Do Giants have a Jason Garrett-Freddie Kitchens problem?
When offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss some time last season, Freddie Kitchens stepped in as the New York Giants play-caller. This offseason, Kitchens was promoted from tight ends coach to senior offensive assistant, essentially overseeing the entire group including the aforementioned Garrett. That really depends on how you choose to read the tea leaves. Earlier this week, Garrett was asked about the offensive coaching staff changes and how that impacts things. Heres how his answer was interpreted by Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News:  Garrett responded by naming every coach but one. . . . Kitchens name was conspicuously omitted. Whether Garrett chooses to publicly discuss it or not, however, Kitchens is clearly heavily involved on the offensive side of the ball for the Giants in Joe Judges second season. As always, context is key and its important to evaluate the entire exchange between Garrett and the beat reporters. Below is the question and answer word-for-word. Q. You guys have thrown a lot of bodies, new coaches, Pat Flaherty joins at the offensive line in particular. Freddie Kitchens working hand-in-hand with you. JASON GARRETT: I think the guys have done a really good job responding to it, and obviously Pat Flaherty has coached in this league for a long time. Hes a great coach and hes been a great addition to our staff. But Ben Wilkerson is still here as the assistant offensive line coach and exciting to have Rob Sale here as well. Seems like the guys have done a good job picking up some of the new techniques that we are trying to teach or some of the different things we are trying to do with our scheme and the guys have handled it well. Excited to be out on the field with our guys every day and you see them making progress really every time we go out there. Although Kitchens was mentioned as part of the reporters initial statement, the actual question was specific to the offensive line. Accordingly, Garretts answer was also specific to the offensive line and the coaches that oversee that unit. Still, Kitchens had been mentioned and subsequently ignored by Garrett in his response. You be the judge.