March 31, 2025 • 16 mins
John Schmeelk sits down with Giants newest free agent signings Victor Dimukeje & Lil'Jordan Humphrey.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to get inside the Giants. UT's let's go.
Let's go Giants. I like it out my Giants, give
me some jump. Part of the Giants podcast network. Let's
roll and now we welcome in one of the newest
members of New York Football Giants, edge Player, Victor d Mukaji. Victor,
how are you man?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Knowing well? How you doing?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
I'm doing well? So edge player? Is that accurate? Is
that how you would kind of classify yourself the end
the outside linebacker?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I say edge player. You know I saw a linebacker
edge player, someone who could said the edge rush you, passer,
drive back if you need to be so.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Describe your game for for Giant fans that maybe haven't
seen you play.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I'll say I'm a physical specimen. You know, I play
to my strengths. You know, I just like the physical
play of the game. You know, do the dirty work
if you need me on special teams, defense or Russia, passer,
set an edge, whatever whatever to make the team win.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, you do. You mentioned it your side. You're six
two two sixty. You know a lot of guys playing
the edge. Now are six one two forty five. You're
a bigger edge Giants boarder a similar guy, Chauncey Golston,
who's also a bigger edge A little bit earlier in
free you can say, how do you utilize your size
and your length? Thirty three and the eighth in charms.
I looked that up from the combine. How do you
utilize your size and length to be an effective edge
player against the run and rushing the passer.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah. I like to set a lot of my stuff
with power, you know, send the edge with power, rushing
the passable power and a lot of people might overlook,
you know how like my speed sometimes based on my size,
but I feel like that gives me an edge on
special teams. Also, I like to bring out special teams
because you know, I kind of embrace that role also,
you know, defense and special teams. So whenever I'm on
special teams or defense, I try to set it with
(01:32):
power and then you know, we'll move on from there.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
How do you utilize your length? Is that something where
when you sit in the edge, you're able to keep
the guys off you a little bit and then you
can see the running back in id and get after
him a little bit.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, I have long arms. I'm a shorter guy edge.
As far as the edge play, I'm a shorter guy.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
But it doesn't really matter though, right, That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Like, I feel like I have pretty long arms, so
when I go to power long arms set up anything
speed power, I like to set it up with my
long arms. It helps me out a lots separating from
the tall, litt old lineman from time to time, and
I feel like that gives me an advantage when I'm
saying to edge.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I was talking to Trauncy when he came in last
week and I asked him about dealing with tight ends,
and he goes, one thing I was talking from early age,
you do not let tight ends block you.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
No, you can't get into it.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Now if a tight end blocks, y'all feel like you
got to walk off the field. Like that's the biggest
mismatch in football, DN or a star linebacker versus a
tight end. So I kind of embraced myself whenever I
go get in the tight end, it has to be
like a demolition. It can't even be a close. It
can't even be a battle. You gotta win early. You
have two seconds to get off the block.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
I like that. I like that all right, I'll get you.
Especially it's been a second. You're talking about the run
defense pressure. You had an over fifteen percent pressure rate
the last two years. Maybe you didn't have a ton
of pass us snatch, but when you did, you were
very effective in getting after the quarterback. What's you're kind
of You're talking about power, but what's your kind of
go to counter off of that power to try to
get to the quarterback?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Like I say, I feel like a lot of people
sleep on my speed. So I might beat you with
power and then my next switch up is speed. It
could be like a power to like a pool or
like a you know, push school type of deal. Uh,
like a job and go. You might see power coming
and then I come off the edge, So it's different.
(03:13):
I try to set my game up. You know, it
worked to my strengths, and you know, as the game
goes on, you kind of get a feel of who
your pulling and who you're going against. And I feel
like that helps me throughout the game, you know, getting
him out on his head and play my game.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
You were coached by Giants outside linebacker coach Charlie bowen
Don in Arizona. What is it about him and his
style that he already smile and that kind of that
kind of attracted you to him and decided to come here.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, when he hit me up during free agency, it
was kind of a no brainer. But when he actually
got the job with the Cardinals, I was the first
outs linebacker that he drafted. When I saw it, I
like his you know, tenacity, like the way he coaches,
he brings the energy each and every day. And yeah,
just being able to reunite with him, you know, I
feel like we got a lot of ways to go,
(03:55):
a lot of lost times, and I'm excited to get
back to work with him.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
How much, if at all, have you on passing downs
slid into playing a little through technique to rush the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I actually did a lot. I got a couple of
sacks I think two years ago doing that. That was
kind of my role on third down, playing the one
and three, you.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Know, nice one. Yeah. I feel like, yeah, I feel like.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I'm versatile enough to do that, you know, wherever the
team needs me. And I just like embracing whatever role
I'm giving in. I feel like I could help the
team whatever way they need me. But rushing the past
it from the five through the one, I feel I
could do it.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
How does your past rush plan change when you're going
against the bigger guards or even the smaller centers as
compared to maybe some of the bigger tackles outside.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
You know, it comes with film study, but I also
kind of approach it just like I'm on the edge still,
you know, because just because the guards are bigger than
the tackles, a lot of times, yeah, they might feel
like I'm not strong enough to go through them, and
I could do that, And then when they sit on
the power, I could go to the speed. So I
feel like it's kind of like it's a chess game
at the end of the day. So just game planning,
(04:57):
watching film and know who I'm going against on the
edge or inside. I feel like it's kind of the
same approach for me.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
All right. I love the fact that you're the one
that kept trying to bring up special teams to me,
which I think is great. Talk about your core special
teamer first and foremost. You play, you play all the units.
Where do you think you're most effective in terms of
your spots on these core special teams units? It's kick coverage,
it's a punk coverage. Where do you think you play
your best ball on specials.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah, I've kind of grown to embrace the roller special
teams in this league. I've played defense in my past,
and but I feel like special teams have helped me
like become the player like I've become because special teams
is a grimy game, like a lot of people, A
lot of people don't really understand that.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
So it's not glamorous.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, fact, so just the physical play on special teams,
like just the grime, the physical play and the constant
pounding on all four phases. I feel like that also
helps me translate to that grimy defensive style of play,
and I kind of embrace it on punt, you know,
I feel like my type of play on punt, like
a lot of outside linebackers, you know, you gotta play
(06:02):
to your strengths, which is for me, physicality.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
The Johns Total Podcast is brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the New York Giants. From game
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Learn more at citizensbank dot com. Slash Giants hoddle up.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Get in here.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I don't know, but Citizens does make sense of your
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Speaker 3 (06:33):
How much did.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Playing Specials help you work on your angles and working
in space? Right, because you're trying to close on really
fast guys from far away and you have to make
sure that you set your angles, you stay in your lane.
How much does that help that part of your game?
Kind of managing space against faster, more athletic offensive guys.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Right, you going against skilled guys, guys running for twos
and a lot of times like I'm one on one
way those guys, and you know, I'm make a living,
you know, making those type of players. I feel like
it gives me a thrill. You know, I tackled You're
like like two times less of my size and I
tackled you. That gives me a thriller on the inside. So,
(07:11):
you know, just working on that aspect on special teams
and then like tackling guys on defense too, I feel
like it helps my game, Like when you can make
those one on one tackles on special teams, it translates
to defense.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Also, I like it all right. You mentioned the football
part of this. How come New York you think was
a good fit for you as a guy coming to
the big city.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
New York was a good fit. I'm an East Coast
kid and I've been on the West Coast for four
years and when I got the chance to come back
to this side of town, you know, Baltimore, Maryland. Yeah,
so it was a no brander. I mean, New York
is a big city and the history great edge players
in the past, lt Or seeing me yor Michael Straighthan
(07:53):
is a lot of guys, I can name it all.
So it was a no brander, just a lot of things.
I was a lot of things. Was checking the boxes
for me, and at the end of the day, I
prayed on it and I made the right decision.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Were you a Ravens guy growing up in Baltimore?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah? I was.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
I mean They've always had a great defense and now
they come to the organization. Is that fun for you
trying to be part of an organization that really values
defense and specifically pass rushing play upfront.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
No, for sure. I just love defensive, aggressive defenses, you know,
like the Ravens in the past, the Giants now you know,
I just like that type of defense, nasty, you know,
you know, hard and nose defense. And I'm excited to
see you at the future. Holes.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Are you excited to play like outside cold weather football again?
After spending four years at Arizota.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Arizona had some good weather, but I'm excited for switch up.
You know. I feel like New York I could adapt
to any weather. You know, as long as I bring
my helmet, my shoulder pass, I'll be ready to have
I play.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
What's the first thing you want to kind of do
in New York when you have some free time to
day off and you want to kind of check out
in the city.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Just go to Manhattan, you know, just check out the city.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Have you been before or no?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I actually was here around this time last year.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yes, yeah, what did you do?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I went to the NFL office, went to go in
sex with Justin Tuck.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Oh, you're nice.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
So it was a lot of stuff to do just
outside of football, things to do out here, and it
was it was fun.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
How much did you get to know Justin through the
I'm assuming this is kind of like an NFL player
development program type of deal. How much did you kind
of get to talk to him and have you built
a relationship with him at all?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Yeah? Actually when I when I went in there, his
intern was one of my duke classmates.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, So I mean I was able to, you know,
ask him questions and like talk about his life after football.
And you know, he's a good guy. You know, I
admire guy too. Yeah, a smart guy, Notre Dame guy.
I was able to admire the stuff he did on
the field while he played, but seeing how he transitioned
off the field, you know that's a big deal and
I respect him for that.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Absolutely, Victor, good stuff, man. I can't wait to see
him and working on a few weeks. Thanks for the time.
Welcome onboard for having Victor do Bakji one of the
newest members of the Near Football Giants. If you want
to know how to manage two minutes of crunch time football,
I'm your man. But if you're wondering about a long
term financial plan, you should talk to Citizens. Hey, I
can also talk long care.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I'd like to learn about annoliar team. Yes, I knew
I could.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Help make sense of your money with Citizens. And now
we walk home in one of the newest Giants, Little
Jordan Humphrey, little Jordan, what's going on? Then?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Just kicking it, you know, excited to be here, happy
to be here.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Why did you choose the Giants?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I mean, the Giants got such a rich culture, so some.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Mu's history, and you know, I just wanted to be
a part of something that's that's great and you know,
try to build something here.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Did you talk to anybody maybe on the team that
you knew? I think Greg Dolsach is probably a guy
that came up with a lit last year. He's here.
Anybody you talked to about coming here and kind of
what that culture is all about?
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Uh, not really I have. I haven't really talked with
those guys yet. But you know, just like growing up,
you know, I'm from Texas. All the Cowboys, all the
Cowboys fans hate the Giants, so you know, I used
to kind of root for him just because I didn't
like the Cowboys.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Like that, Oh you were a Cowboys fan.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
I wasn't the biggest Cowboys fan. But you know, the
Super Bowl when the Patriots were were undefeated, then the
Giants came in and to kind of took that away
from her.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I was kind of I was room for the then,
but yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
I mean, you just know about Giants football, the City,
wild City, you know what I mean. They're all about
Giants football, and why not be a part of something.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
That that great. So that's the reason why I want
to come here.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, Giants knocked the knocked the Cowboys out of the
playoffs in that two thousand and seven Super Bowl run too.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
All right, Lou Jordan, is that your given name or
is that your nickname?
Speaker 3 (11:27):
That's my given name.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Okay, because I was gonna say, you're not little. I
get that. I'm sure you do. I'm sure you're tired
of the joke. I apologize. I will make it again.
So six explain your style as a receiver for Giant fans.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
I think I'm just I'm a physical presence out there.
I like to put hands on people. But when I
get the ball in my hands, I like to make
plays with the ball. I move pretty I move well
for my size. I don't think there's a lot of
guys my size who can kind of do what I
do with the ball in my hands. And that's kind
of like how I feel like I'm not the fastest,
but like I will go get the ball, making tests catches,
(12:06):
and like I said, I make plays with the ball
in my hand.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
And I think one thing that jumped out to me
is your seven career touchdowns, right, And I think that
goes back to your size. How do you utilize your
size and your skill set in the red zone that's
made you so effective in scoring touchdowns?
Speaker 4 (12:19):
I mean just just being able to have the QBS
trust and they just put it anywhere and be able
to go get it. You know, I think I have
pretty good hands. I like to believe that, and so
just you know, going up and getting the ball wherever
is that is being a good asset for the QB.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
So you started your career with the Saints, you went
to the Patriots for year, then you wind up two
years in Denver. I feel like you and Sean Payne
have kind of like a thing. H What is it
about you and Sean pain and the way he works
his offense and his scheme and everything that made it
work for you.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
I mean, Sean kind of likes the big body guy
in the in the kind of slot role and that's
kind of where I played when I was with him
him and he he I'm he likes smart players and
I like to think I'm smart sometimes, you know what
I mean, an intelligent player and I'm physical.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
I like the blog.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
I don't mind getting doing the dirty work, and he
likes those type of guys and kind of just built
a relationship and yeah, went on from there.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
It's funny you bring that up because I think most
people think, all right, six four two twenty five, he's
an outside X receiver and that's where he's gonna play.
But you mentioned Sean Payne right, like he and Michael Thomas,
he played the slot for him. He was a bigger guy. Yeah,
So are you more comfortable you think in the slot?
Do you like playing outside? What's your comfort level there?
In terms of which spot you want.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
To play a wide receiver, it doesn't really matter to me.
I'm I'm here. I can play all all three receiver spots.
Like I said, I'm not a burner like so it's
not like I'm gonna be a Z or something. Yeah,
is blowing the top off of a defense. But I
got the caple I'm capable of doing it. I could
do all three of them, and it's just whether it's
(13:53):
just whether the coaches see me fit and where I
can help the team. At Uh, he was just plugged
me in anywhere, And I feel like I'm a very
versatile guy and can do a lot.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I was looking at your special team snaps. Not a
ton last year, right, but a lot of special teams
early in your career. What are some of the teams
that you play on and some of the roles that
you played on special teams over the course of your career.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
I've done some gunner, some gunner on punt, did the
you know, did some punt return stuff blocking, Uh, did
some kickoff return not really haven't really done kickoff, but
those type of things. Like I said, I feel like
I can do a lot of things, especially on gunner
(14:34):
done doubt like especially going in punts. I feel like
I have a I don't know, certain skills set to
like track down the ball and especially I'm going in
punts and I think I do well at that. I'm
very I got a pretty good skill set at that.
So I mean, just trying to continue to grow at
the end special team because like you said, I didn't
(14:55):
do a lot of special teams last year, but looking to.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Grow in that in that role all.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
So yeah, I mean I think looking at your size
and athletic profile like that screams gunner to me, it
seems like it's kind of like the perfect fit. Why
why do you think you're a good gun around punt?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Just physical, you know what I mean? Most most what
do you call them? I don't want to say flyers, jammers,
most jammers. They're not the biggest.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
They can run though, but like they're not the biggest Uh.
But like I like to like I like to dominate. Uh,
just put my body on them, kind of throw them around,
and you know, just make plays.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
I always like talking about building a basketball team in
the wide receiver room, right, you want some of the smaller,
quick guys, the point guard types. You want the bigger guys.
You want the guy kind of the wings that can
do a little bit of everything. How do you think
you fit in with the Waldo Robinson, Darius Slayton and
jayal and Hyatt Waldo Robinson group that they currently haven
wide out?
Speaker 4 (15:43):
I mean, like I said, I feel like I can
compliment their game. Like they're guys they move very well,
can run very well, can get in and out their
breaks very well, can do everything, do it all. I
just feel like I can just compliment them in any way. Uh,
just going out there and just being me and being
physical kind of dominating some some dbs with them.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Man, Yeah, very good.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
All right. Finally you mentioned the city, crazy crazy city.
You don't see it never sleeps. What are some of
the things that you kind of have on your check
lest all right, I'm in New York now, I'm gonna
be living around the city. Things that you're like, all right,
I can't wait to go out and do this.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Uh, I don't know, maybe go to Adega or something
like that. I like it, maybe Central Park or something
like that. But yeah, I'm big.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Like food guy. You're a big like movie guy, like
shows anything like that.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Not really, I guess I'm a big food guy. I
like food, you know. I like to watch shows if
it's good, Like I like the good shows. So I
mean under society just experienced everything. See what's out there?
Like this is this is gonna be your first time
like really in New York.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
So it's gonna be I think it's gonna be awesome experience.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Well, dude, we're happy to have you. Thanks and that's
the walkman. Welcome on board, Thank you, Thank you do
It's football Giant Lott, Jordan Humphrey,
It's time to get inside the Giants. UT's let's go.
Let's go Giants. I like it out my Giants, give
me some jump. Part of the Giants podcast network. Let's
roll and now we welcome in one of the newest
members of New York Football Giants, edge Player, Victor d Mukaji. Victor,
how are you man?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Knowing well? How you doing?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
I'm doing well? So edge player? Is that accurate? Is
that how you would kind of classify yourself the end
the outside linebacker?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I say edge player. You know I saw a linebacker
edge player, someone who could said the edge rush you, passer,
drive back if you need to be so.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Describe your game for for Giant fans that maybe haven't
seen you play.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I'll say I'm a physical specimen. You know, I play
to my strengths. You know, I just like the physical
play of the game. You know, do the dirty work
if you need me on special teams, defense or Russia, passer,
set an edge, whatever whatever to make the team win.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, you do. You mentioned it your side. You're six
two two sixty. You know a lot of guys playing
the edge. Now are six one two forty five. You're
a bigger edge Giants boarder a similar guy, Chauncey Golston,
who's also a bigger edge A little bit earlier in
free you can say, how do you utilize your size
and your length? Thirty three and the eighth in charms.
I looked that up from the combine. How do you
utilize your size and length to be an effective edge
player against the run and rushing the passer.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah. I like to set a lot of my stuff
with power, you know, send the edge with power, rushing
the passable power and a lot of people might overlook,
you know how like my speed sometimes based on my size,
but I feel like that gives me an edge on
special teams. Also, I like to bring out special teams
because you know, I kind of embrace that role also,
you know, defense and special teams. So whenever I'm on
special teams or defense, I try to set it with
(01:32):
power and then you know, we'll move on from there.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
How do you utilize your length? Is that something where
when you sit in the edge, you're able to keep
the guys off you a little bit and then you
can see the running back in id and get after
him a little bit.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, I have long arms. I'm a shorter guy edge.
As far as the edge play, I'm a shorter guy.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
But it doesn't really matter though, right, That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Like, I feel like I have pretty long arms, so
when I go to power long arms set up anything
speed power, I like to set it up with my
long arms. It helps me out a lots separating from
the tall, litt old lineman from time to time, and
I feel like that gives me an advantage when I'm
saying to edge.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I was talking to Trauncy when he came in last
week and I asked him about dealing with tight ends,
and he goes, one thing I was talking from early age,
you do not let tight ends block you.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
No, you can't get into it.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Now if a tight end blocks, y'all feel like you
got to walk off the field. Like that's the biggest
mismatch in football, DN or a star linebacker versus a
tight end. So I kind of embraced myself whenever I
go get in the tight end, it has to be
like a demolition. It can't even be a close. It
can't even be a battle. You gotta win early. You
have two seconds to get off the block.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
I like that. I like that all right, I'll get you.
Especially it's been a second. You're talking about the run
defense pressure. You had an over fifteen percent pressure rate
the last two years. Maybe you didn't have a ton
of pass us snatch, but when you did, you were
very effective in getting after the quarterback. What's you're kind
of You're talking about power, but what's your kind of
go to counter off of that power to try to
get to the quarterback?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Like I say, I feel like a lot of people
sleep on my speed. So I might beat you with
power and then my next switch up is speed. It
could be like a power to like a pool or
like a you know, push school type of deal. Uh,
like a job and go. You might see power coming
and then I come off the edge, So it's different.
(03:13):
I try to set my game up. You know, it
worked to my strengths, and you know, as the game
goes on, you kind of get a feel of who
your pulling and who you're going against. And I feel
like that helps me throughout the game, you know, getting
him out on his head and play my game.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
You were coached by Giants outside linebacker coach Charlie bowen
Don in Arizona. What is it about him and his
style that he already smile and that kind of that
kind of attracted you to him and decided to come here.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, when he hit me up during free agency, it
was kind of a no brainer. But when he actually
got the job with the Cardinals, I was the first
outs linebacker that he drafted. When I saw it, I
like his you know, tenacity, like the way he coaches,
he brings the energy each and every day. And yeah,
just being able to reunite with him, you know, I
feel like we got a lot of ways to go,
(03:55):
a lot of lost times, and I'm excited to get
back to work with him.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
How much, if at all, have you on passing downs
slid into playing a little through technique to rush the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I actually did a lot. I got a couple of
sacks I think two years ago doing that. That was
kind of my role on third down, playing the one
and three, you.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Know, nice one. Yeah. I feel like, yeah, I feel like.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I'm versatile enough to do that, you know, wherever the
team needs me. And I just like embracing whatever role
I'm giving in. I feel like I could help the
team whatever way they need me. But rushing the past
it from the five through the one, I feel I
could do it.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
How does your past rush plan change when you're going
against the bigger guards or even the smaller centers as
compared to maybe some of the bigger tackles outside.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
You know, it comes with film study, but I also
kind of approach it just like I'm on the edge still,
you know, because just because the guards are bigger than
the tackles, a lot of times, yeah, they might feel
like I'm not strong enough to go through them, and
I could do that, And then when they sit on
the power, I could go to the speed. So I
feel like it's kind of like it's a chess game
at the end of the day. So just game planning,
(04:57):
watching film and know who I'm going against on the
edge or inside. I feel like it's kind of the
same approach for me.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
All right. I love the fact that you're the one
that kept trying to bring up special teams to me,
which I think is great. Talk about your core special
teamer first and foremost. You play, you play all the units.
Where do you think you're most effective in terms of
your spots on these core special teams units? It's kick coverage,
it's a punk coverage. Where do you think you play
your best ball on specials.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah, I've kind of grown to embrace the roller special
teams in this league. I've played defense in my past,
and but I feel like special teams have helped me
like become the player like I've become because special teams
is a grimy game, like a lot of people, A
lot of people don't really understand that.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
So it's not glamorous.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, fact, so just the physical play on special teams,
like just the grime, the physical play and the constant
pounding on all four phases. I feel like that also
helps me translate to that grimy defensive style of play,
and I kind of embrace it on punt, you know,
I feel like my type of play on punt, like
a lot of outside linebackers, you know, you gotta play
(06:02):
to your strengths, which is for me, physicality.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
The Johns Total Podcast is brought to you by Citizens,
the official bank of the New York Giants. From game
day celebrations, see your everyday financial needs. Big Blue fans
can get the most out of every moment with Citizens.
Learn more at citizensbank dot com. Slash Giants hoddle up.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Get in here.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
If you're lined up here, you gotta go over the
middle with at the score great?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I don't know, but Citizens does make sense of your
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Speaker 3 (06:33):
How much did.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Playing Specials help you work on your angles and working
in space? Right, because you're trying to close on really
fast guys from far away and you have to make
sure that you set your angles, you stay in your lane.
How much does that help that part of your game?
Kind of managing space against faster, more athletic offensive guys.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Right, you going against skilled guys, guys running for twos
and a lot of times like I'm one on one
way those guys, and you know, I'm make a living,
you know, making those type of players. I feel like
it gives me a thrill. You know, I tackled You're
like like two times less of my size and I
tackled you. That gives me a thriller on the inside. So,
(07:11):
you know, just working on that aspect on special teams
and then like tackling guys on defense too, I feel
like it helps my game, Like when you can make
those one on one tackles on special teams, it translates
to defense.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Also, I like it all right. You mentioned the football
part of this. How come New York you think was
a good fit for you as a guy coming to
the big city.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
New York was a good fit. I'm an East Coast
kid and I've been on the West Coast for four
years and when I got the chance to come back
to this side of town, you know, Baltimore, Maryland. Yeah,
so it was a no brander. I mean, New York
is a big city and the history great edge players
in the past, lt Or seeing me yor Michael Straighthan
(07:53):
is a lot of guys, I can name it all.
So it was a no brander, just a lot of things.
I was a lot of things. Was checking the boxes
for me, and at the end of the day, I
prayed on it and I made the right decision.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Were you a Ravens guy growing up in Baltimore?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah? I was.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
I mean They've always had a great defense and now
they come to the organization. Is that fun for you
trying to be part of an organization that really values
defense and specifically pass rushing play upfront.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
No, for sure. I just love defensive, aggressive defenses, you know,
like the Ravens in the past, the Giants now you know,
I just like that type of defense, nasty, you know,
you know, hard and nose defense. And I'm excited to
see you at the future. Holes.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Are you excited to play like outside cold weather football again?
After spending four years at Arizota.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Arizona had some good weather, but I'm excited for switch up.
You know. I feel like New York I could adapt
to any weather. You know, as long as I bring
my helmet, my shoulder pass, I'll be ready to have
I play.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
What's the first thing you want to kind of do
in New York when you have some free time to
day off and you want to kind of check out
in the city.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Just go to Manhattan, you know, just check out the city.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Have you been before or no?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I actually was here around this time last year.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yes, yeah, what did you do?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I went to the NFL office, went to go in
sex with Justin Tuck.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Oh, you're nice.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
So it was a lot of stuff to do just
outside of football, things to do out here, and it
was it was fun.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
How much did you get to know Justin through the
I'm assuming this is kind of like an NFL player
development program type of deal. How much did you kind
of get to talk to him and have you built
a relationship with him at all?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Yeah? Actually when I when I went in there, his
intern was one of my duke classmates.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, So I mean I was able to, you know,
ask him questions and like talk about his life after football.
And you know, he's a good guy. You know, I
admire guy too. Yeah, a smart guy, Notre Dame guy.
I was able to admire the stuff he did on
the field while he played, but seeing how he transitioned
off the field, you know that's a big deal and
I respect him for that.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Absolutely, Victor, good stuff, man. I can't wait to see
him and working on a few weeks. Thanks for the time.
Welcome onboard for having Victor do Bakji one of the
newest members of the Near Football Giants. If you want
to know how to manage two minutes of crunch time football,
I'm your man. But if you're wondering about a long
term financial plan, you should talk to Citizens. Hey, I
can also talk long care.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I'd like to learn about annoliar team. Yes, I knew
I could.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Help make sense of your money with Citizens. And now
we walk home in one of the newest Giants, Little
Jordan Humphrey, little Jordan, what's going on? Then?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Just kicking it, you know, excited to be here, happy
to be here.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Why did you choose the Giants?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I mean, the Giants got such a rich culture, so some.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Mu's history, and you know, I just wanted to be
a part of something that's that's great and you know,
try to build something here.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Did you talk to anybody maybe on the team that
you knew? I think Greg Dolsach is probably a guy
that came up with a lit last year. He's here.
Anybody you talked to about coming here and kind of
what that culture is all about?
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Uh, not really I have. I haven't really talked with
those guys yet. But you know, just like growing up,
you know, I'm from Texas. All the Cowboys, all the
Cowboys fans hate the Giants, so you know, I used
to kind of root for him just because I didn't
like the Cowboys.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Like that, Oh you were a Cowboys fan.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
I wasn't the biggest Cowboys fan. But you know, the
Super Bowl when the Patriots were were undefeated, then the
Giants came in and to kind of took that away
from her.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I was kind of I was room for the then,
but yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
I mean, you just know about Giants football, the City,
wild City, you know what I mean. They're all about
Giants football, and why not be a part of something.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
That that great. So that's the reason why I want
to come here.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, Giants knocked the knocked the Cowboys out of the
playoffs in that two thousand and seven Super Bowl run too.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
All right, Lou Jordan, is that your given name or
is that your nickname?
Speaker 3 (11:27):
That's my given name.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Okay, because I was gonna say, you're not little. I
get that. I'm sure you do. I'm sure you're tired
of the joke. I apologize. I will make it again.
So six explain your style as a receiver for Giant fans.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
I think I'm just I'm a physical presence out there.
I like to put hands on people. But when I
get the ball in my hands, I like to make
plays with the ball. I move pretty I move well
for my size. I don't think there's a lot of
guys my size who can kind of do what I
do with the ball in my hands. And that's kind
of like how I feel like I'm not the fastest,
but like I will go get the ball, making tests catches,
(12:06):
and like I said, I make plays with the ball
in my hand.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
And I think one thing that jumped out to me
is your seven career touchdowns, right, And I think that
goes back to your size. How do you utilize your
size and your skill set in the red zone that's
made you so effective in scoring touchdowns?
Speaker 4 (12:19):
I mean just just being able to have the QBS
trust and they just put it anywhere and be able
to go get it. You know, I think I have
pretty good hands. I like to believe that, and so
just you know, going up and getting the ball wherever
is that is being a good asset for the QB.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
So you started your career with the Saints, you went
to the Patriots for year, then you wind up two
years in Denver. I feel like you and Sean Payne
have kind of like a thing. H What is it
about you and Sean pain and the way he works
his offense and his scheme and everything that made it
work for you.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
I mean, Sean kind of likes the big body guy
in the in the kind of slot role and that's
kind of where I played when I was with him
him and he he I'm he likes smart players and
I like to think I'm smart sometimes, you know what
I mean, an intelligent player and I'm physical.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
I like the blog.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
I don't mind getting doing the dirty work, and he
likes those type of guys and kind of just built
a relationship and yeah, went on from there.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
It's funny you bring that up because I think most
people think, all right, six four two twenty five, he's
an outside X receiver and that's where he's gonna play.
But you mentioned Sean Payne right, like he and Michael Thomas,
he played the slot for him. He was a bigger guy. Yeah,
So are you more comfortable you think in the slot?
Do you like playing outside? What's your comfort level there?
In terms of which spot you want.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
To play a wide receiver, it doesn't really matter to me.
I'm I'm here. I can play all all three receiver spots.
Like I said, I'm not a burner like so it's
not like I'm gonna be a Z or something. Yeah,
is blowing the top off of a defense. But I
got the caple I'm capable of doing it. I could
do all three of them, and it's just whether it's
(13:53):
just whether the coaches see me fit and where I
can help the team. At Uh, he was just plugged
me in anywhere, And I feel like I'm a very
versatile guy and can do a lot.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I was looking at your special team snaps. Not a
ton last year, right, but a lot of special teams
early in your career. What are some of the teams
that you play on and some of the roles that
you played on special teams over the course of your career.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
I've done some gunner, some gunner on punt, did the
you know, did some punt return stuff blocking, Uh, did
some kickoff return not really haven't really done kickoff, but
those type of things. Like I said, I feel like
I can do a lot of things, especially on gunner
(14:34):
done doubt like especially going in punts. I feel like
I have a I don't know, certain skills set to
like track down the ball and especially I'm going in
punts and I think I do well at that. I'm
very I got a pretty good skill set at that.
So I mean, just trying to continue to grow at
the end special team because like you said, I didn't
(14:55):
do a lot of special teams last year, but looking to.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Grow in that in that role all.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
So yeah, I mean I think looking at your size
and athletic profile like that screams gunner to me, it
seems like it's kind of like the perfect fit. Why
why do you think you're a good gun around punt?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Just physical, you know what I mean? Most most what
do you call them? I don't want to say flyers, jammers,
most jammers. They're not the biggest.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
They can run though, but like they're not the biggest Uh.
But like I like to like I like to dominate. Uh,
just put my body on them, kind of throw them around,
and you know, just make plays.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
I always like talking about building a basketball team in
the wide receiver room, right, you want some of the smaller,
quick guys, the point guard types. You want the bigger guys.
You want the guy kind of the wings that can
do a little bit of everything. How do you think
you fit in with the Waldo Robinson, Darius Slayton and
jayal and Hyatt Waldo Robinson group that they currently haven
wide out?
Speaker 4 (15:43):
I mean, like I said, I feel like I can
compliment their game. Like they're guys they move very well,
can run very well, can get in and out their
breaks very well, can do everything, do it all. I
just feel like I can just compliment them in any way. Uh,
just going out there and just being me and being
physical kind of dominating some some dbs with them.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Man, Yeah, very good.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
All right. Finally you mentioned the city, crazy crazy city.
You don't see it never sleeps. What are some of
the things that you kind of have on your check
lest all right, I'm in New York now, I'm gonna
be living around the city. Things that you're like, all right,
I can't wait to go out and do this.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Uh, I don't know, maybe go to Adega or something
like that. I like it, maybe Central Park or something
like that. But yeah, I'm big.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Like food guy. You're a big like movie guy, like
shows anything like that.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Not really, I guess I'm a big food guy. I
like food, you know. I like to watch shows if
it's good, Like I like the good shows. So I
mean under society just experienced everything. See what's out there?
Like this is this is gonna be your first time
like really in New York.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
So it's gonna be I think it's gonna be awesome experience.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Well, dude, we're happy to have you. Thanks and that's
the walkman. Welcome on board, Thank you, Thank you do
It's football Giant Lott, Jordan Humphrey,
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