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Monday Media Transcript: Head Coach Tom Coughlin

Eric from BBI : Admin : 11/23/2015 1:34 pm
Tom Coughlin

November 23, 2015

Good afternoon. What can I do for you? (Weston) Richburg, they kept inside. (Justin) Pugh, they kept inside. So those two guys didn’t work. (Damontre) Moore is working his way through a hamstring. Probably those are the only questions. Now we’re done, right?

Q: Where is Pugh in the protocol?

A: He’s in the protocol, that’s where he is.

Q: When did it get diagnosed as a concussion?

A: It’s been a continuous process. He won’t be able to do anything until he meets all the conditions.

Q: Given how the games unfolded over the weekend and where you are now, what was your message to the team when they came back this morning?

A: Well, obviously the division race is the way it was when we left. We have a divisional foe in the Redskins this week, which is very important. But we’ve got to take care of our own business.

Q: It’s only one practice, but how did Hakeem Nicks look out there?

A: He’s energetic, he looked good. Kidded around with him a little bit. He did fine for a guy that’s just trying to study and pick up the signals and all of those things. He did okay.

Q: What do you think he can bring to this team at this point?

A: Veteran experience, catcher, outstanding hands, he’ll work very hard. He’s excited about being here. He’s missed the opportunity to compete, so all of those things he’ll bring to our practices and our games.

Q: He’s only 26 years old, which is crazy because a lot of people almost write about him being done. Do you think he can be the same player he was?

A: To be honest with you, I don’t think there’s any question about that part of it. He is a young man and he does miss it and he has worked very hard to stay in shape. We knew that when he worked out here the first time. Yeah, I’m hoping that’s exactly what it will be.

Q: Was today anything to do with the Redskins or just to getting back in shape?

A: No, it was just to come back and get our minds back into what we’re doing, the same thing we always do when there’s a break.

Q: How much do you think Prince Amukamara can add to the defense?

A: I think he can add a lot. He’s a good player and he’s demonstrated that over the years. He’ll hang in there, he’s done a nice job of that. Everybody gets beat on a route once in a while, but he hangs in there and he keeps battling away. He has a strong physical presence, so I think there’s no doubt he’ll add tremendously.

Q: Do you think he can help balance out the defense, too? When they have DRC on one side, it seems like they try to pick on the other side.

A: I think that hopefully is what we’re going to get, is outstanding play on both sides.

Q: And because it’s not a lower body injury, you think he can come right back pretty quickly?

A: I do. And he’s had a couple weeks to do that. He hasn’t tackled. Certainly there will be some things that will have to be kept in mind—you don’t want his arm getting out to the side. I think he knows how to handle that.

Q: Does he have to play with a harness on his shoulder?

A: I don’t know what they’ll do for him game time. He’s protected throughout these practices. It’s probably a preference. I’m not sure what the medical people will say. If they recommend it, then he’ll wear it.

Q: Does he have full range of motion without it or is it something he’s just going to have to deal with?

A: He has the medical clearance to play. I can’t get into percentages with you.

Q: During the bye week, did you self-evaluate and look at the red zone?

A: Yes. Oh yeah, oh yeah. Tremendous amount of time spent on it and a tremendous amount of thoughts based on it. Not only on the offensive side, but on the defensive side, as well. The way we research ourselves is to look at what we call “worst to best” and that’s where all our attention goes and that’s where our time is spent. When the players return, they get the benefit of not only the visual by the tape but the numbers and all the things that go with it. But it’s also for the coaches, not just for the players. Yeah, we jump hard into that.

Q: What did you see when you looked at your safeties and what can they do to get better moving forward?

A: Yeah, we can do a lot better. We can perform much better, we can take care of the middle of the field better—not only the safeties, but the linebackers etc. It has been a weak spot and we’ve got to do a better job there.

Q: It was about 15-20 years ago that everyone started talking about “high and tight” for ball carriers. Have there been other changes in the way that guys carry the ball and protect against fumbles?

A: I don’t know if it’s 15 years ago; that’s a term we grabbed a long time ago. Frank Gansz was the first one I ever heard say it. We’ve benefitted from the direct example of how that works, but there’s also the other hand—the other hand has to go on the ball, too, today because, quite frankly, people, as you know, are not too worried sometimes about the tackle, they’ll take the ball first. It’s something that we’ve all got to continue to work on. It’s a basic fundamental, but it’s the difference between winning and losing many times.

Q: A day like yesterday when Washington and Philly lose again, does that maybe heighten the sense of urgency--you guys have alternated wins and losses, it seems like, the whole season—to finally pull away from these guys?

A: We’ve been trying to do that, thank you very much.

Q: Over the years you’ve brought in a bunch of guys who are former Giants. What do you get from that?

A: I’ll be point blank with you, Hakeem was the best player out there for right now, for the circumstances. Matter of fact, he was someone who we figured was in the sights of other clubs. Certainly he’s been a Giant before, it’s a different system. But we know the player, we know the young man and, quite frankly, he was, in our opinion, the best player out there.

Q: Earlier in the year you made a point of staying relevant. When you get to this point, now Thanksgiving will pass, is there another marker now? Do you bring that to your team?

A: Six-game season, that’s exactly what it is. Every game is a critical game. We are relevant and now we’ve got to do something about it. “Finish,” that word we keep using, you’ve got to finish. We’ve got to be playing at our best in all three phases with no lapses, and that’s where I’d like to see us go.

Q: Did they seem recharged after the bye and ready to go today?

A: There were some fresh legs, that’s for sure.

Sounds like  
old man : 11/23/2015 1:52 pm : link
Jerry at LG, DR at C the rest of the year; given our crackerjack medical staff.
Poor Eli :-(.
what took so long then?  
mattlawson : 11/24/2015 10:03 am : link
"A: I’ll be point blank with you, Hakeem was the best player out there for right now, for the circumstances. Matter of fact, he was someone who we figured was in the sights of other clubs. Certainly he’s been a Giant before, it’s a different system. But we know the player, we know the young man and, quite frankly, he was, in our opinion, the best player out there."
RE: what took so long then?  
ron mexico : 11/24/2015 10:17 am : link
In comment 12642014 mattlawson said:
Quote:
"A: I’ll be point blank with you, Hakeem was the best player out there for right now, for the circumstances. Matter of fact, he was someone who we figured was in the sights of other clubs. Certainly he’s been a Giant before, it’s a different system. But we know the player, we know the young man and, quite frankly, he was, in our opinion, the best player out there."


I think we weren't going to do anything until the verdict was in for Cruz

I obviously don't know much about these things,  
Curtis in VA : 11/24/2015 10:21 am : link
but how unheard of is it for a player to get injured a week before the bye week and not be properly diagnosed until after it?

Seems like quite a snafu to me.
RE: I obviously don't know much about these things,  
Randy in CT : 11/24/2015 10:23 am : link
In comment 12642036 Curtis in VA said:
Quote:
but how unheard of is it for a player to get injured a week before the bye week and not be properly diagnosed until after it?

Seems like quite a snafu to me.
"Not properly diagnosed". based on what?
RE: RE: I obviously don't know much about these things,  
Curtis in VA : 11/24/2015 10:24 am : link
In comment 12642038 Randy in CT said:
Quote:
In comment 12642036 Curtis in VA said:


Quote:


but how unheard of is it for a player to get injured a week before the bye week and not be properly diagnosed until after it?

Seems like quite a snafu to me.

"Not properly diagnosed". based on what?


Well, it was my understanding that he was seen before and there was nothing about a concussion. I could be wrong.
Perhaps during the Bye  
Randy in CT : 11/24/2015 10:28 am : link
you don't have to make such announcements and now that it is game week you do?
RE: Perhaps during the Bye  
Curtis in VA : 11/24/2015 10:32 am : link
In comment 12642046 Randy in CT said:
Quote:
you don't have to make such announcements and now that it is game week you do?


Well, a couple weeks ago it was said that he was suffering from the effects of dehydration and "not a concussion."

Quote:
The Giants thought they might be without starting LG Justin Pugh on Sunday after he complained of headaches for the past few days, but tests by the team's doctors as well as an independent neurologist concluded that he is suffering from the effects of dehydration and the heat from last weekend's trip to Tampa, not a concussion.


http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/justin-pugh-suffering-from-effects-of-dehydration-not-concussion-1.11114284

Is this concussion protocol new news or do I have my dates confused?
He was definitely examined for concussion protocol last week before NE  
GMenLTS : 11/24/2015 10:32 am : link
and then dehydration was cited after that.

I just don't understand why absolutely every injury or diagnoses, we always have to point to the medical staff as screwing up. In the real world of medical science, don't misdiagnoses or complications arise wherever and whever?

I guess people have to take their anger out on someone.
RE: He was definitely examined for concussion protocol last week before NE  
Curtis in VA : 11/24/2015 10:35 am : link
In comment 12642055 GMenLTS said:
Quote:
and then dehydration was cited after that.

I just don't understand why absolutely every injury or diagnoses, we always have to point to the medical staff as screwing up. In the real world of medical science, don't misdiagnoses or complications arise wherever and whever?

I guess people have to take their anger out on someone.


Well, a misdiagnosis is a medical screw up. I would think misdiagnosing a concussion would be a pretty big deal. And I'm not angry about it. I would be if I was Pugh though.
except again, there's no certainties yet  
GMenLTS : 11/24/2015 10:40 am : link
and even if there was, diagnoses are fluid.

As for us misdiagnosing a concussion, we don't know that's what happened yet. And according to your link, an independent neurologist was the one that made that call.

Not the giants staff like everyone is so quick to jump on.
RE: except again, there's no certainties yet  
Curtis in VA : 11/24/2015 10:49 am : link
In comment 12642073 GMenLTS said:
Quote:
and even if there was, diagnoses are fluid.

As for us misdiagnosing a concussion, we don't know that's what happened yet. And according to your link, an independent neurologist was the one that made that call.

Not the giants staff like everyone is so quick to jump on.


Well thats sort of what I was asking for. Clarification. I wasn't jumping on anyone. I left an opening there for correction.
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