Giants: Deonte Banks can reverse a horrific stat
The New York Giants selected Deonte Banks out of Maryland with the 24th overall pick on Thursday night, hoping to have a franchise cornerstone on their defensive perimeter for years to come. One area they desperately need to improve is ball production in the secondary, with the Giants only recording six interceptions as a team […]
The New York Giants selected Deonte Banks out of Maryland with the 24th overall pick on Thursday night, hoping to have a franchise cornerstone on their defensive perimeter for years to come.
One area they desperately need to improve is ball production in the secondary, with the Giants only recording six interceptions as a team during the 2022 NFL regular season.
Well, as it turns out, the lack of ball production is nothing new in the Giants secondary, with only one corner in the past two decades having a presence as a rookie. Here's how Banks can transform that.
According to Stahead.com no Giants rookie corner has recorded four or more interceptions since Will Allen did in 2001. Now this is important because on the surface, Banks doesn't have the collegiate ball production to make you think he would reverse the curse.
In over four years of play at Maryland, Banks only recorded one interception for the Terrapins. But fear not Giants fans. If New York's assembly of scouts, coaches and coordinators thought Banks couldn't contribute to forcing turnovers…they wouldn't have drafted him.
How do I know you ask? GM Joe Schoen was asked this very question in post round one press conference to which he responded: "Look, he was around the ball quite a bit. There was a lot of pass breakups. He can match receivers. Again, it's new for all these young guys coming in, but I think he's a good player. I'm glad we got him."
And that's the important part here. When you watch the tape, Banks is seldom targeted. Why? Because opposing quarterbacks knew not to test that side of the field. And let's be real, if Wink Martindale, (who covets ball-hawking corners more than most) thought it was going to be an issue, he wouldn't have signed off on Banks.
So here's to reversing a dreaded stat this fall. Not just because it would be nice to re-write history, but if Banks is finding the ball that much, it's likely that the Giants will be finding themselves atop the scoreboard.
