Nov 182020
 
Marc Colombo, Dallas Cowboys (November 5, 2018)

Marc Colombo – © USA TODAY Sports

GIANTS FIRE MARC COLOMBO, HIRE DAVE DeGUGLIELMO AS OL COACH…
In a shocking move, the New York Giants have fired Offensive Line Coach Marc Colombo and hired Dave DeGuglielmo to replace him. According to press reports, Head Coach Joe Judge was planning to hire DeGuglielmo to work with Colombo, but Colombo’s reaction to that change is what led to his dismissal from the team. Ben Wilkerson will continue to serve as the assistant offensive line coach.

“We appreciate what Marc has done, but I felt like this move is in the best interest of the team,” said Head Coach Joe Judge in a written press release.

The 42-year old Colombo had previously served as assistant offensive line coach (2016-2018) and offensive line coach (2018-2019) of the Dallas Cowboys before being hired by Judge this year.

The 52-year old DeGuglielmo is well-traveled, including serving as an assistant offensive line coach for the Giants under Tom Coughlin from 2004-2008. In recent years, he has coached offensive lines with the Miami Dolphins (2009-2011, 2017, 2019), New York Jets (2012), New England Patriots (2014-2015), San Diego Chargers (2016), and Indianapolis Colts (2018).

RILEY DIXON AND CASEY KREITER PLACED ON RESERVE/COVID-19 LIST…
The New York Giants have announced that punter Riley Dixon and long snapper Casey Kreiter have been placed on the the Reserve/COVID-19 List. Place kicker Graham Gano was also placed on this reserve list on Tuesday after he tested positive for the disease. It is not clear if Dixon and Kreiter tested positive or merely being quarantined due to contact with Gano.

NOVEMBER 18, 2020 JOE JUDGE PRESS CONFERENCE…
New York Giants Head Coach Joe Judge addressed the media on Wednesday to discuss the state of his team heading into the bye weekend (the video is also available at Giants.com):

Q: I know you don’t like the term starter, so I’ll use bulk of the reps. The cornerback opposite James (Bradberry), you’ve used a bunch of different guys. (Isaac) Yiadom, (Corey) Ballentine when he was here, Ryan Lewis. Is it sustainable to just keep kind of having a different guy there at cornerback two all the time, or do you guys need to settle on one guy?

A: No, I expect all the guys to play, I really do. There may be certain matchups that we may favor a certain guy for a skillset. There may be certain positions on the field, whether it’s red area versus backed up or in the field, that may be more of an early down guy or a third down guy. Every game brings a little bit of a different element on how you’re trying to match up the opponent. To me, I have no issue at all playing guys at any position and rotating them on through. As long as we’re getting production, we’re keeping guys fresh, we expect everyone at the game to contribute. In terms of the way I view the game, no, I have no issue with that at all.

Q: How do you think Ike (Yiadom) has played these last couple of games? He went from playing a lot to playing not much at all to now playing a lot again. How do you think he’s performed this second stint?

A: I’ve seen a lot of improvement from Ike. Yeah, that’s a guy who’s really worked tirelessly at practice. He’s really competed hard for us and shown a lot of things at practice. Then he got a shot in the game and he went out there and he’s been making plays for us. Yeah, he’s done a lot of really good things right now that have helped us. He’ll keep playing for us as well, as will (Madre) Harp(er), we get Ryan Lewis back and a number of other guys.

Q: When you made the decision to transition (Nick) Gates to center, that was probably with the thought that you’d have a full offseason, a full training camp, and preseason games. I’m curious were there any reservations about throwing him right in the way he had to get thrown in? How do you feel like he’s developed through the season?

A: I’ll start with the backend part first. I think he’s developed really well. I see a lot of improvement on a weekly basis from Nick. Look, going from playing guard and tackle into center is a completely different animal. The multiples on your plate, the command you have to have, the calls, even just the different mechanics of having to snap before you block, these are things you have to learn how to do. There’s a reason a lot of guys play center throughout their entire career up through high school, college and then in the NFL. It is a different type of position. I think he’s done a really good job of advancing in that. I see a lot of promise going forward with him. I’m pleased with how he’s playing, I see improvement every week. Now to the first part of it in terms of yes, obviously, initially we saw that as having a full offseason, full training camp. But like with everything else, that wasn’t going to waver when the pandemic hit. It wasn’t going to change our course of action in terms of how we were going to get this team ready. We just decided, hey, we’re going to adapt or die. We’re going to get ready. There are going to be some growing pains with a lot of guys, we have to move forward.

Q: On Monday, you talked about one of the things you’ve learned is to juggle time so you have enough time for your defense and offense. I tend not to be the most organized guy in the world. Why would you put yourself through that, or is that just how you have to be to be a coach?

A: I think as far as being the head coach, I have to know what’s going on with all three sides of the ball. I can’t know what’s going on without putting in the tape and time to learn the opponent on the frontend, and I can’t know what’s going on without really watching our teams at practice and studying what we’re doing and reviewing all the practice tape and the game tape, and understanding our personnel and how we’re using them. To me, it’s just part of the responsibility of what you have to do to be effective. I don’t know how I could help the team if I don’t know what’s going on. That’s just an emphasis for me.

Q: What’s your message to your players during this bye week? How do you balance staying focused and keeping the momentum going with taking a much-deserved break?

A: I’ll go back to the momentum question first. I don’t really believe that exists, to be honest with you. Nothing that we did against Philadelphia or Washington is going to help us against Cincinnati. We have to learn from what we did wrong and make corrections, but we have to come back on Monday and have a good, strong practice. To be honest with you, obviously, we’ve gone virtual this week with some of the COVID protocols going back to the intensive protocols. That’s changed a little bit of our plans with what they were going to be on the field. Initially, we were going to do more of a walkthrough (on Tuesday). Some of the younger guys, practice squad and some of the younger rookies, we’re going to have a more intensive practice when the walkthrough was over. Then today, Wednesday, would have been an on the field, padded practice for the entire team to get out there, popping around, work on some new schemes, concepts, make sure we correct some things that came up through the season. Now we’re working virtually to go ahead and have meetings and address those things right there. But we have to have a good day on Monday. In terms of the momentum, the only momentum I think we’ll be able to go ahead and transfer and create is how we practice and how we play. We have to come back next week ready to go.

Q: I’m curious 10 weeks into the season, after watching the tape of all these games and coaching through them, what’s the biggest thing you’ve learned about your team and what do you guys have to get better at down the stretch?

A: We have to continue improving across the board on fundamentals. I think that’s something you always have to improve on. You can never think ‘we’ve arrived’ there. I think sometimes the mistakes you make as a team as you get to a certain point in the season and it’s very scheme-oriented, and you fall away from what you worked hard on in training camp in terms of fundamentals and basics. Ultimately, that’s really what always makes the difference anyway. We talk about turnovers, penalties, mental errors, those are the things that are going to be the true deciding factors within games. In terms of our team, we hoped early on that we could develop a tough culture without knowing these players early on, and I’ve seen that with our guys. Our guys, it’s a team full of resilient guys, very mentally tough guys. I’ve seen these guys come to work week in and week out, no matter what the noise on the outside was. They come in focused, they come in determined, and they play together. I’ve seen a group of guys moving in the same direction, make a lot of improvement. I’m proud of how they practice, I’m proud of how it’s shown up on tape in games, and I think that transfers directly from how we practice to how we play.

Q: It seems like that’s really kind of taken off over the last two or three weeks, especially on defense. It seems like you’re playing a more physical brand of football than maybe you started. Why do you think that is, and do you think maybe that’s just kind of snowballing with wins and confidence beget more wins and confidence or is there more to it than that?

A: I think when you practice with good execution and you’re confident with what you’re doing schematically, you can play more aggressive. When you demonstrate across the board that you have 11 guys on the field who truly understand the schemes, the concepts and what we’re doing, then you can play aggressive by not worrying about the guy next to you and what he’s doing. I think right now, we’re at a point where our guys have really learned and progressed within the schemes and concepts that we’re working. They’ve really done a good job week by week adapting to different game plans and how they fit, and understand not only their responsibility, but how the guy next to them has to play as well. When you understand that, you can play more aggressive. That’s probably why some of that is starting to show up the way we want it to on tape.

Q: Do you look into the data, how teams come into a bye, how teams go out of a bye? This is your first time being a head coach with this. Is there something that you can do maybe better than someone else taking your team out of a bye that could give you an advantage?

A: Yeah, I think you have to look at what you do well, what you’re deficient on and what you have to improve on. I think the biggest thing coming out of a bye, other than maybe getting some guys back health wise or getting some things adjusted schematically, is you just need to come out and correct things that you’ve made mistakes on and go forward with. You may have a new wrinkle you try to work in here or there. We do look at teams coming out of byes. Obviously, the last two weeks we played teams coming off of byes. To me, it’s important to look at those teams based on what they’ve done in the past coming out of a bye. What kind of adjustments do they use? What does their game plan look like that game out of a bye? Different than it was the previous games before the bye? How many schematic differences do they have? Is it a more aggressive mindset? What do they do? You want to put all of those things into account just to anticipate what your opponent may do against you. For us specifically, I think the biggest mistake is people think when you’re coming out of a bye, you’re automatically fresher and faster and all that kind of stuff. I think that’s a myth. You have to come out and all that matters is how you play on that Sunday. You have to wake up and you have to knock off those cobwebs because the one thing is, these guys will have four solid days off without being around us as coaches or hearing our voices. Four days, again this season, is like four months. It just is. You come back, and that Monday practice we’ll have, that’s very necessary to go ahead and just make sure everybody gets woken up, knocks off some rust, has a good day on the field, and that that can transfer going forward.

Q: Coaches very often and sometimes you hear players say ‘he’s not a rookie anymore’. Are your rookies still rookies? What is that mindset? Do you subscribe to that mindset?

A: You can kind of phrase that two different ways on that. I know what you’re saying with that. I expect marked improvement from our team along the way. The so-called rookie mistakes, I don’t care if it’s a rookie making it or a vet making it, I just don’t expect to see it repeated. That’s what we’re really holding everyone accountable for. Things are going to happen, we just have to learn from them and move forward. I think at this point right now, our young players obviously have a different perspective and a different taste for the speed of the game and what goes in week by week. You hear a lot about these rookie walls. We talk to our rookies a lot about them. I’ve talked to rookies in the past about it as well. To me, it’s important to have these rookies understand that really right now we’re at a point where the college football season is winding down and about to be over. At least in a normal year, it would be. Your season is very much still going. We’ve got a lot of ball left to play. In a normal season, by the time you get to Week 8, that is a college season. That’s four preseason games. It’s eight games, you’re looking at 12. Maybe you play a bowl game after that. Go get a Little Caesar’s pizza bowl thing and go back home for Christmas and stuff. This season here, you’ve got to refuel and get going. You’ve got to make sure that you handle your routine throughout the season effectively. Physically, you don’t break down and mentally you don’t fatigue. To me, that comes into having a good established routine but then also some point in the year changing up your routine to change the stimulation. If you’re a guy that’s always watching tape mid-afternoon, okay maybe it’s an early morning thing and you get your workout in mid-afternoon. You have to change things up a little bit throughout the season not to have that monotony that kind of wears you down to the point where you think you’re being productive just because you have activity. You’ve got to make sure you’re actually taking steps forward every time you do something. We’re not writing a pass for any of guys, whether they are rookies, vets, whatever they are. In terms of repeat mistakes, we have to make sure as coaches we do a good job of eliminating those.

Q: I wanted to ask about Will Hernandez and everything he has gone through the last couple of weeks. You come into Sunday, it seemed clear you had a plan that he wasn’t necessarily going to get snaps. What did you see from Will in the game? Is it a challenge this week knowing you’re not in the building with these guys? How can you gauge how he is coming out of this weekend, first opportunity being out there on the field?

A: The best feedback we get as far as how he came out of this weekend is from the trainers and the strength coaches. We’re not in the building, but what we have done is we’re doing very small group workouts that are going to be available to our players, that they want to come and get something physically. Obviously, we’ve had to do a lot of maneuvering to make sure it’s very limited people in the field house working out or running. The field is very spread out, we’re taking precautions in that. The feedback I’ll get from the trainers and strength coaches will be the most valuable feedback I can get on those guys. What I saw when he went in the game is a guy who was ready. I saw when Will went in there, he was mentally, physically and emotionally ready to go. Obviously, two weeks off from a game, it’s a lot to ask anyone to jump right back in the swing of things and go through an entire game. When we needed him, he came through. He played well, he played tough. That’s just kind of Will’s personality. Coming out at the end of the game right there. He kind of goes in as the enforcer when we needed him right there. I was pleased to see Will at the game. It’s good to have him back in the building. He’s always a dude that makes everyone smile when he’s around. It’s just good to have him back with us.

Q: Do you feel like when you come back on Monday that the last couple weeks are behind him?

A: I think it’s still wait and see to see him on the field Monday, to be honest with you. To be fair to him, if we had practiced the last two days, if we were out there today, I think I’d have a much better view on that and an answer for that. Not being able to see with my own eyes when we put him through a practice, that’s a tough thing to evaluate and gauge. He says he’s feeling better. I don’t want to speak for the player, I guess I just did. I want to make sure that we make the right evaluation for him at all times. These guys are tough guys, they are competitive guys. Sometimes they say things and you have to make sure you really gauge it and make the best decision for them.

Q: You have a bunch of guys on the verge of returning from injured reserve. What’s their status coming off the bye. Tae Crowder, (Oshane) Ximines, (Xavier) McKinney and Ryan Lewis.

A: That falls back on Art’s (Stapleton) question. I was really counting on seeing a little bit of those guys this week. Obviously, we can’t see them on the field football wise this week. Monday will be an important day for us to kind of take a look at a lot of these guys moving around. We still have to make a declaration on a couple of these guys in terms of their clock. We’re going to have to evaluate these guys next week and see where they are going into Cincinnati. We’re optimistic we should see the majority of those guys if not all of them at some point down this stretch. They’ve all made progress, they’re all working very hard with our trainers. I know they are a lot further ahead than they were when they initially went on IR. We just have to see how close they are to game action for us.

Q: For you personally, do you decompress? Do you take any time off at the end of this week? Do you just plow through and worry about that after the season?

A: I’ll definitely structure good family time this weekend. I’ve got a laundry list of stuff right now that I am loading up on and making sure I stay ahead on. I’m using a lot of this time right now not only to self-scout and catch up on things that we’ve done throughout the season. The coaches have done a lot of really good research and reports and giving me good feedback on where we have to go going forward. That’s been very valuable. I’m trying to jump ahead on all of our opponents to get a head start which will help me down this final stretch. As far as watching some tape. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that when this weekend rolls around there is going to be a point where I have to dive in and be dad again. I’ve got to dive in with the kids and give them all my undivided attention. I’ll probably be way more worn out from that than I am from a week of game prep. It’s something we’re looking forward to. That will kind of reset the motor for us and get us moving through the final six.

Q: Have you talked to Graham (Gano)? How is he feeling? What can you tell us about (Ryan) Santoso?

A: Ryan’s a guy who has a huge leg, he’s shown a tremendous amount of improvement since he’s been here. It’s a unique skillset that he does all three, field goals, kickoffs and punts. He’s shown a lot of improvement in all three phases through being. I think Tom (Quinn) and T-Mac (Thomas McGaughey) do a tremendous job of working with this guy. This guy is a mentally tough guy, too. He’s one of my favorite guys on the practice field. He kicks for us in kicking periods, obviously. He does a lot of his field goal operational work on Friday with the team. Me and him normally have some kind of side bets going on as he is kicking, kind of put a little pressure on it. I think he’s a little bit better in terms of roping that thing through the uprights when I’m talking a little smack behind him. We have a lot of confidence in Ryan. He’s definitely a developing player. I think he has a big upside in this league for a long time, I really do. I’m pleased he’s been in our program and we’ve been able to hold onto him through this point. I’m really pleased with the work Tom and T-Mac have done with him. If he’s got to go, we have a lot of confidence he will be able to go out there and do the job effectively. Graham has talked to Ronnie (Barnes) today. I touched based with him yesterday. I don’t want to speak for him in terms of how he may feel with this. I don’t know all the stages of this virus personally, so I don’t know if this is something that increases, decreases. I don’t want to speak for any of the players. I know obviously our trainers are communicating with him on a regular basis to make sure his welfare is okay. I’ll touch base with him later today like I do with most of the players.

Q: Do you expect to have him back in time for the next game?

A: There’s a timetable with that. There’s an opportunity for that, but there are some other things that go into that as well. Are there any setbacks in that time window? Where does the physician clear him? There’s a ramp up period. Him, like everybody else, we have to be fair to this guy. He’s sitting in a hotel room for a couple weeks. Is it fair to him to put him on the field and ask him to go ahead and do his job? These are all things we have to account for. In fantasy football, yeah, plug him in and we’re good to go. In reality, are we doing the fair thing by him individually and the team collectively to take someone who hasn’t had two weeks of an opportunity to prepare to put him out there to do a job?

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video/audio clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
There is no media availability to the New York Giants from November 19th to November 22nd.

Nov 112020
 
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (August 8, 2019)

Will Hernandez and Daniel Jones – © USA TODAY Sports

WILL HERNANDEZ COMES OFF OF COVID LIST; COREY BALLENTINE WAIVED…
New York Giants left guard Will Hernandez was activated off of the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 List on Tuesday. He had missed two games after testing positive for the disease. To make room, the Giants waived cornerback Corey Ballentine.

The Giants selected Hernandez in the 2nd round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Until his positive COVID-19 test, Hernandez had started 39 consecutive games at left guard. The Giants drafted Ballentine in the 6th round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The past two seasons, he has played in 22 games with four starts, including two starts this year.

NEW YORK GIANTS ASSISTANT COACHES ADDRESS THE MEDIA…
A video clip compilation of the media sessions with the following New York Giants assistant coaches on Tuesday is available at Giants.com:

  • Quarterback Coach Jerry Schuplinski
  • Running Backs Coach Burton Burns
  • Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert
  • Tight Ends Coach Freddie Kitchens
  • Offensive Line Coach Marc Colombo
  • Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer
  • Outside Linebackers Coach/Senior Assistant Bret Bielema
  • Inside Linebackers Coach Coach Kevin Sherrer
  • Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The New York Giants practice on Wednesday afternoon (12:30-2:30PM). Head Coach Joe Judge and select players will also address the media.

Oct 292020
 
Will Hernandez, New York Giants (October 7, 2018)

Will Hernandez – © USA TODAY Sports

WILL HERNANDEZ TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID…
New York Giants left guard Will Hernandez has tested positive for COVID and been sent home. He was also officially placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 List. Seven other players and two coaches were also sent home as a precaution.

The Giants issued the following written statement:

“Late last night, we were notified that a Giants player tested positive for COVID-19. The player was immediately self-isolated, and the contact tracing process was initiated. All of the player’s close contacts were identified and were informed to remain home today. Those individuals will participate in meetings remotely. We are working closely with the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer regarding next protocol steps. Quest Diagnostics Training Center will remain open, and the rest of the team will follow their normal practice and meeting schedule.”

The two coaches are reported to be Outside Linebackers Coach Bret Bielema and Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson. Aside from Hernandez, offensive linemen Nick Gates, Spencer Pulley, Shane Lemieux, Cam Fleming, and Andrew Thomas did not practice and were sent home. The other two players were not identified by the team, but are believed to be Practice Squad players offensive lineman Chad Slade and wide receiver Binjimen Victor.

“We’ve been fortunate in that there’s really no high-risk guys within the tracer contacts,” said Head Coach Joe Judge. “We have some precautions we have to take as a team. We’re optimistic to get all these guys back. We’re operating that we’re going to have them back right now.”

OCTOBER 29, 2020 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
Officially, RB Devonta Freeman (ankle), OG Will Hernandez (positive COVID test), OC Nick Gates (COVID quarantine), OC Spencer Pulley (COVID quarantine), OG Shane Lemieux (COVID quarantine), RT Cam Fleming (COVID quarantine), and LT Andrew Thomas (COVID quarantine) did not practice on Thursday.

WR Sterling Shepard (shoulder/toe), WR C.J. Board (concussion), CB Darnay Holmes (neck), and S Adrian Colbert (shoulder) were limited in practice.

HEAD COACH JOE JUDGE…
The transcript of Joe Judge’s press conference on Thursday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available on YouTube.

NEW YORK GIANTS ASSISTANT COACHES ADDRESS THE MEDIA…
A video clip compilation of the media sessions with the following New York Giants assistant coaches on Wednesday is available at Giants.com:

  • Quarterback Coach Jerry Schuplinski
  • Running Backs Coach Burton Burns
  • Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert
  • Tight Ends Coach Freddie Kitchens
  • Offensive Line Coach Marc Colombo
  • Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer
  • Outside Linebackers Coach/Senior Assistant Bret Bielema
  • Inside Linebackers Coach Coach Kevin Sherrer
  • Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The New York Giants practice on Friday afternoon (12:30-2:30PM). Head Coach Joe Judge, the team’s coordinators, and select players will also address the media.

Oct 132020
 
Austin Mack, New York Giants (August 23, 2020)

Austin Mack – © USA TODAY Sports

GIANTS SIGN AUSTIN MACK TO 53-MAN ROSTER, CUT DAMION RATLEY…
The New York Giants have signed wide receiver Austin Mack from the team’s Practice Squad. To make room for Mack, the Giants waived wide receiver Damion Ratley.

The Giants signed Mack as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2020 NFL Draft.

The 6’2”, 200-pound Ratley was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Browns. In 2018-2019, Ratley played in 26 regular-season games with six starts, accruing 25 catches for 344 yards and one touchdown. The Giants claimed Ratley off of waivers from the Cleveland Browns in early September 2020. He played in all five games this year, catching just four passes for 63 yards.

NEW YORK GIANTS ASSISTANT COACHES ADDRESS THE MEDIA…
A video clip compilation of the media sessions with the following New York Giants assistant coaches is available at Giants.com:

  • Quarterback Coach Jerry Schuplinski
  • Running Backs Coach Burton Burns
  • Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert
  • Tight Ends Coach Freddie Kitchens
  • Offensive Line Coach Marc Colombo
  • Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer
  • Outside Linebackers Coach/Senior Assistant Bret Bielema
  • Inside Linebackers Coach Coach Kevin Sherrer
  • Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players return to practice on Wednesday. Head Coach Joe Judge and select players will also address the media.

Sep 292020
 
Blake Martinez, New York Giants (September 27, 2020)

Blake Martinez – © USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK GIANTS SIGN CB MADRE HARPER…
Although not officially announced yet, the New York Giants have signed cornerback Madre Harper off of the Practice Squad of the Las Vegas Raiders. The 22-year old, 6’1”, 196-pound Harper was signed by the Raiders as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2020 NFL Draft.

NEW YORK GIANTS ASSISTANT COACHES ADDRESS THE MEDIA…
Video clips of the media sessions with the following New York Giants assistant coaches are available at Giants.com:

  • Quarterback Coach Jerry Schuplinski (Video)
  • Running Backs Coach Burton Burns (Video)
  • Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert (Video)
  • Tight Ends Coach Freddie Kitchens (Video)
  • Offensive Line Coach Marc Colombo (Video)
  • Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer (Video)
  • Outside Linebackers Coach/Senior Assistant Bret Bielema (Video)
  • Inside Linebackers Coach Coach Kevin Sherrer (Video)
  • Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson (Video)

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players return to practice on Wednesday. Head Coach Joe Judge and select players will also address the media.

Sep 222020
 
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (September 14, 2020)

Saquon Barkley – © USA TODAY Sports

GIANTS PLACE SAQUON BARKLEY ON INJURED RESERVE…
As expected, the New York Giants have placed running back Saquon Barkley on Injured Reserve. Barkley tore the ACL, partially tore the meniscus, and sprained the MCL in his right knee in the game against the Chicago Bears last Sunday. He will soon undergo surgery in a few weeks once swelling in his knee has gone down.

To fill that vacancy on the 53-man roster, the Giants signed cornerback Ryan Lewis from the Practice Squad. The 6’0”, 195-pound Lewis was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2017 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Cardinals (2017), New England Patriots (2017-2018), Buffalo Bills (2018), Indianapolis Colts (2019), Philadelphia Eagles (2019), Miami Dolphins (2019), and Washington Football Team (2020). Lewis has played in 20 NFL regular-season games with two starts, accruing 43 tackles, eight pass defenses, and one interception.

The Giants also signed linebacker Jermaine Grace to the Practice Squad and terminated the Practice Squad contract of offensive lineman Tyler Haycraft.

The 26-year old, 6’1”, 223-pound Grace was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Atlanta Falcons after the 2017 NFL Draft. The much traveled Grace has spent time with the Falcons (2017, 2018-2019), Indianapolis Colts (2017), Cleveland Browns (2018, 2019-2020), and Seattle Seahawks (2018, 2019). Grace has played in 24 regular-season games with no starts, accruing eight tackles.

Haycraft was signed by the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2020 NFL Draft.

NEW YORK GIANTS ASSISTANT COACHES ADDRESS THE MEDIA…
Video clips of the media sessions with the following New York Giants assistant coaches are available at Giants.com:

  • Quarterback Coach Jerry Schuplinski (Video)
  • Running Backs Coach Burton Burns (Video)
  • Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert (Video)
  • Tight Ends Coach Freddie Kitchens (Video)
  • Offensive Line Coach Marc Colombo (Video)
  • Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer (Video)
  • Outside Linebackers Coach/Senior Assistant Bret Bielema (Video)
  • Inside Linebackers Coach Coach Kevin Sherrer (Video)
  • Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson (Video)

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players return to practice on Wednesday. Head Coach Joe Judge and select players will also address the media.

Aug 262020
 
Xavier McKinney, New York Giants (August 18, 2020)

Xavier McKinney – Courtesy of New York Giants

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AUGUST 26, 2020 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP MEDIA PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media and team sources:

  • Light, 3/4-speed practice held on the field at MetLife Stadium. Emphasis was on communication, situational football, and special teams.
  • Offensive and defensive staffs were stationed on opposite sidelines. Some in coaching booths upstairs.

INJURY REPORT – SURGERY FOR XAVIER McKINNEY AND DAVID MAYO…
The New York Giants have announced that safety Xavier McKinney (left foot fracture) and linebacker David Mayo (torn meniscus in left knee) will undergo surgery. McKinney underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon and Mayo will undergo surgery on Thursday.

McKinney is expected to miss 2-3 months and Mayo three weeks.

McKinney was the team’s 2nd round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Giants signed Mayo in September 2019 after he was cut by the San Francisco 49ers. He surprisingly ended up playing in all 16 games with 13 starts, playing in 57 percent of all defensive snaps, and finishing with 82 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 pass defenses.

Wide receiver Tony Brown (unknown), tight end Rysen John (unknown), center Spencer Pulley (unknown), linebacker Ryan Connelly (unknown), safety Nate Ebner (unknown), and safety Jaquarius Landrews (unknown) did not practice.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Giants practice on Thursday morning (9:45-11:45 AM). Head Coach Joe Judge and several players will also address the media.

Aug 142020
 
Andrew Thomas, New York Giants (August 11, 2020)

Andrew Thomas – Courtesy of New York Giants

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AUGUST 14, 2020 BURTON BURNS CONFERENCE CALL…
New York Giants Running Backs Coach Burton Burns addressed the media on Friday (see video at Giants.com and YouTube):

Q: What made you want to make the jump to the NFL after such a long career in college? What are the differences in coaching college players, you have obviously coached a lot of talented ones, and coaching an NFL player? Now with Saquon, you are coaching a very talented one but one who is a little further along in his career.

A: Well as far as the first question about making the jump, I think the situation created itself for me. I have a relationship with Joe Judge. As you go through your coaching career, you just start coaching and I think in the beginning of your career you have ambitions to do certain things. One of my long-time ambitions was to coach in the NFL. As you go through your career, you wake up from year to year and do what you’re supposed to do. Do what you do well where you’re at. I think the biggest part was Joe Judge giving me the opportunity. It’s something I wanted to do personally, to be in the NFL. Knowing Joe’s personality and our relationship, it was kind of like I wanted to see if I could come and help him do his thing. As far as the differences between the college and pro athlete, the way I have always looked at it is that players are players. I know they are at different levels, but the one ingredient that most really good players have, they are very competitive. They have a competitive nature so as far as coaching those guys, they always have the desire to continue to develop. I’ve seen that with Saquon. He has a competitive nature and the guy is always interested in developing his craft to the next level. My approach has not changed with that because it’s always about development. I think football in general is a developmental sport.

Q: I know you haven’t coached the running back position in a couple years at Alabama. Was the chance to coach Saquon a factor to come to the Giants?

A: Yeah, it was. It didn’t hit me at first. At first, it was Joe calling me, and oh my goodness here’s this situation that I have to make a decision on. It didn’t take me long to make the decision, I promise you that. I realized I had the opportunity not only to coach Saquon, but pro football players. We have some other good guys on the team and at the position. Wayne and Dion came along. I think Eli Penny has special talents as a dual player, as fullback/running back type. Just that opportunity to coach guys at the professional level. I have to tell you, I got some encouragements from some different guys that have coached pro ball. I lean on them for some assistance as far as making decisions. It just happened.

Q: You talked a little bit about your relationship with Joe and wanting to come to New York and help him. When you look at Joe, what makes you believe he will be a successful head coach? Just your thoughts on this unique circumstance and how he’s handled it.

A: First of all, I always thought, when Joe was with us years ago, he was very bright, very articulate. He was dutiful in doing the assignments he had on our staff. I expected it from him from that standpoint. The other thing about Joe, we always knew he was organized. Especially in the situation we are in now, it takes an organized person to navigate through all the challenges that we have to face day to day. I’m not surprised by the way he has handled it. He’s very meticulous about doing the little things, despite the big picture that’s going on. Joe has always been good at organizing things like ABC. We are going to do this, we are going to do that next, do this first in order for the next thing to work. I think that’s what we are doing here in this situation.

Q: You mentioned Eli Penny. What can he be for your team and your running back room? What has he been as far as not only a veteran but what he can do on the field and his versatility?

A: First of all, Eli has a great personality. He is infectious throughout the team. I think guys look up to him, he’s a go-getter. He’s got this attitude: I’ll do whatever it takes. He’s got a unique ability. He’s primarily a fullback, if you will. As you noticed last year, he was able to get in some one-back opportunities and do those things. I think the biggest thing with Eli, he’s got great leadership qualities. He’s got a great personality and the whole locker room loves Eli. Just because of his attitude and his desire to do the right thing for us to be successful.

Q: You came to Alabama when Nick Saban got hired there. Do you see any similarities from the way Nick runs his program and when you have been around Joe with the Giants?

A: Both of those guys are very organized. There are certain steps that you have to take the first year you are trying to build a program or rebuild a program. I see Joe basically taking those same steps. I remember I went with Nick in 2007 and it’s like déjà vu. It’s not because Joe is copying Nick but that’s how good football coaches who are organized create a different environment for a brand-new team.

Q: Looking back over your history, you have developed some really impressive running backs in your coaching career on the college level. I know running backs come in all different shapes, flavors and sizes. What’s the one common thing you have found that every good running back has or ultimately develops for success?

A: First of all, these guys were blessed with some physical ability. I think the other thing is, I mentioned it earlier, by nature they are very competitive. They want to be better than everyone thinks they are. They want to put the extra time in physically and mentally to try different things. They always want to (ask) how can I do this better, what about this, what about that. The one ingredient in really good running backs as well as really good football players is that desire to continue to get better. That’s been a common theme with these guys.

Q: If I could just ask you about Wayne Gallman. He is a guy who kind of disappeared off the radar last year. I know you weren’t here last year, but can you tell us what you have seen from Wayne Gallman so far?

A: I see a guy that’s coming to work every day, that’s working really hard. Again, he is very interested in improving. I had a history with Wayne as far as we competed against his team in college. I kind of followed his career, I knew him a little. His personality is like all the players that I’ve coached. He’s got his competitive nature. I know I’m overusing that word, but it keeps coming up. He’s also got that ‘what can I do to get better (mentality)’. I know it’s the college level and the pro level. One thing about all those guys, it doesn’t matter, they are looking for that next step they can take.

AUGUST 14, 2020 MARC COLOMBO CONFERENCE CALL…
New York Giants Offensive Line Coach Marc Colombo addressed the media on Friday (see video at Giants.com and YouTube):

Q: Will Hernandez said the other day that he sees you like one of them, an offensive lineman. The fact that you played and the fact that you have such size to you that you can look a lot of these guys in the eye, or a lot of times look down on them from a physical standpoint, how much do you think that helps you relate to offensive linemen today?

A: I think relating to offensive linemen, that can happen because I played in the NFL for a while. I think these guys respect that, and respect the fact that I’ve done it, I’ve seen it. It’s really a great group of guys. Will is a great, great leader in the room. He’s a great player and I love having him in the room. I think just learning from experiences that I’ve had and have been able to teach these guys, they’re really absorbing a lot right now and they’re taking it all in. I believe we’re pushing in the right direction, and Will is a big part of that.

Q: As a follow up, do you think the fact that you’re a 6-8 guy and you can get on the field with them and kind of show them what to do because you’ve done it, you’re not a smaller, older coach, do you think that helps?

A: Yeah. Obviously, like mastering the techniques that I’m teaching, I’ve been able to show them exactly what I want, that’s important. That’s important to me, it’s important for them to get a visual of exactly what it is instead of watching another guy doing a technique that I was teaching. I’m able to get in there and do it myself, at least right now. I’m 41 so I’m not getting any younger. At the same time, I think that’s important for them to get a good visual of exactly what you want so you can correct it right there on the field instead of having to go all the way back to the film and correct it afterwards.

Q: What is a Marc Colombo line going to do? Are there certain demands you say, ‘If you guys want to play for me, you better do this’?

A: Yeah, I think it’s a work ethic, it’s a nasty attitude, going out there and just kind of imposing our will on the defense. Flying around, that’s non-negotiable. That comes right from Coach Judge and this organization. We really demand it here. The first thing we’re going to do is work our butt off and we’re going to play hard. That’s non-negotiable. Everything else, the technique, assignments, stuff like that, we can get that stuff corrected. But the effort, again, non-negotiable.

Q: I have one follow up. Coach Garrett said when he talked about your music, he called it ‘harsh.’ I was just wondering if you wanted to say anything about his coaching?

A: No, Coach Garrett is an incredible coach. I’ve been with him since 2007 as a player and a coach. I have no bad things to say about Coach Garrett. ‘Harsh’, I’m a heavy metal guy so that’s the music I love, that’s the music I sing, that’s the music I play, and believe me, Coach Garrett likes it.

Q: Around these parts, if you call someone a ‘Parcells guy’, the ears kind of perk up a little bit. I’m just curious, do you view yourself as a ‘Parcells guy,’ and what kind of influence did Bill have on you, not just as a player but now when you’ve gotten into coaching, do you think of Parcellsisms?

A: Yeah, Coach Parcells revived my career. He saw something in me when I was hurt and no other team would take a chance on me. I owe him a lot. He pushed me to be something better than I ever thought I could be. I’m forever indebted for that. I’d run through a wall if he asked me to right now. That’s the type of respect I have for him, and that’s the influence he’s had on me. That’s the way I try to go in and coach the guys hard like that. Yeah, he’s been a tremendous influence and I owe him a lot.

Q: Going back to your playing days, did you envision becoming a coach when your playing career was over, or did you have your sights set on being a heavy metal star?

A: Actually, coaching never really came up when I was playing. That was something after I got done with football, you realize how much you miss it when you’re done. You miss being around the guys. That’s the culture you grew up in, and I didn’t realize it until I was done about a year into it. That’s when I got together with Coach Garrett and we started talking about getting into the coaching aspect of things. Ever since then, I’ve loved it, just being around the guys. I’m an O-line guy. Close that O-line door and we’re a unit together. That’s what we’re trying to build around here.

Q: Draft pick Shane Lemieux has the reputation of being a nasty guy, sort of like yourself when you played in the NFL. What do you see from this kid? Secondly, being a heavy metal guy myself, what’s your preference when you’re in the car on the way home? (Iron) Maiden/ (Black) Sabbath or are you new metal? What are you?

A: No, I’m an old school metal guy. Metallica, anything from the 80s. Master of Puppets, And Justice for All, Ride the Lightning, Kill ‘Em All. Getting back to Shane, Shane is an extremely tough kid. He’s versatile, he can play the interior positions. I’m interested to see when we get the pads on, that’s when you start to see that character come out, some of the stuff you saw on tape, and that’s kind of where we’re heading right now with the pads here coming up soon. He’s done a tremendous job so far. Just need to keep pushing him and all these guys to get better every day. Work on something to get a little bit better every day. So far, we’re headed in the right direction. We have a long way to go.

Q: You were talking about how you can kind of relate your playing experiences. It wasn’t too long ago that you were a first round pick and started as a rookie at tackle. What can you pass on to Andrew Thomas? What’s the biggest challenge of making that transition?

A: Andrew is a tremendous football player. At this level, it’s about fine-tuning some of those details. One of the first things we talked about was use of hands, hand strike. Andrew’s aware of where he needs to get better. That was one thing he needed to get better with, so that’s something we’ve been working on quite a bit. Then just the type of pass rusher you’re going to see week in and week out. It’s going to be a premier pass rusher, being able to study that rusher, know how to study him, know what his moves are, know everything that he’s thinking. Those are some of the things that we’ve been working on and some of the things we’ve been talking about. I love where Andrew is heading. Again, we have a long way to go. But he has the right mindset, he’s smart, he knows where some of his deficiencies are right now and he’s working every day to get better. There are not a lot of deficiencies. It’s about cleaning up those little details and keep pushing every day.

Q: Then with Nick Gates, how is he developing at center?

A: Nick’s doing a tremendous job. He never played the position before. He’s the alpha male that you want at the position. He owns it. That’s what you love about Nick. He’s smart, he’s tough, he’s versatile. He can play any position on the offensive line, which is a huge plus for this organization. Just love the kid so far. He’s done a good job. We have a ways to go. Again, we’re just getting started here, but love a lot of things we’ve seen from him so far. He’s getting a good share of reps at center. We’ll see soon. Again, we haven’t put on the pads yet. Once we put on the pads, a lot of things are going to reveal themselves.

Q: Following up on the Nick Gates question, I just wanted to get your take on a couple of things from that. Number one, he’s 6-foot-5, which is kind of tall for a center. I’m just wondering, what are some of the things that you’re trying to train him in, as far as keeping his pad level consistent?

A: We like big centers. I worked with Travis Frederick in Dallas and he’s a big center. Big, athletic, strong. We’re looking for centers that can anchor the middle. One of the biggest things is getting depth right off the bat at center, just so he can kind of be the ultimate helper in there. It’s working his set. It’s working the depth of his sets, it’s working the calls, the line stunts, that type of stuff. He just has to see it all. Again, he’s new to the position, so he’s seeing stuff for the first time. As we get him more reps and give him more looks, he’s going to become more confident. That’s on us coaches to keep giving him and keep pushing him and challenging him every day as he keeps getting better. That’s something that we try to do every single day.

Q: Just this one follow up on that, you mention that Nick has to get the looks, see the things and whatnot. How concerning is it when you have a quarterback behind him who’s entering his second year who himself is still learning to read defenses, make protection calls and stuff like that. Does that weigh in to maybe leaning towards Spencer Pulley, who has done the center position before, or do you just kind of leave it wide open?

A: No, we’re all just competing right now. Again, it’s really early. Again, we’re a young team, a young line up front, and that’s fine. These guys accept the challenge. Again, like you said, they need to see the looks and stuff like that. We don’t know where this line is going just yet. It’s a little bit too early to make that assessment. Again, the pads haven’t even come on yet. Things will start to reveal themselves soon. Those guys inside, everyone is battling for a starting position. No one is just given a position here. That’s coming right from the head coach. Everyone is going to get a shot. The best people will play. Right now, we’re just competing to see who that is.

Q: In your last stop, you were usually considered, year in and year out, to have one of the top if not the best offensive lines in the league. Besides obviously having very good players, what was the key to that? Is there something you can bring here to help this franchise, which has struggled in that area, get to that point? Is it philosophy? Is it technique? Is there something that you can bring, some magic pixie dust, to improve these Giants?

A: I think what I try to teach, and again, our head coach is just like this, it’s awesome. Attention to detail is everything. Every little step matters. I’m not going to speak for every other coach in the NFL, but every single step matters. If you’re not coaching every little detail of it, the player can’t get better. It’s a grind. You have to get in there with every one of these players. You have to make sure they’re doing it exactly the way you want it. You can see, even after a few weeks, these guys are just eating it up. They love getting coached, and that’s our job as coaches. Coach Judge harps on that. Coach every little detail, and that’s the way we roll as a unit and that’s how you get better as an offensive line. I’m really excited with the response I’ve gotten so far from this unit. These guys have really taken on the challenge, and they’re in it every day trying to get better. After practice, working every little detail, every step. We just need to keep getting up there, keep getting the reps in. I’m excited for the future of this organization.

Q: How aware is the offensive line group of the mandate to improve the offensive line play, which really comes straight from the top, from the owners, all the way down from the general manager through the head coach?

A: They’re just trying to get better. They know it wasn’t right previously. It never is when you lose a coaching staff. When you come back this year, they’re hungry. Having a conversation with each one of them, they want to get better. It’s our job as coaches to put them in a position to succeed. That’s my job, just trying to get in there, again, and just hammer them with every little detail and make them understand why. Why this is the right way to do it. They’ve bought in so far, and they’ll continue to keep buying in. We’re just going to keep pressing every single day to get as good as we possibly can, as quickly as we can.

Q: Your group that you’re coaching, it’s close quarters at practice, right? This is a COVID question. Do you have to practice differently now? Do you guys have to have fewer reps of putting guys face to face and together? Is there anything different about how you have to manage it or handle it once the pads come on, or are you just trusting all of the other protocols and practice is practice? How are you managing?

A: This organization has done a tremendous job with the protocols. The set-up we have here is… I’d be shocked if anyone is even close to this. They’ve done such an incredible job. People have worked so hard. Believe it when I tell you, when you walk into this facility, you can trust the protocols that are in place. It’s incredible. You can feel confident that at least you know that we’re doing the best we possibly can to give ourselves the best possible chance. That comes from the owners on down. I feel privileged to be a part of an organization that cares this much. It’s going to help us get the reps we need. It’s going to help us stay as healthy as we possibly can.

Q: Guys will be able to block normally, reps will be normal, because you trust everything else that’s happening?

A: Yeah. There are protocols in place to stay a certain distance. I just adhere to those protocols. It’s worked so far. I hope it continues to work because this is a really good set-up. They’ve done a nice job.

AUGUST 14, 2020 BRET BIELEMA CONFERENCE CALL…
New York Giants Outside Linebackers Coach/Senior Assistant Bret Bielema addressed the media on Friday (see video at Giants.com and YouTube):

Q: For someone who was so engrained in college football, you know what life is like on campus. Wisconsin and Arkansas and things like that. What do you think your colleagues are going through, those campuses are going through? Fall without football, what do you think of that?

A: I would say I still have a lot of friends in that line of work. We’re all coaches at heart and there they kind of started going through it a little bit earlier than us. I think some of them got the jump on zoom meetings and all the interaction that you had to go through during this process. It’s probably been more interactive between college and pro than any other time. When I was in college football, I would go to OTA’s during the spring, but I didn’t really interact with NFL head coaches or NFL assistants because your seasons were at the same time. Also, they kind of overlapped in a way you didn’t really professionally develop with them. I think everybody is learning as they go through this thing. I think there has been a big learning curve from players and coaches and everybody involved.

Q: You have been a head coach for a lot of games for a couple of high-profile college teams. You worked with Joe Judge for a couple years in New England. Could you see he was on track to be a head coach? What do you think will ultimately make him a successful one?

A: Obviously you guys have talked to him. I knew Joe Judge’s name before I went to New England and then obviously during my time there over two years. The first meeting I sat in front and he was going over details that Coach Belichick would give him, just very impressive to realize the football presentation awareness. His voice, his demeanor, it was very intriguing to me. I know he has a special teams background and interests. To hear that firsthand and then get around him and see the general football knowledge that existed. On a personal note and the way he is as a father and the way he interacts with his colleagues and coaches and players, you know he had big things in front of him. I’m very excited to be here with him.

Q: Obviously right after you got hired, you were linked to a couple openings for college head coaching jobs. Can you just explain what that process was like for you?

A: During even my time in New England, I’ve been a college coach in the past. There’s probably a lot of things that you read that may or may not be true or be true and not be true. One of the obligations that Joe was very cool with me coming in was if an opportunity arose for me to pursue a college football opportunity, he was behind it one hundred percent. Obviously, it happened a lot quicker than he or I ever thought. The biggest thing is life throws different opportunities, Joe has been very supportive. From day one, I told him I wanted to be a part of what we’re doing here. Who knows that the future holds? Just take it every day for what it is. Try to take full advantage of it for the New York Football Giants and see where it goes.

Q: Did you come close to getting any of those jobs? Is college something you ultimately want to get back to? Eventually do you want to be a head coach in college?

A: I got a very wise advice when I was an assistant coach with Hayden Fry. He said there is two types of coaches, coaches that try to look to their next job or coaches who take advantage of the opportunity they have. I try to live that life not only as an assistant, as a coordinator, as a head coach, but now as a NFL assistant coach. Now with this opportunity with Joe, I just try to be the best I can be every day. However I can help our staff, however I can help our players. As that grows and opportunities come, you just have to process them as they go. I don’t really know where it’s going, don’t have a great plan. I’m just always trying to be active and proactive and do the best job where I’m at.

Q: With the guys you have in the building, you have a lot of young guys you are coaching. What is your impression even beyond Markus Golden, there’s three young guys, Kyler Fackrell, Lorenzo Carter and Oshane. What’s your impression of those guys?

A: They are all very impressive. I think as a group we always talk about OLBDNA. What we are and what we represent, when we’re there, when we’re not there. They have been a good group do work with. There isn’t any true all-stars, just guys who show up to work every day. They have a blue-collar mentality. They represent the New York Giant blue really, really well. They are hard workers. I’m not saying they aren’t going to be stars or superstars, but they are guys that are working the process. We have two rookies, that’s probably why my voice is the way it is. Trying to bring them along on a daily basis. Joe and the personnel department have done an outstanding job of giving us a good group of people to work with. It’s just fun to come to work every day.

Q: Given the various forks your career path could have taken this offseason. You look at what’s happening in college football right now where most of the teams aren’t going to be playing. How fortunate do you feel that you didn’t accept one of those potential offers where you would have been not even coaching this fall?

A: When I got into this profession almost 27 years ago, I didn’t ever have a goal other than to do the best job in front of me. The path that we took together, my wife and two girls, we take every day for what it is. When Joe presented this opportunity to be with the Giants, I jumped at it. As things evolved here, he worked with me to do anything that came up I was interested in doing. All I’m doing, is I am very happy to be here. This is such an unusual time in everyone’s lives. Everything you are going through from COVID, the transition of you are talking to college football. All you can worry about is today. That’s really all I am trying to do. Get better as a outside linebackers coach, help Joe any way that I can and be best that we can every day at work.

Q: I’m sure you still have a lot of friends in college football who are coaching. How are they dealing with the day to day challenges of not having a season or maybe having a season?

A: I wish I knew. We had a four-week break in the summer where we actually transitioned here to New Jersey. My wife and I transitioned to New Jersey. We were transitioning from another home to this home. I had time to catch up with a few buddies via phone or via zoom. A little bit unusual that you don’t travel, I have a three-year-old and one year old, that really restricts your travel. During the summer, we didn’t know what was going to happen. Since these announcements started happening, coach Alvarez and I talk quite a bit. I have people all over the country that I engage with all the time. Since we started four weeks ago, I have not talked to a college assistant coach about what they’re going through. You get up really early in the morning here, you go to bed really late, never watch a stich of football news or anything like that. Really because you are in professional football, you don’t watch as much social media as you watch when you are in college football. I find out more from my wife in a 20-minute conversation at night than any other time of the day.

Q: You mentioned coaching two rookies, I assume that’s Carter Coughlin and Cam Brown. We haven’t been to practice yet, are those the two you are talking about?

A: Yeah, they have been a lot of fun. Both of them are Big Ten guys. Two different kinds of guys. Carter played on the line of scrimmage, did a lot of things on the edge at Minnesota. Cam was an edge to air player, he was in space a lot. A very long player, Carter is a little bit more of an on the line of scrimmage linebacker. It’s been fun. Both uniquely different but both great to work with on a daily basis. What’s impressive to me is the way the vets have responded to them. You knew they were going to respond to the vets, but sometimes the vets aren’t as reciprocal. All four of our veteran players do everything they can to make them better. It really makes our room pretty cool.

Q: You mentioned earlier in a previous answer and I thought you said “OLBDNA”, is that how you referred to it?

A: One of the things that I have always kind of talked about is everybody knows what DNA is right. DNA is something that is in you that describes who you are, and it’s built every day, you are given it at birth. As an outside linebacker group, we try to do things to establish who we are to the outside world. To our teammates that play around us, to our teammates that are in the room with us. We just kind of always stress and that’s a big part of what I try to get to the group. Hopefully it’s positive DNA. I know DNA can have a bad connotation. We are trying to have positive DNA.

Q: Can you describe your philosophy and what you preach to your guys. What an outside linebacker needs to be?

A: First and foremost, to respect the game. I think that’s a big part of it. We have three things that we hold tangible. The process that makes up that DNA to be consistent. We’re playing on the edge, we are outside linebackers, so you have to have great edge awareness. Then football IQ and situational football always have to be big. If I have a group of guys that maintain those three things, we have a chance to be successful and hopefully give Pat a tool as a coordinator. Give our program a tool as an outside linebacker group and fit into the group of players that we take out on Sunday to have a chance.

AUGUST 14, 2020 JEROME HENDERSON CONFERENCE CALL…
New York Giants Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson addressed the media on Friday (see video at Giants.com and YouTube):

Q: Outside corner position. I know you have a bunch of guys at corner, but who realistically is competing on the outside right now? Obviously, we haven’t been able to see you guys on the field yet.

A: All those corners are competing. Right now, we don’t even have a true depth chart. We call it an alignment chart. It’s just where you’re aligning for that practice or that drill. Everybody is going to get a chance to compete.

Q: So (James) Bradberry isn’t starting? Ok good, thanks.

A: Above my pay grade. But everybody is going to compete and have to compete. That’s just the way it is in this program. Joe’s made it very plain to us that everybody competes. Nobody is given anything. Even Bradberry has to go out and compete.

Q: Let me ask you about a specific guy then. Darnay Holmes. Do you think he’s versatile enough, I know he played outside in college, but has he shown you things that demonstrate he can do that at the NFL level?

A: We’re cross-training him right now, outside and inside, as all our players are doing right now. He’s doing a good job in camp, but he has a long, long way to go. We haven’t even gotten to the pads yet to really see. That’ll be when you can really see what you have in those guys, is when we put the pads on and it’s a little more competitive, it’s real and he’s going against guys. Right now, we’ve just been in shorts. He’s been positive, doing some positive things. He has some growing to do. But we’ll see what he is when we put the pads on and actually compete against each other.

Q: You were a defensive back player years ago. I’m just wondering, some of that experience that you gleaned, how much of that can you carry over? I know the game changes with each new generation. I’m just wondering if that’s been an advantage for you in coaching these young players and how they’ve taken to those tips and stuff?

A: I think it’s an advantage because a lot of the things I’m coaching, I’ve been in that situation before. I always want to be a coach who can help my guys find answers and teach them on, ‘Tell me what you were thinking right there. Maybe you can pick up in a different way.’ So, I try to be that coach who, again, is going to provide answers and give them things that they can to do help themselves. We play a really tough position. The guys we play against are super, super talented. They know where they’re going, we don’t. We’re always trying to figure it out, react, cut them off and defend them. It’s a hard job. As much wisdom as I can impart, as well as instruction, I try to do that.

Q: Along those lines, cornerbacks and safeties, as we know them years and years ago, they become more diverse if you will. There are more and more things that they’re asked to do. I know you have a bunch of guys in your group that are very diversified and whatnot, like Jabrill Peppers, Julian Love. Can you just talk about that diversity and just how that’s going to fall into play?

A: If you watch this system of defense, you’ll see that the parts are really interchangeable in the secondary. You’ll have safeties sometimes moving down and playing corner. You’ll have corners sometimes moving back to play safety. We’re asking all those guys to be versatile. We’re asking them to learn multiple positions. That gives us flexibility because I always tell them that one week, especially when you have COVID in the mix and what can happen there, you may have been at corner all of camp and the next thing you know, we have an injury, another guy is out because of COVID, next thing you know, you’ve switched positions midweek and we play in a couple of days. We’re trying to get guys kind of cross-trained and to be ready for when that happens, if it happens. We are asking them to cross-train and learn multiple spots.

Q: Along those lines, is there a fine line between versatility and really honing in on a defined role?

A: Yeah, you’d like to be able to say, ‘Here’s home’ and start there. That’s what we’re trying to do, is give them a place to start. ‘This is home. Make sure you know this. But also, keep your eyes on this.’

Q: You’ve been in a bunch of different systems. Are Pat’s (Graham) schemes unique in that respect that he put so much emphasis on versatility?

A: Again, I think the biggest thing in the secondary is communication. We need to have guys who can communicate and talk. We should be a loud defense, especially now when you don’t have the fans and the crowd noise. We should be a defense you hear talking a lot, communicating, and helping each other play, like the thought process. Only one of us has to remember a certain tip or alert. If one of us can get it, we all should get it. That’s been a big point of emphasis and that’s where my group needs to grow and become communicators of information.

Q: I know we asked you about Holmes. I’m just curious about McKinney and what Xavier has shown you so far? You said about guys taking control vocally. I get the sense that he’s not a guy that you have to tell twice to kind of be out there and be that alpha dog. Have you seen that from him so far, and what do you expect from him early on here?

A: Just like all young players, there is going to be a growth curve with him where he’s adjusting to our communication system, our way of doing things, which is a little bit different than his at Alabama. But the thing you know about the kid, he loves football. He has a lot of natural ability that you guys all saw when you studied and watched him coming out. We’re excited to have him in the mix, again, learning those multiple spots, honing in on one spot. You hope that he just continues to grow. We’re going to really push him hard to make sure that he continues to grow and become one of those communicators for us on the backend. The safety position is the one that kind of sits back and sees it all and talks down to what’s beneath them. We’re certainly going to ask that of him.

Q: Does he have it in him?

A: Oh, absolutely he does. He’s a great kid. Again, he’s a young kid. Right now, we’re putting a lot on him to make sure he’s detailed and he learns it and he does it exactly like Pat wants him to do it. We’re working with him on that. But yeah, absolutely, we’re happy to have him here.

Q: Just wanted to ask you about another guy, one of the few who is returning, Corey Ballentine. How did he kind of process reviewing tape from last year with you as far as how he can grow as a rookie? Has he shown you anything mentally, or like you said, you’ve been in shorts only, but has he shown you anything that he can take a step off of how he started?

A: The thing that I appreciate about Corey is that he wants to be coached. He has come to me and said, ‘I want to be coached. I want to know, and I want feel like I can go out there and play confident.’ I’m making sure that he feels confident when he goes out, giving him instruction, and making sure that he can give it back to me. He’s a guy who has some ability. He’s in the mix, just like everybody else is, to play a big role for us. I’m excited to work with him.

Jun 162020
 
Aldrick Rosas, New York Giants (December 2, 2018)

Aldrick Rosas – © USA TODAY Sports

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New York Giants place kicker Aldrick Rosas was arrested on Monday in California for allegedly being involved in a hit-and-run accident and driving with a suspended license. Police also report Rosas was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.

TMZ is reporting that witnesses saw Rosas allegedly driving erratically around 100 miles per hour and failing to stop at a red light at approximately 8:30AM. He then allegedly crashed into the side of a truck at the intersection, but kept driving. Police report that Rosas later fled his disabled vehicle on foot. They found him near the crash site with his hands, legs, and bare feet covered in blood.

Rosas was treated at a nearby medical facility before being booked by police.

The Giants released the following statement today: “We are aware of the situation and have been in contact with Aldrick. We have no further comment at this time.”

The Giants re-signed Rosas as a restricted free agent to a 1-year, $3.259 million contract in April.

After a stellar sophomore pro season in 2018, Rosas regressed in 2019. Rosas was 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) on field goal attempts and missed four of his 39 extra point attempts (89.7 percent). Seventy percent of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.

Rosas was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Tennessee Titans after the 2016 NFL Draft. He did not make the team. The Giants signed him to a reserve/futures contract in January 2017. He had a poor first season with the Giants, converting on just 72 percent of his field goals and 87 percent of his extra points. However, in 2018, Rosas made the Pro Bowl after making 32-of-33 field goal attempts, including a team-record 57 yarder.

ARTICLES…

 
Mar 062020
 
Joe Judge, New York Giants (January 9, 2020)

Joe Judge – © USA TODAY Sports

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Head Coach Joe Judge

One of the hallmarks of a bottom-tier sports franchise is how often it cycles through new coaches. In the last five years, the Giants have fired three head coaches and more assistant coaches than I care to count. With fan ire now rightfully shifting towards ownership, John Mara took a tremendous gamble in hiring Joe Judge, a 38-year old who has never served as a head coach at any level.

  • 2020-Present: Head Coach, New York Giants
  • 2019: Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach, New England Patriots
  • 2015-2018: Special Teams Coordinator, New England Patriots
  • 2012-2014: Special Teams Assistant, New England  Patriots
  • 2009-2011: Special Teams Assistant/Football Analyst, University of Alabama
  • 2008: Special Teams/Linebackers Coach, Birmingham-Southern College
  • 2005-2007: Graduate Assistant, Mississippi State University

On the surface, Judge’s resume appears almost entirely based on praise from two living football legends who he has worked under: Nick Saban and Bill Belichick. Other than that, Judge served at the coordinator level for only five seasons (2015-2019).

“He’s an excellent coach,” said Belichick. “He understands the game well, works extremely hard and is a very good teacher of fundamentals. Joe picks up concepts and coaching points quickly. He is an exceptional leader and one of the best coaches I have been around. He has been responsible for coaching units comprised of nearly every player on the roster. That requires an ability to handle many moving parts, make constant adjustments and immediate decisions.”

“Joe did a fantastic job for our program early on in our tenure in Tuscaloosa,” said Saban. “He went on to have a lot of success on Bill’s staff in New England. Joe is one of the brightest young coaches in our profession, and I think he will do a tremendous job as the head coach of the New York Giants. They are getting an extremely smart football coach who is very loyal, organized and diligent about getting the job done.”

At least in the short-term, Judge won over many doubting fans during his introductory press conference, evincing a no-nonsense, take-charge attitude and a sense of urgency that seems to have been lacking in recent years. But make no mistake, Mara is taking a big risk here on an unproven commodity with virtually no track record on the offensive and defensive sides of the football.

Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett

Despite his 85-67 regular-season record as head coach and earning “coach of the year” honors in 2016, most Cowboys fans were eventually glad to see Garrett let go. That said, his temperament and overall ability is probably best suited to offensive coordinator. Hiring Garrett was a major “get” for Judge and the Giants as his very presence gives the coaching staff some much-needed gravitas. Indeed, many had expected the Giants to pursue Garrett for the head coaching vacancy. When asked about Garrett, Judge pointed to Garrett’s ability run multiple schemes, putting pressure on defenses, and being an excellent teacher.

“There were guys I worked with that I came across in my career at both Alabama and at the New England Patriots that worked with Jason through their time in Miami with him,” said Judge. “They consistently all reflected on how smart he is, how great a teacher he is and how his perspective of the game was through a different lens than most coaches. And when he sees it, he’s able to communicate it and paint that mental image to the players. And he does a fantastic job of making in-game adjustments… It’s a great system he brings with great teaching that will allow our players to go out there and play aggressively.”

  • 2020-Present: Offensive Coordinator, New York Giants
  • 2011-2019: Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2010: Interim Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2008-2010: Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2007: Offensive Coordinator, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2005-2006: Quarterbacks Coach, Miami Dolphins

Quarterbacks Coach Jerry Schuplinski

After serving four years as an assistant quarterbacks coach with two teams, Judge hired Schuplinski as the primary quarterbacks coach for the Giants. Schuplinski has received praise from former pupils young and old, including Jimmy Garoppolo and Ryan Fitzpatrick. While Schuplinski will be under pressure to develop Daniel Jones, keep in mind that Jason Garrett began his NFL career as both a quarterback and quarterback coach.

“Jerry is an incredible teacher,” said Judge. “He has done a phenomenal job of developing young quarterbacks in this league. He simplifies the game so the quarterback can play fast in terms of understanding our scheme and analyzing the opponent’s defense.”

  • 2020-Present: Quarterbacks Coach, New York Giants
  • 2019: Assistant Quarterbacks Coach, Miami Dolphins
  • 2016-2018: Assistant Quarterbacks Coach, New England Patriots
  • 2013-2015: Coaching Assistant, New England Patriots
  • 2007-2012: Linebackers/Special Teams Coach, Case Western Reserve University
  • 2002-2006: Head Coach, Trinity High School (Ohio)
  • 2000-2001: Running Backs/Special Teams Coach, John Carroll University
Running Backs Coach Burton Burns

The oldest member of the staff, the 67-year old Burns actually transitioned from legendary running backs coach at Alabama to assistant athletic director for football two years ago. Yet the coaching bug appears to still be in his veins.

“I’ve worked with Burton, so I knew first-hand the impact he has on the players he coaches,” Judge said. “He’s coached a number of great backs, he’s coached on a lot of championship teams, and he knows how to get the most out of his players. He’s tough. That’s one thing you’re going to find out about Burton right away. He’s tough. He’s hard-nosed, he coaches tough, he demands his players to play tough. But he has as deep a care for the players he coaches as anybody out there. They respond to him because they know he’s in a foxhole with them. I’m excited to have Burton here, very excited to have Burton here. I know he’s looking forward to working with the guys on the roster.”

Burns was credited with helping to develop Heisman Trophy winners Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry. One has to think that the lure of coaching Saquon Barkley was a major factor in bringing Burns out of coaching retirement.

  • 2020-Present: Running Backs Coach, New York Giants
  • 2018-2019: Assistant Athletic Director for Football, University of Alabama
  • 2007-2017: Running Backs Coach, University of Alabama
  • 1999-2006: Running Backs Coach, Clemson University
  • 1994-1998: Assistant Coach, Tulane University
  • 1986-1993: Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, Saint Augustine High School (New Orleans, LA)
  • 1981-1985: Assistant Coach, Southern University
  • 1980: Assistant Coach, Booker T. Washington High School (New Orleans, LA)
  • 1977-1979: Assistant Coach, Saint Augustine High School (New Orleans, LA)
Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert

One of the few coaches to survive the purge, Tolbert was hired by Pat Shurmur two years ago after serving as wide receivers coach with a number of franchises including the Cardinals, Bills, Panthers, and Broncos. From an outsider’s perspective, the major reason he was brought back appears to be the development of Darius Slayton. Others such as Sterling Shepard and Cody Latimer, the latter also being with Tolbert in Denver, have not developed as hoped. Judge may have been impressed with his work with previous teams as well as the job he did with a slew of bottom tier wide receivers the Giants have had to rely on the past two seasons.

“Tyke’s a guy I knew throughout the league from going against him,” Judge said. “He’s a guy that came recommended by a lot of people that I know very personally. But ultimately, the deciding factor on Tyke is you turn his tape on, and his guys play hard, they play fundamentally sound, he’s been able to develop a number of receivers in different systems, and ultimately, the video tapes are what tells you how a guy is coaching.”

  • 2018-Present: Wide Receivers Coach, New York Giants
  • 2011-2017: Wide Receivers Coach, Denver Broncos
  • 2010: Wide Receivers Coach, Carolina Panthers
  • 2004-2009: Wide Receivers Coach, Buffalo Bills
  • 2003: Wide Receivers Coach, Arizona Cardinals
  • 2002: Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, University of Florida
  • 1999-2001: Wide Receivers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • 1998: Tight Ends Coach, Auburn University
  • 1995-1997: Tight Ends Coach, Northeast Louisiana University
  • 1995: Wide Receivers Coach, Ohio University
  • 1994: Graduate Assistant, Northeast Louisiana University
  • 1994: Graduate Assistant, Louisiana State University
Tight Ends Coach Freddie Kitchens

A lightening rod for many fans given his disastrous debut season as a head coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2019, Kitchens was not long ago considered a rising offensive mind in the League. Indeed, it was speculated that Judge may have considered Kitchens for the offensive coordinator spot. Kitchens has a wide array of position coaching experience, including running backs, tight ends, and quarterbacks. He also was an offensive coordinator for one season in Cleveland before becoming head coach. Kitchens replaces Lunda Wells, who now ironically is the tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys.

“I think any position on offense is good for Freddie,” Judge said. “He’s got a lot of experience at different positions. He’s been head coach, he’s been a coordinator, he’s been a position coach. He sees it through a lot of different perspectives. What I love about Freddie is he brings an element of toughness and discipline to his room. He brings outside the box thinking a lot of times to how he approaches the game from a game plan perspective. I think he’ll be an asset to working with our offensive coaches and developing the game plan throughout the week. But ultimately, I’ve worked with Freddie, I’ve played for Freddie, and I’ve called against Freddie, and I understand what his players are about.”

  • 2020-Present: Tight Ends Coach, New York Giants
  • 2019: Head Coach, Cleveland Browns
  • 2018: Offensive Coordinator, Cleveland Browns
  • 2018: Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach, Cleveland Browns
  • 2017: Running Backs Coach, Arizona Cardinals
  • 2013-2016: Quarterbacks Coach, Arizona Cardinals
  • 2007-2012: Tight Ends Coach, Arizona Cardinals
  • 2006: Tight Ends Coach, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2005: Running Backs Coach, Mississippi State University
  • 2004: Tight Ends Coach, Mississippi State University
  • 2001-2003: Running Backs Coach, University of North Texas
  • 2000: Graduate Assistant, Louisiana State University
  • 1999: Running Backs/Tight Ends Coach, Glenville State College

(NFL has blocked the following video from BBI, click on link to see “Freddie Kitchens: The Most Selfless Man in the NFL”).

Offensive Line Coach Marc Colombo

Most Giants fans were pining for long-time offensive line guru Bill Callahan, but Cleveland hired Callahan in late January. Judge instead chose 41-year old and relatively still green offensive line coach Marc Colombo over the more experienced Dave DeGuglielmo, who couldn’t seem to stay in one place very long. One of the primary selling points had to be Colombo’s preexisting relationship and experience with Jason Garrett in Dallas. As a player for the Cowboys, Colombo was also a favorite of then Dallas Head Coach Bill Parcells.

“Continuity is very important, especially between the offensive coordinator and the offensive line coach, that they can be on the same page starting out,” Judge said. “One of the challenges of a new staff is getting on the same page and working through some of the differences that maybe we’ve had from past experiences but making sure we’re working to one goal. I’d say with Marc, the deciding factor wasn’t his past experience with Jason. The deciding factor was he’s a tremendous coach. His body of work as you turn on the tape and watch how his guys play with technique, execution and toughness is ultimately what the deciding factor was.”

  • 2020-Present: Offensive Line Coach, New York Giants
  • 2018-2019: Offensive Line Coach, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2016-2018: Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Dallas Cowboys
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Ben Wilkerson

Wilkerson is another Pat Shurmur hire who survived the purge. He worked under unimpressive offensive line coach Hal Hunter, who was out of coaching in 2017 before Shurmur hired him and currently remains unemployed as a coach. Judge has not publicly commented on the retention of Wilkerson. He must see something in him.

  • 2018-Present: Assistant Offensive Line Coach, New York Giants
  • 2015-2017: Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Chicago Bears
  • 2014: Assistant Football and Track Coach, North Shore Senior High School (Texas)
  • 2012-2013: Offensive Line Coach, Grambling State University
  • 2011: Offensive Administrative Intern, Louisiana State University
  • 2010: Offensive Graduate Assistant, Louisiana State University
Senior Offensive Assistant Derek Dooley

Dooley is the third assistant coach on the offensive side of the football who has served as a head coach in the NFL or at a major collegiate program. He also worked with Jason Garrett in Dallas for five seasons as wide receivers coach. He also has experience as an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, tight ends coach, running backs coach, and special teams coordinator.

  • 2020-Present: Senior Offensive Assistant, New York Giants
  • 2018-2019: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach, University of Missouri
  • 2013-2017: Wide Receivers Coach, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2010-2012: Head Coach, University of Tennessee
  • 2007-2009: Head Coach, Louisiana Tech University
  • 2005-2006: Tight Ends Coach, Miami Dolphins
  • 2004: Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, Louisiana State University
  • 2003: Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, Louisiana State University
  • 2000-2002: Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Louisiana State University
  • 1997-1999: Wide Receivers Coach/Co-Recruiting Coordinator, Southern Methodist University
  • 1996: Graduate Assistant, University of Georgia

At the very least, he is quite the character (see video below).

Offensive Assistant Stephen Brown

It seems Brown was probably brought onboard due to his preexisting relationship with Jason Garrett, serving in the same role in Dallas for four seasons. Judge has not commented on Brown.

  • 2020-Present: Offensive Assistant, New York Giants
  • 2016-2019: Offensive Assistant, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2013-2014: Assistant to the Head Coach/Special Teams Assistant, Buffalo Bills
  • 2009-2012: Quality Control Coach/Director of Recruiting, Syracuse University
  • 2006-2008: Student Assistant, University of Tennessee
Offensive Quality Control Coach Bobby Blick

Blick survived both the Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur firings. However, Judge moved him from the defensive to the offensive side of the ball. Judge has not commented on Blick. Typically, quality control coaches prepare the statistical analysis as well as the initial video study of upcoming opponents several weeks in advance of playing them.

  • 2020-Present: Offensive Quality Control Coach, New York Giants
  • 2017-2019: Defensive Assistant, New York Giants
  • 2016: Director of Player Personnel, Army
  • 2015: Special Teams Coordinator/Director of Recruiting, Samford University
  • 2014: Tight Ends/Slot Receivers Coach, Samford University
  • 2014: Special Teams Quality Control Coach, Georgia Tech
  • 2011-2013: Tight Ends/Running Backs Coach, Elon University
  • 2008-2010: Offensive Graduate Assistant, North Carolina State University
  • 2004-2007: Undergraduate Assistant, North Carolina State University
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham

The selection of Graham as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator may be the most head-scratching hire Judge made. In his only season as defensive coordinator, an admittedly undermanned Miami Dolphins defense finished 30th in yardage allowed and 32nd in points allowed. Furthermore, since Graham was still under contract, the Dolphins voluntarily allowed Graham to go to the Giants.

  • 2020-Present: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, New York Giants
  • 2019: Defensive Coordinator, Miami Dolphins
  • 2018: Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach, Green Bay Packers
  • 2016-2017: Defensive Line Coach, New York Giants
  • 2014-2015: Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots
  • 2012-2013: Defensive Line Coach, New England Patriots
  • 2011: Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots
  • 2010: Defensive Assistant Coach, New England Patriots
  • 2009: Coaching Assistant, New England Patriots
  • 2009: Defensive Line Coach, University of Toledo
  • 2007-2008: Defensive Graduate Assistant, University of Notre Dame
  • 2005-2006: Tight Ends Coach, University of Richmond
  • 2004: Defensive Line Coach, University of Richmond
  • 2002-2003: Graduate Assistant, Wagner College

When asked about Graham, Judge repeats the same word: multiple. The good news about Graham is that Belichick thought enough of him to keep him around for seven years, coaching both the defensive line and linebackers. Ironically, he also served two years on Ben McAdoo’s staff in 2016 and 2017.

Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer

Spencer was not Judge’s first preference as this job was first offered to University of Mississippi Defensive Line Coach Freddie Roach, who apparently first accepted and then backed out of the job. Despite not having any pro coaching experience, Spencer appears to be a solid fallback option as “Coach Chaos” was widely respected for his work at Penn State.

“I’ve known Sean through the business,” Judge said. “The most impressive thing about Sean is the players he’s developed through his time at both Vanderbilt and Penn State, among other stops in his career. Sean has a great energy about him, he has great command within a room, his players respond to him, they play hard and they play fundamentally sound.”

  • 2020-Present: Defensive Line Coach, New York Giants
  • 2018-2019: Associate Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach, Penn State University
  • 2014-2017: Defensive Line Coach, Penn State University
  • 2011-2013: Defensive Line Coach, Vanderbilt University
  • 2009-2010: Defensive Line Coach, Bowling Green State University
  • 2007-2008: Defensive Line Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, University of Massachusetts
  • 2006: Defensive Line Coach, Hofstra University
  • 2005: Linebackers Coach, Villanova University
  • 2004: Defensive Line Coach, College of the Holy Cross
  • 2001-2003: Defensive Line Coach, University of Massachusetts
  • 2000: Defensive Line Coach, Trinity College
  • 1998-1999: Running Backs Coach, Trinity College
  • 1996-1997: Running Backs Coach, Shippensburg University
  • 1995: Running Backs/Tight Ends Coach, Wesleyan University

Outside Linebacker Coach/Senior Assistant Bret Bielema

Bielma’s career path is a bit odd and he is somewhat a controversial and “colorful” figure. As head coach, he led the Wisconsin Badgers to a 68-24 overall record and three straight Big Ten Championships. But Bielma surprisingly left Wisconsin for the head coaching position at Arkansas, where he struggled, compiling just a 29-34 record. He was fired after five seasons. Bill Belichick then hired Bielma as a consultant in 2018 and then shifted him to defensive line coach in 2019. After being the only coach Judge poached off of Belichick’s staff, Bielma interviewed for head coaching jobs at Michigan State and Colorado. However, as of now, he will be a New York Giant in 2020.

“There’s a lot of things (to like) about Bret,” Judge said. “I think Bret brings a great personality to the group, brings a great perspective on how he sees the game, he’s coached the front for some time, he’s coordinated defenses at a high level. Players respond to Bret in a positive way. He has a great way of teaching, he has a great way of getting the guys motivated, and he gets the most out of his players. He brings experience from the NFL, as well as college, so not only does he understand what’s going on in the league now, he understands what the players coming from college are used to and how to better translate the trends they’re going to see.”

  • 2020-Present: Outside Linebacker Coach/Senior Assistant, New York Giants
  • 2019: Defensive Line Coach, New England Patriots
  • 2018: Consultant to the Head Coach, New England Patriots
  • 2013-2017: Head Coach, University of Arkansas
  • 2006-2012: Head Coach, University of Wisconsin
  • 2004-2005: Defensive Coordinator, University of Wisconsin
  • 1996-2001: Linebackers Coach, University of Iowa
  • 1994-1995: Graduate Assistant, University of Iowa
  • 2002-2003: Co-Defensive Coordinator, Kansas State University

Inside Linebackers Coach Kevin Sherrer

Like Sean Spencer, Kevin Sherrer has never coached at the pro level. So it remains to be seen how well he will adjust to the pro game. Interestingly, he coached linebacker Lorenzo Carter at the University of Georgia.

“Kevin is just an old ball coach,” Judge said. “When I met Kevin, he was coaching at Hoover High School in Alabama. The next year, he was on the staff with us at Alabama. I’ve watched him progress through his career as defensive coordinator at South Alabama, his time in Georgia, his time in Tennessee. I think Kevin is a phenomenal football coach, and he coaches from the ground up with fundamentals, his players play sound and they play hard.”

  • 2020-Present: Inside Linebackers Coach, New York Giants
  • 2019: Special Teams Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach, University of Tennessee
  • 2018: Co-Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach, University of Tennessee
  • 2014-2017: Outside Linebackers Coach, University of Georgia
  • 2013: Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, University of South Alabama
  • 2010-2012: Director of Player Development, University of Alabama
  • 2007-2009: Defensive Coordinator, Hoover High School (Alabama)
  • 2005-2006: Defensive Assistant, Hoover High School (Alabama)
  • 2001-2004: Defensive Backs Coach, Spain Park High School (Alabama)
  • 1998-2000: Graduate Assistant, University of Alabama
  • 1996-1997: Assistant, Tuscaloosa County High School (Alabama)
Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson

On the surface, Henderson doesn’t seem like an overly inspiring hire as his passing game defenses in Atlanta ranked 28th, 12th, 27th, and 22nd the last four seasons. The Falcons fired him in January. Before that, he served as defensive backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys for four seasons.

“Jerome has a great resume, he’s coached a lot of good players in a lot of good schemes,” Judge said. “I think the more you check around with Jerome, I talked to guys that he coached, the way they responded to him and the way they respected him in the room definitely said a lot about him as a coach.”

  • 2020-Present: Defensive Backs Coach, New York Giants
  • 2016-2019: Defensive Passing Game Coordinator, Atlanta Falcons
  • 2012-2015: Defensive Backs Coach, Dallas Cowboys
  • 2009-2011: Defensive Backs Coach, Cleveland Browns
  • 2008: Defensive Backs Coach, New York Jets
  • 2007: Assistant Defensive Backs Coach/Director of Player Development, New York Jets
  • 2006: Director of Player Development, New York Jets

Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Anthony Blevins

Blevins was another Pat Shurmur assistant who Judge chose to keep. However, Judge moved him from assistant special teams coach to assistant defensive backs coach. Blevins did coach defensive backs at the collegiate level.

“I’ve known Blev for some time now, and he’s coached on all three sides of the ball,” Judge said. “He brings great experience that he can contribute to a lot of different parts of developing players. One thing you learn working with the special teams is you’re learning how to develop techniques of a total player. He could easily have gone over to the offense and worked with a skilled position. He could have stayed on special teams and have been an asset. We thought right now, the best fit for Blev was to help with our defense and bring some experience he brought from the other sides of the ball and work with Jerome.”

  • 2020-Present: Assistant Defensive Backs Coach, New York Giants
  • 2018-2019: Assistant Special Teams Coach, New York Giants
  • 2013-2017: Coaching Assistant/Special Teams, Arizona Cardinals
  • 2012: Cornerbacks Coach, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • 2011: Special Teams Coach/Cornerbacks Coach, Tennessee State University
  • 2009-2010: Cornerbacks Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Tennessee State University
  • 2008: Cornerbacks Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, University of Tennessee-Martin
  • 2005-2007: Graduate Assistant, Mississippi State University
  • 2003-2004: Defensive Backs/Running Backs Coach, Meadow Creek High School (Georgia)
Defensive Assistant Jody Wright

Judge has not publicly commented on Wright, who will serve as a defensive assistant.

  • 2020-Present: Defensive Assistant, New York Giants
  • 2019: Offensive Assistant, Cleveland Browns
  • 2018: Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • 2015-2017: Director of Player Personnel, University of Alabama
  • 2014: Running Backs Coach, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • 2013: Passing Game Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach, Jacksonville State University
  • 2010-2012: Graduate Assistant/Offensive Analyst, University of Alabama
  • 2009: Assistant Athletic Director for Football Operations, Mississippi State University
  • 2006-2008: Graduate Assistant, Mississippi State University
  • 2005: Volunteer Coach, Mississippi State University
  • 2002-2004: Student Assistant Coach, Jacksonville State University
    Defensive Quality Control Coach Mike Treier

    Judge also has not commented on Treier, who will serve as defensive quality control coach. Typically, quality control coaches prepare the statistical analysis as well as the initial video study of upcoming opponents several weeks in advance of playing them.

    • 2020-Present: Defensive Quality Control Coach, New York Giants
    • 2019: Safeties Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Marshall University
    • 2018: Defensive Backs Coach, Marshall University
    • 2017: Defensive Analyst, Marshall University
    • 2016: Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach, University of Tennessee at Martin
    • 2014-2015: Graduate Assistant, Marshall University
    Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey

    McGaughey deservingly survived the latest coaching purge as his special teams performed decently the past two years.

    “I’ve known T-Mac from going against him as well as being in the business and I have a good relationship with him professionally and personally,” Judge said. “I have a lot of respect for him as a coach and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a person. He gets the most out of his players. I’ve competed against him and I knew it was always going to be tough sledding in the game there. From the perspective of having to go against him, you understand you don’t want to get him out of the building; you want to hold onto guys like that. They’re definitely key assets. He and Tom Quinn do an outstanding job of working together, coaching the players in techniques and coming up with schemes for game plans that allow them to apply pressure on the opponents.”

    • 2018-Present: Special Teams Coordinator, New York Giants
    • 2017: Special Teams Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
    • 2016: Assistant Special Teams Coach, Carolina Panthers
    • 2015: Special Teams Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
    • 2014: Special Teams Coordinator, New York Jets
    • 2011-2013: Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Assistant, Louisiana State University
    • 2007-2010: Assistant Special Teams Coordinator, New York Giants
    • 2005-2006: Assistant Special Teams Coordinator, Denver Broncos
    • 2004: Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach, University of Houston
    • 2003: Special Teams Coordinator, University of Houston
    • 2002: Special Teams Intern, Kansas City Chiefs
    • 2002: Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Scottish Claymores (NFLE)
    • 2001: Pro Scouting Assistant, Houston Texans
    • 2001: Minority Intern, Kansas City Chiefs
    • 1998-2001: Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Willowridge High School (Houston, TX)
    • 1998: Graduate Assistant, University of Houston

    Assistant Special Teams Coach Tom Quinn

    Quinn must have been reincarnated from a cat because he definitely has nine lives. Quinn miraculously not only has survived Tom Coughlin, Ben McAdoo, and Pat Shurmur, but some dreadful special teams units during his tenure as special teams coordinator for a decade with the team.

    “The experience is important, but the success is more important,” Judge said. “(McGaughey and Quinn have) been doing it at a high success rate for a long time. The fact that they had a relationship working together already, I had a relationship with both guys from going against them and have known them within the profession for some time now. T-Mac and Tom do a tremendous job. I love the way they relate to the players, I love the way they coach their guys. You know when you go against their units that they’re going to be sound and they’re going to play hard, and that’s critical. I have a lot of respect for both of them.”

    • 2018-Present: Assistant Special Teams Coach, New York Giants
    • 2007-2017: Special Teams Coordinator, New York Giants
    • 2006: Assistant Special Teams Coach, New York Giants
    • 2004-2005: Special Teams/Outside Linebackers Coach, Stanford University
    • 2002-2003: Special Teams/Tight Ends Coach, Stanford University
    • 1999-2001: Special Teams/Linebackers/Tight Ends Coach, San Jose State University
    • 1996-1998: Defensive Coordinator, College of the Holy Cross
    • 1995: Defensive Coordinator, Boston University
    • 1992-1994: Special Teams Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, James Madison University
    • 1991: Linebackers Coach, Davidson College
    Assistant Coach – Special Projects and Situations Amos Jones

    Amos was the last coach Judge hired. His title is a new one for the New York Giants franchise.

    “Amos is someone I’ve known for quite some time,” Judge said. “I have a high trust factor with him. He’s definitely somebody who has worked consistently throughout his career with a number of organizations dealing with situations. He’s got an eye for all sides of the ball. He’ll help with a lot of special projects that will come up throughout the season with evaluation of ourselves and our opponents… Amos brings a wealth of experience to our team.”

    • 2020-Present: Assistant Coach – Special Projects and Situations, New York Giants
    • 2019: Assistant Special Teams Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • 2018: Special Teams Coordinator, Cleveland Browns
    • 2013-2017: Special Teams Coordinator, Arizona Cardinals
    • 2012: Special Teams Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
    • 2007-2011: Assistant Special Teams Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
    • 2006: Outside Linebackers Coach, Mississippi State University
    • 2004-2005: Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Coach, Mississippi State University
    • 2003: Tight Ends/Special Teams Coach, James Madison University
    • 1999-2002: Running Backs/Special Teams Coach, University of Cincinnati
    • 1998: Assistant Coach, East St. John High School (Louisiana)
    • 1997: Assistant Coach, BC Lions
    • 1995-1996: Linebackers Coach, Tulane University
    • 1993-1994: Assistant Coach, Eau Gallie High School (Florida)
    • 1992: Kicking Game Coach, University of Pittsburgh
    • 1990-1991: Special Teams Coach, University of Alabama
    • 1989: Assistant Coach, Shades Valley High School (Alabama)
    • 1986-1988: Defensive Line Coach, Temple University
    • 1983-1985: Tight Ends Coach, Temple University
    • 1981-1982: Graduate Assistant, University of Alabama