INDIANAPOLIS — Let’s get this out of the way right away: Ben McAdoo wore a plain black golf shirt and khakis, both fitting him as if they were custom-made.
“I tried to go as ‘Plain Jane’ as I could go,’’ McAdoo said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
No ill-fitting, oversized suit for him this time after the new Giants coach was the center of a social-media frenzy for the attire he wore at his introductory press conference. There will be growing pains in all sorts of ways for McAdoo, 38, a first-time head coach after two years as Tom Coughlin’s offensive coordinator with the Giants.
“It’s really large-scale leadership,’’ McAdoo said. “You take a look at things — you do things on a smaller scale as a position coach, you’re the head coach of your position. And then as a coordinator, you’re the head coach of the offense. So now, you’ve got the chance to work with different people in a variety of areas, and you have the chance to wrap your hands around the entire team.’’
One of the ways a new head coach puts his fingerprints on his team is by arranging the schedule, and McAdoo is making a significant change from the way Coughlin — and virtually every other NFL head coach other than Chip Kelly — operates. McAdoo will have the players off on Mondays and in the building on Tuesdays. Virtually every other team has the players in on Mondays and off on Tuesdays.
“What you see on Sundays is there’s a variety of different start times,’’ McAdoo said. “With all the traveling and the changes in the scheduling it’ll have a chance for us to be more consistent in our scheduling, No. 1. It’ll help with recovery, No. 2. It’ll help with sleep, which is probably one of the most important things that are related to injuries and staying healthy. And it’ll give us a little bit of a chance to get a jump-start on the next opponent.
“We hope it provides a spark.’’
Some McAdoo tidbits:
- Where re-signing Robert Ayers and Prince Amukamara ranks on the priority list: “I don’t know that there is a priority list.’’
- On re-signing Rueben Randle: “You take a look at guys who are currently in your building, you take a look at guys who aren’t in your building and you make the decision from there. At this point in time it’s a little early to tell.’’
- On Andre Williams and his struggles at running back: “I think a lot of people may be willing to give up on Andre. I think it may be early for that.’’
- On how much of a change there will be around the Giants without Coughlin: “As I’ve said before, I’m not gonna try to be Tom. I’m not Tom. He’s already taken. But we’re gonna evolve a little bit.’’
- On whether seeing Coughlin in the team facility is awkward: “Not awkward at all. I respect Tom, have talked to him a few different times since he left and I feel we have a strong relationship. I’m gonna bounce ideas off of Tom as long as I can bounce ideas off of Tom.’’