patrick graham

Rounding up all of New York Giants’ Joe Judge coaching staff hirings

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New York Giants, Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

The New York Giants and new head coach Joe Judge are well underway in their quest to build out the coaching staff with quality options. So far, they’ve filled numerous positions and brought on plenty of experience to help Judge adapt to being a head coach in the NFL.

Here are all of New York Giants’ Joe Judge’s hirings:

1.) OC Jason Garrett

“Jason is a football guy. He wants to go coach. He’s a great offensive mind. They got a good one in coach Garrett,” Jones said Tuesday from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “He was nothing but a class act here. I know he’ll certainly help the Giants get on the road to where they want to go.”

Garrett compiled an 85-67 record while with the Cowboys, including an underwhelming 8-8 campaign this past season with the No. 1 ranked offense in football. However, his experience and knowledge at the quarterback position will be integral to Daniel Jones’ development.

Expect Garrett to run a similar offense as he did in Dallas, utilizing a big-bodied wide receiver and the heavy involvement of tight ends. Saquon Barkley will benefit from this system, I believe.

2.) QB Jerry Schuplinski

Schuplinski is one of the more intriguing hired by Judge, and I think it might be one of his best. Aside from working with Judge in New England, Schuplinski has coached the likes of Tom Brady, Jacoby Brissett, and Jimmy G. His experience working with elite talent and starting-caliber quarterbacks will only benefit Jones, who’s primed to take a big step forward after a promising rookie season. Jerry will have his hands full with Jones’ fumbling issue, but if he can alleviate that concern, the Giants will be in great shape.

3.) RB Burton Burns

Burns is an excellent running backs coach, and according to Baltimore star back, Mark Ingram, he’s the best coach he’s ever had. Coming from Alabama, Burns is friends with Judge and will work his magic with Barkley, who has the potential to be one of the best RBs in the history of the game.

4.) WR Tyke Tolbert

Judge retained Tolbert after coaching the Giants’ WR unit for the past two seasons. While some might feel as though the WRs underperformed, injuries consistently plagued them, hurting their efficiency, forcing Tolbert to work with reserve talent at times.

5.) TBD Freddie Kitchens

This is an interesting hire for Judge, considering Kitchens was in line for either a head coaching job or coordinator position just a few weeks ago. It seems as if Kitchens is looking to remain in the NFL, and latching on with a new regime in the Giants could prove to offer more in terms of future opportunity.

I expect Kitchens to work alongside Garrett in some form and help the offense’s productivity. Meshing the two offensive minds might work wonders for a frequently stagnant Giants offense in 2019.

6.) TBD Jody Wright

Wright is another interesting name to add to the list, and while his position isn’t finalized yet, I believe he will slot in at the tight end coach vacancy.

As per Giantswire:

Wright was a graduate assistant/coordinator of football operations at Mississippi State from 2005-09 and a graduate assistant/offensive analyst for Alabama from 2010-12. He moved on to become a passing game coordinator/tight ends coach at Jacksonville State in 2013 and then a running backs coach at UAB in 2014.

The following year, Wright returned to Alabama where he took over as the director of player personnel until 2018 when he was hired as the offensive line and assistant head coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

7.) DC Patrick Graham

Graham was a surprise hire for the defensive coordinator position, but he’s familiar with Judge and the Giants. The 40-year-old was the defensive line coach under Ben McAdoo and worked with Judge under Bill Belichick with the Patriots. The Yale graduate undoubtedly has the mental ability to be a fantastic DC, but 2019 production with Miami wasn’t noteworthy. While his rankings in Miami were abysmal, his unit didn’t have much talent to help show his value.

I expect the Giants to remain in the 3-4 defense in an attempt to help the development of the younger players.

8.) DB Jerome Henderson

The Giants have focused on bringing in coaches who have connections within the Giants already, and this time it’s with Jason Garrett. Henderson spent the last four seasons with the Falcons after coaching under Garrett for four seasons. He boasts a strong resume as a defensive backs coach, and his influence should be significant on a young group trying to find an identity.

9.) TBD Bret Bielema

Bielema spent the past two seasons as the Patriots’ defensive assistant, and anything defense-related for New England is a home run. The Patriots had a dominant unit this past year, and the Giants will be looking to steal some of their efficiency through their coaching staff. Having already plucked Joe Judge, Bielema will be a substantial addition. However, his role has not been clarified just yet.

10.) STC Thomas McGaughey

One of the only silver linings for the Giants this past season was their special teams unit, meaning the retention of ST coach Thomas McGaughey was an easy decision for Judge. The punt unit specifically saw a ton of action, and Riley Dixon was fantastic along with the Giants’ gunners in Michael Thomas and Cody Core. 

This unit will remain untouched aside from the wave of Judge’s wand.

BREAKING: New York Giants to hire Freddie Kitchens

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New York Giants, Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland Browns

The New York Giants are expected to hire former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens to their staff, per Matt Zenitz.

The role is not yet defined, but Kitchens and current Giants HC Joe Judge spent time together at Mississippi State. Kitchens tenure in Cleveland was short-lived after a disappointing 6-10 season.  Prior to being named the Browns head coach, Kitchens was given credit for improving the Browns offense and assisting then-rookie QB Baker Mayfield have a successful rookie season.

Prior to his time in Cleveland, Freddie Kitchens worked with the Arizona Cardinals.  He began his career in Arizona as the tight ends coach, which is the same position he held prior to joining the Cardinals with the Dallas Cowboys.  There is some speculation that this could be Freddie Kitchens’s role with the New York Giants.

The addition is another experienced presence being added to Joe Judge’s staff in New York.  Kitchens will join other experienced assistants in Jason Garrett (offensive coordinator), Patrick Graham (defensive coordinator/assistant head coach), Jerry Schuplinski (quarterbacks coach), Burton Burns (running backs coach), Thomas McGaughey (special teams coordinator), Bret Bielema (expected defensive line coach) and Jerome Henderson (defensive backs coach).

Giants: Joe Judge reveals his three coordinators

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New York Giants, Joe Judge

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge has found the men he wants to go to battle with. On Saturday, he officially announced his three coordinators: Patrick Graham (defense), Thomas McGaughey (special teams) and Jason Garrett (offense).

“We’re setting out to develop a smart, tough and really sound football team and that’s going to start with the coordinators setting the tone in each room,” Judge said in a release by the team. “Each one has experience, each one has the ability to run multiples (schemes), put the pressure on the opponent, and each one is an excellent teacher.

“All these guys were priorities to add to our staff. You have a short list when you come into this and you make sure you go ahead and take your time and get those guys in with whatever it takes. The priority is to put the best teachers and the best people around your players so you can form a strong locker room and make them fundamentally sound and situational. And I think all three of these guys bring that to the team.”

McGaughey is a holdover from Pat Shurmur’s staff and Graham, who served as Brian Flores’ defensive coordinator in Miami last season, was Ben McAdoo’s defensive line coach here with Big Blue in 2016 and in 2017.

Judge on McGaughey:

“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 (assistant former coordinator) 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.”

Judge on Graham:

“We’ve had a lot of discussions, both before he came here as well as since he’s been here, in terms of what he would want to do with the scheme,” Judge said. “We share the same vision to be able to run multiples and use the players on our roster to the best of their ability to match up against the opponent.”

The hiring of Garrett is a huge boon for the Giants. Don’t believe all the nonsense about him not winning in Dallas. He’s a top-notch offensive mind who the Giants hope gets the most out of an offense that features running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones.

Judge said he has the utmost respect for Garrett and likes what he brings to the staff.

“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.”

There are still a few assistant slots to be filled, but the mainframe of the coaching staff is in place and by all accounts, the Giants look like a better team already.

New York Giants: Why Joe Judge Hired Patrick Graham to be the DC

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New York Giants, Joe Judge

When Joe Judge was named Head Coach of the New York Giants, he was immediately faced with a tall task; finding a coaching staff to help him lead Big Blue. His first hire was a rather easy one, as he retained Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey. The biggest hire since then occurred on Sunday, as Judge hired ex-Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham. Graham, who led the Dolphins to an NFL-worst 32nd ranked defense brings a lot of upside to the team. While at first glance, the hire looks a little questionable, but there are a number of reasons why Judge hired his former workmate. Here are three reasons why:

Why Joe Judge Hired Patrick Graham to be the Defensive Coordinator:

The New England connection

One of the hardest parts of being a first-time head coach is finding a coaching staff to help you win. Coach Judge made it clear he was going to take time and care during the hiring process. He also wanted to make sure every coach followed his philosophy about the game. The hiring of Patrick Graham reflects both of these points.

Perhaps the biggest reason Graham won the job was his prior work experience with Judge. The two worked together in New England for multiple years, with Graham spending time as the Linebackers and Defensive Line coach, while Judge coordinated the Special Teams unit. Having worked with Graham in the past, Judge knew he was getting a coach that preached toughness and discipline. Those two words sum up what Judge envisions the Giants becoming in the future.

The 3-4 scheme

When the Giants hired ex-Cardinals DC James Bettcher to lead the defense in 2017, he brought with him a 3-4 scheme. The scheme, which involves three defensive linemen and four linebackers on defense, was something many players were relatively new too. For two years, the Giants drafted players and signed free agents who had found success in the scheme at some point in their careers. Going away from the system would’ve been a major step-back.

While Graham’s 3-4 system was not the most effective in Miami, it will make the player’s transition to a new system a little bit easier. Outside Linebacker Markus Golden found great success in the 3-4 system this past season, recording a team-leading 10 sacks. Players such as Dexter Lawerence, Lorenzo Carter, and Oshane Ximines, were all drafted for use in a 3-4 system. Not switching to a 4-3 and keeping things simple will pay dividends to the Giants in 2020.

Graham’s experience with young players

Entering 2019, the Dolphins were the youngest teams in the NFL. Graham worked all season with a group that struggled mightily at the beginning of the year but improved greatly as the season went on. Having experience with young players will help Graham a lot in 2020, as the Giants are expected to be one of the youngest and least-experienced groups in the league.

It’s possible more than half of the Giants’ defensive starters will be on a rookie contract in 2020. This can be great for Big Blue if they have the right people leading them. And on paper, both Patrick Graham and Joe Judge look like they are more than capable of doing it.

Patrick Graham Will Also Serve as Giants’ Assistant Head Coach

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New York Giants, Patrick Graham

The New York Giants continue to surprise in their hiring choices as the team embarks on one of the most pivotal seasons in their history. New head coach Joe Judge seems to be fairly certain of what he wants on his staff and who he wants to hire.

Thus far, Judge has played it close to the best hiring former colleagues and other familiar faces. Special teams coordinator  Thomas McGaughey was an in-house holdover who is a favorite of the Giants’ front office. Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert did an excellent job with the Giants’ wideouts this season, specifically in developing rookie Darius Slayton. Defensive line coach Freddie Roach worked with Judge on Nick Saban’s staff in Alabama a decade ago.

Outside of those three, Judge has leaned on his former New England cohorts bridging in Jerry Shuplinski to be the quarterbacks coach and Patrick Graham as his defensive coordinator.

Today, we’re learning that Graham will also serve as the Giants assistant head coach. From SNY.tv:

The 40-year-old has been given both those titles by new Giants head coach Joe Judge, according to multiple sources. That’s not only a sign of the respect Judge has for his new top assistant, but it also explains why he wasn’t blocked from leaving his job as defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins.

 

They couldn’t block Graham from leaving for a job that is technically a promotion.

Graham also will likely get a raise over the normal salary for a defensive coordinator, though the terms of his deal with the Giants were not available. It’s also unclear what other duties Judge will give his “assistant head coach.”

Graham was already employed when Judge came calling as the DC of the Miami Dolphins. The reason, as mentioned above,  the Giants were able to lure him away from the Dolphins without asking permission was likely due to the offer being a promotion.

BREAKING: New York Giants hire defensive coordinator

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New York Giants, Patrick Graham

The New York Giants asked for permission to interview Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. One day later, they hired Graham to be the defensive coordinator under new head coach, Joe Judge.

Who is Patrick Graham, and what does he offer the New York Giants?

The 40-year-old Graham has a history with the G-Men, as well as Joe Judge, spending time with the New York Giants under Ben McAdoo as the defensive line coach.  For four seasons, Graham and Judge worked together under Bill Belichick with the Patriots.  The Yale graduate has a history coaching the defensive line and linebackers in New England, with the Giants and a short stint with the Packers before the move to Miami.

What is slightly concerning, however, is that the Dolphins defense was actually worse. Although they did show some promise down the stretch, Miami ranked 30th in total yards against and dead last in points given up per game. Miami also struggled to force turnovers against opposing offenses.

It seems all too important for Joe Judge and the Giants’ brass to hit it out of the park with the next man to lead their defense. Despite the memorable victory over the Pats at the end of the season, is this the answer to the New York Giants’ defensive struggles?

With Miami, Graham implemented a multiple look defense, often bouncing between the 4-3 and 3-4 looks.  The current personnel for the Giants may favor a more 3-4 base, but having versatility has been a theme since the hiring of Joe Judge.

One note of intrigue may be how a potential multiple look defense would benefit Leonard Williams, assuming his return. Williams has the ability to play all over the defensive line, which may help his production.  Which, in turn, would make that trade of the 3rd round pick a little less painful.