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The New York Giants today made the hiring of Danny Langsdorf as quarterbacks coach official. That news was first reported over the weekend, but the Giants did not confirm it until Monday morning.
In addition, the Giants have shuffled two other coaching spots. Former quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan will return to coaching wide receivers, something he did for the Giants in 2010 and 2011. Kevin M. Gilbride Jr. will move from coaching wide receivers, which he has done the past two seasons, to coaching the tight ends.
The offensive staff looks like this:
-- Offensive Coordinator: Ben McAdoo
-- Quarterbacks Coach: Danny Langsdorf
-- Running Backs Coach: Craig Johnson
-- Wide Receivers Coach: Sean Ryan
-- Tight Ends Coach: Kevin M. Gilbride Jr.
-- Offensive Line Coach: Pat Flaherty
Flaherty is thus the only position coach who will hold the same post he held in 2013.
"I like the makeup of our offensive staff," head coach Tom Coughlin said. "There are some obvious and very good offensive thoughts here. And then you bring in Ben McAdoo … I’m excited about that part of it as well. I think the combination of the fundamentals, the innovative ideas and concepts coming from the new coaches, combined with the coaches that we have here that are fundamentalists and very good coaches in their own right, I’m excited about this spring as we put together our identity as an offensive team again. First and foremost, it’s going to be good for our players."
In regards specifically to the hiring of Langsdorf here is what Coughlin had to say:
"When I went through the process of studying his years at Oregon State, I was very impressed with the number of quarterbacks that were highly, highly productive in the Oregon State program, including redshirt freshmen," Coughlin said. "And also in the years, with Jacquizz Rodgers, for example, they ran the ball. So he has adapted to a lot of different things. Then when I had the opportunity to interview him, I would take specific areas in which I think the college game is doing a darn good job, and his ability to relate and teach in these areas, I thought, was outstanding.
"The one thing that is very impressive is that Ben and Danny are fundamentalists, first and foremost, in how they teach. They both have extensive quarterback film and drill work which they teach off of and which relate to the fundamentals of the game – how you drop, how you set, how you save time, how you become more efficient, where’s the ball, where do you carry the ball, where’s your front foot. When the quarterbacks report back here, that is a very, very good way to start the progression of how the quarterback is developed fundamentally so he can contribute at the highest level in this form of offensive package. I’m very interested in that."
Langsdorf has been at Oregon State since 2005 as offensive coordinator. His hiring, along with that of the 36-year-old McAdoo as offensive coordinator, makes it obvious that Coughlin is ready for something much different offensively than what the Giants have done for the past decade.
"I think there is something to be said for taking some of the ideas that you see are most prevalent at the college level and bringing that to our game," Coughlin said. "And the combination is very interesting to me."
Not only is it interesting to Coughlin, but it will be interesting to everyone to see how the Giants mesh newer West Coast and collegiate concepts with the play-action/quick-strike style they have employed for the past decade.
Langsdorf will be entrusted with fixing the fundamentals of Eli Manning, who threw a career-worst 27 interceptions in 2013. Manning's 18 touchdown passes were also a career low for him in a full season.
"That was a very important part of our conversation and the interview," Langsdorf said. "He knows he’s got it in him, he’s played great football at times, but I think he had a little bit of an off year, a lot of turnovers. That’s something that we have to correct, do a better job in taking care of the ball and he stressed that, the importance of that for our entire team. That was part of the discussion, for sure, as well as developing some young guys to back him up."
Langsdorf isn't fazed by not having been in the NFL since 2004.
"I think really just working, getting back to the fundamentals and teaching the details of the position and implementing a new system are all things that are going to be fun to work with Eli on," Langsdorf said. "With Ben and what he’s presenting as a package for the Giants, I think all of those things together will be smooth. I think coaching is teaching, and I think if you’re a good teacher, you should be able to do that and teach well and communicate well at any level."
Your thoughts, Giants' fans?
