Judge verdict: Promising
Giants’ new coach had team playing better as the season went on
The New York Giants weren’t blaming anyone for missing the playoffs in their first season under rookie coach Joe Judge.
After starting 0-5 and winning one of their first eight games in a season overshadowed by a pandemic and games played in near-empty stadiums, the Giants (6-10) were lucky to have a shot at winning the NFC East on Sunday night.
It all came down to the Eagles beating Washington (7-9) in Philadelphia. The Eagles had a shot at helping the Giants until coach Doug Pederson pulled quarterback Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter to give thirdstringer Nate Sudfeld some snaps.
Washington won 23-17 to capture the division and end the Giants’ hopes for their first playoff berth since 2016.
“I was angry because I know that we had 16 opportunities to make it happen,” safety Jabrill Peppers said Monday. “Any time you put your destiny in another man’s hands, you know, it simply doesn’t bode well for you.”
While six wins is not a lot, the Giants came a long way in a season that was held without offseason training activities, minicamp and had a shortened training camp with no preseason games.
A former Patriots special teams coordinator, the recently
turned 39-year-old Judge and his staff took over a team that won 12 games in the past three years. They installed everything virtually until hitting camp in August.
Judge got what he wanted: a hard-nosed, well-prepared team. The Giants were in most of their games, and lost five by eight points or fewer, including four times by four points or fewer.
“We didn’t make the playoffs,
but I think we’re trending upward,” center Nick Gates said. “Joe Judge is doing a really good job changing the culture in this place. And, you know, everything is trending upward.”
After one season, Judge is clearly in control.
Early in the season, firstround draft pick Andrew Thomas showed up late for a meeting before a home game against Washington and did not start at left tackle.
Veteran receiver Golden Tate complained on national television about not having enough
passes thrown in his direction after catching a touchdown against Tampa Bay. He was benched the following weekend.
Before the bye week in November, offensive line coach Marc Colombo argued with Judge when told Dave Deguglielmo was being brought in as a consultant. Colombo was fired the next day and “Gugs” took over.
It reminded many of something Super Bowl champion coaches Tom Coughlin or Bill Parcells might have done. The Giants’ hopes Judge reaches the
same heights.
Two sides
Coming into the season, Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and the offense were supposed to carry the team. It never worked out that way for new coordinator Jason Garrett.
The defense under coordinator Pat Graham was the surprise. He inherited one of the NFL’S worst units and finished the season ranked 12th, including 10th against the run.
Defensive end Leonard Williams had a career year.