New Giants coach Pat Shurmur took a timeout during his first week on the job for some Q&A with Steve Serby.
Q: Describe the responsibility of being the head coach of this franchise.
A: It crystallized when I walked by the Lombardi Trophies. And I feel the overachiever in me wants to be the coach of the team that gets back there again.
Q: Why will you win? Why will you be successful?
A: ’Cause we’re gonna bring the right people into the building that can get that done.
Q: What are the traits of the right people?
A: We’re going to bring people in the building that love football, and are willing to do their jobs well.
Q: What would be your message to Giants fans about Pat Shurmur?
A: I’m a career coach, and I’m committed to take us where we need to go.
Q: Are you a tough guy when you have to be?
A: Oh yeah. That’s the root of me. I’ve just learned how to be calm (smile).
Q: Is it safe to say a fire burns within you that we don’t see on the outside?
A: That’s safe to say. Over the years working with quarterbacks, I’ve learned that because their emotions are going all over the place, that I really do believe you have to approach them with a calm demeanor, so that you can either help them improve, or help them feel like there’s a calm place. And the other thing I do believe: Sometimes the loudest guy in the room is not the toughest one. I’ve always believed that. So in any setting, sometimes the guy not saying much? Might be the guy you need to go listen to.
Q: How are you going to impose discipline on a team that appeared out of control at times last season?
A: I think we need to all have conversations. We need to determine No. 1, as an organization, what the Giants Way is. We need to tell the players about it, and keep encouraging them to believe it, and do it that way.
Q: What is your definition of what the Giants Way should be?
A: Tough, disciplined, hard-nosed football. Where guys know how to play that way, but then also make enough plays to win games.
Q: What does it take to be a quarterback whisperer?
A: I don’t know what that is, quite frankly. Very rarely do we ever whisper to anyone. I think what’s important, when you’re working with quarterbacks, is to always ask them what they saw, and why they did what they did, and then put together an offense or a passing game that fits their skill set.
Q: Describe the ideal Pat Shurmur football player.
A: Tough … physical … gritty … and a guy that can make a play at the most critical time.
Q: What do you want the on-field mentality of your team to be?
A: I want to be physical and tough, and I want the opponents to walk away saying, “These guys are hard to beat.”
Q: How do you motivate?
A: I try to inspire the player to get the best out of himself. And so it comes by encouraging him to do that.
Q: How would you describe your leadership style?
A: Genuine. I feel like I’m a good listener. I approach every situation with the idea that there’s something to learn from it. And I’m certainly confident enough to direct when necessary.
Q: What are your initials thoughts about Odell Beckham Jr.?
A: I think he’s probably … as good a ball skills as anybody in our game.
Q: When will you sit down with him?
A: Soon.
Q: What do you want to hear from him, or what do you want to tell him?
A: I don’t know what to expect. What I want to hear is he wants to be the best receiver he can be. And that we’re gonna try to get that done together.
Q: How do you deal with his emotional outbursts on the field?
A: I think we gotta try to head that off.
Q: How do you do that?
A: Coming to an understanding that’s not a way that the Giants want to do business.
Q: Eli Manning?
A: I’ve watched him move around, and I think his body’s still good.
Q: You were an offensive lineman. What do you look for in an offensive lineman?
A: You need guys that are tough and competitive, can move their feet. That have enough size to be able to anchor down against a defender, that then have the athleticism to recover when a defender gets on their edge.
Q: What have you learned about general manager Dave Gettleman?
A: Dave Gettleman loves to evaluate offensive linemen, and has made a commitment to help me try to solidify that group.
Q: How do you deal with the pressure of the job?
A: Just keep doing my job, and try to just get better every day.
Q: What drives you?
A: I just want to excel at everything I do. I want to try to be the very best at whatever I try to do.
Q: How devastating was it when your father Joe passed away from lung cancer in 1996?
A: It was one of the days I’ll never forget. I was actually there when he took his last breath. He was probably the most admired person in my life. He had a great sense, and I think as genuine as my personality could be, he was a tough guy that had a real good human spirit (eyes tear up).
Q: Tell me about your mother Barbara.
A: Even in my 50s, she feels like she’s protecting me. She’s always looked after us. Nobody was better than her kids, and she’s done everything to protect us.
Q: Describe your Uncle Fritz.
A: He was a great inspiration to me. I loved the way he coached the game. He could boil it down to its simplest components.
Q: Favorite sayings?
A: I don’t know who once said it before but I tell the fellas, “Hey, let’s make it look like football (smile).”
Q: Whatever comes to your mind: Wes Wishart.
A: High school coach. Calls me every Sunday, before the game. Hasn’t missed.
Q: What does he tell you?
A: Good luck, God bless.
Q: Andy Reid.
A: Organized … outstanding leader … actually great sense of humor.
Q: Mike Zimmer.
A: Tough, driven. But again, people don’t know this about him, an outstanding sense of humor.
Q: Nick Saban.
A: He’s one of the best of the best.
Q: Chip Kelly.
A: Out-of-the-box thinker. The only bad answer is, “We’ve always done it this way.”
Q: Former Michigan State coach George Perles.
A: It’s all about toughness. Period.
Q: He’s compared you to Chuck Noll.
A: Obviously I have a lot of respect for Chuck Noll because of who he was as a person as well. I’m honored by that comparison.
Q: Bill Parcells.
A: I don’t know Bill that well, quite frankly. But when I think of him, I do associate him with the New York Giants.
Q: Tom Coughlin.
A: We became close in kind of a head coach-to-head coach way. I have huge admiration for him.
Q: Pat Shurmur.
A: The new head coach of the New York Football Giants (laugh).
Q: You were quarterbacks coach with the Eagles for the 24-21 Super Bowl XXXIX loss to the Patriots.
A: Disappointed we lost. Had a chance to win.
Q: Terrell Owens.
A: His skill and ability was just off the charts. And I felt like he was an unbelievable competitor.
Q: What was it like being cut by the Packers, after going undrafted in 1988?
A: Time to move on (smile).
Q: It was the end of a dream, right?
A: Yeah, but it’s like anything — I was an overachiever as a player, and it was just time to move on.
Q: Your son Kyle is a junior at Vanderbilt. How good of a quarterback is he going to be?
A: I think he’s a very good quarterback … that’s a dad talking (smile). I think he’s tough and competitive. He loves the game. He knows how to throw the ball. So we’ll see how far that takes him.
Q: Since you’ve coached with the Eagles, will you be rooting for them in the Super Bowl?
A: I’ve made it a practice, when the Super Bowl’s being played, I just watch it (smile).
Q: Tom Brady.
A: He’s the best of all time at the position. You have to have to factor in his level of play, but then his ability to lead … and win … and win at the highest level, year after year. That’s hard to argue with.
Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire?
A: I’m sure Michael Jordan is one. He was the best of the best.
Q: Coaches or managers in other sports you admire?
A: Sparky Anderson with the Tigers, growing up.
Q: Boyhood idol?
A: I had a poster on my wall — Hank Aaron. When the Tigers played the Red Sox — my middle name’s Carl — I would always try to get the Red Sox tickets to see Carl Yastrzemski.
Q: How did you propose to your wife, Jennifer?
A: We went and picked berries, actually. It was at a time when her mom and dad lived in Jersey. I just asked her. Nothing of note (smile).
Q: Hobbies?
A: I like to golf and fish.
Q: Handicap?
A: 13. So not good.
Q: Do you think Tiger Woods will make it all the way back?
A: I’m hoping so.
Q: Favorite New York City things?
A: I like visiting the Statue of Liberty. And I loved going to Yankee Stadium.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Ernest Hemingway — “The Old Man and the Sea” is my favorite book of all time — Jesus, Ben Franklin.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Caddyshack.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Marlon Brando.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Charlize Theron.
Q: Favorite entertainer/singer?
A: U2.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Steak.
Q: Do you have a timetable as to when this thing will be turned around?
A: No timetable. No predictions.