Nothing seems to faze or overwhelm New York Giants rookie offensive tackle Marcus Mbow, a fifth-round pick who has been impressive this summer.
After Wednesday’s joint practice against the New York Jets, Mbow was sitting placidly on a bench in the Giants indoor practice facility answering questions from a small group of interested reporters.
Is it difficult being bounced from right to left tackle by the Giants after playing exclusively on the right side at Purdue?
“It’s a challenge, but it’s nothing too uncomprehensive for me,” Mbow said. “The way my body moves, I don’t struggle going from left to right.
“It’s something to get used to. It’s different, everything’s reversed. The body isn’t as used to moving the same exact way, your hips are different and everything. But I wouldn’t say it’s too bad. I mean, for me, I feel like it’s not the hardest thing in the world.”
What about the improvement he has shown since training camp began, going from third-team to getting some first-team reps?
“I know that’s part of the reason I left college early is to go against better competition day in, day out and focus on being a pro,” Mbow said. “So I feel like that’s part of it, just the reps against good competition.”
How did he feel he did on Wednesday, taking first-team reps at right tackle with Jermaine Eluemunor at home celebrating the birth of a daughter?
“I’d say it went well,” Mbow said “It’s just football at the end of the day. So, just putting in reps together, back-to-back-to-back, just trying to give it my best.”
Did he learn anything about the Giants-Jets rivalry during joint practices?
Mbow described the work as “two intense practices.”
“It wasn’t anything too crazy. College football, good rivalries coming back, high school growing up, everything. There’s always rivalry,” Mbow said. “There’s always bad blood between two teams.
“Being new to it, you start to feel it every time. Each time it happens, it gets more and more. I’d say I’m already feeling it. I’m pretty strong in it.”
With Andrew Thomas remaining on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, does Mbow feel he is a legitimate left tackle option despite his limited experience there?
“I’d say so. I mean, I have confidence in my abilities. I like playing football,” Mbow said. “It’s just football at the end of the day.”
His reaction to the skirmish he was on the field for Wednesday when Jets defenders dumped running back Tyrone Tracy?
“Smart retaliation,” Mbow said. “I respect coaches’ wishes to not fight, but it gets to a point where you can’t just let people jump all over you.
“One time’s too much.”
What about being the subject of a very complimentary ‘Baldy’s Breakdown’ after Saturday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills?
“It was cool,” was Mbow’s matter-of-fact answer.
Fellow rookie Jaxson Dart noted Mbow’s demeanor as a positive.
“He’s level-headed for sure, and I think that that’s one of his strengths, because as a rookie you’re going to make mistakes, and there’s a lot of learning that you have to do, and I think that it’s kind of just shown his maturity,” Dart said. “He makes a mistake, he doesn’t get flustered, he’s able to come back and answer. He’s been thrown into a lot of different situations, him starting with the threes and making jumps and playing with the ones. I thought that he’s done a great job.”
Head coach Brian Daboll has liked what he has seen from Mbow.
“I think he’s acquitted himself well,” Daboll said. “He’s done a nice job of picking up our information. There’s always plays to learn from, but he’s done a good job of communicating with whoever’s next to him. He’s making strides and that’s what you want out of these young players.”
One thing did get a more forceful reaction from the 22-year-old. Pre-draft scouting reports, including this one from BBV’s Nick Falato, indicated that Mbow would likely have to play guard in the NFL.
The Giants have used him only at tackle.
I asked him on Wednesday if, in his heart, he believed he was an NFL tackle. Mbow looked up at me from his seat and said this:
“Yeah, I’d say so.”
He then added:
“Do you believe it?”
So far, there is no reason not to.
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