1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: It's time to get inside the Giants Huttle on Giants 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: dot com, the Giants Podcast Network. Welcome to the news 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: edition of the Giant Subtle Podcast. John Schmoke with you. 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: Today's guest will be former NFL linebacker Rob Ninkovich. But 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: before we get to Rob, let's remind everybody who can 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: find the Giant Subtle Podcast on Giants dot com, on 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: the Giants Mobile app, and more importantly, all your favorite 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: podcast platform. Just search for Giant Tubtle podcast. And if 9 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: you're an Apple podcasting like what you here, please leave 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: a five star positive review. Now let's get to our guest, 11 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: former Patriot. I'm gonna call him linebacker, edge rusher, defensive end, 12 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: hybrid guy, and that's Rob Ninkovich. And Rob, you're on 13 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: with John Schmalk called the Tino on Lance Meadow on 14 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: Giants dot Com. I hope you and your family, everybody's 15 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: safe door in these very turbulent times in our country. 16 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: Thank you. I never thought that I'd be on Giants 17 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: Radio right now. No, but you know what, the Giants 18 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: have gone and gone a lot of guys that were 19 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: with the Patriot it so it makes sense and you 20 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: have a lot of experience with two of them, Patrick 21 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: Graham and and Joe Judge. But I'm gonna start with 22 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: a more generic question first Rob, because Joe Judge has 23 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: talked a lot about designing his schemes offensively and defensively 24 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: every week based on the opponent, and it can look 25 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: very different each week depending on who the opponent is. 26 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 1: So as a player, how much for you defensively scheme wise, 27 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: did things really change week to week? Well, I mean 28 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 1: you have to change or the other team is going 29 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: to be able to watch the tape and understand what 30 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: you're doing. So, you know, the NFL, especially you know, 31 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: every week is a challenge and depending on the quarterback 32 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 1: that you're playing. Um, you know, you can't be in 33 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: the same thing every single week. So I think you 34 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: have to change. You have to be different week to week. Um. 35 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: If you can do that and you have the players 36 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: that are able to understand playing different scheme, I think 37 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: that's what that's what really can help you and and 38 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: make the difference when it comes to trying to you know, 39 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: make a playoff push or win the division. I think 40 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: it really comes down to the ability to change up. 41 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: You know, especially in the division. First game, you play 42 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: versus second game you play. Hey, guys, I want to 43 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: follow up real quick with Rob on that one because 44 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: we had Johnathan to see us, one of your former 45 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: teammates on and I asked him this question. I want 46 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: to ask it to you. To what extent do things change? 47 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: Obviously you can change tendencies, you can change you know, 48 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: the pattern of calls and things like that. But are 49 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: we talking about things as simple as fronts and gap responsibilities. 50 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: Do things as basic as that change week to week two? Yeah? 51 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 1: I mean if you can do that, I mean some 52 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: teams don't have the luxury of being able to go 53 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: from a forty three to a thirty four or fifty 54 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: two front. Um, you know, just depending on their personnel. 55 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: If you have you know, four three defensive ends that 56 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: don't really know how to drop or they don't have 57 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: any experience in coverage, then it's pretty tough to switch 58 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 1: into a thirty four and expect those guys to drop. 59 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: So I think it it, you know, comes down to personnel. Uh. Um, 60 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: you know how you with what guys and bodies you 61 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: bring into the building that you've evaluated that can play 62 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 1: different physicians and different roles. Um, I do know as 63 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: a Patriot playing for the Patriots, there is a lot 64 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: of value in being able to drop into coverage, rush 65 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: the passer, stop the run, um and stay on the 66 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: field the whole time and do that. So if you 67 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: can have guys that are able to stay on the 68 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: field and you don't have to pull him off the field, 69 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: that put a guy out there that can drop. And 70 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: that's another tendency that another team can't watch and see, like, hey, 71 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: if Nikovish comes off the field, look out like another 72 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: guy can come in only rush, you know. So I 73 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: think when you can have multiple packages with the same personnel, 74 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: that's what's the most challenging for other teams. Rob When 75 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: you were with the Patriots, you played with Fleming, Lewis, 76 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: and Ebner now all Giants. As John mentioned up top, 77 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: it does seem like Patriots South these days here in 78 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: East Rutherford. But let me just start by asking you 79 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: about Joe Judge and about Patrick Graham. Guys you know 80 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: well and even though the Belichick system and the Patriot 81 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: system has been so incredibly successful, we all know that 82 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: guys have to bring some individuality with them. They can't 83 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: take a carbon copy of the Patriot system everywhere. They 84 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 1: go from what you know about Judge and about Graham. 85 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: What can they bring differently to help them succeed with 86 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: the Giants? Well, I think they have a tremendous work ethic. 87 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: And I was with Pat a long time and Pat 88 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: are very close and good friends, and um, you know, 89 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: he helped me a lot in my career because he 90 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: was so thorough and everything that he did in preparation. 91 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: Same with Joe Judge. I mean, Joe Judge is going 92 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: to be a guy that is the first in, last 93 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: guy out. You will probably sleep there four or five 94 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: nights a week. You know. I know that sounds crazy, 95 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: but he's that He's that into it. Same with Pat. 96 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: I mean, those guys they're not gonna leave any stone 97 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: unturned when it comes to preparation. So I think that 98 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: you can learn a lot from being with the Patriot Organization, 99 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: and you can learn the things that that Bill is 100 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: able to do and and kind of how he approaches things. 101 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: But then also have your own personal twist on coaching 102 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: style and how you deal with players and how you 103 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: deal with coaching. You know, everyone has their own way 104 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: of doing things. You can't you can't be this, You 105 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: can't be Bill Belichick. I mean, it's just not gonna happen. 106 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 1: So I think the best thing that that any coach 107 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: or player that's been around Bill and learned from him 108 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: is just taking all the things in and and trying 109 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: to absorb the key fundamentals that that are taught to 110 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: you when you're coached or playing under Bill Belichick, UM, 111 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: and you try to put those and install those same 112 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 1: types of values into your new team, but yet still 113 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: have your own individual style on you know, just just 114 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: coaching and relating to your players, because at the end, 115 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, it's all about how 116 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 1: do you get the group, a group of men from 117 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: all different age groups and backgrounds to come together for 118 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: a common goal. And that comes down to just the 119 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: way your consistency is with coaching, the way you consistently 120 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: UM coach each guy. There's no favoritism. There's loo because 121 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: I can tell you this, I've seen I've seen Tom 122 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: Brady get yelled at by Bill Belichick, and it doesn't 123 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: matter if he's the greatest of all time. And and 124 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: I think that that speaks volumes from as another player 125 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,559 Speaker 1: on in that team that look, nobody's nobody is safe 126 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: here and We're all gonna be held accountable. So I 127 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:36,119 Speaker 1: think the accountability, you know, Coach Graham and Joe Judge 128 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: are gonna hold guys accountable, which is very much so 129 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: needed in the NFL. You have to be accountable. You 130 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: have to um be expected to play at a high 131 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: level weekend and week out. UM. And there is no 132 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: my bads, So I would I would anticipate moving forward 133 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: that there isn't I'll I'll get it next time, or 134 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: my bad, I messed up. It's no, we're gonna get 135 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: it done. We're gonna get it right, we're gonna walk through, 136 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: we're gonna make sure we practice hard, and you know, 137 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: all those little things help teams when things are tough, 138 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: and NFL season is tough. Rob if I can ask 139 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: just to follow up there, how much different is it 140 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: to get guys to buy in when Belichick says it 141 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: because he's had the Hall of Fame career with all 142 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: of the championship rings as a head coach, as compared 143 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: to when one of his offsprings, so to speak, from 144 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: the coaching tree try to do the same thing. I 145 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: would imagine that the instant credibility that that Belichick may 146 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: have may not always translate to the assistance or do 147 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: you think that's the case. No, No, it doesn't translate 148 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: at all. And that's the thing that's the challenge. And 149 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: I mean Bill Belichick in two thousand was in that 150 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: same position and he had to go out there and 151 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: had to win football games and had to have a 152 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: team buy in. But that when that comes down to 153 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: how you evaluate your talent, how you what type of 154 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: personalities you bring into the locker room so they can 155 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: buy in. And guys like Nate nor who have been 156 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: with the Patriots are gonna be great examples of Look, 157 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: this is how you just come into work every day. 158 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: You put your head down and your grind and you 159 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: try and um do everything you can to help the team, 160 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: and you try and do the best that you can 161 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: and hope that other guys around you want to follow 162 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: that lead. And as a coach coming from another place 163 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: where Bill Belichick, yes, when he walks in the room, 164 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: he demands attention and demands respect, you would hope that 165 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: that the guys that you bring into that locker room 166 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: and that setting, those those are the types of guys 167 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: that are gonna give you the respect and the attention 168 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: that you that you want. And as a coach, look, 169 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 1: the number one thing that you have to do is 170 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: make sure that the guys in the locker room respect 171 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: you and and that you don't lose the team. And 172 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: and I think, look, I've been around Joe Judge a 173 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 1: long time and I think that he definitely has I 174 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: had a ton of respect for him, and he has 175 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: the respect of the guys around him. Um, just because 176 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: of the fact that he knows football. He knows all, 177 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: he knows extra the knows you knows offense, defense. He 178 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: was on the special teams side of it for a 179 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: long time. Um, you know at Alabama where we all 180 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: know how great that program is. You know, came to 181 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: New England and really did a great job there. Um. 182 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: So I think that that is the respect, you know, 183 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: the things that he has done working up to this 184 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: point to get the opportunity to be a head coach, 185 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: I think that is what guys are gonna respect. And look, 186 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,719 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, if there's somebody that 187 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,959 Speaker 1: isn't giving the respect that that you need to have 188 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: right now in a building situation where you're trying to 189 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: build a program, then maybe he's not the right guy. 190 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: So that goes back to trying to find the right characters, 191 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: the right personalities, the right guys that you want to 192 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: build a winning a winning team with. Rob As you noted, 193 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 1: you've been with Joe Judge for quite some time because 194 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: not only did you contribute on defense, but you were 195 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: a key special teamer and Scott O'Brien was your special 196 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: team's coordinator. Once Judge came in, he started off as 197 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: the assistant and then worked his way up to the 198 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: special teams coordinator. You spoke of how he was exposed 199 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 1: to an entire roster, but what did you see out 200 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: of him from maturity standpoint and growth in a coach 201 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: from an XS and O standpoint as to how he 202 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: really saw full potential in the entire roster and then 203 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: showcase that across the board in his interaction with his players. Well, 204 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: I think a special teams coach especially has a unique 205 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 1: ability to get the best out of each guy, because, 206 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: let's face the special teams players in general aren't the 207 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 1: superstars that are um super paid on the roster. Those 208 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: are the guys from you know, say forty to fifty 209 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: three on the back end of the roster that are 210 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: just trying to do their best so they can have 211 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: an opportunity to to show that they can play defense 212 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: or play offense. And that's where that's where I was 213 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: at early in my career. I knew that I had 214 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: to run down on kickoff and I had to learn 215 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: all the little things on being a good special teams 216 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: player before I even had a chance to be on defense. 217 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: They weren't gonna that wasn't just gonna happen for me. 218 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: I had to earn my stripes, run down on kickoff 219 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: and doing all those little things that yet it might 220 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: not be the most glorious thing to be a guy, 221 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: you know, setting up a wedge, but you know there's 222 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 1: no wedges anymore. But that's what I had to do. 223 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: Um But just Joe Judge. As a special teams coach, 224 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: they have to really cram a lot of information in 225 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: a very short amount of time. They don't have the 226 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: our group meetings with your position groups like you would 227 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: if you're a d lineman or a linebacker special teams unit. 228 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: You know, usually after team meeting, they might have twenty minutes, 229 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 1: you know, to go over their kickoff return or their 230 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: punt or their punt return. So you have to be 231 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: very very thorough in number one, installing what you want 232 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: to be, installing towards to where everyone in that room 233 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: understands what you're what's going on. And then also making 234 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: sure that when there's a substitution or a guy gets 235 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: hurt or you know, a guy is not available, that 236 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: the next guy is able to jump in and be 237 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: there without having you know, an extra guy missing on 238 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: we all seen, We've all seen, you know, and uh 239 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: a guy on field goal that's missing and and runs 240 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: out to the field later, or you know there's somebody 241 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: missing on punt team. And if you don't have a 242 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: guard or a tackle on your punt unit, like that's 243 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: a big deal. That's how games are lost. So I 244 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: think the being so thorough Joe Judge in in coaching, 245 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: being efficient, um, getting everybody on the same page, that 246 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: is really what he's excelled at. And not only has 247 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: he done it in the pro level, but he did 248 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: it in college. Um at the college level. So if 249 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: you take you know, the two guys that he has 250 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: coached under Nick Saban and Bill Belichick, I mean that 251 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: resume speak volume. So UM, I think that that that 252 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: the ability for him to coach and get everybody on 253 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 1: the same page. Um, that is so valuable. And you 254 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: learn that as a special teams coordinator because you don't 255 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: have the time that maybe a decordinator would have. Rob 256 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: would joined by Rob Nikovich. He's also an analyst right 257 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: now for ESPN. Make sure you check him out for 258 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 1: more Patriots lineback. You mentioned you're very tight and you're 259 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: close with Patrick Graham. Rob, what is it about him 260 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: his personality and just his intellect and the way he teaches, Um, 261 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: that makes you believe he's going to be a very 262 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 1: effective defensive coordinator. Well, he's a great motivator. Um. You know, 263 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: me and Pat have definitely had our fair share of disagreements. 264 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: You know, he knows and I'm when I get angry 265 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: or you know and say, Rob, don't start with me, 266 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: because he could kind of feel and get a sense for, 267 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: you know, me as a player and when I was 268 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: a little bit frustrated. And I think that that goes, 269 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: you know, a long way as a as a defensive coach, 270 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: when you can take a guy individually, you know, figure 271 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: out what gets them going to motivate but also to support. 272 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: You know, I think there's plenty of times where I've 273 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: been down and Pats been able to bring me back, 274 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: um to where I was feeling good about where I 275 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,559 Speaker 1: was at because look, the NFL is it's a very 276 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: mentally draining league. And and if you're not playing necessarily well, 277 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: if it's Week four and you only got a sack, 278 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: you start thinking, oh, man, can I not can I 279 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: not hit to the quarterback? You know, So these are 280 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: all things that as a coach you kind of have 281 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: to be a teacher, but then a mentor. And I 282 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: think Pat not only has he been a great teacher 283 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: for me, you know, he's been a great mentor and 284 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: guiding me and helping me um through the low times 285 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: in a season. And there's always gonna be a tough point. 286 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: There's always gonna be an injury that you're fighting through 287 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: or something that that has bothering you and you're not 288 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: at your best. But you know, a really good coach 289 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: they're able to to help you through those times, um 290 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: and maximize your potential. So um, you know, me and 291 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: Pat go way back. Um. You know, he does a 292 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: great job motivating guys. His pregame speeches are are always motivating. 293 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: You know. Look, he gets fired up. He almost wants 294 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: to put a pads on himself. So, UM, you know, 295 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: I think that not only does he have a as 296 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: a great motivating factor to him, but um, he's very smart. 297 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: So he knows teams to understands defense. Hey, guys, sorry, 298 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: I'm on the phone. Stop screaming and Rob, Rob, don't 299 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: worry about it. I have a two and a half 300 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: year old that, thank goodness, is napping up stairs. I understand. 301 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: Don't worry about it. Yeah. So I just think that 302 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: his ability to teach, mentor and the volume of defense 303 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: and the things that he knows and understanding, um, understanding 304 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: of defense and how to run a defense. Um, I 305 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: think he's gonna have a good good time. Um is 306 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: a decordinator. You know two words you just mentioned, Rob 307 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: that really hit home for me because we saw in 308 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: Joe Judge's introductory press conference with the Giants you said 309 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: teacher and you said mentor. Now you referred to Patrick 310 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: Graham with those words. But I also think, from what 311 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: I can tell, those words also apply very strongly to 312 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: Joe Judge. With a young team that the Giants have, 313 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: one that is trying to resurrect itself. How critical are 314 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: those particular traits, even more so than just being a 315 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: bright football mind. I think it's huge, especially with a 316 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: young team. Um, you know when you have an experience, 317 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: if you don't have an experienced team where guys have 318 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: played a lot of football, there's gonna be momenting in 319 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: the season that you're gonna need that support of your 320 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: coaches to help you get through those tough times. So, UM, 321 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: I think that the teaching side of things and the 322 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: mentor side of stuff that's huge with with a young roster, 323 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: and they're definitely gonna have to do a great job 324 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: of teaching different situations that come up. And that's the 325 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: one thing I can that I can speak on in 326 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: the New England. Um, my New England tenure is just 327 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: the ability to understand situation. Situational football is how how 328 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: teams win and lose. Um, We've all seen a team 329 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: mismanaged two minutes before the end of the half. They 330 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: don't they don't kick a field goal and they end 331 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,199 Speaker 1: up losing my three points. So it's just it's just 332 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:30,159 Speaker 1: so crazy how situations that come up in the game 333 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: really can affect the outcome. If you're not ready and 334 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: you're not already coached up on all the things that 335 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: can happen, and and I can guarantee that Joe Judge 336 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: is going to have that team coached up and they're 337 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: gonna be ready to go for all situations that might 338 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 1: pop up, and it's all unexpected. Rob Speaking of coaching 339 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: up players in different scenarios, I think what's interesting during 340 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: your tenure with New England's defense, you had seasons where 341 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 1: you had a guy like Chandler Jones who would get 342 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: you ten or eleven sacks, and then you had other 343 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: seasons where is really piecemeal and it was four or 344 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: five of you that had six to eight sacks. When 345 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: you look at this Giants defense, it is a young 346 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: secondary and there's not necessarily a proven pass rushers. So 347 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: in terms of what you experience in New England's defense 348 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: and what Patrick Grant can apply to this unit, what 349 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: do you attribute to why you guys had success when 350 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: there may have not been that elite, one particular pass 351 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: rusher to rely on. Well, I think it's it's not 352 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: trying to stuff a square peg in a round hole. 353 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: You know, if you have you have to evaluate, You 354 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: have to evaluate the guys on your roster and figure 355 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: out what is going to be the best scheme and 356 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: the best thing to run with the talent that you 357 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: have on that team. Every every year is different, and 358 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: especially this first year. UM, it's gonna be a little 359 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 1: bit difficult not having these this O, T A and 360 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: THENY camp time right now to evaluate where guys are at. UM. 361 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: I think that's gonna be a disadvantage. Unfortunately to some 362 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: of these newer coaching staffs. They don't have the time 363 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: um in with some of these players that other coaching 364 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: staffs have had, especially if you're you know, a veteran 365 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 1: coaching staff with a lot of veterans on your roster um, 366 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: so they're gonna have to figure out, you know, who 367 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:20,400 Speaker 1: are best players. And look, if we have to stay 368 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: in a four three and we just have down third down, 369 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: stick to a couple of plays, then look, we'd rather 370 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: be fast and aggressive than being slow and over analyzing things. 371 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 1: And when you have a lot of scheme sometimes that 372 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 1: slows players down. When you have older veteran players, you 373 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: can put a lot on the plate and you can 374 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 1: you can you can understand and know like these guys 375 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: will digest it will adjust on the fly. But when 376 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 1: you have a young defense, maybe guys that haven't played 377 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: a lot of different spots or a lot of different scheme. 378 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 1: You might have to just make it simple for him 379 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: and and sometimes that's not a bad thing. Look, there's 380 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: you think about the Giants and in two thousand and seven, Um, 381 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: when they had their Super Bowl run against the Patriots, 382 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: they had a good front they were they were just big, strong, 383 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: fast guys. You know, think about two thousand and twelve again, Um, 384 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: you know when they won another Super Bowl. They had 385 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 1: a good front four that got after the quarterback. They 386 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: didn't have a crazy amount of scheme. They just you know, 387 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: pin their ears back and got after the quarterback. And 388 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:26,479 Speaker 1: that works too. Um, So there's gonna be somebody on 389 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: that roster. I can guarantee it that's gonna emerge and 390 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 1: be a pass rusher and get after the quarterbacks. Look, 391 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: there's plenty of guys that can do it, they just 392 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: haven't had the opportunity. And this is a great opportunity 393 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: for somebody's gonna have to step up and make a 394 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: name for himself. And that that's all you can ask 395 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: for as a football player. Just hey, let me get 396 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: on the field, let me make some place. Rob Speaking 397 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: of stepping up, you have three Patriots former teammates between Fleming, Lewis, 398 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: and Ebner who are now part of the Giants. All 399 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: three of these guys have been signed as reserve free 400 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: agents just coming into the unit. Which one of those 401 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: guys do you think will have the biggest impact on 402 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: this year's Giants team? And why? Well, Look, I think 403 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,959 Speaker 1: all those guys are great football players. I think that 404 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: Nate is not only you know is he is? He 405 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: a great person, a great football player, UM, but he's 406 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: a good leader. He's a great leader, and right now, 407 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 1: you need leadership. You need veteran leadership UM as a 408 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 1: as a new coaching staff trying to make some changes, 409 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: trying to get your team to go in a different 410 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 1: direction than they have been going, changing the culture. To 411 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: change the culture, you need to have guys that are 412 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: able to lead and and do things by example. And 413 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,880 Speaker 1: they're not gonna argue with you, they're not gonna fight back. 414 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: They're just gonna do what they're asked to do and 415 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: they're gonna do it well. So I think that Nate 416 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 1: is probably one of the best additions UM to the roster. So, guys, 417 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 1: can you know he's an Olympic athlete, he was on 418 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: the Olympic team for rugby, which is impressive to to 419 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 1: play on the Olympic team. It just speaks about you know, 420 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 1: your work ethic and how dedicated you are and uh, 421 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,679 Speaker 1: you know again, I think that he is gonna be 422 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 1: great for the morale and great for the coaching staff 423 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: for that team, Robb. Before we let you go to 424 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: other players, Cameron Fleming and Dion Lewis are also added 425 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 1: who you've worked with. Specifically, Dion Lewis somebody that has 426 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 1: provided that change of pace aspect to the backfield, and 427 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: from your days in the Patriots organization, you very well 428 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: know they rotated running backs like crazy. How does a 429 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 1: guy like a Dion Lewis find a way to balance 430 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,159 Speaker 1: things with say Kwan Barkley and also carve out a 431 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: role with a premier back. I forgot about De Lou. 432 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna lie like he's gonna be a beast 433 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 1: for you. Um. Dion Is is like so quick, so fast, 434 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: and he's got a chip on her shoulder all the time. 435 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: So there's something about it. I don't know if it's 436 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: because he's not he's not so tall. He always wants 437 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: to fight. He gets up one to fight like he's 438 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: got he's always got energy. Um, So I love I 439 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 1: love de Lou. I think he's gonna be a great addition, 440 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:15,120 Speaker 1: especially with Barkley, that you know that one two combo 441 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,479 Speaker 1: of having every down back and then you throw in 442 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 1: Dion and third down situations or screen, third and long. Um, 443 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: you have a back that can catch and run. Um 444 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 1: who shift, he was quick like a water bug. I mean, 445 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: he's gonna be able to move and shake guys. So 446 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 1: you know, I just think that that is a great 447 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 1: addition to the Giants, um, having a guy like that, 448 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 1: especially when you have Barkley on the other side of that. 449 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: Rob final question you mentioned specifically to the Giants, but 450 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: I want to talk lead wide in general. You're around 451 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: in when we had the lockout and the players didn't 452 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: have a chance to do a spring program. But they 453 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: can at least get together separately and work out together. 454 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: They couldn't do that at all this year. So how 455 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: is this league gonna look in September when they've had 456 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: four weeks of practice? Who knows, maybe only two preseason games. 457 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 1: Who knows how it's gonna look. Just what do you 458 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: think this league is gonna look like? And what do 459 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 1: you think some of the important factors are for teams 460 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: that get off to a fast start. A man, I 461 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:12,440 Speaker 1: think it's gonna be it's gonna be definitely, Um, it's 462 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 1: gonna be different. I feel like you're gonna see the 463 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: guys who have been working hard, and then you're gonna 464 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,160 Speaker 1: see the guys that haven't been working hard. It's gonna 465 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 1: be clear. There might be some more injuries, which I 466 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: hate to say, but um, if you're not conditioned to 467 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: play football, if you haven't run, and you haven't you know, 468 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 1: had the training that you should have to play football, 469 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:37,639 Speaker 1: then you might have some unfortunate soft tissue injuries or 470 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 1: something that that happens to you because you weren't ready 471 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: to go play football. And you know, I can remember 472 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 1: the lockout, you know there was That was the year 473 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: that we made it to the Super Bowl. Um, you 474 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: know that in that season, I felt like we were 475 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: good because of the fact we had a good, hard 476 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: working team that in the lockout did the right things. Um, 477 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 1: they weren't just you know, sitting on their couch eating 478 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,360 Speaker 1: potato chips. They were running and they were doing all 479 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: the they were running and doing all the right things. 480 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 1: So you're gonna have your You're gonna have guys that 481 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 1: haven't been running and haven't been doing, um everything they 482 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: should be doing. They're gonna try and get it done 483 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: two weeks or a week before they have to go report, 484 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: and it's not gonna be enough. So um. On the 485 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: flip side of that, I also feel like a young quarterback. 486 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: You know, like some of these teams that have a 487 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,360 Speaker 1: quarterback that hasn't started or hasn't hasn't seen a lot 488 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: of time yet, they're gonna be behind the eight ball 489 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: because they haven't had the reps. Under center, I think 490 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: that's the number one position where you need to see 491 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: and you need to to look at different defensive looks 492 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: that are shown to you on the field, not just 493 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: on the like video or TV. You know, that can 494 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: only get you so far. You have to be on 495 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: the field. You gotta see it live in color and 496 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: react to it as you would if you were playing football, 497 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: because you can't. You can't just you can't go out 498 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 1: there and just say like, oh yeah, I know football 499 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: without playing football. You gotta play football. You gotta take 500 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 1: the reps, you gotta have practice to be good. So um, 501 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 1: you can do all the virtual stuff you want, but 502 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: when when the when the bullets are lives, it's a 503 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,920 Speaker 1: lot different, Rob, great stuff, my friend. We really appreciate 504 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,200 Speaker 1: Rob Nikovich, analysts for ESPN former Patriots linebackers. Get back 505 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: to the toughest job in the world, my friend, watching 506 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 1: little kids? God bless. Yeah, I might be. I might 507 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:24,360 Speaker 1: be coaching too. Well, thank you. Maybe I'll be uh 508 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: with the Giants. I don't know. I got you never connection, Hey, Rob, 509 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 1: let me tell you. I spending sixty hours in the 510 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: office every day a lot easier than watching three little 511 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: kids for twelve not close. Thank you, Rob. Take care. 512 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: That's Rob Ninkovich, former Patriots linebacker. Great insight into exactly 513 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 1: the type of things that Patrick Graham might try to 514 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: do with the Giants in twenty for Paul De Tino 515 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: and lands Meadow. I am John Schmell. Thank you for 516 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: being with us on this episode of the Johnson Podcast Again. 517 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: You can find us on all your favorite podcast platforms 518 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: and Giants Well Black and The Giants Dock Cam Slash Podcast, 519 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: where you can find all of our podcast offerings, including 520 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: The Giants Huddle, Giants Rewind with Carl Banks, and Big 521 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: Blue Kickoff Live our daily call and show on giants 522 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:11,400 Speaker 1: dot com every day at noon. We'll see you next time. Everybody, 523 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:12,200 Speaker 1: have a good one.