There’s an Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Defensive Rookie of the Year in the NFL. Brandon Banks, Washington’s dynamic returner, would have a pretty good shot at the title of Special Teams Rookie of the Year — if such an award existed.
“He is electric. He reminds me a lot of DeSean Jackson, speed-wise,” said Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, the man who will boot it to Banks tomorrow. “It’ll be a big challenge.”
Jackson has torched the Giants in the past with the Eagles, and the 5-foot-7, 155-pound Banks clearly can fly, too. He had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Lions on Oct. 31 and ranks fifth in the NFL with 27 yards per attempt. Banks also has delivered runbacks of 38, 44 and 65 yards. He has had explosive punt return jaunts of 30, 35 and 53 yards.
“Speed is the one thing that really sticks out,” Tynes said. “He’s not going to break a lot of tackles, but the toughest thing to do with him is to catch him. This kid is very, very explosive.”
The Giants will be attempting to prevent Banks, who’s listed as questionable with a knee issue but practiced fully the last two days, from becoming the first man to bring back a kick for a touchdown against them since Leon Washington, who did it more than three years ago when he was with the Jets. The Giants’ kick return coverage has been excellent this season despite the early stumbles.
At the beginning of the season, the Giants’ special teams werre a complete disaster. But they now rank third in the league with their kick coverage, holding returners to 19.9 yards (the Redskins are ranked second at 19.3).
“We’ve added guys, too,” coach Tom Coughlin said, asked if players are grasping the coverage better now. “Jason Pierre-Paul, [Dave] Tollefson, so you have some bigger bodies that draw more attention. I think that the guys we count on have come along and gotten better, we’ve added some speed out there, but every week it’s a real challenge.”
Giants punter Matt Dodge also will have to be careful with Banks, who’s averaging 11.3 yards per punt return. And on punts, the Giants’ coverage hasn’t swarmed around the returner as much as it does on the kickoffs. They’re 30th in the NFL, allowing 13 yards per return, and watched the Cowboys’ Dez Bryant bring one all the way back during the Giants’ Week 7 victory.
The Giants have never faced Banks, but to prepare for him Tynes said he’s gone through tape of all of Banks’ kick returns this season, taking a look at the way each kicker has approached him. Tynes said despite Banks’ ability — and the fact that the Skins’ offense ranks just 25th in scoring, meaning Banks is one of their best weapons — the Giants don’t plan to avoid him on kickoffs.
“We’ve recognized how good he is. I still think we’re going to kick the ball to him. We’re pretty good at what we do, too,” he said. “It’ll be a big challenge and a big part of the game. We’re going to have to do a really good job.”