When the New York Giants hired former New England Patriots special-teams coordinator Joe Judge, it didn’t take much convincing. The moment Judge stepped into the room as a head coaching candidate, owner John Mara was sold. He stated after the hiring that Judge was the most impressive candidate he has ever interviewed.
His attention to detail and harping on fundamentals is exactly what you want in a head coach in the NFL. I would be remiss not to mention his excellent track record when it comes to culture and spending time on successful teams. Aside from New England, he also learned from Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Judge has been tested early and often in his first season with the Giants, precisely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual interaction between players, legal issues, a lack of a preseason, virtual NFL draft, the list goes on, and on of challenges Judge has had a face head-on. Aside from the legal issues by DeAndre Baker in Aldrick Rosas, the Giants have navigated this strange off-season quite well.
However, the Giants need to take significant steps forward in their progression and development. General manager Dave Gettleman has made it a priority to lay the foundation of youth players on the roster.
With youth comes inexperience. That is where Judge made a great statement that the Giants need to live up to.
New York Giants’ head coach Joe Judge had one important quote:
“You don’t sign older players to coach the younger players. OK? I’ve got four kids, I’m not letting the 14-year-old raise the 6-year-old. It’s not happening.â€
The Giants have relied far too much on their veteran players in recent years. Expecting them to help coach the younger players is blasphemous. Of course, having older leaders in the locker room is useful, and experience is a benefit.
However, players like Antoine Bethea were helping rookies develop and learn the secondary in the NFL last season. That should be solely the coach’s job. Judge made it apparent that the coaching staff will be up to the task and proactive with their jobs.
Considering the Giants hired a bevy of former head coached, I believe this year’s staff is much more capable of handling a rebuild. Judge clearly commands respect from coaches around the league, given the quality he has managed to secure in his quest to turn the Giants’ franchise around.