Courtesy: NY Post
For the first time since his inaugural season as Head Coach of the New York Giants in 2004, Tom Coughlin finds himself having to bounce back from a sub .500, season. Along with that comes question marks to not only the players that shape the roster but the men entrusted by Coughlin to convey his message on an individual basis. One of those men, Kevin Gilbride a trusted Coughlin devotee since taking over as the team’s Offensive Coordinator in 2007, has already announced his retirement. Sure, injuries across the offensive line and at running back plagued the team throughout but that is something nearly every team has to deal with. Making adjustments is part of the job. Yet Gilbride stubbornly chose to call the same infuriating plays week in and week out.
Upon the completion of the regular season Giants co-owner John Mara was quoted saying “I think our offense is broken right now. We need to fix that,” a clear indictment of the job done by Gilbride and the offense he lead. Furthermore Mara question why it had taken three years for seldom used Jerrel Jernigan could play. A valid question posed by Mara especially during a season in which former star receiver Hakeem Nicks amassed a grand total of zero touchdowns. Something the shifty receiver did three times (2 receiving /1 rushing) in the season’s final two weeks.
This isn’t only about Gilbride though. Perry Fewell’s defense was anything but stout until an October trade with the Carolina Panthers that landed them former 1st team All Pro, Jon Beason who was available for an undisclosed draft pick in 2014 due to Carolina’s belief that Beason had little left to offer after rupturing his Achilles in 2011 followed by microfracture knee surgery last October. This, if nothing else was an admission by Giants GM, Jerry Reese that he had undervalued the position over the last few years constantly using a rotisserie of unproven or oft injured defenders with the hope that the defensive line would make up for it by bombarding the quarterback. The last above average linebacker New York deployed was Antonio Pierce in 2009.
The specialty teams unit coached by Tom Quinn was downright abysmal. New York ranked towards the bottom of the league in nearly every statistical category, all the while allowing multiple touchdowns and accumulating a multitude of penalties. Damontre Moore was seemingly the only player that stood out on the unit.
Coughlin has made it known that he still has the desire to coach this team and has 1 year remaining on his current deal. Mara has previously said that the decision to return would be solely up to Coach Coughlin. Fewell’s job also seems to be safe following its midseason turnaround but Washington has asked the Giants for permission to interview him for their vacant head coaching position. The Giants will grant Fewell the opportunity to interview.
Jerry Reese is now on the clock in what promises to be the most important off season of the last decade.
Here’s a short list of candidates to replace Kevin Gilbride.
Ken Whisenhunt– Chargers Offensive Coordinator
Mike Sullivan– Former Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator & Giants QB Coach (2010)
Gary Kubiak– Former Texans Head Coach
Hue Jackson– Bengals Assistant Coach
David Cutcliffe– Duke Head Coach
Jim Caldwell– Ravens Offensive Coordinator
Positions of need heading into the offseason.
Offensive Line
Linebacker
Tight End
Wilson Caicedo:PureSportsNY