Sports Radio Host Marc Malusis on Malik Nabers & Russell Wilson | Giants Huddle | New York Giants
Welcome to another edition of the Johnson podcast brought to you by citizens the official bank of the giants. I am John Schmelk joined by one of my new partners this year the moose markus from picks WFAN you name it Moose. It’s good to talk to you, brother Schmel. How are you, man? I’m doing well, John. It’s good to see you. I’m excited for the season ahead. Uh, a lot of hope, a lot of excitement around the Giants and, uh, great to be working with you again. Uh, we have a long history, brother. I mean, going back to the days of Histori and WFAN and working behind the scenes. So, um, I’m happy for all your success and looking forward to working with you this year. And I am happy for your success as well. I Yeah, I mean, I I was FA, people know until about 2007 in June. Uh, you were producing Mike and Chris at that point. Correct. Yes. And that was Mike and Chris’s last year, right? They ended in September that year if I remember correctly. Uh, I think you’re right. Uh, I think you’re right. I think you’re right. Yes. And then Dog went on to Mad Dog Radio. Yes. Correct. So, if I remember correctly, and now just for the record, I should tell people how we’re partners this year. So, we’re going to be the weekend duo for Big Boot Kickoff on FAN every Saturday morning at 7 a.m. getting you ready uh for every Giants game on Sunday. And of course, Moose is also our lead in on Sunday mornings when we are our pregame show. So, uh, we’re a little, uh, weekend morning FAN team here that’s going to start the day before the Giants first game on Saturday, September 6th. So, make sure you guys tune in on the fan at 7 a.m. on those Saturday mornings. So, one memory I always have, Moose, I think it was a Super Bowl on the West Coast. I don’t remember what stadium. and Salacott and I were working the board and the producing back in the studio and you with Mike and Chris at the Super Bowl and it was Wednesday I think and that’s the day where all the guests pour in and I think we got to about 5:15 and we had literally like 50 minutes of spots left to get in in about an hour and 25 minutes of programming. I have never played so many spots in an hour of FA programming my whole life. But god darn, we got those spots in. Oh, you had to make sure you get those spots in. Yeah, that’s when I I think was like and I used to love producing Super Bowl week because it was the pressure, you know, and it’s, you know, obviously, you know, you’re working for Mike and Chris, that’s a draw. Um, so it’s not all you, it’s FAN, it’s New York and and all that, but but John, you know this, I mean, like it was like the pressure of making sure, you know, to get the right guests. And I I do remember that week and I do remember the fact that I think I had like over the span of 5 days, I think I have like something like 65 guests or something like that over five days. And that one day uh I remember uh Mike and Chris being like, “Well, you booked too many guests.” And I was like, “Well, you got to go. We got to go to break quicker. We can’t go longer.” This and that. And so and and dog used to bust my chops about the commercials. So, yeah, we got all the commercials in. You got to make sure the you know the the advertisers get the get their stuff in. But it was it was an absolute blast uh doing those shows. Turn off and Spitz figured it out around like 5:55. They’re like, “Why are you playing why are you playing so many commercial shows and I’m like, what do I want to tell you guys?” And you know what? And I know where you’re coming from, right? Because if the guest walks up to your table, you have to take them. You have no choice. Yeah. And I think like that week was one of the weeks we uh we had like Brett Favon, we had like Marino, we had Anthony Munoz was a classic. Anthony Munoz was always a staple Super Bowl week. There’s no doubt about it. Also, you know, you had the legends of the city that the Super Bowl was in. They’d make the run. Uh it was like kind of a slow build. Monday and Tuesday was kind of like you’re trying to you’re picking at straws trying to find guests. And then Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday the shows were absolutely packed. But yeah, that’s like the juggling trick. You, you know, then you had Viking Chris busting your chops. You had the stuff coming back. You’re playing too many commercials, all that kind of stuff. And making sure that you put together a good Super Bowl week show. Yeah. Inside baseball, folks. The last thing you want to do at a Super Bowl week is have too few guests for Mike and Chris. You always want to air on the on the side of having too many. Well, that’s what happened in Jacksonville. I remember that’s what happened in Jacksonville. And I got a phone call from Spitz like postgame like post show one night at like 6:45 and it was like and you know you know Eric is great you know he was like we joke around that he was the tin man um and stuff like that at FAN but um he’d be like did you prepare this week? Did you set up a proper schedule? Did you make the right calls? Did you do all this? And I’m like yeah sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. Like you could do all the work you can put everything together. doesn’t necessarily mean the plan always comes together. So, yes, it was a very, very stressful time at some point, especially when you’re a young producer in the industry and you’re looking to cut your teeth and trying to make a mark and and do a good job and you’re working for Mike and Chris, a legendary show. I don’t think there’s a better show that’s ever been. When you look at Sports Talk Radio, John, and uh there was the the pressure that came along with it, but there was no doubt there were years in which not every Super Bowl week show was a great show. Well, it’s funny. And then, you know, my first year here was 2007 with the Super Bowl run. Everyone’s like, “Oh, you must have had a blast during that playoff run in the Super Bowl.” And I’m like, “Yeah, I was also just desperately trying not to screw it up in my first year with a new team when they’re trying to win a Super Bowl.” And I’m like, I just don’t want to mess this up because these calls are going to go down in posterity and I got to make sure this stuff sounds good for like historical purposes. Yeah. Don’t get in the way, right? I mean I mean that and that was an unbelievable run. I mean, on the road Tampa, on the road Dallas, on the road Green Bay, and then beating the Patriots out there in Glendale, Arizona. So, I get it, right? You’re starting a new position. You’re with the Giants. They win a Super Bowl, and you want to make sure that you’re not the guy, you’re not the outlier. You’re not the red flag. You’re not the one that gets in the way of what and and make sure that everything sounds good for posterity. Yes. And and much like you don’t want Mike and Chris mad at you, you don’t want like Tom Coffin being mad at you for the bus leaving one of these statements late. Trust me, that is that is not the look you want to get when you’re like the last one getting on the bus as they’re waiting to go to the airport. So, you want to avoid that at all. By the way, were you always 15 minutes early as well to every meeting? Uh, honestly, I was probably around 10. I’ll tell you a funny story. So, one year we Bob Hop and I, we always did the Coughlin’s interview uh usually the Friday or Saturday before the game. And for this particular game, I forget why. We ended up having to go to the team hotel the day before and his meeting was supposed to end at 10:00. Bob and I show up at like 9:35. He’s literally sitting outside the room. We walk in doing this as we walk in the hotel. And we’re like, “Coach, we’re 25 minutes early.” He goes, “Not early enough.” So you So you could not win, bro. You could not win. Didn’t matter how early you were. He was the best. I I love Tom. He was tremendous. Coach is awesome. Um, and he set a tone and a culture, you know, good oldfashioned Giant pride and, you know, the evolution of Tom Coughlin as a head coach when he initially went to the Giants and then obviously, uh, helping the Giants win a couple of Super Bowls. So, uh, fantastic and obviously will go down in Giant history as as one of the great coaches that this organization’s ever seen. All right, talking about setting the tone, you were here, I think, last week, right? You were talking some people around here. I think the tone that Russell Wilson has kind of set for the building here. I had not seen that here. You know, Eli Manning was more of a lead by example type of guy, right? He wasn’t kind of out there and, you know, his personality didn’t infect the locker room. But that’s what Russell Wilson has done here. And I’ve never seen anything like it. defensive players, offensive players, coaching staff, just his the way he operates, his positivity, the way he communicates seems to have really in like infected in a good way this entire building. Well, you know what? It’s interesting, John. Perception of reality. I think there was a perception of Russell Wilson based on, you know, what everything that went down in Denver. you know, the the fracture when Shawn Peyton took over, the stories coming out of Denver, even when Shawn Peyton before he was there, then obviously everything in Pittsburgh is that, you know, and and the stuff that you saw pregame. Um, you know, there was I I think there was a lot of perception that Russell Wilson was this guy that a lot of players had a hard time connecting to. Um, you know, we we know the story in the Super Bowl, right? They’re trying to get Russell Wilson the MVP. They didn’t want to hand the ball off to Marshon Lynch. Wilson throws the pick against the New England Patriots like this all the stories that came out of Seattle over the days and then Denver um I think there was a perception of Russell Wilson I think the reality of it I think you’re absolutely correct um you know talking to you know Joe Shane Brian Dable and hearing their statements um talking to players that you know that have been around him is that you know he has set a tone a culture for this team understands the task at hand understands that you know his career is winding down right he’s not that no longer at the peak of his career here and is willing to do everything he can to help this organization out. And um I think it’s probably surprised a lot of people within the building. I think it’s probably surprised a lot of people from outside the building looking in and looking at the impact that Wilson’s had so far as a New York Giant. Yeah. And look, Darius Sllayton, the word he used the other day, he goes, he’s disgustingly consistent. Like every day at 8 a.m. It’s a smile and a hello. And it never changes. And it’s that way every day. And I do think that consistency moose when you have a team as young as the Giants are. I mean, you look at their skill position, guys. Neo Johnson second year. Malik Neighbor second year. Wando Robinson rookie contract, right? Sllayton’s a little bit more of a veteran. But I think it’s only going to help these younger players and give them more confidence when, and this is going to sound funny, a guy that when they were in high school, they were watching win Super Bowls. And I just think that’s going to help a young team. Again, we’ll see how he plays. That’s the most important thing. But at least I think it’s helping the young players become professionals seeing how he handles everything, right? I don’t think there’s any doubt. I think it also helps the young players see how he’s handled a guy like Jackson Dart in his room. Um, and the fact that he’s taken him under his wing um, and understanding that that’s difficult for a veteran to do, right? And we’ve seen other veteran quarterbacks not be that open minded to the idea of kind of uh helping ingratiate a rookie quarterback in the National Football League and and show them the ropes and how to watch film, how to prepare, how to study, what to look for when you’re looking at opposing defenses and Russell Wilson has taken that job uh in stride. I think he has an understanding of what his role is here, right? And and John, you know this. I mean, as as good of a guy as Daniel Jones was as a quarterback, um, and as a human being, it just didn’t work, right? I mean, in the end, it for whatever myriad of different reasons, we don’t have to run down. It it just didn’t work, right? So, Jones is now in in Indianapolis, and I think the Giants as an organization now, year four with Shane Dable, they needed a little bit of a freshening. Uh so they’ve got the young quarterback in the room and now they’ve got the a couple of veterans when you look at Wilson and Winston in that room that’s been there done that you know uh different levels of success. Jamus more collegiately Wilson more prof professionally but they’ve seen it all in the National Football League and I think you mentioned the youth of this team their experience does add to this room because we know undoubtedly the quarterback room are the leaders and really the starting quarterback’s the leader of the entire team. The Giants Foundation will host a 5K racing kids run presented by Quest on Sunday, October 26th at 9:00 a.m. at Metife Stadium. Their proceeds will benefit the Giants Foundation. All participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt. After the race, stay for a post-race festival with appearances by Giants Legends and the Live DJ. Register now at giants.com/5K. The Giants Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation. Huddle up. Get in here. If you’re lined up here, you got to go over the middle with it to score. Great. How do we make that happen? I don’t know, but Citizens does. Make sense of your money with Citizens, official bank of Eli Manning. And you know, Moose, it’s funny. You know, you talk about it it feeling new and I think it’s very rare and I said this to somebody the other day that in a fourth year of a regime, and you know how it goes and you have a couple really bad seasons in a row, you got top 10 picks, you’re picking at the top of the draft, it kind of becomes a here we go again, uh, you know, we can’t get out of this hole. This kind of feels new this year and I think it’s very rare to have that in the fourth year of a GM and a coach when they’re here. But I think Russ and some of the other pieces they brought in has helped make this feel fresh and new, which again hope will yield better results. Yeah. And well, and that’s really it. I mean, it’s a resultsoriented business. It’s a very, very difficult schedule, John, and we’re going to be breaking it down week in and week out throughout the course of the 25 season. But it does feel new. I mean, you’re around it on a day in dayout basis, right? I was out there, you know, you know, a week, week and a half ago and uh you get a sense of excitement in the building. You get a sense of hope within the building. Um and you’re right, I I I think it’s a little bit of a a fresh start. Um when when you look at this group and and this regime now, you know, they’ve got to show it. They they’ve the results on the field have got to lead the way and it’s going to be difficult against this schedule. There’s no doubt about it. But I get a sense that this team’s got a chip on their shoulder. But there’s also a belief that there’s answers within the room on that roster to get them where they need to go. Yeah. And look, you hit it, man. Like, you can’t start 0 and2 again. And I feel like for the last 10 years, every year except for the 2022 season, and I think there was one other one of the year where they won the second game. You’re staring at 0 and2 in week three. And I can tell you, Moose, you do not want to be coming home for your first home game in week three staring at Patrick Mahomes at 0 and2 because you know how it goes. If you start your year 0 and three, that’s a herculean task, okay? And you start the year with two divisional games on the road. You don’t want to start 0 and2 in the division either. You got to figure out a way to beat the Commanders, who got to the NFC title game last year. The Giants played them tough in both regular season games. And then the Giants haven’t beaten Dak Prescott as a starting quarterback since he came into the league. So, they have to figure out a way of to win one of those first two games. Yeah. and and you know and and the I think the GM and the head coach have kind of emphasized that got to get off to a good start. Um and you know you I I don’t disagree. I mean there’s there’s no other way to cut it. You you know this season could get late early to steal a yogiism uh if they get off to a really bad start. Then all of a sudden it comes down to you know the dart watch and and when is Jackson Dart if he does get an opportunity to start at some point during the NFL regular season for the New York Giants. So, I think Washington’s a game I John, I think you hit upon it. Like I I look at I look at the Commanders and listen, we all love Jane Daniels is great. And I I I don’t think Giant fans were celebrating the fact that Terry McLaren just ain’t the new $96 million contract, right? He’s walking in with his uh with his significant other into the building to sign the deal and everyone’s happy golucky and Adam Peters is high-fiving people. I don’t think he’s all that Giant fans were celebrating that. Commander fans were. Uh, but I I think the Giants defensively are going to be really really good this year. I mean, that’s the obvious. Everyone’s basically stating that offensively. The question you have with Wilson is, you know, is he going to be able to operate within this system, be able to push the ball down the field and make the throws and pull the trigger that the previous quarterback in Jones was had the inab great inability to do. So, and I think when you look at, you know, when you look at uh, you know, Kafka and Dable, they believe that that that Russell Wilson can, and I think that’s a winnable game week one in Washington. You, they played them tough a year ago. I think they can move the ball in that defense. And I think the Giant defense, if it lives up to the talent that’s on that side of the ball for defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, I think they’re going to be able to attack because that front seven is loaded with talent. Yeah, I’ll hit that defense in a second, but I think you nailed it offensively, I think. And I know Brian Dable has gone back and and painstakingly gone through everything Russell Wilson has done in his career trying to replicate some of the stuff that he’s been successful at. And I think they’re trying, if you think about how he had success in Seattle, really good defense, good pass rush, size, veteran secondary, run the ball, play action, to your point, push the ball down the field. And I think their combination of defense, yeah, the moon ball, and then the one thing Russell Wilson has always done well is protect the football. he does not turn it over. And if you can put those three things together, I think that’s the winning formula they’re going to try to put together this year to try to win some more games. Yeah. And a big key is going to be Andrew Thomas along the offensive line. He’s got to stay healthy. I mean, and John, you know, if Thomas hopefully at left tackle, if he stays healthy, you know, you have significantly less concern about the Giant offensive line. If he goes down to get another injury and and he’s great when he’s in there. The problem with Andrew Thomas is he’s not been available, right? So, he’s not been able to play and has had a myriad of different things that have gone wrong. But, if he’s there at left tackle, I think the Giant offensive line is going to be pretty good. I think they’re going to be good enough to operate what you what you’re talking about trying for this offense to be able to do what they want to do, which is run the football, push the ball down the field. The difference with Russell Wilson now as compared to Russell Wilson when he was with Seattle is, you know, his escapability. Like, he’s lost a step. Um, you know, he doesn’t elude the pass rush. He doesn’t lengthen out plays like he used to get outside the pocket and throw the ball deep. Everything that made, you know, him such an exciting watch with the Seattle Seahawks, that version of Russell Wilson’s probably gone. Could you see it on occasion? You can see it on occasion. I don’t think you’re going to go out there and see it consistently, but the offensive line and Thomas’ health, you know, when you think about keys to the Giants in 2025, obviously the def on offense, Thomas has got to stay healthy at left tackle and play to his level. Yeah, look, we had Warren Sharp on and he does a great job with his numbers a couple weeks ago and when Russell Wilson was not pressured last year on early downs, he was basically like a top 10 quarterback EPA wise when he was pressured. He was like a bottom cortile quarterback. So, you’re right. I think getting protection for him is going to be key. John Podcast is brought to you by Citizens official bank of the Giants. From game day celebrations to your everyday financial needs, big move fans can get the most out of every moment with Citizens. Learn more at citizensbank.com/giants. All right, you mentioned the defense a couple times, Moose. Could be a lot of fun. That’s Lawrence in the middle. Burns, Tibido. Who knows where Abdul Carter is going to be lining up if you can actually maybe play with a lead once in a while and stop the run. Pass could be one of the best in the league. Oh, I don’t think there’s any And they have an identity, John. Like they have an identity. like I I talk about all the time like and I didn’t you know when when I was growing up and watching Giant games they were defined by their linebackers LT Carl Banks obviously Harry Carson’s Gary Rezinss Pepper Johnson you know they were defined by their ability to go out there and get after the quarterback you brought up earlier in the conversation like Coughlin 07 right you think about you know Michael Straan and OCora Justin Tuck you know Matias Kiwanuka you know their ability to get after the quarterback and and that’s really kind of one of the staples that is find Giants football over the years is we’ve that the Giants when they’re really good, they have guys to be able to attack the pocket and we have it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to say that. I think you can say it this year. I mean, I you know, I don’t think there’s any doubt when Lawrence is as good of an interior defensive lineman as there is in the league. You’ve got Abdul Carter who’s freaky athletic. Brian Burns obviously coming over in a trade a couple offseasons ago from Carolina. Maybe this unlocks Kavon Tibido uh to to be the player everyone thought he was going to be coming out of Oregon. He’s still been good, you know, but you know, now all of a sudden he’s got a lot of help on that defense as well. There’s a lot to like and there’s depth along that defensive line. You know, that’s where you think about the Giants is their ability to go out there attack and the Giants defense has needed an identity for quite some time and now they have one. Yeah. And look and I think as you know m watching the league as long as you have the the quickest way to have a bad defense is having a young secondary and last year the Giants had a very young secondary and they gave up a ton of big plays. I think adding Javon Holland and Paulson Adbo is going to raise the floor of this group so much and if they know that you’re getting pressure these guys and I was talking I was talking to a former NFL DB the other day. You can start sitting on routes right if you know the other quarterback’s not going to have time to throw it. you can start sitting on slants, sitting on those little stick routes and making plays on the ball because you know he’s not going to be able to sit back there, run double moves, run stop and goes and things like that. Yeah. Well, there there’s no doubt and I think Adbo has showed his talent when he was down in New Orleans outside of the broken leg and and I I think Javon Holland now is excited. He’s had a number of different defensive coordinators down in Miami, you know, and he inked that three-year deal. Um, and you can use him in a variety of different ways. He’s one of the giants I had an opportunity to sit down and chat with for picks, John. And you know, I was impressed. He’s picked up golf a year and a half ago. He’s got a nine handicap. Uh he loves golf, dude. Love loves it. And then and just he was such a such a likable young man. And but he talked about the fact of the way that he can be used uh in being a ball hawking safety uh for Shane Bowen in this defense. And I don’t disagree with you. I think I think the Giants really had a tremendous off season with what they were able to accomplish, what they were able to add in terms of veteran experience in the back end in that secondary. I think all three levels have got playmakers. Um, and I do think even if the inexperience rears its ugly head at times during the regular season, you got the pass rush to be able to make up for it. Yeah. And look, and we we haven’t even mentioned Malik Neighbors yet. and he could I mean it would not shock me moose if he’s leads the league in receiving yards or you know top three with Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson and those guys Brian Dable the one thing he’s always done and you even go back when Stefon Dig showed up in Buffalo right if he has a big- time weapon he is going to get that player the ball if neighbors can stay healthy by all accounts he’s built a very good relationship with Russell Wilson he could have a monstrous year that we have not seen here since Odell Beckham’s prime oh it’s Jamar Chase’s cousin. Not literally, but you get the point. Like, when you look at them as playmakers, I mean, they’re they’re very similar in nature. Um, he plays bigger than he is. He has shows you a remarkable toughness and grit. Um, you know, can play through some injuries and some nagging stuff. Uh, is a quote unquote gamer. Um, and wants the ball in his hands. And when he gets the ball in his hands, you know, he scares the be Jesus out of opposing opposing defensive coordinators. I mean, that’s that’s what Malik Neighbors is. So, I’m I’m excited, you know, John. Like, I am like I’m My son runs around with his neighbors jersey, my youngest son, Gregory. Like, he loves screaming out leak whenever he makes a catch. Like, I’m excited to watch Malik Neighbors and what he’s going to be for this offense. I don’t disagree with you. I think when you look at and I think that’s what you want to do. Um, you know, it’s a it’s a receiver-driven league. It’s a passing league. Um, and you need big-time playmakers to do it. Now, you could question or look at the depth when you’re looking at that wide receiver room and say, “Okay, is it good enough around the player to to prevent teams from going out there and saying, “Well, we’re going to put the hammer lock and Malik neighbors. We we’re going to force you and force somebody else to make a play, whether it be Wandel Robinson, whether it be Darius Sllayton, whether it be Theo Johnson, whoever it might be.” Yeah, I think you’re going to run into that. But that means that those other guys at times are going to have to make plays to prove that to show that opposing defensive coordinators have got to be able to play it a little bit more honest. Anything about this team, player, part of the team, coaching, anything you picked up while you’re here a week and a half ago that you think maybe people are sleeping on a little bit or you’re very excited about or even maybe something that that you’re nervous about that you think could turn this season in the wrong direction? Um, well, could well, I mean, outside the SK like I think the Giants are going to be significantly better, John. I I don’t know if it necessarily equates to them having a significantly better record because of the schedule that they have. Like so like you look at this visually, you know, you could talk about the teams of going out there and playing one-score games. There’s a difference between playing one-core games when you’re right there as compared to when you’re playing one-score games and visually you’re watching the game and it’s not really a one-sore game. It ends up being that case or less than a seven-point game. You get the point. We’ve watched enough football over our years to be able to understand that. I think the Giants visually, you’re going to look at it and come into the year, come out of this season and think, you know, this team’s on on a good path. Um, I think, you know, I, you know, I kind of came away from a week and a half ago feeling that, you know, the Giants co-owner, John Mara, made the right decision, made a tough decision, but made the right decision in terms of staying the course. Uh, I feel like I got a little bit of an an extra when when talking to head coach Brian Dable, he’s got a little bit of that kind of moxy back to him to where he was in year number one. Um, the confidence level in the head coach. Um, I got that. And I I think there’s just kind of a the concerns the schedule. The concern is to when you look at Russell Wilson, what version of you are you going to get him at the quarterback position? Um, outside and and the offensive line. Those would be the main concerns. But like everyone’s talked about, I think the defense is going to be really good. Excited to watch Neighbors. I think the running back room, Cam Scataboo, as long as he’s healthy, along with Tracy at running back are going to be particularly good. I’m excited about what Theo Johnson could be at tight end year number two. I think there’s a lot of things to think about and look at this team and say, “Okay, I’m excited about where this group is and as long as these young players continue to evolve, stay healthy, get better about where the Giants as an organization are going to be post 2025.” If you want to know how to manage 2 minutes of crunchtime football, I’m your man. But if you’re wondering about a long-term financial plan, you should talk to Citizens. Hey, I can also talk lawn care. I’d like to learn about a mowing routine. Yes, I knew I could help. Make sense of your money with citizens. It’s funny you mentioned the record thing about two months ago on one of our shows. I was had the exact same conversation with with Paul Dino and I and I and we’re taking calls. I say one of the fans, I’m like, “So, can I interest you in a much improved point differential? Would that get you excited?” And as you might imagine, fans did not take too well to that. They do not care about a better DVOA or an EPA per play. They want more wins. But look, the schedule is just really, really tough. And that’s going to be um tough. It’s it’s just going to be tough to translate. Well, right. It is. And I I think we we hit upon it earlier in the convers. Got to set a tone early that this is a different year, right? And that’s that’s against Washington. You know, you mentioned it. They played the they played the Commanders very tough a year ago. I know every year doesn’t necessarily translate to the next year and everything could be a little bit different. Um, and Washington went to the NFC Championship game a year ago and Jaden Daniels year number two, but I think when you look at Washington, there are concerns when you’re looking at that defense, when you’re looking at that pass rush, are they going to be able to get after the quarterback? There’s no concerns really about what Daniels is as a quarterback. And I think the Giants defensively can alleviate some of the explosiveness of that commander offense with what they can provide defensively and some of the concerns they can provide. Cliff Kingsbury and and the commander offensive coordinator. So get off to a good start and then kind of start to change the narrative around the Giant organization, the one that’s been kind of hanging over this organization for the past couple years. And of course, we’ll have a deep preview of that game on our first show on September 6, 7 a.m. on WFAN. Moves, very quickly, let’s go around the league real fast. I’ve asked this question to all my guests I’ve had on in the last couple weeks trying to preview the season. Make the case the same team has not won the NFC East in consecutive years in 20 years since the Eagles did it with Andy Reid and Donovan McNab. Make the case for how a team knocks the Eagles off this year given the level of talent on that roster because I’m having trouble making that case to be I think it’s very very difficult. I mean, you want to talk about, you know, posts Super Bowl malaise, hangover, not as hungry, um maybe defections along the offensive line. I I mean, but I I still think they have, you know, arguably one of the best offensive line coaches in the National Football League. Um down there in Philadelphia, uh Saquon doesn’t stay healthy. Um defensively, you know, they they did lose some guys in free agency. I think it’s difficult because I think the other teams have got holes. Like you look at Washington, I I I think the Commanders have got holes on defense. I don’t I don’t know. I think Tonsel helps out their offensive line at left tackle. I don’t know if it’s necessarily a dominant offensive line. I think Daniels obviously is exciting at quarterback. I think it’s difficult, John. Like I’d love to sit here and tell you, listen, I think it’s going to be the Cowboys or I think it’s going to be the Commanders. At some point in time, a team’s going to go out there and win back-to-back NFC East titles. I think we might be looking at it when you’re looking at the Philadelphia Eagles this year. Uh, yeah, but I do think the conference in general, Moose, is wide open. This is not the AFC where you’re staring at Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen or Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert. You don’t have that group of quarterbacks in the NFC. Which team do you like to emerge to kind of challenge the Eagles and and kind of be that next team up? Uh, I’ll give you a I love the Rams throughout, as a lot of people did throughout the course of the offseason. I have no idea what version of Matthew Stafford we’re going to get. Right. I mean, that’s that’s the that’s the concern. You look at the Los Angeles Rams and I don’t think the San Francisco 49ers are nearly as talented a roster as they once were. However, as compared, you know, you look at their schedule, the schedule is ridiculously easy. When you’re looking at the San Francisco 49ers for Kyle Shanahan. So, you know, they’re favorite to win the NFC West. I throw the Rams out there. If Stafford, who’s a remarkably tough quarterback and has played through a numerous amount of injuries that should have kept him off the field, if he’s able to be a semblance of the form of Matthew Stafford that we have seen for the majority of his career, I’ll give you a team. It’s not, you know, it’s not the NFC South. I mean, I I think it’s Tampa’s division to lose. Um, don’t necessarily trust Atlanta. I’ll give you the Green Bay Packers. Um, you know, uh, in that NFC North, which I is a ridiculous division, and, you know, everyone gets caught up in Ben Johnson and and the Caleb Williams. Uh, the Minnesota Vikings, they might be the most talented roster in the division. You have questions about JJ McCarthy. Then you look at the Detroit Lions losing both offensive coordinators. Offensive line might maybe not be as good as it once was, but you believe in what Dan Campbell. I’ll give you the Packers. Um, but I’ll give you this caveat to it, John. What version of Jordan Love are we going to get? Yeah, he’s very inconsistent. He’s very inconsistent. Are you going to get the Jordan Love from two years ago? Um, where if their kicker makes a kick, they go into San Francisco and beat the 49ers or, you know, or what version of Jordan Love do we get? Right. So, if you get a good Jordan Love, I think that defense, secondyear Hathley, the former Boston College coach, um, is going to be better. They got to get after the quarterback. That was a massive issue a year ago for the Green Bay Packers. Jacobs run the football was great. Love the fact that they added gold in the receiver um out of Texas in the NFL draft. Like there’s things that you like about the Green Bay Packers offensive line’s going to be really really good out there in Green Bay. The the massive question I’m going to lean in that we get a good version of Jordan Love. If you get a good version of Jordan Love and you’re looking for a team that’s kind of, you know, longer, not not the talk of the town to maybe take down Philadelphia in the NFC, I’d give you the Green Bay Packers. Do the Bills or Ravens or somebody else finally break through and prevent the Chiefs from going to Young? I hope so. I mean, like at some point in time, we got to see somebody else other than Kansas City, John. I mean, like, at some point, And now we’re going to get Kelsey and Taylor Swift and the engagement and the marriage and with a honeymoon and everything that we’re going to get through throughout the course of the NFL season. And congratulations to them because who doesn’t love a little love? I’m glad the two kindred spirits absolutely found themselves. But um I’ll ask it like I at some point it’s got to be Buffalo like you know you know why not us? They’ve got to walk. Yeah. Like at some point but then you can also make the argument down in Baltimore and say well can the Ravens play like here’s the thing that frustrates you about Baltimore. Can they not get cute in the NFL playoffs and play the way that they do in the regular season and get it to Derk Henry, bro? Right. I don’t know. Like it’s all of a sudden like they want to change things up instead of just be you. Like you’re good enough. Like we watched it. You watched you dominate. Like Lamar should have been the MVP a year ago. He’s unbelievable. Henry going out there and basically lifting cars during the course of the offseason. You know, he’s a freakish athlete. Like be yourself. So I think we do get somebody different than Kansas City this year coming out of the AFC. Um I think it’s kind of dealer’s choice whether it be the Buffalo Bills or the Baltimore Ravens. I do fully expect this podcast to match the Taylor Swift new heights episode and I’m gonna find my way. So, no pressure. All right. Will you marry me? Moose, uh, tell the folks everything you got going on this week, uh, so they can find you, all your platforms, anything else you got going on. Uh, we got, yeah, I mean, we got, uh, a little Ruters football that gets going. I do pre and postgame for Rutgers. Make sure to check out uh Nelson Figuro and I do a show Sports Nation nightly each and every night Monday through Friday on Picks at 7 p.m. and uh host Sunday mornings on WFAN. So uh but I’m happy to be with you John throughout the course of the Giant season. It’s going to be great talking a little big blue football with you. Moose can’t wait. And again, our first show, Big Blue Kickoff Live, the weekend edition, live on WFAN, starting on Saturday, September 6th, the day before the Giants visit the Commanders to open their 2025 season. And that’s all the time we have for the John podcast brought to you by citizens official bank of the giants from the hackath podcast studio. Keep getting better for Mark Malus. I’m John Schmilk. We’ll see you next time everybody.
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk is joined by show host for PIX11, Marc Malusis, to discuss the playmaking ability of Malik Nabers, what Russell Wilson’s leadership could mean for this team, and the NFL landscape in 2025. Presented by Citizens.
00:00 – Marc on joining the Giants pregame show
07:15 – Russell Wilson’s leadership
12:00 – Starting fast
18:00 – Giants defense
21:30 – Malik Nabers
27:15 – Around the league
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1 comment
Looking good you two! 🥳🏈🥳🏈🥳🏈