Joe Judge Is Exactly Who the Giants Needed

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge has yet to coach a game in the NFL. Yet one of his methods has already made some headlines around the league. It’s a simple method: if you make a mistake, you run a lap. Coach Judge has brought a fast-paced, highly physical, and loud style of practice into Giants camp.

Judge’s style, as a result, hasn’t been met with much enthusiasm by others. Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe said, “this isn’t going to end well” and analyst Emmanuel Acho calling it “fear-based motivation.”

Giants players, however, don’t seem to share Sharpe’s opinion. Players like Sterling Shepard and Kevin Zeitler have already given positive feedback on Judge’s coaching style. When Judge was hired by the team on January 8, he made it clear that the culture was about to change. Judge’s philosophy is simple—everyone is held accountable, no matter who you are. This applied to running back Saquon Barkley, who apparently felt the wrath of Coach Judge in practice.

Judge spent eight years with Bill Belichick in New England. There aren’t many better to learn from, and it seems that Judge has adopted some of the same philosophies of his former head coach by bringing a very old school, detail-oriented approach back to the Giants organization.

This sort of tough love method of coaching might be exactly what the Giants need. Over the past three seasons, the Giants have won a total of just 12 games and have drafted in the top six of the past three NFL Drafts. It was clear the team was in need of a culture shift.

Judge’s high energy practices and attention to detail might be that spark the team needs to finally turn things around.

(Photo: Frank Franklin II/The Associated Press)