As a former NFL safety and scout with the Redskins and Eagles, Louis Riddick not only has a strong background in personnel, but has particularly keen insight when it comes to coaches and coaching prospects.
Riddick, currently a football analyst for ESPN, gave The Post his rundown of the top Giants candidates:
Mike Smith,
former Falcons coach
“I know coaches who have worked for Mike Smith who really do respect him. Mike comes off to me as kind of the opposite of Hue [Jackson]. He’s someone, not to say he’s not dynamic, but he’s someone who is kind of like everyman. He’s very self-deprecating, hard-working, doesn’t have the same kind of dynamic presence to him.
“He strikes me as the kind of guy who will be very, very successful if he gets another chance. Very level personality, he would deal with the New York media very well, not get too flustered, not get too emotional. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he was a guy Mr. Mara and Mr. Tisch gravitated to.’’
Doug Marrone,
former Bills coach
“He’s kind of a mystery to me in many ways. In a league where I have a lot of contacts, especially in the coaching arena, he’s a guy I know nothing about. That’s rare for me and that’s why I have a hard time figuring out what all the buzz is about him and why he’s someone everyone is interviewing.’’
Ben McAdoo,
Giants offensive coordinator
“A relationship-driven coach, which I think is huge. This guy really does earn the respect of the players he coaches, really has a great impact in their confidence and their belief that they can go out and play even above and beyond what they even thought they would. I think special coaches have that trait. Guys like Andy Reid, Pete Carroll, they’re really specialists in that area. I played for Bill Belichick and Nick Saban, they get you play above and beyond anything you thought you could do but they do it a different way. Those guys are very hard on you, demand a lot from you, guys like Pete Carroll and Andy Reid take a different approach, and that’s what I heard about coach McAdoo. He is really able to make that connection with you on a one-to-one basis.’’
Others
Riddick on Hue Jackson (hired Wednesday by the Browns, Riddick worked with Jackson with the Redskins): “He’s not for everyone, but he’s a damn good football coach and deserving of a head-coaching opportunity.’’
Riddick on Alabama coach Nick Saban (Riddick played for Saban in Cleveland): “I would have my plane gassed up and in down in Tuscaloosa going ‘Will you talk to me?’ If I was a GM, I was a team president, I was an owner, I would definitely make the call.’’
And the winner is?
“I’m going to go with coach McAdoo, because of the relationships, you have more information to base your decision on,’’ Riddick said. “You know Eli [Manning] is in the twilight of his career. You don’t want to waste those years trying to get him comfortable with someone else. You know you’re not going to be able to retain him as an offensive coordinator when other coaches are coming, you don’t want to saddle a new head coach with that situation or force a guy to keep coaches.
“And he could be the next Andy Reid. He could be that next superstar young coach who you can have around for 10, 12 years, and that’s really what the Giants are like. If you are going to take a chance on someone, take a chance on someone you know a lot about.’’