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Giants STC Thomas McGaughey Turns Page on Blocked Field Goal Fiasco

Originally posted on FanNation Giants Country
By Patricia Traina | Last updated 9/14/23

New York Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey was asked five times about what happened on the field goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown by the Dallas Cowboys, setting the stage for what would be a long evening for the team in a 40-0 embarrassing defeat.

Unfortunately, McGaghey wasn't much in the mood to provide clarity.

"I mean, they made a play, and we are on to Arizona," he said Thursday when asked about it the first time. "I kind of turned the page on that on Monday afternoon."

McGaughey then answered four follow-up questions pretty much the same way, noting that the team would "learn from it" and "get better."

By now, the breakdown of the play is well known, but for those who missed it, the Cowboys special teams, coached by John "Bones" Fassel (son of the late Jim Fassel), overloaded one side of the formation. Joshua Ezeudu and Ben Bredeson were on the side, and it looked like Ezeudu had to pick which of two men to block.

Ezeudu has to stab with his left arm, protect inside out then go to the outside man. Bad technique! pic.twitter.com/PmJlhIIM2O
— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) September 11, 2023

Ezeudu chose the outside man, while the inside defender managed to jump through the hole to block the attempt.

McGaughey's testiness when questioned about the play is somewhat out of character for him. But that said, the Giants' special teams of late--and in particular the coverage units--have produced at least one clunker going back to the first preseason game when they gave up a punt return for a touchdown in a loss to the Lions.

In his annual year-end ranking of all 32 NFL special teams units, long-time NFL reporter Rick Gosselin had the Giants special teams unit finishing 28th last season.

"The most important thing is just regrouping, going back, and trying to figure out what you did wrong, how you did it. Reevaluate everything that you are doing and just make sure it doesn’t happen again," McGaughey said when asked about the sense of urgency from the coaches regarding coming off the clunker Sunday night.

"You’ve got to have a sense urgency about how you prepare and make sure that you are on top of the little, small details of your job so that stuff doesn’t happen."

This article first appeared on FanNation Giants Country and was syndicated with permission.

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