Tight Ends Coach Freddie Kitchens -- August 13, 2020

Q: Can you talk about your quick journey here with the Giants? Head coach, what you learned, what you know more about yourself, and what you can take from that experience and maybe help Joe Judge, who’s a first-year head coach? A: I gained a lot of experience last year. I’m really fortunate to have gotten that experience. I’m looking forward to bringing everything, not just last year, but my previous years of coaching. Anything Joe needs or any questions he asks, all I can give him is my experience from that. All of us have had experiences along the way, some good, some bad. Joe’s done a great job surrounding himself with people that he trusts, that he can ask questions to, and will give him honest answers.

Q: Your experience last year as a head coach, some good, some bad? What was the ratio there you would say? A: I don’t want to put figures on anything. I enjoyed my time and the opportunity in Cleveland. I appreciate the opportunity that I was given. I gained valuable experience moving forward. But I’m concentrating on the New York Football Giants, which I’m excited to be here. What a great organization. All the history that goes into the organization since 1925, I love that kind of stuff. It’s great to be here.

Q: What’s it like going back to being a single position coach and not having everyone looking at you for answers? A: I’m a football coach. I don’t really get into that kind of thing. I’m here to coach football. I’ve always been a football coach. I don’t get into that sort of thing. I’m in charge of my own position, everyone is in charge of their positions, the coordinators do their job. It just takes everyone doing their job to be successful, and that’s what we’re going to try to do. I’m here to do a job, and that’s to coach the tight ends.

Q: How much is being a head coach again part of your aspirations? Also, what are your initial thoughts on when you see Evan Engram? A: It goes back to the way I’ve always been. I’ve always tried to stay in the moment, and right now, I’m here with the . I’m going to try to get the most out of the players that I coach and help this staff any way I can. I’m here for the team. I feel like I’ve always been like that, a team-oriented guy. As far as Evan Engram, he’s a team-oriented guy. He’s been working his tail off to get better each and every day, and he’s done a good job of just staying in the moment, like we all should be doing. Just try to get a little better each day and see where you’re at in a couple of weeks.

Q: You don’t see a head coach go to being a position coach too often from one year to the next. I’m curious was there any thought of sitting out this year? I’m just curious how you landed with the Giants and what made this the only option for you? A: Like I said, I’m a ball coach. I take pride in being a football coach, which in theory is a teacher. I love teaching, I love teaching guys. There’s no better feeling in the world of teaching someone something and watching them have success with it and see the look on their face. That’s what I take pride in doing. It just worked out perfectly that I knew Joe, I trust Joe, I know Joe’s background and what he believes in. I think we’re aligned pretty well with those sorts of things.

Q: I’m going off of memory here, but you have quite a diverse background. I think you’ve coached every position at some point in your career with the exception of offensive line. Now that you’re focused in on tight ends, which in the NFL they’re asked to do so much and know so much, can you just draw a little bit upon your experience coaching the other positions and just how that’s going to benefit you as you teach the Giants tight ends, especially in this offense? A: I think coaching nearly all the positions in the past certainly benefits me from the standpoint of knowing what the other positions are thinking and doing. But at the end of the day, any position you coach, it all starts from the ground up, and feet, hands and pad level for the most part. The basics are the same, whether you’re throwing the football or catching the football or trying to block a three technique. It’s all football. It’s all technique-oriented to get the most out of the individual player and to get the most out of themselves. They understand that. So yeah, I can carry knowledge from all the positions I’ve coached. At some point, the tight ends are going to be involved in all of the areas.

Q: Injuries have kind of derailed Evan, and I think at times have frustrated him as well, which is understandable. If he can stay healthy on the field, how good can he be? A: I think Evan is in the mindset that he should be in, and that’s just getting better today. We’re trying to stay in the moment here with every position, with every player, with every coach, and keep our head down and just work to get better each and every day. Evan has done a good job up to this point in doing that. He did a hell of a job this summer in rehabbing and getting back to where he’s at right now, and just kind of taking it day to day and getting better with his releases, his hand placement, with everything. Every aspect of Evan’s game, we want to try to get better at each and every day. Evan’s done an unbelievable job in staying focused and concentrating on, even more specific to every day, just every rep. He’s done a good job and we’re just going to stay in the moment.

Q: He has every tool, though, right? A: There are a lot of people who have a lot of tools. If the makeup is not right as far as staying in the moment, the things we’re trying to teach here, stay in the moment and get better each and every day, it doesn’t come to fruition. That’s the only thing that we’re going to try to do here, is just stay in the moment and get better with the tools that anyone has. Everybody has different sets of tools. Whatever your tools are, work to make that set better.

Q: What did you see, what intrigued you about Rysen John when you studied him in the offseason and brought him in? What are the challenges of basically starting from square one with a guy who’s learning a new position? A: Again, Rysen is the same as with our whole group. He’s trying to get better each and every day. Everyone has different starting spots, but I think Rysen has done an excellent job of coming to work every day and putting his hand down and continuing to work. It all started back in March when we started Zoom calls and stuff. He’s done a great job of learning the system, learning the offense, and continuing to enable himself to give himself the best chance to succeed in every play he takes. He’s done a good job of just working.

Q: You know , the NFL player, as well as anyone. Now you’re coaching the Giants with a young in Daniel Jones. From what you’ve seen, how would you compare those two guys as far as young QBs, how they’re growing, and how they’re developing? A: I’m not in the comparing business. I enjoyed my time there with Baker. Baker’s an exceptional player, but we have work to do here and I’d rather stay in the moment here with these guys I’m coaching right now. Unbelievable opportunity we have to go to work every day and try to get better each and every day, and that’s what I’m looking forward to. There will be a time down the road to reflect on the past. Right now, we’re staying in the moment.