1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to The Giants Huddle, a New York Giants podcast. 2 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: I'm John Schmulkin. Welcome to another episode of the Giants 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: Shuttle podcast. This week three conversations, Victor Cruz has a 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: chance to talk to three Giants rookies, DeAndre Baker, Darius Slayton, 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: and Dexter Lawrence. We'll get to those conversations in just 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: a moment, but first I don't remind you you could 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: find the Giant Subtle Podcast on Giants dot Com, the 8 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: Giants Mobile app, and all your favorite podcast platforms. Find it, 9 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: subscribe at us to your favorites, and if you're an 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: Apple podcast and you like what you hear, please leave 11 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: a five star positive review. So Victor the chance to 12 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: talk to the three rookies about what they learned in 13 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: their rookie seasons, what it was like for their first 14 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: year in the NFL. And then the rookies had a 15 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: chance to ask Victor some questions drawn his experience and 16 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: learned something from a Giants legend. Our first conversation Victor 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: Cruz with Dexter Lawrence. What's up about Victor Cruz. I'm 18 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: here with Dexter Lawrence. All right, First things first, dex. 19 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: What are something h. What are some things that you 20 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: look back on this season for you yourself to build 21 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: upon and to get better at going in the next season. 22 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: I just say being more consistent, uh, you know, being 23 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: more keyed into little technique things that you know that 24 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: sometimes you just let go when you in the course 25 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: of the game. Just uh, little things like that, just 26 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: very minor things that you know you don't really pay 27 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: attention to, but you need to be focused on. I 28 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: want to talk about some of your teammates. What are 29 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,559 Speaker 1: some of the guys either on the D line or 30 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: around the entire team. What are some of the guys 31 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: that have helped you throughout this process in your first year. 32 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: A lot of guys in the in in my room, 33 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: like Delvin h Leonard, b J. I call him Bobby, 34 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: but r J. You know, just the older guys, you know, 35 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: just they're helping me in different ways, you know, like 36 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: even with life things, they're helping me with that. So 37 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: I'll just say they've been positive influences on that. What 38 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: you learned from Leonard. I know he came in a 39 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: little later in the season, but he's obviously a guy 40 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: that's been in the league a few years now been 41 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: on the other side of the New York you know, organization. 42 00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: What are some of the things he came in and 43 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: taught you or just or just something you picked up 44 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: from him, mainly just his experience. You know, a little 45 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: things on the field that you know, he helped me, 46 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: uh pay attention to, like different things with the offensive lineman, 47 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: or you know, just uh running stuff like just just 48 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 1: me and him about to do something without everybody else knowing. 49 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: You know, just some communication stuff that you know, helped 50 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: me do some games. And you know, just life stuff 51 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: that you know we talked about. As you know, every season, 52 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: um as you will continue to know. Obviously, every season 53 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: has his ups and downs and you've probably faced that 54 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: in college and even as far back as high school. 55 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: UM As far as those ups and downs, what are 56 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: some of the things are the bright spots that you 57 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 1: can hang your hat on for this season? Definitely just 58 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 1: in an improvement each game. Uh, you know, we we 59 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: wasn't taking steps back. We kind of was stuck, you 60 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: know in in some areas. But you know, the end 61 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: the season's come is here. So we kind of just 62 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: on the up and up right now. And that's the 63 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 1: positive that you see with this team, like we we 64 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: we didn't give up when we easily could have um 65 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: because we knew wasn't going to the playoffs. But you know, 66 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: we just stayed consistent and you know, stay with our 67 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: routines are heavens and you know, just seeing us for us. 68 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: All right, now, I need a cool story. Give me 69 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: a memory from this ship. What's your funnest memory of 70 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 1: this year? In the room, it's just it's just steady laughter. 71 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: And there, you know, in the D line room, you know, 72 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: we're cracking on each other, just going back and forth 73 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: for everything, and uh, you know, just just seeing how close, 74 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: you know, we can get so fast. It happened so fast, 75 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: and just just been around those guys, you know, just 76 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: made me want to come out here every day and 77 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: go hard. Traditionally, that defensive line room, I remember coming 78 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: out of receiving room and it was like close by. 79 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: It's like two doors down. Anytime I would come out 80 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: of there and walk by, even if I was getting 81 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: the water, just walking by, I just hear either commost 82 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: either they're arguing because like oh that's a sack, that's 83 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: not a sack, or there's laughter because you guys and 84 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: it's always fun to see d Lineman just relish in 85 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: that and be a part of that. So that leads 86 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: me to my follow up question, what is the biggest 87 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: thing that you've learned or the biggest difference that you've 88 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: seen from college to the professional level. You're close, but 89 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: you're called as boys, are your college boys, and um, 90 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: you know, I tried to bring that here. That's that's 91 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: one thing I tried to just know, no, no jealousy, 92 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: no no, just just healthy competition. And you kind of 93 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: you kind of see that if you just gotta bring 94 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: it to that, you can't just hope it happened. You 95 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: gotta go get it kind of do because you know, 96 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: everybody's playing for their family pretty much, and you know 97 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: you can get honed in on that. But to win, 98 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: you gotta be one. So every offseason I used to 99 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: pick like one thing to work on, whether it's catching 100 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: the ball better, or whether it's working on my footwork, 101 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: or whether it's getting better at you know, seeing the ball, 102 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: hand eye coordination. What's one of the things you're gonna 103 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: work on in your first, um, you know, offseason as 104 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: a professional. Yeah, there's a few things. Uh, you know, 105 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: I've been talking about just you know, being more flexible. Uh. 106 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: You know, footwork definitely is key and pad level for 107 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 1: my position, and you know there's some things that are 108 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: probably just just hone in on for the first few 109 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: weeks and then you know, see how that goes, and 110 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: you know, just just keep adding on. I love for 111 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 1: you to play five years in this league if you could, 112 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: and throughout those twenty five years, what would you say 113 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: would be your biggest goal that you want to accomplish 114 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: individually as a professional. Just impacting with my play, Uh, 115 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 1: you know, just just showing people how hard I go 116 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: and um, you know, just unselfish. I'm not playing for myself. 117 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: I'm playing for my brother's next to me. I'm playing 118 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: for the people who can't play. Uh, you know, just 119 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: just impacting loves and you know, just showing him to 120 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 1: you know, just have let's have having fun out there 121 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: and you know, keeping the smell on my face. Now, 122 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: I know you're on the other side of the ball, 123 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: but talk to me about Eli Man and talk to 124 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: me about just what you learned from him or you know, 125 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: your rapport with him or things he may have said 126 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: to you, um or things like that. What's your rapport. 127 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: What you know him pretty well. He he don't say much, 128 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: but when he does, it's it's it's pretty powerful. And um, 129 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 1: you know I asked them little questions about like just 130 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: just life, you know, just seeing how how he made 131 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: it so long and you know how he kept consistent 132 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: throughout his career. Uh. And he gave me some little 133 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: tips that you know, I definitely keep in my mind. 134 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: And you know, it's it's going on it now. I 135 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: can't let you leave without talking about this nickname, right, 136 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: sexy DEXI where to come from? Is it self proclaimed? Like? 137 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: And I've seen you on these red carpets you hold 138 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 1: it down. It's a fit like it's real. It's a 139 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: real thing. So did you there's a self proclaimed or 140 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: what was? It started in middle school? My middle school 141 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: football coach. Uh, first day out there, he said, oh 142 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: big sexy he coach cde I remember. Uh. I was like, okay, 143 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: you know the name killed going through high school and 144 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 1: you know it kind of died down a little bit 145 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: in college a little bit better picked up and you 146 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: know now you know bringing it back. Hey, I got 147 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: some questions for you, so you know, obviously see something 148 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: my little my Dam's moves on the field. Uh, you 149 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: know that just come from you know, sexy DEXI So 150 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: where the saucer come from? Where did that come? Oh? Man? 151 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: So for those who don't know, I'm half Puerto Rican. 152 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: So I grew up. My mom is Puerto Rican. I 153 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: grew up in an extremely Puerto Rican household. And whether 154 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: it's Monday afternoon, you know, on a you know, random 155 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: dad two o'clock, or whether it's Saturday night, you know, 156 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: my grandma, it was dancing and she was teaching me dances, 157 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: teaching me all sorts of dances, right, not just the sauce, 158 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 1: but every dance you could think of. So obviously i'm 159 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: you know, honding on that. My grimmed is to be like, 160 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: you're gonna you're gonna thank me for this later when 161 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: you need girls and you're out in the clubs, like 162 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: you're gonna thank me for this, because obviously as a kid, 163 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: you're like, I don't want to do this, but she's like, 164 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: you're gonna thank me, and I was like okay. And 165 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: then obviously fast forward to the league, I'm kind of 166 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: thinking about, you know, a celebration or something I could 167 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: kind of hang my hat on and one of the 168 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: coaches came up to me. He was like, you got 169 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: to represent your culture in the end zone and do 170 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: it and do it dance. And I was like, coach, 171 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: you're bugging Like I'm not like I'm an undrafted free agent. 172 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: I'm just trying to make sure I catch the ball 173 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: and get out of dogs. You know what I'm saying, Like, 174 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: I'm Eli, Eli is trusting me to catch this thing 175 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: and get out of bounds and don't fumble and do 176 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: what I need to do. So one story shure, I 177 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: was getting my first start, I told my coach that 178 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,239 Speaker 1: I'd do it just to get him out of my face. 179 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: And then during that game in Philly Week three eleven, 180 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: never forget it, uh, my first catch that I've ever 181 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,119 Speaker 1: had in that game, took it up the sideline ship 182 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: two defenders, go the end zone. I remembered like coming 183 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: across the one yard line into the end zone and 184 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, I gotta do this dance now, Like I 185 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: can'tnot do it first cats the whole thing. So I 186 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: just broke out started doing it, and then my grandmother, 187 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: I guess it aired. My grandmother only watched two channels, 188 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: Telemundo on Univision, and I think it aired on one 189 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: of those networks. And she called me and was like, 190 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: what did you just do? And I was like, well, 191 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: I did the sausa you taught me. She was like, 192 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: for as long as you play in the league, you 193 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: gotta keep doing that dance. And I was like, I'm 194 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: locked in, dunk. Appreciate it. That's big decks talking to 195 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: Victor Cruz. Now, let's go to a player that plays 196 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: the same position that Victor Cruz did when he was 197 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: with the Giants, fifth round pick Darius Slayton. All right, 198 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,319 Speaker 1: So I'm Victor Cruz. I'm sitting here with rookie sensation 199 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 1: Darius Slayton. Um, So I ask you a few questions 200 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: about the season and get your thoughts man, okay, Um, So, 201 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: first and foremost, looking back at this season, what are 202 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: some of the things you feel like you can build on, 203 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: just you know, starting to get more aware in my game, 204 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: add some more new wants to my game. Things I'm 205 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: learning from guys like Golden Taste, Sterling Shepherd. Um. You know, 206 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: they're you know, Golden's kind of you know, towards it 207 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: back in his career. Um. So, he uses a lot 208 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: of more of you know, subtle things to get open 209 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: as opposed to just raw athleticism. So I definitely know 210 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 1: that's something I have to add to my game. It's 211 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: golden take one of those guys that you've leaned on 212 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: this year to kind of just gain knowledge and and 213 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: gain the nuances of the game because he's seen so much. Yeah, 214 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: for sure, I mean questions and also just having a 215 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: chance to watch him um play and practice. You know, 216 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: I get to learn things just from watching them. What's 217 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,839 Speaker 1: one of the biggest things you learned. I know this 218 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 1: is uh, you know, your rookie season and you had 219 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: some injury early on, but once you've got things going, 220 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: you really picked it up. What was one of the 221 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 1: things you learned about yourself coming from when you initially 222 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: got drafted here and up until this point now, just 223 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: that you know I could stay engaged and focus. You know, 224 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: normally I've I've always been on the field all the time, 225 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: so you know, being out in the preseason and then 226 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: not knowing how much I was gonna play during the 227 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: regular season. Um, you know, it's just a lot of 228 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: doubt there, especially when you're you're not it used to 229 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: be in a guy that has to worry about this 230 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: kind of thing. So, um, just that I can stay 231 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: focused and um, you know, be present. Okay, So you've 232 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: shown that you've got hands right, You've shown that you've 233 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: got some wheels, um, and you've shown that you have 234 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: the temperament to play in New York City. So one 235 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: of some of the things you need to work on, 236 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: what are you what are some of the things in 237 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: the off season that you're going to be cute in 238 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: on to work on to be better for next year. 239 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: You know, I think I've been better at certain things 240 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: and what people expected, but I can still improve, Like 241 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: I said, my route running. Um, you know, even still 242 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: I think I don't think any receiver should ever started 243 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:32,839 Speaker 1: working on the ability to catch the ball because I 244 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: obvious that the most important thing we do. So definitely 245 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: work on those kind of things in the off season. 246 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: In your opinion, what's the biggest thing or the biggest 247 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: difference from college level football to the pro just a 248 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: mental aspect Um. You come across some guys on Sundays 249 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: that are just smart. You know that It's like they 250 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: already know what you're doing before you're gonna do it, 251 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: And um, you just have to be really keyed in 252 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: on making everything look the same and anything you give away, 253 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: you know, it's kind of like you know, going to 254 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: court a lot, like anything you say it could be 255 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: used against you, you know kind of thing. So, um, 256 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: just got to be really subtle and all your in, 257 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: all your movements. Okay, so this is your first off 258 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: season as a professional football player. What's going to be 259 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: your off season regiment? Are you're gonna like link up 260 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: with guys work out. Are you gonna take some time off? 261 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: What's your plan? Definitely take some time off first, just 262 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: sit down somewhere for a little bit. Um, let my 263 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: body he'll relax, and then um, you know, hit the 264 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: ground running training. Um, probably try to. It's always in 265 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,839 Speaker 1: my opinion it's better to train with at least two 266 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: or three other people because you know, by yourselves just 267 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: a grind. But you know, get some training in and 268 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: get myself ready for O T S. One thing I 269 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: want to talk about before we wrap things up here 270 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: is Eli Manning. Right, you've obviously understood his career, um, 271 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: and you've got to play with him. Um, what do 272 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: you think is a tell me what you learned from 273 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: Eli Manning? And then secondly, just what does it feel 274 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: to catch a receiving touchdown from Eli Manning, a potential 275 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame How to be a pro? I'd probably 276 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: say it's the big sting learned from Eli Um. I 277 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: think if if of all did his years of great 278 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: you know, if this year you know of you know, 279 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: he sat for weeks, you know, and then came out 280 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: against Philadelphia and lit it up. You know, So that's 281 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: just a testament to you know, a true professional is 282 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,839 Speaker 1: always ready. You know. He was never um, you know, 283 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:16,719 Speaker 1: checked out or anything like that. I mean, he was 284 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: ready to go and obviously showed that when he had 285 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: his opportunity to play. Yeah, that's true. I think one 286 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: thing I can say for Eli, He's always the consummate 287 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: professional no matter what's going on, no matter what's going 288 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: on around him or with the team, he remains professional. 289 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: So switching gears a little bit. Daniel Jones, you guys 290 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 1: have created a rapport unlike anything other this season. It 291 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: shows it shows his confidence in you. It shows that 292 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: he trusts you to make a play, whether it's third 293 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: down or whether it's a moment in the game where 294 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: the Giants need a big play to be made. It 295 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: seems like you were always a guy that kind of 296 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: rang that bell for Daniel Jones. Just talk to me 297 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: about you and Daniel's rapport and how you guys have 298 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: gotten along throughout the season. I think it just kind 299 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: of came organically. You know, we we both came in 300 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: rookies together, from literally rookie Minicamp all the way till now. 301 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: We've kind of always been rapping because we were both 302 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: second team, third team, and then as we both kind 303 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: of worked our way to the first team. UM, those 304 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: two kind of past kind of a line. So we're 305 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: always you know, rapping together in practice, UM played together 306 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: in games, and then obviously now we have a season, 307 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,719 Speaker 1: almost a season worth of games together. And I think 308 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: it's just it's been a really key to our success. 309 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: Probably one of the biggest questions I want to ask 310 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: you is like when you when you first started having 311 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: your success, what gave you the confidence that you could, like, 312 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 1: you know, become as big as you became. Well, I 313 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: think we gave me the confidence. Well, it was just 314 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: like my teammates, right, I didn't have teammates that were like, oh, 315 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: he's a free agent, he's just a young guy. Like, 316 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 1: let's try to downplay his you know, his abilities, or 317 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: keep him to the wayside or not uplift each other. Um, 318 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: I think they were behind me one and once they 319 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,199 Speaker 1: saw that I was doing good things and putting good 320 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: things on film and making plays out here on the 321 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: practice field, and then that transferred over to the game field, 322 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: they were like, Okay, this kid's for real. Let's bring 323 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: him into the fold. And that confidence from my teammates 324 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: is one thing. To get it from your coaches and 325 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: you know you're doing things well, But when you're in 326 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: that meeting room or in the locker room, to get 327 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: it from your from your peers and your teammates was 328 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 1: a whole different field. How did you adjust your game? 329 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 1: Like once he felt like other teams started to obviously 330 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 1: want to become a number one guy, you know, teams 331 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: start to try to stop you. So how did you 332 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: adjust your game once he felt like other teams were 333 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: scheming and stop you. I think the biggest thing was 334 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: understanding schemes and understanding coverages right and not just you 335 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: know coverages when it's just a two shell or forty 336 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: two or just cover four. It's understanding like, Okay, I'm 337 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: watching film on like a guy like des Bryant, who's 338 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: gonna get double teams right, and no matter where they 339 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: put him at on the line, they shadow a guy 340 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: or they got a safety over the top. So I 341 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: used to study how teams double team players and how 342 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: to just beat that. And I will go to coach 343 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: offense coordinator at the time and just show him things 344 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: that I was looking at. He showed me things, and 345 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: we just dissected and we just came up with a plan. Obviously, 346 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: playing the slot, you know, you get that opportunity to 347 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: kind of be all over the place and not really 348 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: let teams key on you. And and we just you know, 349 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: came up with a plan and it was great. And 350 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: obviously I had, you know, other receivers on the team 351 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: to take some of the pressure off me too, So 352 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: it was good. When we all started your Super Bowl 353 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: season midway through the year, did you feel like y'all 354 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: were gonna win the Super Bowl at the end of 355 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: the year or was it kind of like we're a 356 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: pretty good team, but you know, not not sure. No, 357 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: it was, you know, the super Bowl, it was always 358 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: something that we thought about. It was always something that 359 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: was our goal. But I think there was just some low. 360 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: I mean throughout a season, there's always ups and downs. 361 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: As you know, this is your first year, you know 362 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: you can there's ups, there's highs, and there's lows. Um. 363 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: I mean, we went through a skin where we lost 364 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: four straight in the middle of the season and we 365 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: didn't know what was gonna happen. But we knew that 366 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: we controlled our destiny and we knew that we had 367 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: a core group of guys that could battle through anything. 368 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: And as long as we knew that and anchored each other, 369 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: I mean, we were such a family. We would go 370 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: I mean we would be in pacts of like fifteen 371 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: going places just to eat dinner, and it was like, Okay, 372 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: these guys are a real family. This is bigger than 373 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: just on the field during the locker room. And I 374 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: think that really paid dividends because we were out here 375 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: playing for each other. It wasn't even about winning losing. 376 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: It was like, if I'm out here with himm Bradshaw, 377 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: I'm fighting for him, I'm if I'm out here with Eli, 378 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: I'm fighting for him defense same thing. So understanding that 379 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: was it just helped us, you know, weekend and week out, 380 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: and then once we hit our stride, we just hit it, 381 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: hit the ground running, and never look back. Now, let's 382 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: go to first round pick DeAndre Baker. Victor talked to 383 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: DeAndre about what his rookie season was like. But then 384 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: it gets very interesting at the end when DeAndre Baker 385 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: tries to pick Victor Cruizer's brain about what he looked 386 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: for when he scattered opposing cornerbacks when he was an 387 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: active wide receiver with the Giants. So what's up everybody 388 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: on Victor Cruz sitting here with DeAndre Baker. Um, first 389 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: and foremost, I just wanted to get right to it. Um, 390 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: coming into this season. What's the biggest thing that you 391 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: wanted to build upon? Um, you know from the beginning 392 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: of the season all the way through just the mental 393 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: part of the game. You know, just learn how to 394 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: break down film Tennessee's other receiver. Just no learning from 395 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: the older guys things help my game? UM? Talk about 396 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: some of them older guys. What are some of the 397 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: guys that kind of helped you along the way, kind 398 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: of get better and kind of, um, you know, help 399 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: you throughout your journey of this year. Oh yeah, A 400 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: b and to them. But the jack Rabbit might might 401 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 1: tea Mike Thomas, you know, just helped me break down 402 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: the film in different ways that you know, play different 403 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 1: techniques stuff like that, So it helped me big time. 404 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,360 Speaker 1: What are some of the things you learned, um, obviously 405 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 1: this season for the entire team was kind of up 406 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: and down. What are some of the things you learned 407 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: about yourself, Whether it's technique wise, whether it's something personal, 408 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 1: whether it's something that's something you know one of your 409 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: teammates taught you. What's something you learned about yourself throughout 410 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: this year that I can play on this level? You know, 411 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: I ain't never questioned it, but you know, throughout the 412 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: season they just kind of like, I really knew I 413 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: could do this, So we know you get you know, 414 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 1: you put the clamps on guys, we know you break 415 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,199 Speaker 1: on the ball. What are some of the things you 416 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: can improve upon in this offseason, your first, uh, you know, 417 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 1: football off season as a professional. What are some of 418 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: the things you're gonna work on. I'd probably say just 419 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,880 Speaker 1: now better technique to get in better position or get 420 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: in exceptions other than p bus and stuff like that. 421 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 1: What's the biggest difference for you from the college level 422 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: to the pro leblem I probably say the uh QB 423 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 1: timing you know, ball coming out quicker in college? And 424 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 1: what are you planning to do to kind of in 425 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 1: the off season to get better at that to kind 426 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: of see the ball coming out, read your keys a 427 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:19,400 Speaker 1: little faster. What are some of the things you're gonna 428 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: do to improve? Just no learning and learning how to 429 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: read the quarterback Tennessee is no read and run pass. 430 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: Things like that helped me react quicker be a step 431 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: better in my game. Who are some of the guys 432 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,679 Speaker 1: that if you had to compare your game uh to 433 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 1: somebody else, whether it's an older player or just some 434 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: of the great you know corners that have played the game. 435 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: Who would you say you mount your game after. Definitely 436 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: Patch of Peterson, I like how you play the game 437 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: and Xavier Roads those two guys I really like how 438 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 1: they play the game. What's your biggest goal as a professional, 439 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: whether you play a hundred years in this league, what 440 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: is the one thing you want to accomplish as a 441 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 1: professional athlete. I want to be a Hall of Famer, 442 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,360 Speaker 1: you know, but you know, but most of all want 443 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: to make Pro Bowl. Pro Bowl. So the big things 444 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 1: so far? Um, what's your offseason regiment going to be like, 445 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: obviously the first off season as a professional, what are 446 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: you gonna do. You're gonna train with guys, you gonna 447 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: take some time off. What's your plans. I'm gonna take 448 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: you some time off first, U like the first couple 449 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: of weeks, then get back to a start working up 450 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 1: back at home. Okay, Can I ask you a few questions. 451 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: Were some things you used to watch was for like 452 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: you were studying filmal cornerback. But that's a good question. 453 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: One of the things I used to watch was for tendencies, right, 454 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 1: so like if they're impressed, Um, does he have a 455 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: tendency to like look inside the ball a lot? Or 456 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: was he like looking at my hips? Was he a 457 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: hips guy or was he like a head guy. Some 458 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: guys trying to look at your chin. And I knew 459 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: if he was a chin guy, I could shake you 460 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: all day and get my releases off the line. But 461 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: if you were a waste guy, I had to really 462 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: do some work at the line to make you think 463 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: I was going one way and going the other way. 464 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: So I just looked at little tendencies, um, and things 465 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:49,919 Speaker 1: that corners used to give up. And then if you 466 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: were a press guy, press bell, I kind of would 467 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: would just always kind of look and see, you know 468 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: what kind of guy you were, especially from press, because 469 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 1: I used to get a lot of press in that slot. 470 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 1: They always trying to disrupt the route and things like that, 471 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: disrupt the timing um, so that's one of the things 472 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 1: I swip, so, like say cornerback and off coverage mind 473 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 1: set of getting and opening things like that. So if 474 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: I saw him in off coverage, first things first is 475 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: closed that cushion. I gotta get up on him quick 476 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: so he doesn't he got to make a decision. He 477 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 1: don't know which way I'm going, So I just attack 478 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,919 Speaker 1: him straight, straight, straight, until I see that he's in 479 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: panic mode right that he don't know where I'm going, 480 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: and then I usually at that point I'll stem him up, 481 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: get to the top of my route, either snap it 482 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: across or or just fly right past him and go straight. 483 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: But first things first was closing that cushion so he 484 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: won't have an opportunity to put his foot in the 485 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: ground and see which way I was going. At the 486 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 1: kids point, I always you like with till I I 487 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 1: see different receivers, they're probably just the ball to be 488 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: coming their eyes to get big, or some guys just 489 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: have a regular face. Like the biggest thing for me, 490 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: I definitely was a big I guy, like I was 491 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: always like, oh, here it comes. But I would always 492 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: make sure so I would do things like this right, 493 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: So I would even when times where I wasn't getting 494 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: the ball and it was run away from me, I'll 495 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: run a route or I run like a tent twelve 496 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: yards and then act like the ball was coming and 497 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: then DBB jumping up and down, you know. So I'd 498 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: used that every now and again to where there'd be 499 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: a time when you think I wouldn't be getting the ball, 500 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 1: but I'd really be running around, you know. So I 501 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: do that um sometimes. But the biggest thing for me 502 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: was just late hands, Like if it's a deep ball 503 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: or it's a ball even across the middle, I was 504 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: I used to wait till that last moment to just 505 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: reach my hands out there and grab it, because you know, 506 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: that's what guys like you were looking for, waiting for 507 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 1: you to throw your hands out there and play through 508 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: the hands with the ball. So are some things that 509 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: DBS did, and that was I just hated long arm 510 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:34,879 Speaker 1: guys like guys like Ike Taylor, if you had if 511 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: you lined up and you got your arms down and 512 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: they scraping the grass, and I'm just like, damn, these 513 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: long arms is gonna give me trouble today. So I 514 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 1: knew that I had to be, you know, diligent with 515 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 1: my releases and make sure I was disciplined in what 516 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: I was doing, because one false move that for you know, 517 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:51,880 Speaker 1: that right hand getting my chest is over. I mean 518 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: whatever route I had, it don't even matter no more. 519 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,159 Speaker 1: So I just always tried to make sure that I 520 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 1: was diligent with my releases, especially against long arm guys. 521 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,959 Speaker 1: I hated guys with like super long arms. So when 522 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: you say like playing like the biggest match up, like 523 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: every time y'all went against each other, You'll be like, 524 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: all right, I know, I gotta bring it there. I'm 525 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: bringing my off for him this week. My biggest matchup 526 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 1: was a guy, well, it was a couple of guys 527 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: obviously throughout my career. I Taylor was one. He always 528 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 1: talked junk, We always had healthy conversation out there on 529 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: the football field. But one of the guys was Carlos Rogers. Um. 530 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: I think he was a guy that we just had 531 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: healthy battles. Remember he had an interception on me one 532 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 1: time and got up and did the salsa and uh, 533 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 1: And I was kind of hot about that, and I want, 534 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: you know, I wanted them back. And luckily for us, 535 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: we played him again in the NFC Championship game and 536 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 1: I got my revenge a little bit. We won that game. 537 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: I played well, ELI played phenomenal and then uh. And 538 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 1: then that game obviously brought us to the Super Bowl. 539 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 1: But between Carlos Rogers, Ike Taylor, guys like Darrell Reavers, 540 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: Pat p of course, um, those are all guys that 541 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: I like, you know, you know, I was, you know, 542 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: look at my chops to get after those guys because 543 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: they were the best. And you always want to go 544 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:58,640 Speaker 1: against the best and always want to match up your talent. 545 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: So those guys always set the mark from me. So 546 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: like once you figured out, you was like, no, I'm 547 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,919 Speaker 1: good like you like separated yourself like from the average 548 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 1: receiving the league. What you did to like separate yourself 549 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: from the good receivers and become one of the best. 550 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 1: I just worked, man, I mean there was opportunities, you know, 551 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: there was always a moment for me to work where 552 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: there was in here catching jugs when nobody's looking, or 553 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:20,959 Speaker 1: you know, during my off season program and getting right 554 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 1: and working with guys like Life frit Gerald, doing different 555 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: types of workouts, surrounding myself with the greats, right, surrounding 556 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 1: myself with the Odell's and the A B s and 557 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:31,919 Speaker 1: like ELI used to bring us out and do a 558 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: little pass camp with us. Like surrounding myself with guys 559 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 1: that are that great, so you understand what they think, 560 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 1: and how they think and and what they do. Taking 561 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: little things from them, right, taking little things at the 562 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 1: top of the routes, like I'm taking things from everybody, 563 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: and don't think for one second they wasn't taking something 564 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: from me too. So that was one of the things 565 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 1: I did, was make sure I ask questions when I 566 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 1: need to, but pluck things from the great ones because 567 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:57,159 Speaker 1: they'll help you in the long one. For sure. We 568 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: thank DeAndre Baker and our other two rookies, Darius Eaton 569 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: and Dexter Lawrence for joining Victor Cruz on the jihnt 570 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: Subtle podcast this week. You can find the Giant Subtle 571 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: Podcast on giants dot com, the Giants Mobile app, and 572 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: all your favorite podcast platforms. Find us subscribe. If you're 573 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcast and you like what you here, leave 574 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 1: a five star positive review. It would really help us 575 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: out and we would appreciate it. Thanks for being with us. 576 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: You can find all the Giants podcast offerings the Giants 577 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: dot Com slash podcast. That's all the time we have 578 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,120 Speaker 1: for the Giant Subtle Podcast where Victor Cruz, DeAndre Baker, 579 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: Dexter Lawrence, and Darius Slayton. I'm John Schmak. Thanks for 580 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: being with us. We'll see you next time.