O-line coach of the year Sale lands job with Giants
LAFAYETTE, La. (BVM) — The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have an opening on their coaching staff. Yesterday, it was reported that offensive line coach Rob Sale would be leaving the Bayou State to become the offensive line coach for the New York Giants.
The #Giants are hiring UL Ragin' Cajuns offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Rob Sale as their new OL coach, source said. A key position.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 8, 2021
Sale joined UL’s coaching staff in 2018 and ever since has played a crucial role in the Ragin’ Cajun run game’s success. It showed this past season as UL finished with a 10-1 overall record and rose to No. 19 in the college football rankings.
On Monday, Sale and the late D.J. Looney were honored by Football Scoop as offensive line coaches of the year for the 2020-21 season.
👊 No one more deserving!@CoachRobSale and the late D.J. Looney have been named the @FootballScoop Offensive Line Coaches of the Year.#cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/jTdpbzPXIc
— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) February 8, 2021
With Sale, the offensive line was the highest-ranked Group of 5 teams according to Pro Football Focus. The five men up front gave up only 3.64 tackles for loss per game, and they protected their quarterback, only giving up 0.82 sacks per game.
It wasn’t just the pass game that Sale helped improve either. One year after setting a school record for most rushing yards in a season (3,604 yards) his O-line finished 21st in the national rankings following the 2020-21 season. The Cajuns rushed for 213 yards per game.
Not only did Sale’s offensive line have success at the college level, but last year he saw two of his players get drafted. Robert Hunt was taken in the second round by the Miami Dolphins and Kevin Dotson was taken in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now Sale will join a New York Giants squad that struggled the past season. PFF ranked the Giants offensive line 31st in the NFL. It’s a young offensive line headlined by 2020 first-round pick Andre Thomas from Georgia and Shane Lemieux, who played at Oregon.
Sale is also the second UL coach on the Giants’ staff. Tyke Tolbert serves as the wide receivers coach. It is an exciting time for the Louisiana of Lafayette and the New York Giants. Look for Sale and the Giants’ offensive line to improve significantly in the 2021 season.
