Brian Baldinger breaks down Bobby Okereke's game tape
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger recently continued his 'Baldy's Breakdowns' series by breaking down the game tape of Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke.
Following Okereke's breakout campaign last year, it should come as no surprise that the analyst had nothing but high praise for the veteran.
"Fundamentally as sound as you can get..." the NFL analyst said about the 27-year-old linebacker. "He played every snap last year. Every snap. He was everything they hoped he would be, like a true MIKE linebacker."
The 27-year-old registered a team-high 149 total tackles, the third-most in Giants history and the ninth-most in the league last season, while setting new career-highs with four forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and 10 passes defensed.
Perhaps more impressive than the stats in his breakout season was his ability to stay on the field. Okereke displayed tremendous durability by playing every single one of the team's defensive snaps, making him and former Giants safety Xavier McKinney the only two defensive players in the league to to be on the field for every defensive snap last season.
As if all of his on-field production wasn't enough, Okereke was also voted a team captain prior to the start of his first season with the Giants, indicative of his leadership within the locker room.
"You go through and you're always evaluating yourself and so I think our free agent process was good," general manager Joe Schoen said following the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. "We brought in guys that fit our culture, they were good guys, they helped elevate their rooms and Bobby O's one of those guys."
Okereke combined with Micah McFadden to create a formidable linebacker duo last season, as the latter set numerous career-highs himself in 2023. McFadden recorded 101 total tackles (63 solo), 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four fumble recoveries, five passes defensed and an interception, all of which topped his rookie season marks.
"I think we can be as good as we want to be," Okereke said Tuesday about the defense's potential. "We have very talented pieces and we're just working every day to get better."
Baldinger was also present for Wednesday's minicamp practice, where he took note of rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers' explosiveness.
View the best photos as the Giants take the field for minicamp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
WR Malik Nabers (9)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13), WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
QB Drew Lock (2), QB Nathan Rourke (3)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
CB Willie "Tre" Herndon III (23)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Eric Gray (20)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
QB Tommy DeVito (15), QB Drew Lock (2), QB Daniel Jones (8), QB Nathan Rourke (3)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
TE Theo Johnson (47), TE Lawrence Cager (83)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6) , WR Malik Nabers (9)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
RB Jashaun Corbin (35)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
CB Alex Johnson (25)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Ayir Asante (19)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)
CB David Long Jr. (20)
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, QB Daniel Jones (8)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
TE Theo Johnson (47), TE Lawrence Cager (83)
QB Drew Lock (2)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
RB Jashaun Corbin (35)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Eric Gray (20)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
AC Patterson
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Drew Lock (2)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
CB David Long Jr. (20)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
QB Tommy DeVito (15), QB Daniel Jones (8)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
Shane Bowen Defensive Coordinator
TE Tyree Jackson (84)
Shane Bowen Defensive Coordinator
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
QB Tommy DeVito (15), QB Drew Lock (2)
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ILB Matthew Adams
CB Deonte Banks
TE Daniel Bellinger
S Dane Belton
OLB Brian Burns
DL Elijah Chatman
DL D.J. Davidson
QB Tommy DeVito
OT Jermaine Eluemunor
OL Joshua Ezeudu
CB Cor'Dale Flott
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
OLB Tomon Fox
K Graham Gano
P Jamie Gillan (6)
RB Eric Gray
CB Art Green
CB Tre Hawkins III
OT Chris Hubbard
WR Jalin Hyatt
CB Adoree' Jackson
S Anthony Johnson Jr.
LB Patrick Johnson
TE Theo Johnson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
G Jake Kubas
DL Dexter Lawrence II
QB Drew Lock
TE Chris Manhertz
LB Micah McFadden
ILB Darius Muasau
WR Malik Nabers
T Evan Neal
S Tyler Nubin
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches
OLB Azeez Ojulari
ILB Bobby Okereke
CB Dru Phillips
S Jason Pinnock
DL Jordon Riley
WR Wan'Dale Robinson
G Jon Runyan
C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
S/LB Isaiah Simmons
RB Devin Singletary
WR Darius Slayton
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
G Aaron Stinnie
LB Ty Summers
RB Tyrone Tracy
G Greg Van Roten
DL Armon Watts
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