Tag: Bobby Okereke

Giants players excited about Malik Nabers’ potential

Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers continues to impress his New York Giants teammates on both sides of the ball.

Wide receiver Malik Nabers continues to impress not just NFL analysts and coaches, but his own teammates.

Drafted by the New York Giants with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Nabers is poised to be the next big thing coming out of LSU. So far, he’s impressed everyone who’s seen him play, and there’s been nothing but rave reviews out of the Giants’ locker room.

Bobby Okereke was one of the Giants’ top performers on the defensive side of the ball in 2023. When asked about Nabers on Tuesday, Okereke said that Nabers can be a “very special” player in the NFL.

Hearing that praise from someone like Okereke has merit, but the opinion that matters most is that of Daniel Jones. After all, Jones will be throwing to Nabers this season, so what he thinks about his new star receiver has a major impact on how the Giants season will go.

Jones is of the opinion that Nabers is a good weapon for the Giants.

“He can be a tremendous weapon for us, he’s had a good spring, he’s looked good, and made a lot of plays. It will take time and work and we’ll put that in,” Jones said.

When asked about Nabers’ physical ability, Jones continued to rave.

“He can do everything, there’s not much he can’t do really from a route-running standpoint. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. Strong, fast, explosive, he catches the ball well. Yeah, he does a lot well,” Jones said.

Being a good player is only half of the battle in any sport; the other half is connecting with your teammates to achieve a common goal. The bond between teammates is vital to a team’s success, and that is especially true when it comes to the quarterback-receiver tandem.

Jones and Nabers on the same page could turn out to be a very dangerous combination in 2024.

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Bobby Okereke says Giants’ defense is ‘just going to take over’

New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke believes the defense will impose their will and “just take over” in 2024.

New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke is not short on confidence. He likes what he’s seen from the defense this spring and believes the addition of fellow linebacker Brian Burns may push them over the top.

“He could be a game-changer. He’s an electric athlete, fast, physical, silky when he pass rushes. He can take over games,” Okereke told the New York Post.

There will be a transition from Wink Martindale’s defensive style to Shane Bowen’s defensive style, however. Ultimately, Okereke says, it will be more structured in 2024, allowing the team to play fast.

“Wink was my guy, I loved him. But Shane is an incredible defensive coordinator. He’s very smart, he has a very bright football mind, and I’m glad he’s my defensive coordinator,” he said. “I think we’re going to have a lot more rules, a lot more process of decision-making that’s going to allow us to play fast.”

Once everyone settles into Bowen’s system, Okereke believes they could be one of the top defenses in the league — dominant, even.

“Imposing. Imposing of our will. Imposing of our physical dominance. Yeah, we’re just going to take over,” Okereke said, adding that they could “easily” finish as a top-5 defense.

“The 2024 New York Giants are going to be a tough, gritty, dominant team. We have no false pretenses. No one’s coming in here thinking we’re hot (expletive), we’re going to earn everything we get, and we’re going to work hard every day.”

Regarding Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni mocking the Giants by suggesting he stole their best player (Saquon Barkley), Okereke didn’t quite agree.

“I still see Dexter (Lawrence) and (Andrew Thomas) on the field, so I think we’re good,” he said with a laugh. “(Having Dex) makes my job a lot easier. He takes up two, three blocks at a time, and allows me to just go run and hit.”

Okereke and the Giants’ defense will undoubtedly like to make the Eagles and Sirianni pay this coming season.

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Giants will wear ‘Century Red’ uniforms in season opener vs. Vikings

The New York Giants will wear their “Century Red” 100th-season commemorative uniforms in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.

The New York Giants will waste no time in celebrating their 100th season. They will be wearing their “Century Red” uniforms during their three-day celebration leading up to their home opener versus the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8.

From the Giants:

The team will be wearing their 100th season “Century Red” uniform at the home opener. The uniform harkens back to the earliest days of the franchise and features tan pants; red socks with blue and white stripes from the team’s inaugural 1925 season; red jerseys accented with blue from 1933, when the Giants played in the first ever NFL Championship Game; and an iconic winged helmet honoring the 1938 champions as the Giants became a cornerstone in the foundation of the league. All of the team’s 2024 jerseys will feature the team’s “100 Seasons” patch.

The Giants previously said they will wear the uniforms up to two times this season.

Linebacker Bobby Okereke, who was one of the players who modeled the uniforms, realizes the significance of the Century Red threads.

“I feel like it’s gritty and vintage,” Okereke said. “It’s a throwback to the 1920s, 1930s, when they were out there just getting grimy. It’s a testament to all the guys who played before. They paved the way for us to play this great game.”

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Giants’ Bobby Okereke ranked in top 10 of NFL linebackers

Pro Football Focus has ranked Bobby Okereke of the New York Giants among the top 10 linebackers leaguewide.

The New York Giants made their biggest free agent signing last offseason when they inked linebacker Bobby Okereke to a four-year deal.

Okereke came over from the Indianapolis Colts and was fresh off his best season as a pro. Coincidentally, one of Okereke’s final games in a Colts uniform, and his best performance of the 2022 season came against the Giants when Okereke racked up 17 total tackles.

Clearly, the Giants saw something in Okereke to target him in free agency.

Okereke’s first season in a Giants uniform did not disappoint. While he fell just two tackles short of his career high, he did have career highs in sacks, forced fumbles, interceptions and pass deflections.

His impressive season landed him in the top 10 of PFF’s linebacker rankings ahead of the 2024 season.

10. BOBBY OKEREKE, NEW YORK GIANTS

A career-high 78.9 PFF grade highlighted the best season of Okereke’s career, his first with the Giants. The 2019 third-round draft pick ranked ninth at the position with an 82.5 PFF coverage grade, and he was one of the surest tacklers in the league, missing just 7.7% of his attempts.

The defense will look a tad bit different than it did last season considering the departures of safety Xavier McKinney and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. However, the acquisition of Brian Burns certainly improved the Giants’ front seven.

While it is hard to determine how Okereke will fit in Shane Bowen’s defensive scheme, given his versatility, he’s likely to have a big role in the defense.

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Bobby Okereke once again named Giants’ most underrated player

For the second time in a month, linebacker Bobby Okereke has been named the New York Giants’ most underrated player.

Back in mid-May, Pro Football Focus compiled a list of each team’s most underrated player. For the New York Giants, they settled on linebacker Bobby Okereke.

Okereke was everything and even more that the Giants might have hoped for when they signed him as a free agent in 2023. Not only did he play a career-high snap total, but his 1,128 snaps over the regular season ranked second among all linebackers. In addition, his 78.9 overall grade ranked 12th among linebackers.

The decision to name Okereke came as a surprise to Giants fans, who are well aware of the veteran’s value. Even in his first season with the team, it was easy to recognize both his skill and impact.

The rest of the football world still seems to be catching up, however.

In a similar list compiled by Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar, Okereke was once again named the Giants’ most underrated player.

The Colts selected Okereke in the third round of the 2019 draft out of Stanford, and their defense benefited from his expertise as Okereke got more and more playing time. Still, what Okereke did in his first season with the Giants after signing a four-year, $40 million contract with $21.8 million guaranteed was a bit unexpected. In Wink Martindale’s defense (now run by Shane Bowen), Okereke simply became one of the NFL’s most efficient and effective linebackers. He had three sacks, 20 total pressures, 105 solo tackles, and 56 stops. In coverage, Okereke allowed 35 catches on 46 targets for 301 yards, 276 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 89.1.

Okereke became a true tone-setter with the Giants, and that should continue even with a new defensive coordinator.

How Okereke’s game will change under Shane Bowen remains to be seen but it’s safe to assume he’ll rise to the challenge and excel at whatever it is that’s asked of him.

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Giants unveil new alternate uniforms for 100th season

The New York Giants have unveiled a brand new alternate uniform to be worn in 2024, celebrating their 100th season.

Earlier this week, the New York Giants announced plans to celebrate their 100th season in the NFL, complete with a unique town hall event, branded merchandise, books, a docuseries, and a multitude of other things.

As part of the celebration, the Giants also revealed that they will appear on the first-ever offseason edition of HBO’s Hard Knocks, which is scheduled to premiere on July 2.

However, one noticeable absence from the flood of news was the rumored reveal of a new alternate uniform.

Late on Wednesday night, shortly after the 2024 regular-season schedule was announced, the Giants dropped a not-so-subtle hint that news on those uniforms was, in fact, coming.

True to their word, the Giants unveiled their new alternate/throwback uniforms for the 2024 season on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.

The Giants threw it all the way back to 1925 (pants), 1933 (jersey), and 1938 (helmet) with the style and color scheme, which is sure to be controversial among fans despite the historical context and accuracy.

“I feel like it’s gritty and vintage,” linebacker Bobby Okereke said. “It’s a throwback to the 1920s, 1930s when they were out there just getting grimy. It’s a testament to all the guys who played before. They paved the way for us to play this great game.”

“I like the fact that we stick to the legacy,” edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux said, “and keep paying it forward.”

More from the Giants:

The uniform platform is presented by United Airlines and is the culmination of a two-year process in partnership with the NFL. The uniform harkens back to the earliest days of the franchise featuring tan pants; red socks with blue and white stripes from the team’s inaugural 1925 season; red jerseys accented with blue from 1933, when the Giants played in the first ever NFL Championship Game; and an iconic winged helmet honoring the 1938 champions as the Giants became a cornerstone in the foundation of the league. All of the team’s 2024 jerseys will feature the team’s “100 Seasons” patch.

The Giants will wear their new alternate uniforms in up to two games during the 2024 regular season.

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Bobby Okereke named Giants’ most underrated player

Pro Football Focus has named linebacker Bobby Okereke the New York Giants’ most underrated player.

The New York Giants finished 6-11 in 2023 and, in reviewing the season, it’s difficult to find many bright spots.

One highlight was the play of inside linebacker Bobby Okereke, a free agent addition who played 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season.

Pro Football Focus recently identified Okereke as the Giants’ most underrated player.

NEW YORK GIANTS: LB Bobby Okereke

Okereke was everything and even more that the Giants might have hoped for when they signed him as a free agent in 2023. Not only did he play a career-high snap total, but his 1,128 snaps over the regular season ranked second among all linebackers. In addition, his 78.9 overall grade ranked 12th among linebackers.

Okereke was joined in the middle by second-year pro Micah McFadden in coordinator Wink Martindale’s defense. The tandem stood out and gave the fans some hope that the Giants’ defense could return to prominence.

With Martindale moving on after the season (replaced by Shane Bowen) it remains to be seen if Okereke will carry the same load going forward.

But one thing is certain. General manager Joe Schoen hit big when he signed Okereke to a four-year deal.

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2 Giants among PFF’s top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season

2 New York Giants were ranked among Pro Football Focus’ top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season, but Saquon Barkley was not among them.

Pro Football Focus released their list of the top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season earlier this week and two New York Giants made the cut.

Interestingly, running back Saquon Barkley, who is an impending free agent, was not among them.

The first Giant to crack the rankings was linebacker Bobby Okereke, who dominated in his first season with the team and deserved both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Okereke debuted at No. 91 on PFF’s list.

Okereke had an excellent year in Wink Martendale’s aggressive Giants defense. His athleticism and range allowed him to post an 82.5 PFF coverage grade, and he allowed an 89.1 passer rating into his coverage, some 15 points lower than the league average for linebackers.

The next Giant on the list was ranked much higher with safety Xavier McKinney checking in at No. 57.

The high points we saw from McKinney this year in Wink Martindale’s aggressive defense were spectacular, with none better than his final game of the season, in which he brought in two interceptions against the Eagles. McKinney has become a do-it-all threat in the secondary.

Both Okereke and McKinney were among the best defenders in the league under Martindale, which is even more significant for McKinney because he played in a role that may not have been designed for his strengths.

Like Barkley, McKinney was not tagged by the Giants at the deadline and is expected to become an unrestricted free agent next week.

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Bobby Okereke a ‘little ticked’ Giants parted ways with Wink Martindale

Bobby Okereke admits he’s a little PO’d that the New York Giants parted ways with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

Shortly after Black Monday, the New York Giants and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale “parted ways.”

There was a bit of, we’ll call it tension, between Wink and head coach Brian Daboll, which is ultimately what led to his departure. Several players and many around the league couldn’t understand why the Giants didn’t try to keep Martindale around considering the defense carried the team in 2023.

One player who has been vocal about his displeasure with Martindale’s departure is linebacker Bobby Okereke.

During Super Bowl week, Okereke joined reporters on radio row where he credited Wink with his improvement this past season.

“You know, I gotta say that being in the Wink Martindale defense, the way he coaches… Wink is a savage, he’s such a cool guy and he simplifies the game (in) a way that really just spoke to me. So I was just able to play free and fast and physical,” Okereke said, via The Charity Stripe.

When asked if he was upset with the decision to part ways, Okereke didn’t hold back.

“I’m a little (expletive). I love Wink, but Shane Bowen is a great coach. I got to meet him, talk to him, so I’m very excited for our future,” Okereke added.

Of Wink, the star linebacker said, “He just gets it. And he knows how to speak to the players and really bring a group together.”

Okereke had the best season of his career in 2023. And while he’s ‘ticked’ that Wink is gone, he’s already had productive conversations with new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

Okereke admits the new defensive scheme is very different from Martindale’s, but hopefully, that won’t impact his production next season.

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Giants’ Bobby Okereke already jelling with DC Shane Bowen

New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke has already spoken with DC Shane Bowen, is excited about the new system and feels the two are jelling.

The New York Giants’ defense will have a new look and new attitude under recently hired coordinator Shane Bowen.

Bowen, who held the same position the past few seasons with the Tennessee Titans, will have a solid base to work with, most notably defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke.

Okereke, who led the Giants in tackles this season in his first year with Big Blue under coordinator Wink Martindale, was making the rounds on Radio Row at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas this week. He told the New York Post that he and Bowen are already in touch.

“Had a great conversation with him,” Okereke said on Friday. “I’m very excited.

“I’m excited, really, how fast we jelled based on the conversation we had. We sat there and talked ball for about 10 minutes, talking to him about my experiences, playing with Matt Eberflus in the Cover-2 system, playing with Gus Bradley in the Cover 3-system, and obviously playing with Wink in the blitz-man system. … Excited to immerse myself in what they do, what we do now. Just excited to start playing football again.”

Okereke and Lawrence won’t be the only pieces Bowen is inheriting. Cornerback Deonte Banks, outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux and fellow inside linebacker Micah McFadden are also in that group.

Okereke had the best season of his five-year NFL career with a team-high 149 tackles and also set career highs in passes defensed (10), forced fumbles (four), sacks (2.5), tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hits (six) while playing every single defensive snap (1,128) for the Giants this year.

Okereke will likely be asked to wear the headset again next season to call the defensive signals. He acknowledges that Bowen’s system is much different than that of Martindale’s blitzing regimen that he flourished in last year. There will be changes.

“We’re gonna simplify it. Everybody’s gonna know exactly what we’re gonna do. There’s not gonna be too many wrinkles. We’re gonna play very fundamentally sound football,” Okereke said. “We’ll probably run a good bit of 3-4, a good bit of 4-3, good bit of quarters, a good bit of Cover-2, Cover-5, so we’re all excited.”

Okereke was asked if the changes would be for the better.

“I think it will be a very good thing,” Okereke said. “That was my experience my first couple of games adjusting to the Wink system. I got to bring a lot of the tools I learned in previous systems and incorporated it into Wink’s system. I think everybody’s gonna go through that same adjustment and it’s gonna be much better form.

“A lot of the tools, a lot of the fundamental teachings we had from Wink, that’s ingrained in us, that’s part of our toolbelt and now we can go incorporate it in a different defense with a different play style. It’s only gonna help.”

As for the rift between Martindale and head coach Brian Daboll, Okereke had this to say.

“Obviously knew there was some tension there,” Okereke said. “You got two alpha coaches, everyone’s not always going to get along.

“Definitely wouldn’t have forecast it that Wink wouldn’t be our coach at the end of the year but very happy for him to get the Michigan job, and talking to Shane, I’m very excited about it, so I think it all works out.”

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