Deonte Banks: More than just a press-man cornerback

Giants will be asking a lot of second-year cornerback — does he have the skillset?

The New York Giants have a very talented young cornerback in Deonte Banks, who GM Joe Schoen traded up one spot in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to secure. Banks was a shutdown man-coverage cornerback at the University of Maryland and allowed just a 43.3% catch rate in his final season with the Terrapins.

Banks’ skill set was perfect for Wink Martindale’s press-man scheme, which prompted the former defensive coordinator to provide a hefty hug to Schoen after the Giants selected Banks.

The rookie cornerback played 53% of his passing snaps from a press alignment with Martindale. Banks allowed a 56.4% catch rate from press and a 57.6% catch rate in total. Much of his ball production came from a press-alignment. However, his interceptions were due to his spatial awareness and ability to undercut routes from the opposite side of the field.

The Giants will likely still employ press in certain situations. Still, the transition to Shane Bowen’s defense will focus more on off-alignment and split-field coverages that require eye discipline and judgment, at least when combating quick game passing concepts.

Banks’ two interceptions from last season weren’t against quick games. Yet they both showcase a full-field comprehension and a decisive nature, with an ability to quickly process assignments and locate the immediate threat in his area.

Here are quick breakdowns of both interceptions:

(Deonte Banks is No. 25 in the videos but has since changed to No. 3)

Week 7 vs. Wasington

Quarter 2, 9:43 left, Second-and-2

(CB, top of screen)

Washington is in shotgun, with 12 personnel and a stack to the field—splitting the hash and the numbers—with an H-Back, reduced TE, and an RB to the boundary side. The running back steps toward the mesh point, removing himself as a threat to Banks and to Bobby Okereke (No. 58). The Giants are in Cover-3 with their safety deep.

The H-Back (John Bates, No. 87) initially stays in for protection against the Giants’ five-man rush, and the other tight end (Logan Thomas, No. 82) releases inside, prompting Banks to push that coverage assignment to the inside, as we see below:

Banks gained depth before flashing his eyes to Bates, who chipped Kayvon Thibodeaux (No. 5) and started heading to the flat. Banks, however, saw that Okereke remained outside the hash and was there for the curl-flat, effectively accounting for Bates.

Simultaneously, with the previous threats accounted for, Banks got his eyes on quarterback Sam Howell (No. 14) and noticed his intentions. As Howell released the football, Banks undercut Jahan Dotson (No. 1) and tracked the football into his hands for the interception.

Two plays later, Tyrod Taylor found Saquon Barkley for a 32-yard touchdown that gave the Giants a 14-0 lead. New York would win the football game, 14-7.

Week 12 vs. New England

Quarter 1, 0:09 left, Second-and-7

(CB, top of screen)

The Patriots ran an under-center 12-person play-action deep shot (Yankee concept) against the Giants’ Cover-3. Like the previous interception, the Giants sent five rushers, but the Patriots had max-protection with just two receivers running routes.

Banks executed a flawless speed turn after the receiver he was initially pacing with reached his hash. That receiver reached the hash, and Banks looked through his initial assignment to see Demario Douglas (No. 81) matched up with Micah McFadden (No. 41) on the deep crosser from his backside.

Douglas was completely covered, as Xavier McKinney (No.29) undercut Douglas from the curl flat. Banks did not know McKinney would also be in position but saw the mismatch and looked to assist his teammate. Mac Jones (No. 10) overthrew the pass or expected Douglas to go deeper. Either way, the Bank was open for a deposit, and the young cornerback recorded his second career interception.

Final thoughts

These are just two plays that happened to be turnovers where Deonte Banks displayed traits more associated with zone coverage. Banks is often discussed as a press-man coverage cornerback, which is a fair assessment, but that does not mean he can’t be successful in a system with more zone coverage or match principles.

His eyes and ability to quickly process when he isn’t glued to a receiver’s hip are underrated parts of Banks’ game. With the adoption of Shane Bowen’s defense, we may witness more plays that spotlight Banks’ processing, reaction timing, and eyes.