Joe Judge's first offseason as an NFL head coach has been much different than he ever could have imagined.
As the coronavirus pandemic has kept many people confined to their homes to stay safe, Judge had to go through free agency away from his office at the Giants facility in the Meadowlands, and he's now planning to be a part of his first NFL Draft as a head coach from his own basement in Massachusetts.
Speaking on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Judge spoke at length about the challenges all NFL personnel are facing as they work from home in preparing for the draft, but he also addressed a number of other topics, from the Giants beginning their virtual offseason program on Monday, to players learning a new system, and much more.
Here are five takeaways from Judge's Wednesday call:
On virtual offseason program beginning Monday
"Yeah, so I'll tell you what, without going into too many specifics in terms of what we're using, we're using some virtual meeting software, like most everyone in America is -- like my kids are in the kitchen right now taking virtual school.
"We're going to start out with position meetings. We're going to take our time of going through, making sure that first off all of the players are sound and set up on how to use the software. Before we get into too much of the football, we're going to make sure that everyone knows how to use it, and where to find all of the information.
"Monday is going to be a lot like a first day back in the building, you know, through a regular spring program. We want to spend some time with position coaches, we want to make sure the coordinators get a chance to address their room, and I'll have a chance to talk to the team for the first time. So, before we get into all of the X's and O's of football, there's an important element of just getting to know the players and them getting to know us that has to take place."
On all players starting from scratch in new system
"Well I'll tell you what, really for all of our players, everybody is in the same boat right now trying to start from scratch. What we've been allowed to do right now by the league is we've had contact with our players, but everything has been non-football to this point. We've just wanted to check on them and their families and make sure everyone is safe and healthy and if there is anything we can do to help them in this process. We want to make sure that all of our players and their families really have the access to our medical team, so if something comes up, we can head it off before it becomes a major issue. In terms of the players football wise, we've been able to give out iPads, and we've been able to load information on it, but we haven't been able to have any instruction or interaction dealing with football.
"Now on Monday, that's different. We get to go fully virtual with it, which will be a big advantage getting to meet with the players face-to-face, so to say, and start dealing with the players. In the meantime, the players have looked through what's on the iPad, they've watched old film, they've had a chance to look at playbooks which have been loaded up. But really, Monday is when the instruction and teaching starts. That's what we're looking forward to."
On evaluating the current roster
"I'm excited to work with all the players. We've watched them and again we have watched them from a distance is the key thing to say. We've watched them on tape, we have watched them from afar. Most of us were on other teams last year, so we have watched them from an outsider's perspective. We are really anxious to work with them in our building and put our hands on them.
"It wouldn't be fair to give a true evaluation of anybody who you haven't worked with. We are excited to work with every player from the previous roster and the new guys we added to the roster right now. We are looking forward to the draft and we are all kind of tapping our foot right now just anxious to be have any type of exposure to players that we can. When we start going virtually, it will give us a great insight to the players as to how they interact in meetings, how insightful they are with the questions they ask, how current they can stay on the information and that's what we are really waiting for."
Video: Joe Judge covets versatility in NFL Draft prospects
On free agent additions of James Bradberry, Blake Martinez, and Kyler Fackrell
"I expect everyone on the team to bring a level of commitment and competitiveness that's going to make us an improved team and that's what I expect from them. I expect when they show up, they will be in shape, I expect them to be ready on the material that we have presented to them and I expect them to come out on the field and compete aggressively every single day. That's what we expect from our players every day, whether it was someone on the roster last year or someone we added in free agency or someone we add in the draft. That's the expectation of all the players, to come to work every day with a relentless attitude to improve this team."
On his message to Giants fans right now
"The biggest thing is beyond football. I hope everyone out there is safe, I hope everyone is healthy, I hope everyone is staying in good spirits. We're doing our best right here to get back to work for you guys so you have something to watch and be proud of. I can assure you, we're going to make sure that the hard work that they have in their communities and things that people are looking forward to getting back to when normal life resumes, we're going to make sure that what they've been anticipating, we put that on the field. We give them a product that they can be proud of.
"I just want to thank all of the first responders, too. The police, the fire department, every doctor, every nurse, ambulance driver. You find out how essential life is, how about essential employees, how we really would be struggling to function without people to do the everyday things for us.
"Look, it's tough sitting in your house. It's a lot tougher going out there every day, being exposed to the virus and doing your job, and then having to go home and look your family in the eye. We can't take lightly the sacrifices all those people are making for us, and we appreciate it."