After being introduced by John Mara on Thursday as the new head coach of the Giants, Joe Judge hit the ground running, outlining exactly who he is and exactly how he'll coach the team during an incredibly intense, focused half hour press conference.
And Judge understood that one of the big questions coming into it was who he was. He asked that question and answered it during his opening remarks.
"What I'm about is an old school, physical mentality," Judge explained. "We're gonna put a product on the field that the people of this city and region are proud of. This team will represent this area. We will play fast. We will play downhill. We will play aggressive. We'll punch you in the nose for 60 minutes. We'll play every play like it's a history in a life of its own with a relentless, competitive attitude. We will play fundamentally sound, we will not beat ourselves."
While discussing smashmouth football and what he expects on the field and in the locker room, Judge also pointed out that he's about caring for players in the locker room, and it's important to not forget the human element -- and the need to be empathetic.
Judge didn't go into specifics about the current roster since he still needs to learn it and evaluate, but he already knows what kind of product he wants to have.
"I want this team to reflect this area," he explained. "That is blue collar. It's hard work. It's in your face. We're not gonna back down from anybody. We're gonna come to work every day and grind it out the way they do in their jobs every day."
Speaking more specifically, Judge said fundamentals are the same things that have always won football games, and still do.
He then talked about the need for things to start "in the classroom," with his players being ready on time, stretching the right way, and putting themselves in the best position to help the team -- even if it means doing something they don't necessarily want to do.
"And then it'll carry over to the fundamentals on the field," he explained. "It's running, it's tackling, it's ball-security. It's a contact sport, you can't get around that. It's meant to be a physical game. It's for tough people. We will practice with a physical attitude, we will practice in pads, we will practice with live tackling. ... we're gonna practice live tackling because I believe in doing it safely. You want to make your players safer, you start by instructing them how to do it."
Judge will now get to the next steps in this process, which will include naming a staff and working collaboratively with GM Dave Gettleman.
"It's just an opportunity," Judge said at the beginning of his remarks. "I have to make the most of it, and that starts today."
