The New York Giants are reeling with a 1-3 record heading into Week 5, and the overall performance of the team has been underwhelming, especially in the past year. Among those looking to improve is second-year starting cornerback and 2023 first-round pick, Deonte Banks, who candidly assessed his performance following the team’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
In a conversation with New York Post reporter Ryan Dunleavy on October 4, Banks did not shy away from taking responsibility for his role in the breakdown that led to a 55-yard touchdown pass from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in Week 4.
“I expect more from myself,” Banks admitted, discussing the play where Lamb streaked past him for the score. “It’s a bad finish by me. I didn’t really feel it in the game. I could’ve definitely finished more. I maybe could’ve even tackled him.”
On the play, Lamb beat Banks downfield and evaded rookie safety Tyler Nubin, with Banks seemingly giving up on the chase after 10 yards, allowing Lamb to trot into the end zone untouched.
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Giants DB Coach Jerome Henderson Criticizes Banks’ Effort on Lamb TD
Banks’ lackluster finish did not go unnoticed by the Giants coaching staff. Defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson addressed the issue ahead of Week 5, and he wasn’t happy with the effort.
“Didn’t like it,” Henderson said bluntly when asked about Banks’ pursuit of Lamb. “Liked nothing about it.”
Henderson elaborated, explaining that when an opponent catches the ball, the defensive mentality should be to do whatever it takes to get him on the ground. “When your man catches the ball, you have to break your legs — not literally, but figuratively — to get him on the ground for us. And I thought there was room to do more,” Henderson said.
Henderson further emphasized the high expectations the Giants have for Banks, a standard the 23-year-old acknowledges and embraces. “In that moment, he failed,” Henderson concluded, though he did confirm that he and Banks discussed the matter following the game.
Developing Banks into the Giants’ CB1
The coaching staff remains committed to developing Banks into a premier cornerback, though there’s clearly work to be done. When asked about Banks’ ability to track the ball in the air, Henderson turned the conversation toward the challenges of defending elite NFL receivers.
“We’re working on it all the time,” Henderson said. “Just trying to get him to understand that when you’re on a number one guy, even when he’s covered, to the quarterback’s mind, he’s not covered.”
Henderson stressed that NFL quarterbacks are always ready to target their top receivers, even when the coverage appears tight. “The one play you don’t anticipate that is the one play they get you,” he warned.
Banks has already been beaten for several big plays early in the season, and Henderson acknowledged the impact it’s had on the team. “We gotta find a way to not relax there — to find a way to make it. We gotta find a way that we start getting those balls on the ground, or we catch those balls,” he added.
While Henderson recognized that top-tier receivers often make top-tier plays, he emphasized that limiting breakdowns is key to the Giants’ defensive improvement, regardless of the opponent.
As for Banks’ role moving forward, Henderson didn’t commit to the idea that he would continue shadowing top receivers week after week. “Every week, we come up with a specific plan,” Henderson noted, leaving the door open for adjustments as the Giants prepare for their upcoming matchups.
For Banks, the road to becoming a shutdown cornerback in the NFL remains a learning process, but both he and his coaches are intent on taking the next steps toward eliminating the big plays that have plagued the Giants so far this season.
