain three yards and
then you have to punt. So I like the way
he's kind of designed this where it's like, all right,
I'm gonna blitz a lot and pressure not to get sacks,
but just to make you run your offense that you
cannot have successful plays and move the chains.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
I think that's a tremendous description. And the other thing
is too sometimes you blitz to then set up not
blitz this ye. He shows so many different things at
the line of scrimmage where if you are quarterback, you're
looking at it and going, Okay, they had this look before,
here's what they're gonna do, or here's what I saw
(33:18):
on tape, and then oh, that's not even close to
what I saw. And really the lynchpint to this is
always Harrison Smith if you watch him, especially the last
couple of weeks, he's been at full health. Earlier this
year he dealt with, you know, kind of a personal
illness that was held back for playing entire games. But
now he's back to full health and you see him
(33:39):
lining up at the edge and then right before the
snap running all the way back to a deep safety spot.
Or I saw another play where he was an edge
rusher and then drop back into like a hook curl
zone and you're like, wait a minute, he just played
linebacker on that play, you know, after lining up as
an edge rusher. Like, there's so many different things that
they do off of him. And then real the revelation
(34:03):
player this year, which I didn't really see coming even
though I was a believer in this guy, was Eric Wilson,
who previously was with the Vikings, and I thought, hey,
this is a great special teamer, great depth linebacker. If
he needs to play, you're gonna be in good shape.
But what Brian Flores discovered is if you can get
this guy blitzing, he will run over running backs. He
(34:25):
is one of the stronger players that they have, and
he has just trucked running backs in the in the blitz.
So they've used a lot of those cross dog type
blitzes where you have the two linebackers go in the
opposite ways. He's gotten free a couple of times, one
on one with a That was the game earlier this
year where Jamiir Gibbs gave up seven pressures because they
(34:48):
just rushed Eric Wilson up the middle over and over
and over again and it caused so many problems. So
that's something I'm sure that the Giants are preparing for.
But it's hard to prepare for when you have so
many guys that are so good, uh at blitzing and
at deception. So it's gonna really test the young quarterback
Jacks Dart.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Yeah. And then in the secondary, they have the slowest
cover one rate in the league. I think it's set
them in front of me. I think six percent something
ridiculous like that. That's so far the least in the
league that like the next team is not even that
close to them. It's just a lot of different zones,
and they'll I imagine they they they disguise those zones.
(35:27):
They don't. You don't, you don't show what you're in.
That's kind of, you know, the new in vogue thing
in the National Football League. And you got a couple
of corners. I think Isaiah Rodgers is playing well. By
m Murphy's playing well. You mentioned Harrison Smith obviously has
been doing this forever. You know, he used to pick
up Eli Manning fifteen years ago. Yeah, talk about what
he does in the back half to compliment all those
(35:49):
you know, double mug shows. All right, we're dropping, we're coming.
How does what he do in the does How does
what he does in the back end compliment what he's
doing up front.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Yeah, it's so interesting because there's always going to be
two deep safeties. But the question usually that the quarterback
has to figure out is is there also going to
be the Tampa player there? And I don't say the
Tampa linebacker because the Tampa player could be anybody. And
what I mean is in the middle of the two
deep safeties, you have another player in the middle of
(36:19):
that zone, and where is that guy even coming from?
Because sometimes that can be, you know, a linebacker. Sometimes
that can be a traditional type of middle linebacker, could
be outside linebacker, could be you know previously a Josh
mittelis a box safety who suddenly arrives there and then
they rotate somebody over. They do the inverted stuff where
(36:40):
you have the safety come down on a cover two
and then the corner go back to where the safety
is supposed to be. It's it's all versions of coverages
that everybody uses, but how they get to that point
and then with who's coming on the pressures, it all
ties together to just look like you know, the conversation
it's been happening with the peer progressions and everything else
(37:02):
like that one. They're trying to get you to, as
you said, like go to the quickest option possible, but
also they're trying to make that quarterback drop back and
look at the defense in the first second of it
and go I have no idea why this player's over there,
Where this player's going is my guy open. But it's
(37:24):
not an invincible defense though. That is one thing that
I should say is it's not certainly they can be
run against Javon Hargrave. If he misses this game, we'll
make that a little bit tougher for them to stop
the run. Josh Mattelis is always one of their best
run defenders. Jonathan Grenard is great at setting edges. Dallas
Turner I would not say that he has reached that
(37:45):
point in his career yet. And if you can get
these guys one on one. Byron Murphy has not had
the same year as last year. And you know, Isaiah
Rodgers is blazing fast, but he's not the biggest guy.
So if you can get some matchups with bigger saw
him struggle with Devonte Smith. We saw this team struggle
with aj Brown.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
So when they've played bigger or better wide receivers, they've
had some trouble if the quarterback can find enough time
to throw. And this is the thing that they've struggled
with with that. Jackson Dart does well is quarterbacks with
some mobility. I mean, if you're able to like a
Jalen Hurtz or a Kleb Williams, slide around, move away
from the rush by yourself a little extra time. This
(38:26):
team does not have players in the secondary who are
going to hang on for four seconds if they get
manned up, It's just not gonna happen. So Jackson Dart's playmaking,
I think really goes into this.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Matt. Awesome stuff, my friend. Tell the folks, we think
you'll find all your great work.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
That would be a Purple Insider on YouTube, Purple Insider
wherever you get your podcasts, and Purple Insider Dot Football
is the newsletter.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Enjoy this. I enjoy the game on Sunday, my friend.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Thanks, Jean, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (38:53):
Man.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
If you want to know how to manage two minutes
of crunch time football, I'm your Matt.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
But if you're wondering about a long term financial plan,
you should talk to Citizens.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Hey, I can also talk long care.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
I'd like to learn about Amili routine.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
Yes, I knew I could help makes sense of your
money with Citizens. Really good stuff from Matt. We appreciate
him joining us right here on the Giants Total Podcast,
brought to you by Citizens. Now let's hear from the
head coach of the NYG interim head coach Mike Kafka
with the voice of the Giants Bob Papa.
Speaker 4 (39:21):
As always, were joined by the head coach of the
New York Giants, Mike Kafka and coach you get this
football game against the Minnesota Vikings. This is a team
that has gotten hot as of late, the averaging thirty
two half thirty two and a half points per game
over there last too, when you study this Minnesota team,
what are some of the things that jump out at
you as far as the way they've progressed as far
(39:44):
as McCarthy's concerning their offensive productivity.
Speaker 5 (39:48):
Yeah, you're seeing the evolution of JJ and you know,
just starting off as a young player and having some opportunities,
you know, early in the season and it's kind of
being up and down. Then he can continue find his
groove and find some consistency on offense. And obviously they
have some skill guys on the perimeter and in the
backfield that can obviously make an impact. And I think
(40:08):
JJ's is just doing a really nice job of not
only just managing the games, but also giving this guys
opportunities and putting the ball in their hands.
Speaker 4 (40:16):
Although the numbers aren't there as far as what we're
used to seeing from Justin Jefferson. Talk about the impact
that he has on your team defensively because of the
threat that exists on literally every snap.
Speaker 5 (40:30):
Yeah, I mean, he's a guy, he's an elite player,
one of the probably the best receiver in the league,
and you have to you know, you have to respect
that and you have to know where he's at in
every single snap. You know, they're going to try and
find ways to get in the football and he's going
to be primary receiver for I said, the majority of
their routes. But they compliment him well with the other
guys around in the offense, you know, Naylor and.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
Addison, Madison, you.
Speaker 5 (40:56):
Know, like they had Hockinson. I mean, these guys are
these guys are well built. So you know, you have
one elite player or you know, a really elite player,
I shouldn't say one, a really elite player, and then
you compliment him with a bunch of different other skill sets.
Makes it hard to depend down coach.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
The running game.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
Obviously, they've used Mason a lot this year. They have Jones.
Both of those guys their threats in a lot of
different ways. Is that something that a lot of teams
are comfortable with as far as having multiple backs to use.
Speaker 5 (41:30):
I'd say, yeah, I think I think a lot of
teams are just mixing up their personnel. They're complimenting their backs,
you know, whether ones are kind of a speedback, ones
a downhill back. You know, every I think every team
kind of carries a different philosophy. But yeah, I think
I think you see that across the league on certain
uncertain teams that they have kind of a you know.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
A little bit of a flexibility there.
Speaker 4 (41:52):
I'd say, let's go to the other side of the ball, right,
Brian Flores's defense is one that they blitz a lot.
They bring pressure, and sometimes it brings the illusion of pressure.
How do you go about deciphering it as a young quarterback?
And Jackson Dart's got to deal with it. And I know, look,
he's played a lot of ball this year. He's played
(42:13):
against a lot of good defensive coordinators. But each step
is a learning process. But what are some of the
keys in trying to sort of diagnose this team defensively?
Speaker 5 (42:24):
Yeah, I think it starts with just your base rules
and fundamentals on offense, you know, you we try to
create a framework of of your movement keys of your
identify your the individuals on defense that you need to
identify that could be put in conflict. So in just
any pass game that we had, we'd have, Hey, we're
looking at a flat defender, We're looking at a crooked
(42:45):
curl defender. And yeah, that body type may be a
dB one play, maybe a linebacker one play. Shoot, it
might even be a defensive end dropp into that play.
So it's but it's about putting your eyes on the
right spot, trusting your eye progression, trusting the base rules
of that concept, and then own just let your natural
ability show. And if you work within the framework of
the offense, I think, and be able to stay on
(43:06):
time and in rhythm. I think all that stuff put
together is going to give you the best opportunity. And
so when you have someone that you're going against that
has a multiple way to get to different different looks
and different coverages and different fronts, I think it all
of us goes back to your base rules.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
Coach.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
You know, last week against Washington, there were a lot
of opportunities in the football game, and it was a
one score game, and you had some chances late in
the football game and some things were just like a
little bit off as far as communication or what everybody
was seeing down the stretch. When you're coaching them during
the course of the week, what are some of the
things that you go back and try to reinforce to
(43:46):
kind of clean those things up.
Speaker 5 (43:48):
Yeah, all the fundamentals and all the communication. That's the
one thing that we stress every single day and trying
to find that one little that one little nugget, that
one little piece that each player can work on and
hold on to can to get consistent improvement. And so
when we look at our guys, when we look at
our group, you know offensive definitely in special teams, you know,
(44:09):
you look at those things and you say, all right, right,
here's where we can really get better this week.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
Here's what we gotta have to do.
Speaker 2 (44:14):
We have to improve.
Speaker 5 (44:15):
And it may be you know, a new player in
a new role, maybe you know a couple of different
players in a different role. So you know, you're getting
those guys caught up the speed, and our coaches do
a great job of doing that. But yeah, I mean
it starts with our base, our base rules and fundamentals.
Speaker 4 (44:30):
Coach Andrew Thomas, I know he's up for consideration for
the Pro Bowl. And I know you look at things
in a team totality, but this guy has been absolutely
fantastics this year and whenever he plays. How impressed have
you been with his ability to come back from what
was a pretty severe injury that forced him to miss
a lot of time and to play at the level
that he's played at this year.
Speaker 5 (44:51):
Yeah, Ri, it's really no surprise to me. Since the
day I got here, he's been, you know, a pillar
of consistency in terms of his play and execution and
and how he approaches the game, how he approaches meetings,
how he approaches you know, his teammates in the locker room.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
It's all consistent.
Speaker 5 (45:07):
And you know, he's a guy that we lean on
as an offense and certainly as a coach and as
the head coach, the guy that I lean on in
terms of leadership and showing, you know, young players and
how the group, how this thing should be, how it
should look.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
Coach, We appreciate a couple minutes. Best of luck this afternoon,
and Merry Christmas to you and your family, and hopefully
Santa delivers victory here this week.
Speaker 1 (45:30):
Thank you you as well. Happy holidays, Great stuff. There
from Bob, from Mike Kafka, we thank them, We thank
Matthew Kohller and of course we thank Tyrone Tracy Junior
for being our guest this week on The Giants Toutle Podcast,
brought to you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants.
I am John Schmelk You and of course Chake Got
Big Blue kickoff live Saturday at seven am on w FAM,
(45:52):
Mark Lewsis and I Talk Giants, take your calls, and
then Tikey Barber and I'll have the pregame show for
you on Sunday at eleven am on the Fan, getting
you ready for Giants and Vikings. Thanks so much for
being with us, everybody. We'll see you next time on
The Giants Total Podcast, brought to you by Citizens
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