Big Blue View
Henderson is taking Banks’ difficulties personally
The New York Giants, fearful of being jumped, traded up one spot to select Deonte Banks No. 24 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. That means they have high expectations for, and a lot invested in, the cornerback.
His struggles this season — being overmatched at times as the team’s No. 1 cornerback, twice having lapses where his effort obviously wasn’t good enough, being benched Monday against the Pittsburgh Steelers — hurt the team and reflect on everyone who was involved in making him a Giant.
No one takes that harder, or takes it to heart more, than veteran defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson. A one-time NFL defensive back and 18-year coaching veteran in his fifth year with the Giants, Henderson spoke Friday about how “invested” he is in helping Banks succeed.
“We have great expectations obviously for Tae. We drafted him in the first round. I personally went to visit him, spent time with him, came back here, talked to Joe [Schoen], talked to Dabs [Brian Daboll] and thought that he and I would do well together. I’m as invested in him doing well as anybody.”
During Henderson’s media session on Friday, which you can view in full at the bottom of this post, it was obvious how personally Henderson has taken Banks’ struggles.
“I raised my hand and said, yes, draft him, I want him, I love him. When that happened to him, it happened to me as well. We’re tied at the hip, he and I. It wasn’t good enough by him, and for that reason wasn’t good enough by me,” Henderson said.
“Such high expectations for the young man, and consistently pushing him to reach those expectations we have and where we drafted him, and what we all think of him.
“It’s my job again to get him to understand the importance of his draft position, our expectations of him, what he can provide for this team and and it’s he and I got to get it done.”
Why did the Giants pull Banks from Monday’s game?
“Just didn’t feel he has consistently played up the expectations the organization has for him,” Henderson said. “Wanted to really get his attention that we expect more.
“The thing is he’s played really well in spurts but what e has to understand and what I know is there’s 64 plays in a game. Let’s say there are 58 of them where you do a great job nobody notices but there’s those other six or seven where now that’s all you’re judged on, those plays when the ball is at me and I have an opportunity to make a play. Want to see him in those moments be brighter, be bigger. That’s why we drafted him.
“That’s what I know he has in him and I want him to do it consistently and at a high level all the time, and he has it in him to do it and it’s my job to...
