Preseason versus the Lions
First rounder Deonte Banks and sixth rounder Tre Hawkins got the starting nods on the outside. Take where they were selected out, and it was hard to see who the better player was. Hawkins really has started on the right foot and Banks showed the speed traits we know this team was hot after draft weekend. In this man-heavy scheme, both looked at home. Banks can clean up his ball location and Hawkins was a late to anticipate routes (more so in zone), but a very positive first look for both.
Preseason versus the Panthers
Rookies Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins continue to start on the outside and the 6th rounder from Old Dominion continues to play like the better player. Even Joe Schoen sounds surprised by how well he is playing this early on. The speed he is playing with, the run-game assignments he is executing at a high level, and the easy vertical burst at his size are all major attributes for this scheme.
Preseason versus the Jets
Some NYG fans are excited about the future of the first rounder Deonte Banks and the surprise of camp, Tre Hawkins. Perhaps they will be cornerstone players down the road. 2023? The fact they are so easily put into starting roles should easily tell us something about the position group as a whole.
REGULAR-SEASON GAMES WITH SIGNIFICANT SNAPS ON DEFENSE:
Cowboys
For the first time since 2008, a team opened week one with two rookies starting at outside corner. How did Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins fare in their debuts? They were the two players on the defense that were flagged. Hawkins twice, one of which was a pass interference on a 3rd-and-12 stop that resulted in a 37-yard gain for the Dallas offense. He did finish with 7 tackles and showed a physical brand, which will be a difference maker, but his coverage looked grabby and unsure. Banks looked crisper and more confident with his technique and ability to read routes, but left the game early with cramps.
Cardinals
Rookie Tre Hawkins was not involved much on his 40 snaps. He came up with an impressive deep ball pass break up where he stayed on top of the assignment and was inches away from the interception. He, too, missed a tackle and he also made a bad read on the Marquis Brown short touchdown catch. He looked hesitant and unsure, and like Banks, the game is too fast for that. He was taken off the field on their two-corner looks, where Jackson went back to the outside.
49ers
Another rough night for the rookie corners. Deonte Banks suffered an arm injury and at the time of this writing, we do not have the MRI results. Tre Hawkins missed 2 (of his 3 on the night) tackles on the same play, something you could go an entire season never seeing. He got flagged for holding and allowed every target in his direction to be completed. He looked lost, unsure, and tight. He may not be the best fit for the number of snaps he is seeing and after three weeks (and as many penalties), it may be worth moving someone else into his starting spot.
Commanders
Adoree’ Jackson missed the game with a neck injury. This opened the door back up for rookie Tre Hawkins, who played a career-high 59 snaps. He and nickel Cor’Dale Flott both played a solid game against Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel. The two averaged about 7 yards per catch. Like Banks, these two did an excellent job at minimizing what happened after the catch. They combined for 10 tackles and Hawkins came up with a 3rd-down pass break-up.
Cowboys
Nick McCloud allowed 5 catches on 6 targets, Tre Hawkins allowed a 41-yard touchdown where he struggled to locate the ball, Holmes gave up 128 yards on 8 targets. No matter who the Giants threw out there, it was ugly. And the Dallas first stringers did not even play the entire game.
Commanders
Tre Hawkins struggled, leading the defensive backs in yards allowed, and he was flagged for illegal contact (a questionable call). A big part of the remaining balance of this season will be getting the young guys more and more snaps, Hawkins included. The tough question will be how much and at what expense? McCloud does more for this defense right now.
Eagles
Tre Hawkins allowed a touchdown on a route concept he was way too late to recognize. That was the most glaring issue I saw out of the rookie from Old Dominion, understandably so. The tools are good enough, but the mind has not caught up yet. He did play physical against the run, and I think that is a sneaky-strong ingredient to his game.
Not saying Tre can’t develop, but the idea that a 6th rounder could step into the starting lineup as a rookie was ridiculous.
The other, he played scared, dazed and confused.
Guess which one for each description? Lol
But yeah, in preseason he looked great against Daniel Jones in practice, Bryce Young, Zach Wilson and whomever the 2nd and 3rd string Dallas QBs were, LOL.
So let's start him and have Adoree Jackson play slot CB, a position Jackson almost never played before! What could go wrong?!?
Martindale is such an arrogant fool.
Shane Bowen and his defense blitzes less and relies on the the front four with twists, stunts and the wide nine. A guy like Hawkins has a better chance of performing well in his system but major focus is improving his tackling. 12.5% is too high and Bowen won't settle for that.
Enough said? No.
He looks the part. Tall, well built, fast. He's the guy to pull for to win the job.
I think it’d be foolish to ignore that for those that want to write Hawkins off already.
I think it’d be foolish to ignore that for those that want to write Hawkins off already.
Considering Hawkins barely played after the first few games, have the coaches written him off?
Quote:
Maybe the most respected coach on the Giants staff endorsed Hawkins as CB2 last summer.
I think it’d be foolish to ignore that for those that want to write Hawkins off already.
Considering Hawkins barely played after the first few games, have the coaches written him off?
Except the position coaches didn't when asked about him during the season. That's why I've always recommended fans watch the position coach interviews.
“Honestly, I don’t know if it was a good or a bad thing. It’s just something that came with my journey,” a reflective Hawkins said when asked how that buzz shaped the lens through which his season is viewed. “I get it, but nobody has higher expectations for me than me. What everyone was seeing then, I saw way before them.”
Before his ugly divorce from the Giants, Martindale attributed Hawkins’ decreased role as the season progressed to other cornerbacks — namely, Cor’Dale Flott — performing better in a meritocracy, but he doubled down on “big things” in Hawkins’ future.
Daboll isn’t giving up on the raw potential he saw, either.
“He’s been a true pro, done a good job in terms of everything we’ve asked him to do, and I look forward to working with him,” Daboll said. “I’m glad we have him.”
Tre Hawkins looking to make good on his Giants potential after quiet rookie season - ( New Window )
Wink also did him no favors blitzing so much and having the corners 1 on 1 80% of the time. Bowens defense should help with that.
Quote:
Martindale’s advocacy of Hawkins contributed to making him arguably the most-hyped player of training camp, but head coach Brian Daboll praised the rookie’s consistency and assistant general manager Brandon Brown said at the time “nothing has been too big for Tre.”
“Honestly, I don’t know if it was a good or a bad thing. It’s just something that came with my journey,” a reflective Hawkins said when asked how that buzz shaped the lens through which his season is viewed. “I get it, but nobody has higher expectations for me than me. What everyone was seeing then, I saw way before them.”
Before his ugly divorce from the Giants, Martindale attributed Hawkins’ decreased role as the season progressed to other cornerbacks — namely, Cor’Dale Flott — performing better in a meritocracy, but he doubled down on “big things” in Hawkins’ future.
Daboll isn’t giving up on the raw potential he saw, either.
“He’s been a true pro, done a good job in terms of everything we’ve asked him to do, and I look forward to working with him,” Daboll said. “I’m glad we have him.”
Tre Hawkins looking to make good on his Giants potential after quiet rookie season - ( New Window )
“Banks is first-rounder for a reason,” Hawkins said. “He was very poised. He prepared well. He stayed consistent, stayed on routine. He played like a vet this year.”
Sounds like Hawkins was not doing his prep/film work during the week (or not enough of it) and by the time he realized how important it was - the season was over.
That tells me the issues are NOT physical.
They are mental (and confidence) which is VERY understandable considering he came from Old Dominion.
Im betting he has an excellent chance to win the CB2 role, which will leave Bowen with an embarrassment of riches for the slot position.
If the majority of the young players on this team take a step forward, the roster would be a LOT better than people think.
Hawkins could be a 7 year starter here or he could be out of the nfl in 2 seasons. That’s just how this game goes. Sometimes a team has to stake a lot on a guy like Hawkins.
That’s why I laugh when Eric and others sing the praises of undrafted rookies or late rounders who get high praise from scouts and coaches in the draft process and mini camps. Doesn’t mean much until kickoff on Sunday.
Some learn those habits once they get to the pros and discover that talent isn’t enough anymore. Some never really do.
Fingers crossed that Hawkins’s mental game catches up to his physical talent.