00:00In today's episode of Blue Rush, we talking camp battles.
00:07We got 19 days until the Giants take on the Commanders week one,
00:11but we have two days left until the Giants take on the Patriots week three in the preseason.
00:16B. London here alongside of Jared Schwartz.
00:18Jared, I mean, what's the camp battle that you're looking at most going into this third preseason game?
00:25It's got to be Deontay Banks and Cordell Flott for that second cornerback spot, opposite Paul Sinadibo.
00:32That's one that we've seen rotate a lot throughout camp.
00:35We've seen both work with the ones, both work with the twos.
00:39At one point, Banks was healthy and Flott was a little banged up.
00:42Now Flott is healthy, Banks is a little banged up.
00:45Hopefully we'll see both of them on Thursday against the Patriots.
00:50But we got to speak to position coaches today.
00:52And then we spoke to both Marquand Manuel, the passing game coordinator, and Jeff Burris, the cornerback's coach.
00:58And one thing that stood out to me is they've both pointed to Deontay Banks' maturity a little bit,
01:03which is something that was under question last year, his effort.
01:08And I remember earlier in the summer, Banks was talking about finishing plays.
01:12And that was something that he was criticized for last year.
01:16Burris and Manuel both pointed out that he's matured from the spring to now.
01:21He's asking questions now in the meeting room that he wasn't a couple weeks ago.
01:25And they really pointed to some of the veterans that they brought in, you know, Javon Holland and Paul Sinadibo,
01:31that having some of those veterans in the room has helped just rub off on Banks.
01:37And they've seen that positive influence.
01:39And we'll see how he does on the field.
01:41But at least from a maturity standpoint, they pointed to positive growth in that respect.
01:46And that's always a great thing because you were drafted in the first round.
01:50To whom much is given, much is required.
01:52If you draft in the first round, as a corner, I feel as though you should be in a Pro Bowl within your third year.
01:58We're going into year three, so we're glad to see that growth.
02:01Now we can't wait to see you go out there on the field and him do it.
02:04One thing about this, about Tey Banks, he's a player that thrives off of confidence.
02:09Remember that practice we were looking at?
02:10I guess he, like, deed up a tight end, and he did the whole seat belt, arms out.
02:16In my head, I'm like, man, it's a tight end.
02:19But at the end of the day, that's how he gets himself going.
02:22Flip to Cordell Flott.
02:24I think he did a great job against the Jets, especially on that slant route, cover one, against Garrett Wilson.
02:30And I think that play right there, even though it was one play, I think that meant a lot
02:34because Garrett Wilson's a top five receiver in this league.
02:37You think about the receivers that CB2 is going to have to go up against in the NFC East alone.
02:45Their wide receiver, too, could start on, you know, 30-something other teams out there.
02:50And he is a starter on the Eagles or the Cowboys or whatever, or the Commanders.
02:55So going into this third game, I'm hoping and praying that the Patriots try and pick on one of those guys
03:02so we can get a real true evaluation.
03:04Then I want to see those two guys get active in the run game as well.
03:08You're going to have a week and a half, two weeks to heal that body up.
03:12But if you need to throw the body around and get some violence in there, then now's that chance,
03:17that last chance to put some good stuff on tape.
03:21Trust me.
03:21I was a guy that had to play damn near the entire game that third or, well, for me, that fourth preseason game
03:28because I was trying to make a team, these guys are trying to lock down a starting spot.
03:34Second position battle you're looking forward to going in on Thursday.
03:38I think it really has to be Evan Neal and Greg Van Roden at the right guard spot.
03:43You know, we spoke to the offensive line coach as well.
03:45And, you know, he said there's growth, Evan.
03:49You know, he's impressed, but he's not satisfied with what he's seen.
03:55We saw Evan Neal play against the Jets.
03:57He, you know, last preseason game, he held his own.
04:01Look, it's been a little bit up and down, making that transition from tackle to guard.
04:05It's not something that's easy for a guy who's as big as he is.
04:09But that's got to be the other, you know, other than that, most of the spots are pretty locked up
04:13on both defense and offense.
04:15I mean, you know, maybe there's a couple special teams, you know, you want to see a Turbo Miller
04:18or a Bo Collins, you know, earn a spot on special teams.
04:22But, you know, in terms of starters, it's really that right guard spot.
04:30Look, it's, he didn't play in the first preseason game, Evan Neal.
04:37Availability is the best, you know, ability.
04:39He's healthy now.
04:41Let's see how he does on Thursday and if he can really win that job.
04:45And I was talking to Moto Singletary earlier, and he was talking about how impressed he's
04:49been with Evan Neal from making the change from left to right tackle, now right tackle,
04:54to going back and forth from left and right guard.
04:57But at the end of the day, this is the NFL.
04:59Like, you are a former first-round pick.
05:01They're doing everything in their power to give you that opportunity to not only make the team,
05:06but to possibly push for a starting job.
05:09And then when offensive line coach was kind of talking and answering a question, he was
05:13saying, like, yeah, he knows it's a hard transition.
05:17But at the same time, this is NFL football.
05:20You got to get caught up to speed right away.
05:23So I wonder, everyone talks about how he can get a body on a guy and maul somebody.
05:27I'm wondering if they're waiting to see some things, I guess, on the cerebral level in terms
05:32of, okay, like Tom Coughlin used to say, know and know you know the offense, or know and
05:37know you know that play.
05:39I guess it's just like the intricacies, the details within the play, this step, this hand,
05:44that sort of thing for Evan Neal making that transition.
05:47Go ahead.
05:48Go ahead.
05:48One thing that will help him that, you know, today's news, Andrew Thomas is back on the
05:52practice field.
05:52You know, they don't play right next to each other.
05:54But we saw in recent years when Andrew Thomas went down, the whole line struggled.
05:58When he's there, the whole line's a lot better.
06:00So just Andrew Thomas being there will help, you know, the domino effect throughout the
06:04line.
06:05My last position battle, or I guess for, and it's not as sexy as like two guys battling
06:11it out at receiver or cornerback, is for that third tight end spot.
06:16Greg Dolchus deserves to make this team.
06:18He has put some really good stuff on tape, not only just this year alone, but since he
06:22was signed to the practice squad last year, definitely made some plays.
06:26So Theo Johnson, he's a lock.
06:29Daniel Bellinger, I feel like he's a lock.
06:33And you have Chris Manhurts.
06:34You know, you have Manhurts, and I know that's a blocking tight end, but Greg Dolchus gives
06:39another, it's just another weapon in the pass game.
06:42And you just think about the different type of mismatches that you can have with a heavy
06:47personnel like that with three tight ends.
06:50Two of them can block.
06:51Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger, certified, those guys can block.
06:55Dolchus, you don't really have to be that blocker.
06:59You could be the guy that they leak on the flats or runs the corner route.
07:04I mean, I think for that tight end, for that third tight end spot, who do you think kind
07:08of locks that up?
07:09I would, I mean, I think Theo Johnson's a lock.
07:12I'm not sure if Daniel Bellinger's a lock, but he's been here.
07:16He knows the system.
07:18I think they like him.
07:19He can catch the ball.
07:21I think it comes down to Dulcich and Manhurts.
07:24And look, Manhurts has been here.
07:25They like him.
07:26He's a good blocker as well.
07:28He's a veteran.
07:29He's been in the league for a while, and that's for a reason.
07:31That's probably because coaches like him.
07:33I would probably lean Manhurts.
07:34But like you said, they've all kind of made a few plays throughout the summer.
07:38And there's really four guys for three spots, really, and that'll be interesting to see who,
07:43you know, it's not as sexy, like you said, as a receiver or a cornerback battle, but it's
07:48important, and we'll see who takes it.
07:50Lastly, I know I said lastly with the tight ends, but I have to put you on this spot right
07:54now because a lot of people are talking about this battle, even though it kind of really
07:59isn't a battle, but has Jackson Dart done enough to where he could possibly start week
08:06one against the Washington community?
08:08Not start week one because, you know, I think Dayball's been so adamant that it's Russ.
08:12You know, it's Russ, it's Russ, it's Russ.
08:13And they're so adamant that they don't want to rush Jackson Dart and that they want to
08:17let him sit and develop and all that.
08:19I do think he's done enough to be elevated on the depth chart to be the backup ahead of
08:24Jameis Winston, where he is active on game days.
08:27If Russ gets hurt, then it is Dart.
08:28You know, originally the plan was to him to be a third string, you know, just sit and learn.
08:34He's looked really good.
08:35He's looked better and better, you know, from the spring to the beginning of training camp.
08:40If you remember, his first throw of training camp was a pick six, right?
08:43Now he barely has any incompletions in the preseason games.
08:47I think that that is where he has earned the role, is to jump ahead of Jameis Winston and be the backup.
08:53Where they're comfortable, if something happens to Russ, he can jump in and be their guy.
08:57I probably should have led with that so we can get all the clicks and views that we could.
09:02You know, anytime you talk quarterback controversy in New York, people's eyes are going to be all over that content.
09:09But Jared Schwartz, thanks for hanging out.
09:11All right, Giants are back at MetLife Stadium on Thursday against the Patriots to wrap up the preseason.
09:17We'll see you guys Thursday night.
09:19We'll see you guys Thursday night.
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