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Giants don't trust CB Deonte Banks right now, and that's a big problem

29 October 2024Last Update :
Giants don't trust CB Deonte Banks right now, and that's a big problem

PITTSBURGH — Deonte Banks spent last week in the crosshairs after he allowed his effort to lapse on the field during the New York Giants’ embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the second time in three weeks the Giants’ 2023 first-round pick faced criticism for loafing on the field. However, instead of punishing Banks for his poor effort, Giants coaches committed to their young cornerback, starting him Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That lasted a little over a quarter before he was benched.

Banks spent the rest of the game on the sidelines, watching his teammates come up short in a frustrating 26-18 loss that dropped their record to 2-6 on the season.

So what exactly happened? Let’s start at the end. The final snap Banks played Monday was a wild one: A Russell Wilson touchdown pass to George Pickens was reversed because Pickens did not land both of his feet in the end zone.

Banks and Giants safety Jason Pinnock made the play on Pickens with Banks pushing the receiver out of bounds before his left foot could find the field. While the call landed in the Giants’ favor, there was clear tension on the sidelines as the teams awaited the officials’ decision. Giants coach Brian Daboll appeared visibly frustrated with the cornerback.

“They took me out because of missed tackles,” Banks said after the game.

When asked to specify if that meant tackling technique or if the issue was more effort-related, Banks replied, “I guess you can say that’s kind of right. I mean effort, technique, tackling — they kind of go hand-in-hand.”

Daboll didn’t add much clarity to the situation.

“Just thought during that series needed a little bit more,” Daboll said. “Had a conversation with him and went with the other guys.”

There’s no doubt Banks struggled to tackle during that series. On one play, he lunged at Najee Harris’ knees only to have the Steelers running hurdle over him for a 14-yard gain. Daboll called that a “tough play.”

Later on the same drive, Banks missed a tackle on Pickens with the receiver spinning out of Banks’ tackle attempt en route to picking up 14 yards on a third-and-4.

Once that series ended, Banks never saw the field again. Greg Stroman, whom the Giants elevated off of the practice squad this week amid CB injuries to Adoree’ Jackson and Cor’Dale Flott, replaced him.

This is stating the obvious, but the fact that the Giants can’t rely on Banks, one of the more talented members of their defense, to do his job on weekly basis has become a big problem.

The 2024 Giants aren’t going anywhere, so the back half of this season is largely going to be about finding out about the future. In this case: Is Banks part of it or not? He clearly has the skill set to be a quality contributor, but does he have the other things? The discipline. The consistency.

The Giants need the answers to those questions to be yes. This roster has too many other holes to have to worry about replacing a talented first-round pick. The Giants showed their faith in Banks this offseason, deciding against bringing in a well-regarded veteran and instead entrusting Banks to assume the responsibility of serving as the team’s No. 1 cornerback.

They’ve put a lot on him this season already.

Entering Monday, Banks had shadowed a wide receiver — typically the opponent’s top target — for more than 85 percent of their routes aligned on the outside in seven games this season, per NFL Pro. No other cornerback had done that more than four times.

The assignments haven’t been easy, either. He’s had to face off against the likes of Justin Jefferson, Terry McLaurin, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, DK Metcalf, Tee Higgins and A.J. Brown.

With matchups like that, the results have been as expected: some good, some bad. Lately, he acquitted himself well against Higgins and Metcalf, but he struggled earlier in the season against Cooper. Obviously, the low points have been the two plays where his effort lapsed.

Following a Week 3 loss to the Cowboys, defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson called out the cornerback for his “failed” attempt to tackle Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb on a 55-yard touchdown.

Then, in Week 7, Banks simply stopped hustling on a play rather than chase down Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

“It’s disappointing anytime, with these guys, there’s a lack of effort that shows up across the board,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said last week. “You see it with other guys from time to time. Again, it’s just something we got to continue to harp on and make sure we’re playing to our maximum ability and full tilt to the tackle every opportunity that we have.”

On Monday night, Daboll said he had a conversation with Banks, and Banks noted his coach told him he needs to tackle better.

“I just played football,” Banks said. “If (taking me out) is what they wanted to do, that’s what they did.”

The Giants certainly don’t want to be taking Banks out of games. They don’t want his status as a starter to be in question. What they want is for their first-round cornerback to become a more consistent, reliable player.

“He’ll bounce back,” Daboll said.

For the sake of their future, the Giants have to hope that’s true.

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(Photo of Deonte Banks and George Pickens: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)

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