PHIL SIMMS on Giants-Rams, Dart & MORE!

Here's what I want to see because I think he's ready to go. I want to see OBJ out there. He's still OBJ. He might not be as fast as he was in his prime. He's not but he's still slick. He's got the moves and he knows how to run these routes. And if he comes around for the Giants like I hope he does that that's going to change the team too. Joining us right now on Shine Time to break down and preview the Giants and the Rams. Legendary Giants award-winning analyst. My great friends, my guy, Phil Sims. Phil, how are you? I'm doing well, Adam. There you go right away. Oh, yes. Oh, well, all these things nice. It's all good. Don't I like your shirt, you know, you're still in that summer mode and it's makes you feel good. I do get a chance to listen to you a lot on the radio. You're spot-on with just about everything. So that's really cool because usually when I'm driving and I listen to the radio, somebody come on talk and I'll just go that's stupid. And I'm not getting that treatment from Phil Sims. I'm feeling good. I hear they said, well, you know, it's quarterback percentage this week or is QBR. And as soon as I hear that, I punch the radio. Well, Phil, let's get into it because I'm so excited for the Rams and I'm so excited for the Giants. I want to kind of start here with an overview because the second the Giants hired John Harbaugh, I said, this is it. The perfect guy on the planet in terms of an adult, a championship coach, a tone setter. He was perfect in terms of a higher and I thought on week one everything I've loved forever about a John Harbaugh football team that was on display toughness taking a lead the way they played in the trenches smart football in the fourth quarter. Take us through what you saw for the first game under John Harbaugh. Well, you know, I did many games of his down there in Baltimore. So I always had a feel for who he is and what he does and you know, and he comes to the Giants and I'll tell you what it was to me. It's just an organization that is really so tired of losing. They hire him and his presence and what he does his words, how you practice all those things. It's great. So what I shouldn't be surprised and we shouldn't be surprised about that that he has such a great effect on the players and you know, Adam, I was at a lot of practices. I went down to Miami and watch some scrimmage and play the preseason game and all that and I'm tell you you never I never had one player come up to me and complain about anything. You know, why because they could say wow, we are much better now with what coaching staff and the head coach we have and I and then my last thing about it is this, you know, you got the right guy when he's going to address the team for the first time. And as he walks in everybody just sits up straight. Oh, but and he says the right words to capture them and he's very consistent. They practice hard. The players accepted and the last thing the Giants look at it the last three years. They have rebuilt this team and it's bigger. It's faster. This past year's draft was awesome. But even back three years ago, they had a really good drip might not be any superstars, but it's a lot of guys still start and starting for the team. So, you know, I can't put it all in the words. I'm trying but they hired the right man. No doubt without question. And I think everything you're saying makes sense and we knew it and we thought it and we sought this past Sunday night and you know, you know, this better than anyone the impact that a great head coach can have on the quarterback and listen. I love Jackson Dart love them in college the draft process when the Giants drafted him. I think there were things he needed to learn right young player how to be available make the right reads right decisions. He's smart. He's athletic. He can make every single throw. He's got some zip on the fastball Phil. I thought that was an A-plus performance on Sunday night and I can't wait to see what round two is going to be against the Rams. Let's start with what he did against Dallas. What works so well for Jackson Dart? Well, the things that worked well for him last year. Let's see. Somebody's open. I don't miss, you know, my favorite phrase of all people come in the NFL at quarterbacks. Can you hit all the ordinary throws? Can you hit them? And there's about 15 of them in every game for all these quarterbacks, maybe 20 and you just can't miss and I'm you had I did was explain it. I wasn't crazy about Jackson Dart. I will say this his his personality his talent or everything is much better than I expected. He does like I said the throwing he can throw with power. He has great touch. If he needs that he's a really good decision-maker. We'll go into that what they do and it is his he's a quarterback. I mean the players loving and he knows how to react and act with all the guys. And that's just one of the reasons why that when he talks they all listen. So Jackson Dart man, he has been a big surprise for me and how well he's played and that was a great opening game to have against the Cowboys. And you reference the coaching staff. I mean, they put together a terrific and diverse and dynamic staff, which matters to me in terms of the offensive coordinator and the guys around Matt Nagy. We could talk Roman. We could talk Callahan. How does that help someone like Jackson Dart? Well, it really helps one. We got a guy and when you talk about Greg Roman, he's like one of the greatest running designers and everything. I mean, he started the Colin Kaepernick give and go or whatever you want to call it. He was out there in San Francisco man, and everybody's going. Oh, how are we going to deal with this? And so he's always going to be there to design runs mainly a lot of quarterback runs. I would think and we saw one or two of them. I can't remember how we saw last week or last Sunday night, but when he did run Jackson Dart, it worked really well and Matt Nagy man, I'll give him a lot of credit. He held back a lot of it. Just his what he wanted to do in the game with Jackson Dart and we kind of saw all that and by that I mean they really go into the intellect of the quarterback. I don't know if Jackson Dart ran one play where he didn't have to check tell everybody here. Oh this that let's go to this play and ready to go. I mean it's work and they even I've heard John Harbaugh talk about it and Matt Nagy talk about it that he can handle it all so they don't worry about putting too much on his plate. So it was an unbelievable debut for darts under Harbaugh and Nagy and Roman and Callahan and company. Now the ball game in Los Angeles Phil. I think it's going to be a totally different beast from the perspective, you know, just like last Sunday night nationally televised game Monday Night Football and I know what happened in Australia. I frankly don't give a damn. I still think the Rams are a sensational loaded brilliantly coached football team. So what's the key for Jackson Dart in terms of duplicating what he did against the Cowboys? Can he do that on Monday nights against the ramps? I think it's possible. I there's many things to that Adam just the one thing when he hands it off to the running backs. Can they can the running game be where they can always keep doing it and trying to catch the Rams by surprise a little bit, you know, Kim Scatterboo a guy they drafted. I think in the fourth round, you know last year I thought why are they drafted him? I mean, come on. We you know, he's just a rammer. He's this he is everything but that you know, he's got great. So that's something to look at in Najee Harris. I don't know who all is going to be the running back group, but this giant offensive line. It seems like we've talked about it for years. It's much better when I look at the Rams, you know, there I don't look at it right now after what I saw over in Australia because that game I would say this and kind of mean it. Of course. I mean it they were terrible. Yeah. I mean it was like what the hell are we doing? I didn't see any designs that I really liked and when they do do something, you know, San Francisco. They know this team. Well, they were all over it and you know, it's Matt Stafford. He's throwing the ball. God. I was like, wow. Is his arm hurt? Is it hurting? He never I don't think I saw but one or two passes where he just let it go with power and got it in there. So I'm sure they're you know going to jump out there and try to change everything and make the Giants go back to what a lot of people are but I think this is going to be a really physical top. Very emotional game for both teams. So it's going to be fun. Watch. I want to hit on what you just said about the Rams because look, I was one of those preseason and still believe it by the way. I took the cheese on the Rams, right? Great roster. Great coaching. Look Kyle Shanahan is phenomenal, right? Kyle Shanahan wins any game. He coaches going against Sean McVay. I'm never surprised how they won and how they kicked the Rams ass that to me was stunning. I did not see that coming. did we over-evaluate the Rams or do you expect the Rams to come out and be salty and brilliantly coached under Sean McVay? How do you think the Rams respond to what we all saw we'd want? Well, you know, Adam, I'll tell you it's it's I don't I don't want to over say it and say it's it's panic time when you lose the opening game of the year. It's like, you know, you just go and I had the a couple of with Bill Parcells and we're like, are we ever going to win a game? The tension we lost to the Dallas Cowboys at 86 down in Dallas on the last Herschel Walker run or whatever and we came back and it was the roughest most tension-filled week of my career and and Parcells was nuts of like we got to do he was I could tell he wasn't like yelling at us, but they were pushing us and we won that second game. And that's when the you know, the dumping the Gatorade on Bill Parcells came around because he was so rough on us that they go. They got a paid back, but yeah, they're a good team. But you know, this giant team it matches up. Well, I talked about the old line the defensive front for the Giants. It's the real deal. I mean, so Matt Stafford getting out and you know, they're his greatest strength is when they move the pocket and get him outside. I mean, he is dangerous as they come and and being a quarterback in the NFL, but this giant defensive front. They got speed and as I somebody said something to me. I said, listen, they got dudes that yeah, you know, they got dudes in there and they got a lot of them and all of a sudden last year. Everybody was complaining to me. Well, I'm Bill Carter and I go those last I don't know how many four or five games. I was like, how do you like him now? I was a look and even against the Dallas Cowboys. He was absolutely just trying to destroy everything. So I'm hoping to see that again with the Giants, you know, I'm not a broadcaster anymore. I can root for them all I want. So it's going to be a challenge for the DB's going up against Puka Nakua and Devontae Adams because you nailed it and I agree with you and I think the Rams line has gotten better, you know, and they can run it with a couple of backs with with Williams and Coram but Nakua and Adams to me are special. What's the challenge for the Giants against those guys to make it like it happened over in Australia. Can we push the pocket enough to make Matt Stafford where he can't step into every throw and doesn't throw a dart in between defenders or in tight coverage. That is huge and run the ball when I look at the Rams. It's right up the middle. That's where they have success with both of those runners. They double-teamed two guys inside and I will the good thing I did see in Australia was those running backs man. They they hammered in there. It's full steam ahead and it's like this is my last carry of my life by God. I'm going to go and so they and they've done that that's how they're taught but I think the Giants will react to the quarterback. I'd be very surprised. They play a lot of man-to-man. They're going to you know, everybody down this new thing and I'll tell you it's a pain in the butt for quarterbacks. You're covering this guy. Let him go. Somebody else will pick him up. Let me go over here and the Giants. They're pretty good at that too on the defensive side. So that's you know, I think the Giants got a lot of matches where I go. I really have faith in them and that they can win if some of these things like you and I are talking about come around for so on Monday nights. I think the Giants who I thought, you know, preseason we'll get into your take in a second going to win 9-10 games. Like I thought the Giants are going to be in the mix for the playoff this year. I didn't pick up the playoffs still think they're going to be in the mix for the playoff. I think it's a tough spot for the Giants. I think Sean McVay is going to have them fired up. I think he's a fabulous coach. I think they're going to be salty. It's a Monday Night Football game. It's in Los Angeles. I like the Rams to win. I think it'll be a great game, but I could see it going a couple of scores late like 30 to 20 variety 31-20. I think the Rams are the better team. Who do you like on Monday night and why and an ebb and flow when it comes to the game? Well, I understand what you're saying. I mean, I think 90% of all people across America is thinking the same thing and just what I kind of said, you know, the emotional advantage goes to the Rams because they lost and you know, sometimes you get a little satisfied when you win a game like the Giants did but you know, not you and I can't remember if we even talked about it. The first thing is John Harbaugh. I just will be surprised that the Giants are not just really ready to go and everything that we saw last week. There's going to be more this week that they're going to show that they haven't shown at any practice or any preseason game or in that first game. They have a lot of ammunition there and probably the one thing that does worry me a little is the wide receiver group Malik neighbors that Isaiah likely. Wow, you know what? I did Adam. I didn't realize how nimble he is, you know, and I watch the Ravens play almost every game of the year every year and I just don't remember him being but with the Giants man. He looks like and I think he will be a big part of their past. So, you know, there's there's a lot there that and I do think that the how many giant fans will be in the stands out there in LA. It's another one, but I like them. I have a good feeling. They can hang in there with them the whole time. I do and if they lose, I think they would lose by one score. I don't think it'll be two and whatever we saw in office. Like I said, it's going to be totally different out there in LA and we'll see how it works. Malik neighbors are healthy Malik neighbors. You play the position of quarterback brilliantly in New York with the pressure cooker. All of it Phil. What is someone like Malik neighbors mean to Jackson? It means, you know, Adam, it's hard to explain. It's one glad to have him back makes you feel better. It's a quarterback when you got your best receiver out there getting close to being full speed a hundred percent, but also what it does to it's easy sometimes. In other words, you're going to go you'll see the coverage go to him and he's open. I mean wide open. So you don't have to make the perfect great throw down the field. And also, you know, you hear it on telecast. I thought Chris Collinsworth did a really good job of explaining a few of those things, but the defense changes when they see Malik neighbors. And here's what I want to see because I think he's ready to go. I want to see OBJ out there. He's still OBJ. He might not be as fast as he was in his prime. He's not, but he's still slick. He's got the moves and he knows how to run these routes. And if he comes around for the Giants, like I hope he does that that's going to change the team, too. Phil, I want to get your take on Monday Night Football because you played in an era where Monday Night Football was everything. Now, Monday Night Football to me is still supremely special. And, you know, it's a ESPN game. It's Buck. It's Aikman. It's, you know, bright lights, you know, for this specific game. It's Los Angeles. It's New York. I know we have Thursday night. No, we have the whole Sunday package Sunday night. What's it like as a giant playing on Monday Night Football? It's awesome. I mean, I don't know what to say. It really is. And it was special. And I think it probably still is special. The Monday Night game, you know, because it's not like Sunday night where we've seen football all day long. It's you're sitting there all day. At least I do. And I'm sure you do the same thing. I'm sitting. Damn. When's this game going to start? I mean, how long do I got to sit here? So, and it's and it's, you know, even the coaches know it, the way they talk to you, the way we prepare, and that one extra day of preparation. I'm telling you, that was a big deal too. It was, there was always a few things that would come in late in the week that I would see as a play and go, oh my gosh, this is great. This is like a absolute hundred percenter. Why don't we put this in earlier in the week? But you know, you get these things and it's just an awful awesome feeling because the stands are usually really full and they either love you if you're playing for the Giants or they hate you dearly. If it's the Washington Redskins or Commanders now, the Philadelphia Eagles or the Cowboys, any of those teams, we had to play two times a year. Phil, you lived the Jackson Darts experience. Obviously a good-looking first-round pick. Everyone in New York loved you. You represented hope. You had the big expectations. So, I'm curious, from your perspective, what was the hardest part of it? And what advice would you give Jackson Darts? Well, I've actually talked to him and interviewed him a couple of times. We've had some good laughs and good talks and everything and you know, he gets it. I mean, that's the great thing about him. I mean, he's got, you know, nobody ever said I had swagger at him. I mean this guy, he just oozes it and I'll tell you, I kind of worried when John Harbaugh took over. I said, man, they might not like this whole Jackson Darts thing. No, it's the opposite. They don't like it. They love it. Yeah, because they see he's got this personality that you want to see in your quarterback, you know, trust me. I've got it all and I think too, and I've heard John Harbaugh say it. He goes, you've heard it too. He's just more talented than you think. And it's like running. Hey, he runs faster in the NFL than he did in college. I mean, he just, when he puts it down and he's slick. You know, he's just worms, and, you know, works his way through there. He's a, he is a really sneaky, good runner and the arm. It is big-time NFL, no matter what you want. Accuracy, power, touch. He's got it all. Fascinating to get your big-picture take on the Giants. I told you mine and the beginning of this conversation. I said before the season just missed the playoffs, meaningful football game through 16, 17, 18 weeks, win 9, 10 games. I love Coach Harbaugh. Absolutely love him. And I think the talent's there. I think there are some soft spots like week three through six that they can navigate and win the game. They're supposed to win things. They haven't done in a long time. I know you never overreact to week one to give us the honest take here. What's your read? Big picture this season on the Giants. Well, I almost want to say that nine or 10 wins would be that would be awesome because you know, they're coming from, you know, I'm sorry to say this, but they're coming from hell. Yeah, and we're trying to go upwards and I think they have a chance there and you know to Adam and everybody out there that listens to this winning a game in the NFL is unbelievably hard. And I mean, it really is is what this like last night after you were watching or whenever this comes out, just said there's Josh down the bill scoring the whole time, but I never felt comfortable. They were going to truly win the game because next thing, you know, it's turned around and it's a whole different outcome. So your your talks of winning nine that might be enough to get you in the playoffs to listen done for John Harbaugh to win. Whatever number of games it takes and if they make the playoffs, it is a year that is you just got to go. Wow, this was a great thing. And what are we going to do next year? You know, so that's a good that's a good problem to have from a Rams perspective. What was your preseason prediction? How good how great do you think the Rams are going to be and if the Giants go into LA and beat them, are we talking about hitting the panic button? Well, yeah, you're going to hit the panic button. Everybody will the Rams organization will the players will if you're going to you're like, oh my God, it's going to take forever to dig out this hole. So I'm sure it's going to be because of this and what we're saying. That means the game is going to be rough emotional and it might come of course, and I think it's going to even out. I just think the Giants their feelings and practice and all that they're ready to do this battle. But once you win it, you just go it's it's just awesome, especially when you're playing a team like the Rams that could be could be desperate. I'm sure they're pretty desperate and the Giants know Myles Garrett's out. Okay, so that's some good news. So it's going to it's going to be a close really fun game to watch happen big picture in the NFC NFC West. How do you stack those teams? Seattle, San Francisco, Rams. I mean, those are elite teams phenomenal coaches like you all talk about because I know you respect great coaches more than anyone. McDonald Shanahan McVeigh. I mean, those guys are studs. What do you see when you look at that the vision? Well, you know, and I never say things like this, but you know what? I did play in that it was called the NFC East. Yep. And so every week it was just here we go. And it's hard to stack them. You know, I did the I didn't really I shouldn't say this but I just said all the Rams are winning the whole thing just because I didn't feel like sitting there and doing something and but you look at Seattle. That's how hey, how about Drew Locke? Let's get off of that just for one second. How good did Drew Locke play in that game when Darnold went out? Was unbelievable. He didn't make a mistake. No, but that's another thing. But yeah, just that that group. I don't know. I still would take Seattle. They they're they're they what everybody wants to be. They're really big. They're really fast. They're well coached and they got a fan base. That's just a pain in your rear when you're out there playing their home games and Kyle Shanahan. You can't say enough about it that team. He put on against the Rams over there in Australia. They were fresh. They were smart. They were eager. They played hard and they dominated the game. So and then we look at Arizona. We got Jeremiah Love over there, but Jacoby Brissett, you know, don't sit there and go all they need a quarterback. No, they don't. We'll see Jacoby Brissett since he's been in that starting position last year in this first game. He is an excellent thrower. The football and he's going to give them chances to win games that nobody thought they would. Phil, you're the best. We always appreciate the time. Can't wait for the Giants and the Rams on Monday night football and we'll talk to you again real soon. Well, that'd be great. Yeah, it'll be I'll be nervous all day Monday. Like let's go. Come on. We're going to start this damn game. We got it. You're going to be feeling it like you're playing in it. Phil. Oh, yeah, I'll stand up a few times. They were like, you know, if I get a little upset, I'll stand up. Come on. Gosh dang it. Oh, and I and of course since I it's a different world for me now working. I keep the computer. I got notes. I'm writing notes the whole game and I got to stop it because when all of its over, you know, the notes are worthless. But it is a lot of fun, you know, one night one day. Maybe you come out here on a Sunday. I'd love that. You would love it. I got six or seven games up on the screen. The big one in the middle and man, we we tear it up. It's all it's it's awesome. That's our guy. The great Phil said that right there. That's a show. If you missed any portion of the show, just do what I do and go to our YouTube page and watch it over and over and over again at Shine Time. We'll see you tomorrow on Shine Time.