Tag: bobby johnson

James Madison looking to poach Giants assistant OL coach Chris Smith

If you thought the New York Giants and head coach Brian Daboll had their staff set ahead of the 2024 season, think again.

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports and CBS Sports reports that James Madison is looking to hire Giants assistant offensive line coach Chris Smith to oversee their OL.

Smith had been serving as the Holy Cross offensive coordinator when hired by the Giants last March. It was a position he held for five seasons.

Prior to that, Smith served as their offensive line coach, run game coordinator, and recruiting coordinator.

During his time at Holy Cross, Smith helped develop several offensive linemen who went on to receive All-Patriot League honors. Among them are James Murray, Brett Boddy, Brian Foley, and Nick Olsofka.

Smith was part of a staff that has led the Crusaders to three consecutive Patriot League championships. They also earned an NCAA football championship subdivision berth in 2019, which was the first for the program in 10 years.

In addition to his time with Holy Cross, Smith, who played center for the school before graduation, also had stints with New Haven, Northern Colorado, and Buffalo.

Unfortunately, that success didn’t carry over with the Giants. Smith joined offensive line coach Bobby Johnson and the pair oversaw a unit that surrendered 85 sacks, the second-most in NFL history.

Johnson was fired on Black Monday and replaced by Carmen Bricillo.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Commanders hiring ex-New York Giant Bobby Johnson as OL coach

Former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale won’t be seeing his former team twice next season, but former offensive line coach Bobby Johnson will.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Washington Commanders are hiring Johnson as their next O-Line coach.

The Giants fired Johnson on Black Monday after two seasons overseeing one of the worst offensive lines in football, including a 2023 campaign that saw them surrender 85 sacks, the second-most in NFL history.

“We moved on from Bobby Johnson and from Thomas McGaughey,” head coach Brian Daboll said at the time of the firings. “I want to thank those guys for what they’ve done the last two years. This is the hard part of the job. I have a lot of respect for them but just felt we were going to move in a different direction.

“I’m not going to add anything to it. Those were private conversations. But I do respect both of those guys and what they’ve done the last two years — their commitment to the deal and their work ethic. But wanted to make a change.”

Johnson followed Daboll over from the Buffalo Bills, where he spent three seasons as their offensive line coach. It was his second stint with the team.

In Washington, Johnson will be reunited with former Giants center/guard Nick Gates.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

5 toughest decisions facing New York Giants GM Joe Schoen

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The main candidate for the franchise tag is running back Saquon Barkley.

This season, Barkley played for the tag salary of approximately $11.1 million. If Schoen is going to tag Barkley a second time (a move that would not sit well with the star running back) it will cost him a bit more — around $12.4 million for one season.

The alternative would be to allow Barkley to test the free-agent waters. That could go either way for both Barkley and the Giants.

Then there is the possibility they lose Barkley to another team altogether. Barkley did not attend his year-end exit interview with management, deciding to just walk out of the building.

“They did it last year. So I’m numb to it,” he said. “I don’t have any feelings toward that at all. If you’re gonna do it, just don’t wait until March 5. Just get it over with. If not, let me go. Simple.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Giants' biggest needs headed into the offseason

The New York Giants finished 6-11 on the season and failed to follow up on their 2022 playoff performance leaving behind questions of whether or not they are headed in the right direction.

The Giants had breakdowns and failures in just about every unit and now must seriously evaluate what needs to be addressed and in what order.

Here are the Giants’ five biggest needs heading into the offseason.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Brian Daboll praises New York Giants’ makeshift offensive line

The New York Giants snapped their four-game losing streak on Sunday with a gritty, 14-7, win over the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants improved to 2-5 on the year and quite possibly saved their season in the process.

Head coach Brian Daboll has taken a ton of criticism this season but he has not taken his eye off the light at the end of the tunnel.

“I’ve said this before, it’s an up-and-down league. It’s a humbling league, but if you can stay consistent with your approach,” Daboll told reporters after the game. “You make slight adjustments and your belief in the players. It’s not for everybody, you gotta be able to do that. It’s not gonna be perfect all the time and there’s definitely gonna be some struggles and again, one week has nothing to do with the next week.

“So, whether we lost a close game to the Bills, we won this close game tonight, it really has no bearing on what we do next week to keep a consistent attitude, to work with great intention. That’s what’s important to get ready for a game that’s gonna be difficult every week regardless of who you play and focus on your job and putting the team first. Again, it’s not always easy, but that’s what the job requires.”

One of the biggest challenges has been along the offensive line, where seven of the nine players that made the final roster out of training camp are either on IR, off the roster, or on the sidelines nursing an injury.

The makeshift offensive line has been holding up despite the loss of both starting tackles (Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal) and stud rookie center (John Michael Schmitz).

On Sunday, the Giants went with Justin ‘straight off the couch’ Pugh at left tackle and Tyre Phillips — signed off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad last week — at right tackle.

Ben Bredeson filled in again at center with Mark Glowinski and Marcus McKethan at guard.

“They’re pros, the guys that were out there tonight, and they worked extremely hard during the week and a couple of days at practice, we were moving guys around and we settled on it say Thursday of how it was gonna go and if (tackle) Evan (Neal) could go, and if he could go, then we had another kind of line up change, if you would. But (offensive linemen coach) Bobby (Johnson) has met with those guys early and late, and he have a kind of revolving door there. Tough competitors,” he said.

Daboll was asked how he settled on the configuration of the line.

“It’s something we talked about as a coaching staff. I think the communication was better. Just having Pugh, a veteran, Bredeson and Glow(inski) kind of opposite because they worked together as well,” he said. “With Tyre back and he was only back for a week, some code words and things like that, even though he picked up, I’d say almost all of it on the way back, it’s still helpful to have someone right next to him that’s been out there and done it, veteran wise.”

Thomas is likely to return this week at left tackle, which will send the line into yet another iteration — the eighth in as many games. We’ll find out later in the week if Neal and Schmitz will play as well.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Giants’ Matt Peart wants to maximize opportunity with Evan Neal out

One of the top stories at New York Giants training camp thus far has been the development of second-year right tackle Evan Neal, who has been impressive in drills.

This week, however, Neal sustained a concussion and was placed in the protocol. Head coach Brian Daboll said Neal was doing “as best as he can” and is getting better.

Buy Giants Tickets

Until he does, the Giants will be lining up backup options at right tackle. The first one of defense comes in the form of a familiar name, former third-round pick Matt Peart.

“Matt has done a good job this camp,” Daboll told reporters on Saturday. “We have moved him around. You’ll see him in there with the ones today over at the right tackle. Maybe the whole practice, maybe we will sub in some other guys, we will see how practice goes but he’s done a good job for us to this point.”

Peart has has a rollercoaster of a career since being selected 99th overall out of UConn back in 2020. Over his three seasons, he’s played in 35 NFL games with six starts. Last year, he began the season on PUP after tearing his ACL late in the 2021 season.

Although Peart has been overshadowed first by Andrew Thomas and now by Neal, he is still very much part of the Giants’ offensive line room. He’s ready to add his assistance when called upon.

“It’s kind of having that next man up mentality, always being ready,” Peart said on Saturday. “Always making sure I capitalize those opportunities to be with the ones. Making sure the attention to detail is that much more defined and yeah, just playing with my guys.”

Peart made light of how quickly his Giants career has “flown by” but is now energized and focused under unit coach Bobby Johnson, who he refers to as “OG.”

“Being under OG a second year and understand what he wants in respect to the looks, it has been great to be under his coaching and I am definitely able to fine tune my skills and refine them,” Peart added.

Peart, who is an imposing 6-feet-7 and 320 pounds, is in the final year of his rookie contract and may not get the change to fully show the Giants his value. He says he can only control what he can control.

“Coming into this year, it’s how the mentality is always getting better. Year 4, Year 3, Year 2, Year 1, it’s always been the same. Make sure I always put my best foot forward and showcase my skillset and what I am able to do on the field,” he said.

Nothing against Peart, but the Giants would prefer Neal get healthy and return. But it is good to know there is finally depth and talent along the long-suffering offensive line.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version