The intrigue and guessing is over when it comes to the New York Giants’ starting center job.
Head coach Joe Judge announced on Saturday that Nick Gates will be snapping the football to quarterback Daniel Jones on Monday night when the Giants host the Pittsburgh Steelers in their 2020 season opener at MetLife Stadium.
Joe Judge: "We're going to start Nick Gates at center." #NYGiants
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 12, 2020
This was really no secret but Judge played it close to the vest who the center would be, Gates or Spencer Pulley. He did not want the Steelers to have a full week to prepare for Gates, who will be making his career debut at the position Monday night.
It’s troubling enough they are starting a rookie, first round pick Andrew Thomas, at left tackle and journeyman Cam Fleming on the left side.
Joe Judge on #NYG offensive line: "There's not a lot of time for patience, but there's always time for development."
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 12, 2020
Judge’s patience will be tried as the Giants’ new lineup tries to fend off the NFL’s most primitive pass rush, led by T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Bud Dupree. Gates will not only be charged with snapping the football for the first time in a real game, he’ll be responsible for making the calls.
Judge and offensive line coach Marc Colombo both raved about how much they liked the 6-foot-5, 307 pounder over the more established Pulley.
#NYG Joe Judge on #Zoom says Nick Gates will start at center Monday night vs. #PIT. Giants have made no secret of how much they like him. Impressive rise by Gates, who went undrafted out of Nebraska in 2018. Steelers defensive front will be formidable.
— Kim Jones (@KimJonesSports) September 12, 2020
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