EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – A Wednesday evening practice in the middle of training camp is not usually a milestone event for an NFL head coach, but the Giants' workout tonight in MetLife Stadium will be a big deal for Joe Judge.
For the first time in Judge's tenure, his team will perform in front of his fans in a public practice. Giants fans last saw the team in person in their home stadium in the 2019 season finale on Dec. 29 - 591 days ago.
"I've thought definitely in terms of the excitement we're going to have to go out there and see fans," Judge said in his daily news conference, six hours before the 6 p.m. start to practice. "It's a practice, the formula of a practice will be like what you guys have seen already on the practice fields at Quest. However, it is going to be different. It's our first opportunity – this and the Newark trip we did a couple weeks ago – as far as being in front of fans, but the first time under the lights with fans.
"Look, there's going to be a lot of natural excitement from the coaches and players tonight, there's going to be a lot of raised intensity. One thing we're going to be very conscious of as coaches throughout this practice is making sure we watch our guys, making sure we control the tempo and the volume of practice. We understand there's going to be a raised level of excitement for these guys, we've got to make sure we keep them in the moment and in the flow of things, but, look, the experience tonight of being in front of fans, we're all looking forward to it. It's also going to be a practice for us."
The fans will have several more opportunities to see the Giants in the next month: the preseason opener Saturday night against the Jets, the Aug. 29 preseason finale vs. New England and the Sept. 12 regular-season opener vs. the Denver Broncos.
That raises the larger question of how much will the fans help the Giants enjoy a home field advantage this year? Recent Giants teams have not played as well at home as they would have liked. In 2020, MetLife was empty for each of their eight home games because of the pandemic. The Giants were 3-5 after finishing 2-6 at home in each of the previous six seasons. Since MetLife opened in 2010, the Giants are 41-47 in regular-season home games, plus 1-1 as the visiting team and 1-0 in the playoffs.
Judge was asked today what it takes to "overcome what's been a pretty lackluster home record" for the Giants recently.
"It just takes executing better than the other team," he said. "In terms of anything that's happened in the past, that's not relevant to this year, it's not relevant to any game we're going to play this year. I would say that obviously when I became involved with this job, you start thinking about the history of this organization and the area of the fan base. There's a reason this is such a paramount organization in the National Football League and that really starts with the fans. I mean, the game is about the players, it's about the fans, that's really what the connection is.
"You get what you earn, and we have to earn their respect."
Linebacker and defensive captain Blake Martinez joined the Giants last year after four seasons in Green Bay. The Packers have long had one of the NFL's strongest home field advantages in Lambeau Field – though the Giants won there on the way to Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.
"I think every single team has a kind of home field advantage to it," Martinez said. "I think it all depends on the kind of ebbs and flows of the game. If you're out there dominating, scoring a lot of points, holding teams to very few points, the fans are going to back you and they're going to kind of make that homefield advantage that much more.
"Green Bay was an awesome franchise, but this place is just as historic, and I've heard nothing but positive things about the fans. I'm just excited to get out there today and see everybody out there wearing their jerseys screaming and yelling. It's going to be special."
Judge and the players said it's their responsibility to energize the fans, not the other way around.
"Obviously, we've got to come out and play our brand of football, but that starts here in training camp, not looking too far ahead," safety Jabrill Peppers said. "We get to practice in front of the fans today, give them a preview of the product we hope they can be proud of on Sundays or whenever we play. But that's where our mind is right now. We take care of what we've gotta take care of in training camp and everything else will be fine."
"Look, you want to win every game you play and obviously you want to defend your home turf," Judge said. "I'd say in terms of home field advantage, the advantage always goes to the team that plays and executes better on that Sunday. So, while it can be an aid for you with obviously the energy and excitement provided by your fans, you've got to show up as players and coaches, do your best job and make sure you outperform the opponent."
Giants fans expect nothing less.
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