Every business in America right now is poring over their organizational charts, highlighting their key employees and who will be the “take outs”, or replacements, for them should they have to be deactivated due to COVID-19.
The New York Giants are no different. The virus is a way of life now. If you go to the Giants’ website, you will see the precautions they are taking this summer to safeguard their personnel in this summer of the pandemic.
So, what does that “take out” procedure look like for the Giants if their coaches should be inflicted with a rash of COVID-19 cases?
Head coach Joe Judge has surrounded himself with a cadre of veteran coaches, including offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who served as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys the last ten seasons.
Also on the staff are former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens (tight ends) and Bret Bielema (outside linebackers), a former head coach at two major college programs (Wisconsin, Arkansas).
Also, keep in mind that Judge has named defensive coordinator Patrick Graham assistant head coach, so he has set the Giants up to be in experienced hands should he not be able to fulfill his duties.
Garrett would likely keep the play-calling duties should he have to relieve Judge, but if he doesn’t Kitchens has experience as a play-caller. Also, if Garrett should miss time, Kitchens would be the logical replacement as coordinator.
On defense, Graham is backed up by Bielema. On special teams, coordinator Thomas McGaughey has Tom Quinn, the Giants’ longtime special teams coordinator under Tom Coughlin, as his assistant.
So, the Giants have a plan in place it seems should they unfortunately incur a surge of the virus. The chances for that happening are slimmer after seeing the protocols in place and the diligence in which Judge is enforcing them, though.
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