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Opposing View: Giants head coach Joe Judge sees "aggressive," "downhill" and "physical" Rams special teams
A former special teams coordinator, New York Giants head coach Joe Judge knows a talented special teams unit when he sees one.
www.therams.com
A four-time First-Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection, Hekker has averaged 47.0 yards per punt in eight-plus seasons. However, he's also adept at faking punts – he's completed 13 of 22 passes in his career, including one that went for a touchdown during his 2012 rookie season with the Rams.
"As we explained to our team, you have to picture this guy really as a quarterback who can punt. He's not a punter who throws the ball," Judge said. "I've known Johnny for some time, a lot of respect for him and his game. Anyone who really studies the NFL, he's really changed the punting position in a lot of ways, and he's really been a weapon for this team to establish and maintain field position consistently."
While this is the first meeting between the Giants and the Rams since 2017, Judge isn't very far removed from the last time he faced Los Angeles, having coached in Super Bowl LIII.
"I think every team is very unique," Judge said, when asked by a reporter if that familiarity and L.A. having many of the same weapons helps at all in preparing for it. "This Rams team is not the same team they were last year or two years ago."
Indeed, the Rams are a different team – special teams personnel and coaches are also different from the group judge prepared for more than a year and a half ago – but between his own expertise and his familiarity with Bonamego, Judge will have an idea of what to expect on Sunday.
A four-time First-Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection, Hekker has averaged 47.0 yards per punt in eight-plus seasons. However, he's also adept at faking punts – he's completed 13 of 22 passes in his career, including one that went for a touchdown during his 2012 rookie season with the Rams.
"As we explained to our team, you have to picture this guy really as a quarterback who can punt. He's not a punter who throws the ball," Judge said. "I've known Johnny for some time, a lot of respect for him and his game. Anyone who really studies the NFL, he's really changed the punting position in a lot of ways, and he's really been a weapon for this team to establish and maintain field position consistently."
While this is the first meeting between the Giants and the Rams since 2017, Judge isn't very far removed from the last time he faced Los Angeles, having coached in Super Bowl LIII.
"I think every team is very unique," Judge said, when asked by a reporter if that familiarity and L.A. having many of the same weapons helps at all in preparing for it. "This Rams team is not the same team they were last year or two years ago."
Indeed, the Rams are a different team – special teams personnel and coaches are also different from the group judge prepared for more than a year and a half ago – but between his own expertise and his familiarity with Bonamego, Judge will have an idea of what to expect on Sunday.
