NY Giants head coach Joe Judge made an impressive addition to his coaching staff Monday, hiring former Louisiana Rajin Cajuns offensive line coach Rob Sale as offensive line coach to replace Dave DeGuglielmo.
Sale, 41, is the latest addition to the Giants‘ staff to have had prior experience working alongside Judge. Both Judge and Sale were in Tuscaloosa as members of Nick Saban’s staff with the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2009-2011, with Sale hired by Saban in 2007.
“Rob is one hell of a coach,” offensive line trainer Duke Manyweather tells GMenHQ. “What he did at Louisiana has been tremendous. They’ve had really well coached lines. He’s a guy who has really helped develop players. I have the utmost respect for how he goes about his business as a coach, as a man, and as an overall developer.”
News of Sale’s hiring was first reported by the NFL Network.
As the NY Giants aim to fortify the offensive line in front of quarterback Daniel Jones and open up running lanes for running back Saquon Barkley, Sale’s recent track record offers reason for optimism.
Last season, the Cajuns averaged 5.5 yards per rushing attempt and only allowed nine total sacks.
During his career, to date entirely at the high school and college level, Sale has coached the offensive line, been a run-game coordinator at Arizona State, as well as been an offensive coordinator or co-offensive coordinator at Louisiana and McNeese State.
Sale will be tasked with getting No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Andrew Thomas, to consistently play up to his potential as well as figure out long-term solutions at right tackle, center, and the two guard positions.
Judge likely hopes that his third offensive line coach sticks around longer than his two prior hires for the position, after Marc Colombo was dismissed back on Nov. 20, and DeGuglielmo left the organization to become the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs offensive line coach earlier this offseason.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.