Carl Banks Interview

Hey, thanks for having me, guys.

Well, it's kind of a combination of all things going bad at once. You're playing with some guys that don't have a lot of NFL experience, and then the margin of error is so slim that they can't afford to miss on great opportunities. So when you have those things coming together and a team that's pretty hot in LA, things like this happen. But it's been a long time since I've seen it fall apart like that, and hopefully they'll figure out how to get it back on track.

Well again, the defense had been a problem prior to their injuries of some key players, and that was I guess the most shocking part of how this season started. And it really didn't get much better because the defense, and even Coach McAdoo said as early as July, the team was going to have success, the defense was going to have to carry the load. And I think he knew that his offense and his offensive line would take some time to get on track. But this defense just hasn't been good. And when you look at it, they allow tight ends a record number of touchdowns against them. It's an NFL record the amount of touchdowns we've given up in that time. So they've got to be probably, I don't want to say embarrassed, but I'm sure disappointed that they haven't put good performances on the field on a consistent basis. I'm not sure I can say that they played 60 minutes of good football in any game, or a complete football game defensively.

Well, I think it's not a winning effort, let's put it that way. And some of it is lack of execution. Like I said, you have some guys out there who don't have a lot of NFL experience. Two young linebackers finished the game. You had a third, almost like a fourth defensive end out there with Olivier Vernon, Okwara, and Kerry went out, then they have to put in the young kid Avery Moss and he's getting his first taste of NFL experience and they went right at him. So it's kind of like a combination. You got young players, teams knowing how to attack them, and the good players that you have, the veterans and the seasoned players, are not holding up their end of the bargain as much. You know, the one bright spot in my opinion has been Jason Pierre-Paul. He never leaves the field. I mean he's not perfect but he's probably giving you the most consistent play of most on that defensive front.

Well, it's a different game now, but you know, the year before I got there Bill Parcells only won two games. So I mean there's been some lean years in the Giants history. But the issue here is, you know, if it is what it is right now, let's look at it from a standpoint of, okay, what assets do they have? They've got to be more demanding of what they have. And the reason I say that, I've used the phrase 'be efficient at being average' is what they have to be. They have to be very efficient with what they have. Meaning when you have an opportunity for a 75-yard touchdown bomb to Sterling Shepard, you can't overthrow it. Or when you've got some money in the end zone, you can't miss that throw. So that puts them in the game and it puts more pressure on the opponent. And you know, they have to play complimentary football all the way through. They're just not good enough in any phase of the game to have miscues. Because when they had their two turnovers, they had the sack fumble resulted in a touchdown, fumble resulted in a touchdown, interception resulted in points. So you know, it's just a crazy game when things start to fall apart and you start searching for answers. It's pretty simple, it goes back to the basics. Whether you're a really good team or you're an average team or a team that just doesn't have a lot of talent, you have to be very efficient at what you are.

Okay, yes. Well, you know, some groups can handle prosperity and some can't. I mean, in an era of free agency, certain games are played on paper and certain teams are crowned champions before they take the field. And they become susceptible to be accoladed or praised before they even go out. And I think that is in part what happened with this Giant team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. I think they really thought that they arrived, and as it turns out, they just are not as good as they thought they were. They're not playing as good as they thought they were.

Well, it depends on what circles you're in. I think if you're preparing for him as a quarterback or the coordinator, he does. But as a general rule, no, he doesn't. He certainly doesn't get the respect that he deserves. But when you are, I'm sure the teams that have to prepare for him, you never really hear opposing teams talk as if Eli Manning is just another guy, just another quarterback. So I think they realize that he's a lot better than he's given credit for.

Well, they deal with it like their fathers dealt with it. It's baked in now. So there's eight games left, there's a lot of football left. I don't think anybody's getting fired during the middle of the season. That's just not how they do things. And they'll deal with the empty seats and you know, they want to see how this team fights. That's what they want. And I think that's the coach's responsibility right now and his assistant coaches is to demand execution from the players when they give them a good game plan. You listen to Eli Manning talk, he thought they had a great game plan going into the game and you could see signs of that. But you know, when he's overthrowing players for touchdowns and not taking care of the football, he and the running game, it's hard to win. So they've got to really have attention to detail with where they are. But it's just too hard. Like if there were two games left, you could start the clock, right, and kind of imagine what it's going to be like the off-season, the next year, and start to kind of project things. But with eight games left, it's just way too early to try to look forward to what can happen next year. It's all going to be predicated upon what happens these next eight games. And you know, coaches have to coach 'em out and players have to play 'em out. Like if I played in this era or vice versa, you know, eight games go is eight games ago. You can't quit. You know, if you put eight games of bad football as an individual on tape, there is not a team that will touch you in free agency. You know, people understand when you're on a bad team and it's one game left or two games left and you kind of dog it a little bit, they kind of write that off. But in an era of team sports where people are looking for leaders and hard workers, if you cash in eight games and it's on tape, you're going to have a hard time finding a good paying job. You may find a job, but they're not going to pay you well for it.

No, I don't think they quit. I don't think they had a winning effort though. I don't know, I think there were some bad and really bad plays. That 33 was probably the epitome of that football. No, I don't think they quit. I think they had holding on for dear life. It's inexcusable and pathetic, honestly.

All right, well I will say this, I think they need to put more of an emphasis on the position because when they get talent, it certainly helps them. And you know, B.J. Goodson has a bright future. He's their most physical linebacker and he's coming into his own if he can stay healthy. But you know, the rest of the guys are just kind of guys out there. To answer your question, why don't they put more emphasis on it? I don't know, but they're playing a four-down linemen system, so their emphasis is always on defensive backs and pass rushers. But you can't continuously neglect the position and just put anybody back there because they have to play. And I think they really should consider drafting linebackers higher or acquiring better talent at the position so they can get more productivity out of it.

Well, WWF then, but it was just the most amazing experience. LT, Bam Bam Bigelow and his crew, it was a lot of fun. Vince knows how to put on a show and it's amazing how this new generation of kids has gravitated towards this genre because people didn't think it would last this long. But I mean, credit Vince McMahon and the job he's done. But you've got 20-something year olds that are just going nuts over WWE. Every one of their WrestleManias are just, you can just see with social media, these people are going crazy for it.

Well, I pretty much want to focus on the Knicks themselves. I mean, that era where Carmelo was, what it was. He's off and you know, hopefully he's doing well and happy in his new environment. And I'm just excited about what the Knicks have put on the floor now. I mean, I root for the Knicks regardless, and this is the team they put out there and I like it. You know, Kristaps Porzingis is off to a blazing start in points last night, looking great. I mean, he's had like four 30-point games and a 40-point game. This is just amazing.

Okay, thanks. For the young guys out there, you can always YouTube it all. I do, believe me, I know everything. And let me tell you something, Sims wasn't that great in that Super Bowl. Your 10 solo tackles, that would have been your MVP award, Carl.

You got the ring, that's all that matters.