1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: It's time to get inside the Giants Huddle on giants 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: dot Com. 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 2: Here we Go, Here we Go on the Giants Let's 4 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 2: Go part of the Giants Podcast Network. 5 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: The Front Office edition of the Giants Huddle podcast is 6 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: brought to you by the City College of New York 7 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: Doing Remarkable Things. Learn more at CCNY dot cuney dot edu. 8 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: And we're joined by the Special Teams Coordinator of the 9 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: New York Giants, Thomas McGahee and UH coach another off season, 10 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: another set of issues and challenges and opportunities. Talk about 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: what goes on in the special teams world this time 12 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: of year. 13 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: You know, our primary focus, uh this time of year 14 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: is just focus on the fundamentals and the techniques, you know, 15 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: trying to figure out what we did last year it 16 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 2: was good and build on that and then the things 17 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: that we need to get better at, focus on that 18 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: and try and get these those situations short up and 19 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: UH and just get better. You know, you're acquiring, you're 20 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: you're you're acquiring new talent, bringing those guys in, getting 21 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 2: them acclimated and UH and really trying to forge our 22 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 2: units forward and just get them better. And that's our 23 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 2: you know, our mantras Kaisan in our room, it's the 24 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: active continuance improvement and we're just trying to get better. 25 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 2: That's it. 26 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: What were some of the things some of the takeaways 27 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,559 Speaker 1: that you felt you did well last year that you'd 28 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: still like to improve upon even more. 29 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 2: You know, obviously you look at probably the highlight of 30 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 2: our season was Graham Ganot, you know, but we need 31 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 2: to do a better job as far as protection form. 32 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 2: You know, covering kicks was an issue for us last 33 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 2: year and we need to get better at that. You know, 34 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 2: if you look at the past years prior to last year, 35 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 2: we were pretty good covering kickoffs, were either one or 36 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 2: two in the league for the last two or three years, 37 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 2: but last year we took a step back. So, you know, 38 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: we kind of a dressed that this morning in the meeting, 39 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: and that's something that we're really looking at this off season, 40 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 2: just getting those pieces in place to get better at 41 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: covering kicks and punts, and that's something that we have 42 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: to get better at. 43 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: As you added new players to your roster and as 44 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: Joe Shane's bringing in players and coach Gable, obviously you're 45 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: weighing in on, hey, do these guys play specials. How 46 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: well do they play specials? Are those some of the 47 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: things that are very important when you're looking especially at 48 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: the bottom thirty your roster. 49 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: Absolutely, you know, we talk about this all the time. 50 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 2: You know, when you build your roster, you build it 51 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 2: from the top down, the bottom up, you know, so, 52 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: and you're only as strong as the bottom of your 53 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 2: roster because at some point in time, guys are going 54 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: to get hurt at the top. So you have to 55 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: have guys in place. Our job is to develop the 56 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: bottom part of the roster. You know when I say 57 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 2: our job, the special teams coaches, our jobs developed that 58 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: bottom part of the roster and then graduate them and 59 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 2: put them in a position where when they get to 60 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 2: the top of the roster they can make plays and 61 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: if anything happens at the top, but there's no fall off, 62 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 2: you know. So again there's you have to have value 63 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: on both sides, being able to play on special teams 64 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: and an offense and defense. 65 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: You know, it's interesting because offensive coordinators offensive coaches deal 66 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: with offensive players, defensive coaches deal with defensive players. You 67 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: literally have to coach players across the entire roster. What 68 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: is that dynamic? 69 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 2: Like, you know, it's fun. I just I enjoy being 70 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 2: around the players. I enjoy teaching. I enjoy the relationships 71 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,239 Speaker 2: because at the end of the days, what it's about, 72 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 2: you know, when your team uh becomes tight based upon 73 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: the relationships that you have with the players. And I 74 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: really enjoy being able to coach an offensive lineman, a 75 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 2: defensive lineman like Decks and Glow and you know some 76 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: of those guys, like just being able to interact with 77 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 2: them daily and it's just different, you know, And and 78 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 2: it makes that you know, I'm the special teams coach 79 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 2: and my job is special and I and I take 80 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 2: that seriously and I enjoy it. I really do, because 81 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 2: you get a chance to really touch everyone, even you know, 82 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 2: Tyrod and DJ, and you get a chance to really 83 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 2: interact with those guys. And it's fun. I love it, 84 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: you know. 85 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: And as the season goes on, as we as we 86 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: know even in the off season, but as the season 87 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: goes on, there's constantly cultivation at the bottom of the roster. 88 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: Players get hurt, guys get waved, guys get signed, and 89 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: then you have to incorporate them immediately into what you're doing. 90 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: What are some of the keys to doing that well? 91 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 2: Keeping it simple. You know our a we have a 92 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 2: sign in our room it says, do simple better And 93 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 2: that's what has to happen because you have so much 94 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 2: turnover unfortunately a lot of times, you know, like when 95 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 2: you have injuries and you have to you know, you 96 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: might get a guy in on Wednesday and you got 97 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: to have him ready for Sunday. Or you might be 98 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: told on Friday, hey, this guy gotta be ready based 99 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 2: upon something that might have happened on Thursday, you know 100 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 2: what I mean. So it's always something that you have 101 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 2: to be ready for, and you know, we stay ready 102 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 2: for that. That's kind of our job as especial team staff. 103 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: We're always ready to make that midstream adjustment, you know, 104 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: because if you can't make the midstream adjustment, you'll drown, 105 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: you know. So we got to always be ready and 106 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 2: we keep things simple so the guys when we put 107 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 2: them out there, they can play fast. 108 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: One of the areas of emphasis this offseason as far 109 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: as building of the team is adding some more speed. 110 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,280 Speaker 1: You guys have added a lot more speed in all 111 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: different areas. How valuable is that as far as special teams, 112 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: It's to me it's the most important. 113 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: Like when you look at our division and the guys 114 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 2: that were going up against you know, there's a lot 115 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 2: of speed in our division. And for me, when you 116 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 2: think about execution and playing at a high level and 117 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: doing those things, you have to be able to match 118 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 2: up within your division. So if you want to win 119 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: your division, you have to match the speed or surpass 120 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: the speed in your division. So, you know, acquiring guys 121 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 2: that have speed. You know, particularly for me when I 122 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 2: think about big speed, you want big guys that can 123 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: run fast because this is a big man's game. Anytime. 124 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: The more speech you can get, the better. You know. 125 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: It's interesting because these kids get drafted and they've been 126 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: studs at their schools, and even the guys that are 127 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,799 Speaker 1: undrafted were you know, frontline starters. How do you test 128 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: them early this time of year and especially when training 129 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: camp arrives to find out, you know, what they have 130 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: inside as far as special teams are concerned, and how 131 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: willing and able they are. 132 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 2: You won't find out till you put the pads on. 133 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 2: Like we're running around. It's cute and you know, everybody 134 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 2: catches all. Everybody looks great, and then but you don't 135 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 2: find you don't really find out because a lot of 136 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 2: guys will show up now and you're thinking, oh man, 137 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 2: this guy's gonna be great. And then there's some other 138 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 2: guys who like, I don't know quite know about that. 139 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 2: And then when the pads come on, they flip the 140 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: guy that that's physical, that can run, he shows up 141 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: because he'll hit somebody. And then the other guy he 142 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 2: looks pretty in shorts, but all of a sudden he 143 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: disappears because he's not physical. Right, So again this is 144 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 2: a physical game for big, fast, strong guys. And again, 145 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 2: like at this point in time of the year, it's 146 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 2: just more of everybody's kind of getting acclimated to trying 147 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: to figure out, trying to learn. It's more teaching than anything. 148 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 2: And you can't, you know, fall in love with a 149 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: guy in shorts because the game is playton pads. 150 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: The return aspect of it, with the way the rules 151 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: continually get changed, and with where they move the kickoff 152 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: to and touchbacks and there's a higher number of touchbacks, 153 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: is punt returner becoming more important than kickoff returner because 154 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: most of them are sailing through the back of the 155 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: end zone. 156 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: Anyway, it's extremely important, you know, for us, it's a 157 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 2: little different when I say us being in the Northeast, like, 158 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 2: you still have to have a legitimate kick returner because 159 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: in December and January, you know, into November, the ball's 160 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 2: not gonna fly as far because it's colder. Now. Now, 161 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: if you're in the AFC South, yeah, that's a whole 162 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 2: different ballgame. Like you're in a dome, it's eighty degrees, 163 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 2: it's setting. Yeah, you know, you might have one hundred 164 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 2: touchbacks by one kicker, you know, but it's different up here. 165 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 2: But I agree with you. The punt returner is extremely important, 166 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 2: and he has to be someone that's reliable. He has 167 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 2: to be someone that can, to me, put the fear 168 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 2: in in the in the heart of the opponent, you know. 169 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: And and that's something that you look for because that's 170 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 2: that's what we're going against. The teams that are really, 171 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: really good that that making it to the playoffs, they 172 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 2: normally are pretty good punt returners, you know. So that's 173 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 2: an extremely important position moving forward for sure. 174 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: Just going back to the kicking situation, Graham gonna has 175 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: been spectacular since he came here. As of now, the 176 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: operation remains the same as far as Snapper Holder and Graham. 177 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: How important was it to kind of keep that combination together? 178 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: And why is Graham appearing to get better as he 179 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: gets older? 180 00:08:56,280 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 2: Well, obviously the batteries is huge. You know, having that continuity, 181 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 2: it gives a kicker confidence and I think you know, 182 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 2: as Jamie got here and he started to get better 183 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 2: as a holder, that gave Graham more confidence. And Graham 184 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 2: is is he's aging like a fine one, you know 185 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 2: what I mean. It's just and he's very confident in 186 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 2: who he is. And the beauty about having a veteran 187 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 2: kicker is the ability to self correct and like instantly 188 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 2: self correct, like knowing that, okay, the reason why this 189 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: kick didn't feel the way it's supposed to feel is 190 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 2: because of X, Y and Z. And he knows exactly 191 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 2: what he needs to do and how he needs to 192 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 2: do it, and that part of it is huge. You know, 193 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 2: when you get into you're thirteen fourteen, you know it's 194 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 2: you kind of know what you're doing. And it's not 195 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 2: that I manage Graham like I don't do a whole 196 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 2: lot of When I say coaching, I don't do a 197 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: whole lot of coaching with him. I do more managing 198 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 2: than anything, you know, because he knows what he's doing, 199 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 2: he knows how he's doing. All the guys I've been 200 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 2: around in the past, Once you get to this point 201 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 2: in your career, like you become a manager of that guy, 202 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 2: it's not a whole lot of coaching going on. 203 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: Coach, we appreciate a couple of minutes. Best of luck 204 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 1: this season, and thanks for joining us. 205 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 2: Absolutely, thank you, guys. 206 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: Thomas mcgahey, the Special Teams coordinator of the Giants, joining 207 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: us on this edition of the Front Office edition of 208 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: the Giants Huddle podcast. It's brought to you by City 209 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: College of New York doing remarkable things. Learn more at 210 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: CCNY dot qney dot edu.