Tag: Dave DeGuglielmo

Ex-Giants assistant Dave DeGuglielmo lands with Boston College

Former New York Giants assistant Dave DeGuglielmo, who had two stints in East Rutherford, has landed a new gig with Boston College.

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Former New York Giants offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo is on the move again. This time, he’s headed to Boston College where he’ll once again oversee the O-Line.

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic was the first to report the news.

DeGuglielmo is a long-time coach and assistant who is quite well-traveled. He began his coaching career at BC as a graduate assistant in 1991. From there, he had stints with Boston University, Connecticut and South Carolina before breaking into the NFL in 2004.

After being hired as New York Giants head coach, Tom Coughlin added DeGuglielmo as assistant offensive line and quality control coach. He remained at that post through the 2008 season, winning a Super Bowl XLII title in the process, before the nomad journey continued.

Following his first stint with the Giants, DeGuglielmo made stops with the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts. He then circled back around with both the Dolphins and Giants.

DeGuglielmo rejoined the Giants in 2020 under head coach Joe Judge, who needed a replacement for Marc Colombo. However, Guge, as he was called, opted not to return in 2021 and instead took a job with Louisiana Tech.

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Rob Sale leaves Giants, joins Florida Gators

The New York Giants have lost offensive line coach Rob Sale, who has taken the offensive coordinator role at the University of Florida.

The New York Giants will once again be looking for a new offensive line coach under Joe Judge — assuming Judge himself stays.

Rob Sale, who had taken the Giants’ offensive line coaching job for the 2021 season, is departing to become the offensive coordinator for the University of Florida.

The move was widely expected, especially given Sale’s ties to Florid head coach Rob Napier, who were both assistant coaches on Alabama together.

Since Judge has become the head coach for the Giants in 2020, he’s had three offensive line coaches: Marc Colombo, who was fired in the middle of the 2020 season after an in-house blow-up, and Dave DeGuglielmo, who finished the rest of the season before he was hired away by Louisiana Tech.

And now Sale, who departs for the college game like DeGuglielmo.

The next offensive line coach has the task of trying to help fix a unit that has been near the bottom of the NFL for several years.

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Can Will Hernandez revitalize his Giants career in 2021?

Will Hernandez appears to have fallen fast, but can he revitalize his New York Giants career in 2021?

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Will Hernandez began the 2020 season as the New York Giants’ starting left guard, having started all 32 games there since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by Big Blue out of Texas-El Paso.

Hernandez started the first seven games last year before testing positive for COVID-19 and spending 12 days on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

When Hernandez was activated from the list on November 10, he found himself out of a job. Rookie Shane Lemieux had made the most of his opportunity and bumped Hernandez to the bench. Lemieux started the final nine games of 2020 at left guard and took the lion’s share of the snaps there for the rest of the year. Hernandez played less than a third of the snaps at left tackle after returning from illness.

When head coach Joe Judge was grilled about Hernandez’ reduced role before the Giants’ season finale against Dallas, his response shed little light on the subject.

“We’re continuing to roll our linemen throughout the game. There hasn’t been a designated snap count on any player going in,” he said. “Look, I’ve let Guge (Dave DeGuglielmo) have some autonomy in terms of as the game gets going, the flow goes, to put in what we think is best for the schemes that we’re running. We check in and we talk continuously throughout the week. The plan is to play all of our guys at the game. It’s always been our plan and to use guys continuously. You saw Matt (Peart) play as well last night. We’ll continue to use Will, and we’ll rotate all three guards going forward.”

True. DeGuglielmo came in midseason and took over the role of offensive line coach and the next thing we all knew, Hernandez was no longer a key cog on the line.

“Look, we base everything here on production, so in terms of who’s playing on what snaps, we may have different guys in different schemes,” said Judge. “There are different times we want to use different guys throughout the game. We put priority on keeping all of our guys fresh, and we’re looking to really develop as many guys as we can. I’d say all three guards, Kevin (Zeitler), Shane and Will, have played well at times. There have been things we want to improve on with our entire unit going across the board. But we’re going to continue to rotate those guys going forward.”

Well, in Week 17, neither Hernandez nor Peart saw the field. Hernandez got the infamous DNP (did not play), meaning he was dressed on the sidelines but did not enter the game.

What does this mean for Hernandez going forward? Do the Giants still see him as the future at left guard? DeGuglielmo is gone now, so maybe the new new O-line coach, Rob Sale, will get back to the original plan at left guard.

If Hernandez has been beaten out by Lemieux, it’s a further indictment of general manager Dave Gettleman’s questionable drafting ability. Hernandez, as a second round selection should not lose his job after two seasons to a fifth round pick. Another example of this franchise spinning its wheels.

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Can Will Hernandez revitalize his Giants career in 2021?

Will Hernandez appears to have fallen fast, but can he revitalize his New York Giants career in 2021?

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Will Hernandez began the 2020 season as the New York Giants’ starting left guard, having started all 32 games there since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by Big Blue out of Texas-El Paso.

Hernandez started the first seven games last year before testing positive for COVID-19 and spending 12 days on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

When Hernandez was activated from the list on November 10, he found himself out of a job. Rookie Shane Lemieux had made the most of his opportunity and bumped Hernandez to the bench. Lemieux started the final nine games of 2020 at left guard and took the lion’s share of the snaps there for the rest of the year. Hernandez played less than a third of the snaps at left tackle after returning from illness.

When head coach Joe Judge was grilled about Hernandez’ reduced role before the Giants’ season finale against Dallas, his response shed little light on the subject.

“We’re continuing to roll our linemen throughout the game. There hasn’t been a designated snap count on any player going in,” he said. “Look, I’ve let Guge (Dave DeGuglielmo) have some autonomy in terms of as the game gets going, the flow goes, to put in what we think is best for the schemes that we’re running. We check in and we talk continuously throughout the week. The plan is to play all of our guys at the game. It’s always been our plan and to use guys continuously. You saw Matt (Peart) play as well last night. We’ll continue to use Will, and we’ll rotate all three guards going forward.”

True. DeGuglielmo came in midseason and took over the role of offensive line coach and the next thing we all knew, Hernandez was no longer a key cog on the line.

“Look, we base everything here on production, so in terms of who’s playing on what snaps, we may have different guys in different schemes,” said Judge. “There are different times we want to use different guys throughout the game. We put priority on keeping all of our guys fresh, and we’re looking to really develop as many guys as we can. I’d say all three guards, Kevin (Zeitler), Shane and Will, have played well at times. There have been things we want to improve on with our entire unit going across the board. But we’re going to continue to rotate those guys going forward.”

Well, in Week 17, neither Hernandez nor Peart saw the field. Hernandez got the infamous DNP (did not play), meaning he was dressed on the sidelines but did not enter the game.

What does this mean for Hernandez going forward? Do the Giants still see him as the future at left guard? DeGuglielmo is gone now, so maybe the new new O-line coach, Rob Sale, will get back to the original plan at left guard.

If Hernandez has been beaten out by Lemieux, it’s a further indictment of general manager Dave Gettleman’s questionable drafting ability. Hernandez, as a second round selection should not lose his job after two seasons to a fifth round pick. Another example of this franchise spinning its wheels.

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Report: Giants wanted Dave DeGuglielmo back but agreement couldn’t be reached

The New York Giants attempted to bring OL coach Dave DeGuglielmo back, but the two sides could not reach an agreement.

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The New York Giants are in the market for another new offensive line coach, but that’s not exactly an issue they wanted to tackle this offseason.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that the Giants would part ways with Dave DeGuglielmo mere months after he replaced Marc Colombo, who had been fired mid-season after verbally confronting head coach Joe Judge on multiple occasions.

The Giants had desired a DeGuglielmo return in 2021 and were actively negotiating a deal. However, an agreement could not be reached and the two sides ultimately went in their own direction.

The need for a new offensive line coach creates a little instability at a position that can not afford it. Headed into the offseason, Judge & Co. were desperate to find some consistency and continuity across the board — a recent rarity in East Rutherford — but that has not happened.

Although offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was passed over for a head coaching job in Los Angeles and appears destined to return, at least one position on the offensive staff now needs a new face. Similarly, the Giants remain in the market for an outside linebacker coach after Bret Bielema abruptly left late in the season to take the Illinois head coaching job.

While two assistant coaching changes doesn’t seem like a steep hill to climb, the Giants are still in the process of establishing a new culture and building a new foundation. Each brick that needs replacing is one less added to the top of the stack.

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Giants to search for new OL coach

Big Blue on the search for a new OL coach.

During the New York Giants’ bye week this past season, the team suddenly fired offensive line coach Marc Colombo. While there were conflicting reports of what led to Colombo’s dismissal, players were shocked to hear the news.

In a corresponding move, the Giants brought in Dave DeGuglielmo as Colombo’s replacement.

With the Giants’ offseason underway, it appears they will be in search of a new offensive line coach as the hiring of DeGulielmo was only on an interim basis, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.

The Giants have an extremely young offensive line as they spent a ton of draft capital addressing the unit during the 2020 NFL draft.

The entire offensive line improved as the season went along but it was tough to tell if the change at offensive line coach was the reason why.

As Big Blue searches for a new coach to run the offensive line, they will hope the unit continues to improve next year and beyond.

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Giants’ Andrew Thomas is running his own race, not worried about other OTs

New York Giants LT Andrew Thomas says he’s not worried about his OT draft mates and is focused on running his own race.

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New York Giants rookie offensive tackle Andrew Thomas had a rough start to his professional career, leading some to question general manager Dave Gettleman’s decision to draft him with the No. 4 overall pick.

However, as the season wore on, Thomas demonstrated a steady incline culminating with his most dominant performance of the year against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.

Still, whether it’s fair or not, Thomas will forever be compared to the other members of his draft class — Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills and Mekhi Becton. But it’s not something Thomas gives much thought to, telling reporters on Tuesday that he’s running his own race and beating to the sound of his own drum.

“For me, I look at it as running my own race,” Thomas said. “I want all those guys to be successful, but for me I want to be the best player I can be, the best player I can be for the Giants, for my teammates and that’s what I’m working to be. If I’m focused on what’s going on outside of me, that takes away from being the best player I can be, so I’m just focusing on myself.

“[I’m] not paying attention to what’s going on in the other lanes, just focusing on what Andrew has to do, what he has to do to get better and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

If the four are in a race, Thomas is currently trailing based on multiple metrics. But it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish and Thomas is gaining.

“Obviously, it didn’t start out the way I wanted it to but being a rookie player, left tackle in the NFL, it’s a tough deal,” Thomas said. “So it just took time. Continued to work, just keep my head down, try not to pay too much attention to the media, obviously there’s social media and things like that.”

Those who have gone to battle with Thomas this season have the utmost faith in him. Prior to his firing, Marc Colombo offered hefty praise for Thomas. So did Colombo’s replacement, Dave DeGuglielmo.

“He’s got talent and he’s playing obviously at a premier position in this league. It’s not [easy] to do. I couldn’t do it. Never could, never be able to, but I see the competitiveness that’s going to take him to have a solid career,” DeGuglielmo said in December. “Now, he’s a rookie. Rookies and kickers, they all go in the same bucket with me, you know they’re all over there. They’re their own little grouping of individuals. You need them, they’re necessary and they’re important to your program but it always takes time for a rookie, any rookie to elevate his game to what the others will be.

“He’ll get there. He’ll get there. I promise you this guy will get there, one way of another he’ll get there.”

Head coach Joe Judge and Thomas’ teammates believe that as well. Slow and steady wins the race.

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Giants’ Dave DeGuglielmo tests positive for COVID-19

New York Giants offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo has tested positive for COVID-19 and been isolated.

The New York Giants announced on Friday that offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo has tested positive for COVID-19 and was immediately isolated.

In addition to DeGuglielmo, two potential close contacts were also isolated, although the Giants did not disclose if they were assistant coaches or players.

“The Giants have been informed that offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo has tested positive for COVID-19,” the team said in a statement. “He was immediately isolated, as were two potential close contacts, and we are currently working with the league’s chief medical officer. Quest Diagnostics Training Center remains open, and the team is following its normal practice and meeting schedule today.”

DeGuglielmo will not be with the Giants on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys as a result of the positive test. He will likely be replaced by Ben Wilkerson, the team’s assistant offensive line coach.

Head coach Joe Judge will meet with reporters at 11:25 a.m. ET. Practice remains on schedule for 11:50 a.m. ET.

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Giants’ Dave DeGuglielmo: ‘I promise you’ Andrew Thomas will thrive

New York Giants offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo promises anyone who will listen that rookie LT Andrew Thomas will eventually thrive.

The New York Giants selected Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas with the fourth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The pressure has been on Thomas to show that pedigree early on in his career but thus far he’s still finding his way.

Thomas was the first tackle taken in the draft, but is lagging behind the other tackles selected after him in several key categories.

The Giants made a change in the coaching ranks along the offensive line midway through the season, moving Marc Columbo out in favor of Dave DeGuglielmo. The change has been met with mixed results. The Giants are no longer dominant in the run game and the quarterback pressures have increased.

DeGuglielmo has been trying to spoon-feed the unit, which contains three rookies (Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux, Matt Peart and a converted guard/tackle in Nick Gates at center) new techniques and ideas but it could take some time before they take hold. He is simply sticking to stressing the fundamentals at this point.

Thomas has taken some large steps forward as the season has gone on. He began the year completely overmatched and has been gradually improving as the season wore on. The bottom line is it is too early to predict if the Giants have a future star or a bust on their hands.

DeGuglielmo spoke about Thomas on his media session on Tuesday. He is not about to give up on the Giants’ prized rookie.

“As a player, I think he’s a tremendously aware. He sees things most rookies don’t see,” said the coach known as ‘Guge.’ “These things are going to happen. I think he’ll tell you that he’s a pretty good student of the game and as long as we go over things and talk about thing, about the ‘what-ifs” if you will, I think he’s done a tremendous job throughout the year and he’ll continue to do that.

“My opinion hasn’t changed since the last time. He’s got talent and he’s playing obviously at a premier position in this league. It’s not [easy] to do. I couldn’t do it. Never could, never be able to, but I see the competitiveness that’s going to take him to have a solid career. Now, he’s a rookie. Rookies and kickers, they all go in the same bucket with me, you know they’re all over there. They’re their own little grouping of individuals. You need them, they’re necessary and they’re important to your program but it always takes time for a rookie, any rookie to elevate his game to what the others will be.

“He’ll get there. He’ll get there. I promise you this guy will get there, one way of another he’ll get there.”

The Giants certainly hope Guge is right.

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Joe Judge explains why Shane Lemieux is playing more than Will Hernandez

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge recently explained why rookie OL Shane Lemieux is playing more than OL Will Hernandez.

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Will Hernandez was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and started the first 39 games of his NFL career at left guard.

Then, Hernandez went on the COVID-19 list after testing positive for the virus in early November. He’s been the odd man out ever since.

Rookie Shane Lemieux has started the Giants’ last eight games, even though Hernandez has been healthy and active for last six. Lemieux has wrested the job the away from Hernandez to the point where the platoon is becoming less equitable with each passing game.

On Sunday against Baltimore, Lemieux played 54 of the Giants’ 64 offensive plays at left guard to Hernandez’ 10.

Head coach Joe Judge was asked about the change in plans at left guard in his media session on Monday.

“We’re continuing to roll our linemen throughout the game. There hasn’t been a designated snap count on any player going in,” explained Judge. “Look, I’ve let [Dave DeGuglielmo] have some autonomy in terms of as the game gets going, the flow goes, to put in what we think is best for the schemes that we’re running. We check in and we talk continuously throughout the week.

“The plan is to play all of our guys at the game. It’s always been our plan and to use guys continuously. You saw Matt (Peart) play as well last night. We’ll continue to use Will, and we’ll rotate all three guards going forward.”

Time for a fact check. Right guard Kevin Zeitler is not being rotated. Hernandez was inserted into the game in Week 10 as an injury replacement for Zeitler late in the game. Since then, Zeitler has played 100 percent of the offensive snaps at right guard.

Lemieux’s hold on left has been tight, playing nearly 80 percent of the time there. Hernandez has not swayed the coaches to consider giving him his job back even though Lemieux has had his issues at the position, specifically in pass protection.

“Look, we base everything here on production, so in terms of who’s playing on what snaps, we may have different guys in different schemes,” continued Judge. “There are different times we want to use different guys throughout the game. We put priority on keeping all of our guys fresh, and we’re looking to really develop as many guys as we can. I’d say all three guards, Kevin (Zeitler), Shane and Will, have played well at times. There have been things we want to improve on with our entire unit going across the board. But we’re going to continue to rotate those guys going forward.”

We will see how much the Giants value Hernandez next year when his rookie contract is up. It’s tough to let a second round pick walk via free agency, but these are the 2020 Giants. No one is quite sure what the thought process is any more.

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