Dave Gettleman: Giants Hired 'Computer Folks' to Rebuild Scouting Department
By Liam McKeone
The Giants decided to retain Dave Gettleman after firing head coach Pat Shurmur on the NFL's Black Monday. This was a questionable decision, but one that had the backing of the ownership group. It also had the backing of some media members, including Albert Breer, who tweeted out yesterday morning that, to Gettleman's credit, he has not lived up to his reputation as a football luddite and has "modernized" New York's scouting department.
To his credit, and contrary to popular belief, Dave Gettleman has made a serious effort to modernize the Giants scouting department over the last 2 years. So the main thing here isn't him.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 30, 2019
Gettleman met with the media today to discuss the immediate future of the franchise that is, for now, under his sole supervision. In the process, he provided a helpful explanation of just how the Giants have modernized their approach to football.
gettleman says they've hired "computer folks" and they're rebuilding their scouting process
— charles (ronald) mcdonald (@FourVerts) December 31, 2019
Lest we forget, it's been less than five months since Gettleman mocked analytics as a concept when criticized for selecting Saquon Barkley second overall. From an SI profile with Jonathan Jones:
"“If that makes me a hater of analytics, because the analytic people say [you can plug and play whomever at running back], you can’t!,” Gettleman says. “If that’s the reasoning, that I’ve become a doddering old fool that hates analytics … that’s O.K.”"
Gettleman actually addressed this, and said he was kidding. Which seems dubious.
Dave Gettleman on mocking analytics after the 2018 draft: "I did that kiddingly. You learn quickly there's no throwaway lines here. ... In terms of analytics and devaluing the running backs: Saquon's special. He's an outlier. I should've said that."
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) December 31, 2019
Furthermore, he claims to have changed his tune after meeting with "a big analytics guy." I would like to meet this man.
"I know this is going to sound crazy, but I met with a big analytics guy. I'm gonna learn from my mistakes."
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) December 31, 2019
-- #Giants GM Dave Gettleman, who said he plans to talk to other GMs in and around the league
Giants fans have lots to look forward to!