The New York Giants took center stage early on Tuesday morning at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana with head coach Joe Judge making the media rounds — first NFL Network, then Sirius XM Radio and lastly, his official press conference.
Although many of the questions asked of Judge were similar in nature, he was forthcoming enough to provide the NFL world with some insight into his coaching decisions, as well as some tidbits on his roster, the 2020 NFL Draft and various other odds and ends.
Here are nine takeaways from Judge’s media blitz.
Familiar faces won’t get preferential treatment
When the Giants begin sifting through the hundreds of available players come free agency, do not expect former members of the New England Patriots or anyone who played their college ball at Alabama to get special treatment.
This means players like safety Devin McCourty will not get bumped to the front of the line, but it also doesn’t preclude the Giants from signing players Judge and his staff are familiar with.
Giants fans should still expect to see some ex-Patriots and ex-Crimson Tide players added when all is said and done.
Everyone has a clean slate
Judge has met with the media five or six times since being named New York Giants head coach, and in none of those interviews or press conferences has he named a single player on his roster.
That continued on Tuesday as Judge again deliberately avoided using anyone’s name, simply stating that all players will be afforded a clean slate in 2020 and that there isn’t even an established depth chart at this point.
Rather, all 90 men on the roster come training camp will have an equal opportunity to win a job. That includes anyone backing up quarterback Daniel Jones and even running back Saquon Barkley.
We all know how many positions will shake out, but Judge isn’t handing anyone anything yet. Rather, everything will have to be earned or re-earned as he and his staff determine the depth of their roster.
For now, Judge refuses to set expectations.
Prospect interview questions are crucial
This year, NFL teams are permitted just 45 formal meetings with draft prospects, which is down from the 60 meetings they were afforded in previous years. Additionally, each interview has a maximum limit of 18 minutes, which is slightly more time than years past.
Still, that leaves Giants head coach Joe Judge very little time to get to know someone, which is why the questions asked during prospect interviews are so extremely important.
The Giants have sent their entire staff to Indianapolis this year, so the questions asked of prospects could be wide-ranging. However, it’s clear that Judge & Co. have put a tremendous amount of thought into what’s asked, which means the answers are all equally important.
Scheme installations are ongoing
Will the Giants run a West Coast offense in 2020? Will they stick with a 3-4 on defense or return to a 4-3? Has any of that been decided?
The short answer is, “no.”
Judge admitted that the coaching staff is still working on scheme installations and will continue to do so in between prospect interviews at the combine.
Previously, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham shrugged off the notion that he has to play a specific scheme, suggesting that he will throw a multitude of looks at the wall.
The same approach could be had offensively, but no one will know what’s been decided until training camp opens in July.
Coaching staff living in dorm conditions
Although it took some time for Joe Judge to finalize his coaching staff, it has taken their respective families much more time to sell their homes and move.
Accordingly, the Giants’ coaching staff is currently living in interesting conditions. Or, as Judge puts it, dorm-style without the toga parties.
The good news here is that the entire staff is in close proximity and spending their time communicating (to the lengths the CBA allows) about the 2020 season, as well as getting to know each other on a personal level.
Bonding is as valuable for a coaching staff as it is for the players themselves.
Judge not concerned with Bret Bielema leaving
Since being hired by the Giants, Bret Bielema has drawn interest from both Michigan State and Colorado, interviewing with the latter last week.
To date however, Bielema has been passed over for the two head coaching positions and remains in place in East Rutherford.
How long that lasts remains to be seen, but Judge isn’t worried about the interest Bielema has generated. Rather, he views it as a positive.
Even if Bielema remains with the Giants in 2020, it’s safe to assume that he and several others (see: Jason Garrett) will be gone in 2021.
Giants will listen to offers for No. 4
Never before in his career has general manager Dave Gettleman traded down in the NFL Draft, but Judge says it’s absolutely a possibility here in 2020.
Of course, staying put is also a possibility, so take that for what it’s worth.
You can almost certainly guarantee that some teams are going to come calling for pick No. 4 overall, so it will be interesting to see if the Giants and Gettleman break the mold, move back in the draft and acquire some additional assets.
No injury timetables in 2020
Judge will take a page out of Bill Belichick’s book in 2020 and put an end to injury speculation beyond what the NFL requires.
That’s right, the Giants will not be releasing any injury timetables for players this season, instead redirecting any questions on the matter to their weekly injury report. Either a player will be listed or they won’t. That’s it.
We’ll see how the team’s beat writers handle that when they’re not given the information of speculation they seek this season. Those standoffs should be entertaining.
Coaches coach, players play
One of the most interesting and significant things Judge addressed on Tuesday was his philosophy when it came to teaching his players.
Obviously, Judge has put a heavy emphasis on his coaches also being teachers, but what about in the locker-room? What about other players?
A very blunt Judge made it clear that the team signs players to play and hires coaches to coach, in that order and in no other way. As such, do not expect the Giants to sign veteran players simply to mentor younger players.
Given how young the Giants, you’d think Judge would be more apt to bring in some veterans. Instead, he’s excited about the youth and what his staff can do to mold the team.
That is an approach that was very much lacking under both Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur.
