Deonte Banks has always seen himself as a matchup cornerback, but the New York Giants are finally treating him like one by giving him a new role that helped inspire a shutdown performance against the Houston Texans and one of the NFL’s best wide receivers in Week 7.
Banks faced a tough task travelling with two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins at Reliant Stadium. Yet, it was Collins who found life difficult during Big Blue’s 27-21 overtime win on Sunday, October 25.
Collins has just two catches for six yards, with only one of those grabs and a mere four yards earned against Banks. The latter revealed, “I just try to keep going, keep getting better every snap,” per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.
Banks is getting better and better because Giants’ coaches are letting him play his natural role. They’re letting the former first-round pick and one-time likely draft bust shadow the opposition’s best receiver.
The 25-year-old admitted getting that responsibility against Collins “felt great. It’s a great thing. Because they trust me to follow their number one.”
Banks: No, I don’t know
Me: Do you think he was over or under 10?
Banks: Under
Me: That’s correct. 2 catches. 6 yards. How proud are you to do that to a receiver like that?
Banks: I just try to keep going, keep
That “trust” is welcomed by Banks’ former mentor, who believes the Giants are at last using his talents the right way. The approach is underpinning a remarkable redemption arc Banks added to with his impressive performance in Houston.
Deonte Banks Inspired by Faith From Coaches
The Giants had a couple of reasons for not always trusting Banks to follow another team’s No. 1 receiver. One was scheme-related, particularly when former defensive coordinator Shane Bowen leaned into zone-based coverages that didn’t suit Banks’ core talents.
Dennard Wilson replaced Bowen when John Harbaugh became head coach this offseason. Wilson restored the man coverage techniques Banks warmed to during his 2023 rookie campaign under Bowen’s predecessor Don ‘Wink’ Martindale.
He played well for Martindale, but Banks didn’t lose the faith of the previous regime just because of changes in X’s and O’s. He repeatedly admitted to a lack of effort on certain plays.
Banks is now embracing the responsibility of playing match coverage against the league’s premier wideouts on Harbaugh’s watch. Collins belongs in the premier bracket after three-straight 1,000-yard seasons, but he got no change out of Banks.
The shutdown performance was quantified by Giants.com Managing Editor Matt Citak, who cited Next Gen Stats. Citak explained, “Banks was matched up against Collins 14 times, which resulted in only one reception for four yards, according to NGS. All four of his targets against Collins were in a tight window, the second-most in a single matchup in his career. Banks recorded another two pass breakups in the win, giving him 10 in just five games this season.”
Those are the numbers of a cornerback proving the Giants are right to let him take away an opponent’s best weapon in the passing game. Banks is earning this change in status because “QBs have thrown at Banks 30 times this year. He’s allowed just 15 completions 124 yards,” according to SNY.tv’s Connor Hughes.
CJ Stroud threw his way four times.
One catch. Four yards.
That’s it.
QBs have thrown at Banks 30 times this year. He’s allowed just 15 completions 124 yards.
Banks is delivering, but he’s not the only member of the Giants’ defense rewarding the coaches’ faith.
Giants’ Defense Inspired by Revivals
While Banks was locking things down on the back end, the Giants’ front seven was being led by two surging game-wreckers. Increasingly difficult to handle edge-rusher Abdul Carter led by example with another busy and disruptive display.
Carter, another first-round pick who faltered early in his career, added eight pressures to a burgeoning tally outlined by NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Ryan Fowler. He noted the “Total pressures (sacks/hits/hurries) from Abdul Carter in his last four starts: • vs ARI: 7 • @ WSH: 6 • vs NO: 5 • Today @ HOU: 8 He’s become an unstoppable presence up front for New York.”
• vs ARI: 7 • @ WSH: 6 • vs NO: 5 • Today @ HOU: 8
He’s become an unstoppable presence up front for New York.
Those pressures against the Texans helped Carter back up his response to the “traitors” Wilson called out after the Giants’ defense folded against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6.
One of the perceived guilty parties, inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, suffered a season-ending injury during that game, but his replacement excelled in Week 7.
Holdover veteran Micah McFadden was in on 10 tackles, including two stops for losses. His performance merited praise from fellow middle ‘backer Arvell Reese.
The standout rookie proclaimed, “Micah played great, Micah flew around. Me and Micah communicated. That’s what we did all week, every presnap we were talking about seeing something. I tip my hat to Micah. It was his moment, he showed up and showed out,” per Leonard.
“Micah played great, Micah flew around. Me and Micah communicated. That’s what we did
McFadden, Carter and Banks are proving Harbaugh and his assistants are backing the right players to lead the Giants’ revival.
Giants’ Deonte Banks Reveals New Role Helped Shutdown vs. Texans