National Football League

Despite change at top, Giants players like continuity

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:35 p.m. ET

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Running back Rashad Jennings and center Weston Richburg may not know what the future holds for the Giants, but they are delighted with the present.

Despite a changeover from Tom Coughlin to Ben McAdoo in the head coaching spot, some new assistants, and a new strength regimen under the just-hired Aaron Wellman, not a lot has changed overall.

And that's fine with two of the offense's leaders.

''Obviously we have a majority of the same coaching staff,'' Jennings said. ''We're fortunate to have the leadership of Ben McAdoo. He's been in-house. He understands the architecture of the whole team, and he's not coming in and blow up the whole team. Just to continue the successes of last year is key.''

McAdoo was, in large part, hired to succeed Coughlin in order to maintain a sense of continuity, a quality the franchise has long valued. As the offense approaches its third year in McAdoo's West Coast-style scheme - Coughlin hired him in 2014 to bring a new look to a stagnant unit - both Jennings and Richburg see an opportunity to build on the accomplishments of the past two seasons.

''It's evolution, not revolution,'' Jennings said.

''We should be able to install a few more wrinkles,'' Richburg said. ''We're going into our third year with the same offense, so we should get a little more creative with some of the things we do.''

Jennings and Richburg just happen to be members of two of the more stable parts of the offense. For Jennings, free-agent acquisition Bobby Rainey is the only newcomer on a five-man depth chart that includes Andre Williams, Shane Vereen, and Orleans Darkwa.

That chart could expand again if general manager Jerry Reese chooses Ohio State's rushing stud Ezekiel Elliott with his 10th overall pick in next week's draft. But Jennings said regardless of whether Elliott fits into Reese's philosophy of picking the ''best available'' player, the presence of another running back won't change the veteran lead rusher's approach.

''I've got a lot to prove,'' said Jennings, whose team-high 863-yard performance lagged until the final four games last season. ''If it takes another person to come into the room to make my energy level go up, I should just go anyway.''

The Giants could also decide to go with an offensive tackle, as Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley and Michigan State's Jack Conklin are both projected as potential top-10 picks.

But Richburg said he'd be happy sticking with his current linemates, which include a left side of Ereck Flowers and Justin Pugh, and a right side of Marshall Newhouse and John Jerry.

''We've got five players we're very comfortable with,'' Richburg said. ''I can't speculate on what's going to happen in the draft right now. But I really like the guys we've got on the offensive line right now. ... With the mindset we have in that room, I think we can do good things.''

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NOTES: Reese was noncommittal about his potential interest in former Carolina cornerback Josh Norman, who famously tangled with Odell Beckham, Jr. in last year's meeting. The Panthers stripped Norman of the franchise tag Wednesday, making him a free agent. ''We investigate everything,'' Reese said. ... Reese also indicated the Giants were pleased with the progress of wide receiver Victor Cruz as he continues to work his way back from patellar tendon and calf surgery that sidelined him the past year and a half. ''So far, so good,'' Reese said. ''I've watched him outside. We'll take it easy with him, and hopefully he'll be full-go by training camp.''

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