Feb 122024
 
Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, New York Giants (August 26, 2023)

Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll – © USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a little over a month since the ultra-disappointing 2023 season ended for the New York Giants. The decline felt worse than the actual W-L change. The Giants finished both 2022 and 2023 in third place in the NFC East, winning three fewer games with a tougher schedule, as the Giants fell from 9-7-1 in 2022 to 6-11 in 2023. It seemed worse because of the terrible 2-8 start, the uncompetitive losses, and the lack of development at quarterback and the offensive line.

For all intents and purposes, the season was all but officially over when the team blew two winnable games in October to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. After Halloween, most fans wanted to fast-forward to the offseason to see what management and the coaching staff was going to do to rectify this mess.

Free agency begins March 11-13. The Draft takes place April 25-27. But there have been significant changes in the past 30 or so days, exclusively with respect to the coaching staff. Here are the most important developments:

New Defensive Coordinator: We may never know the full story about the circus departure of Don “Wink’ Martindale and his two close associates, the Wilkins brothers from the defensive staff. It appears Martindale or one of his cronies leaked to FOX‘s Jay Glazer that there was growing friction between Martindale and Brian Daboll and that Martindale was unlikely to return. It’s important to note that this report occurred in late November right before the bye week. The Giants were 3-8 and Martindale knew he would not be asked about the report until after the bye. Slick timing. Of course, everyone eventually pleaded ignorance but the cat was out of the bag, intentionally on Wink’s part.

Why did Wink do it? Good question. It’s certainly possible and probable that he simply wanted out in order to become a defensive coordinator with another NFL team. If that was his gambit, he failed, ending up in the college ranks. Could Wink’s intentions actually been more Machiavellian? Remember, the leak came before the Giants won three of their final six games. Was Martindale scheming to convince ownership that they had to choose between him or Daboll? Wink wants to be an NFL head coach. Perhaps he mistakenly thought he saw his chance with John Mara, who had already interviewed him for the top spot back in 2020. However, Daboll has some Machiavelli in him too and called Martindale’s bluff by firing the Wilkins brothers minutes after playing it sweet and innocent at his post-season press conference. It was a pretty funny fuck-you move.

Regardless, Martindale is out. Ex-Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is in. Of the eight candidates the Giants were publicly-known to have interviewed (and there may have been more), only two had been defensive coordinators at the NFL level. The 37-year old Bowen was one of the two. Whether true or not, the popular belief is that the Giants missed out on two of their favorite targets, Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson and Buffalo Bills Linebackers Coach Bobby Babich. Because of his experience, Bowen was the safer candidate, but it remains to be seen if he was the best available.

Martindale has been overrated by many Giants fans. The rush of turnovers for a couple of months overshadowed the NFL’s 27th-ranked defense that was unable to stop the run (29th in the NFL). The unit was also 26th in scoring defense. This despite significant talent upgrades on the defensive line, linebacker, and the secondary in the offseason. Wink’s 2022 NYG defense wasn’t good either, though he had more talent/injury issues to deal with.

Despite significant injury issues and being hampered by bad Titans’ offenses, Bowen’s defenses finished 6th, 15th, and 16th in scoring defense the past three seasons. In 2023, Tennessee had the NFL’s #1 red-zone defense. Of note, their run defense finished 2nd, 1st, and 13th the past three years. In fact, no team has given up fewer rushing yards the past three seasons. In a nutshell, we should expect a defense that is tougher and more physical against the run, but also one that blitzes far less. Martindale blitzed 46 percent of defensive snaps; Bowen 20 percent. Titans fans also complained about soft coverage. How much of that had to do with Tennessee’s talent/injury issues in the secondary remains to be seen. Bowen will also be able to lean on the expertise and institutional familiarity of defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson (who has also been promoted to defensive passing game coordinator).

New Offensive Line Coach: Whether he deserved the criticism or not, most Giants fans wanted offensive line coach Bobby Johnson gone. Johnson now joins the long line of ex-NYG offensive line coaches who have not been able to turn shit into gold. Johnson has since been hired by the Commanders. Enter Carmen Bricillo, who spent the last four years with the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, coaching their respective offensive lines. It’s interesting to note that while Daboll took his sweet time in finding his new defensive and special teams coordinators, Bricillo was hired on January 11th right after his interview. It suggests that he was an early target and that he impressed in his meetings with the offensive coaching staff. The good news is that Bricillo was considered something of a miracle worker in Las Vegas as the Raiders were able to patch together competent offensive lines with limited resources and injury issues. He will also have Andrew Thomas. The challenges will be to get Evan Neal and John Michael Schmitz playing at the level expected of them while also finding two competent starting guards.

Why is the offensive line coach so high on this list? Because any Giants fan with a half a brain knows that the offensive line has been the Achilles’ heel of this team for more than a decade now. Players and coaches have come and gone. The Giants have spent premium draft picks and huge sums of free agent money on the position. Nothing has changed. Can Bricillo turn it around?

New Special Teams Coordinator: Again, whether he deserved the criticism or not, most Giants fans also wanted Thomas McGaughey gone. In two different stints with the team, McGaughey has served under Tom Coughlin, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and Brian Daboll. But too many special teams snafus finally caught up with McGaughey. He has since been hired by the Buccaneers. Enter relative unknown, 36-year old Michael Ghobrial, who has only served as a special teams assistant at the pro level with the Jets for three years. The Giants also took their time with their special teams coordinator search as Ghobrial was one of four other publicly-known candidates interviewed, including Seahawks Special Teams Coordinator Larry Izzo. The Giants were also denied interview requests for three other candidates. Izzo would have been the safer choice. It will be interesting to see how Ghobrial pans out.

Interesting Promotions: Some old faces received interesting promotions. This was most likely done to soothe egos, increase salaries, and/or reward previous service. Despite New York’s lower offensive rankings, 36-year old offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has been a hot head-coaching candidate the past two offseasons. Seattle also pursued him as offensive coordinator and the Giants turned them down. He has since been promoted to assistant head coach. Defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, who was passed over for the defensive coordinator vacancy, was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator. This is a role he held in Atlanta for four years from 2016-2019. Finally, quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney was promoted to offensive passing game coordinator. It has been widely speculated that Tierney will replace Kafka as offensive coordinator if and when Kafka departs. This appears to be another step in that direction.

Rounding Out the Coaching Staff: Running backs coach Jeff Nixon was hired by Syracuse to be their new offensive coordinator. He has been replaced by Joel Thomas, a respected running backs coach who has been in New Orleans for the past nine seasons. The Giants allowed tight ends coach Andy Bischoff to join the Chargers. He was replaced by Titans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, who coached tight ends in Houston before becoming Bischoff’s boss on the same team. The 37-year old Kelly has been a fast riser, already serving as offensive coordinator on two NFL teams.

As mentioned, the Wilkins boys were a package deal with Martindale and thus were let go during the power struggle. Outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins was replaced by Charlie Bullen. Defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins was replaced by Zak Kuhr. The pressure is on Bullen to get Kayvon Thibodeaux to consistently perform at a high level as a pass rusher. He will also likely be given a high draft pick to work with as well as Azeez Ojulari’s final shot. Bullen has spent 11 years with the Dolphins and Cardinals before serving one season under ex-NYG outside linebackers coach Brett Bielema at Illinois. Finally, Aaron Wellman returns to the Giants as strength and conditioning coach, replacing Craig Fitzgerald who departed for Florida. Wellman served in the same role for the Giants from 2016-2019 before leaving for Indiana.

Feb 072024
 
Shea Tierney, New York Giants (June 14, 2023)

Shea Tierney – © USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants made the following coaching changes on Wednesday:

  • Mike Kafka will remain the offensive coordinator, but he has been promoted to assistant head coach.
  • Shea Tierney will remain the quarterbacks coach, but he has been promoted to offensive passing game coordinator.
  • Jerome Henderson will remain the defensive backs coach, but he has been promoted to defensive passing game coordinator.
  • The team hired Charlie Bullen as its new outside linebacker coach.
  • The team hired Zak Kuhr as a new defensive assistant coach.

The 36-year old Kafka was hired by Head Coach Brian Daboll in 2022 as the team’s offensive coordinator. He had previously served as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 37-year old Tierney was hired by Daboll in 2022 as quarterbacks coach. He had previously served as assistant quarterbacks coach with the Buffalo Bills.

The 54-year old Henderson was hired as defensive backs coach by Head Coach Joe Judge in 2020. He was retained by Daboll in 2022. From 2016-2019, Henderson served as defensive passing game coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.

The 39-year old Bullen was the outside linebackers coach and pass rush coordinator for the University of Illinois in 2023. Before that, he spent 11 years in the NFL, first with the Miami Dolphins as a defensive assistant (2012), assistant defensive line coach (2013-2015), and assistant linebackers coach (2016-2018), then with the Arizona Cardinals as assistant linebackers coach (2019) and outside linebackers coach (2020-2022).

Kuhr spent the previous four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, first as a defensive quality control coach (2020) and then an inside linebackers assistant (2021-2023).

Bios on the entire coaching staff are available in the Coaching Staff section of the website.

Jan 152024
 
Jerome Henderson, New York Giants (June 13, 2023)

Jerome Henderson – © USA TODAY Sports

GIANTS INTERVIEW MORE DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS…
According to media reports, the New York Giants have requested to interview Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Coordinator Derrick Ansley and Miami Dolphins Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile for the team’s defensive coordinator vacancy. The team has also interviewed their own defensive backs coach, Jerome Henderson, for defensive coordinator.

The 42-year old Ansley has served as defensive backs coach of the Raiders (2018), defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Titans (2019-2020), defensive backs coach of the Chargers (2021-2022), and defensive coordinator of the Chargers (2023).

The 41-year old Campanile has served as defensive backs coach of Boston College (2016-2017), co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for Boston College (2018), linebackers coach of Michigan (2019), and linebackers coach of the Dolphins (2020-2023).

The 54-year old Henderson has served as defensive backs coach for the Jets (2008), Browns (2009-2011), Cowboys (2012-2015), Falcons (2016-2019), and Giants (2020-2023).

As previously reported, the Giants have also interviewed Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson and Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen for the same position.

GIANTS INTERVIEW SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR…
The New York Giants interviewed San Francisco 49ers Assistant Special Teams Coach Matt Harper this past weekend for the team’s special teams coordinator vacancy. The 39-year old Harper served in various coaching capacities with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 until 2020. He has been with the 49ers in his current position since 2021.

As previously reported, the Giants had requested to interview three other special teams coordinators, but were blocked by their teams, including Ryan Ficken (Los Angeles Chargers), Marquice Williams (Atlanta Falcons), and Chris Tabor (Carolina Panthers).

Dec 092023
 
Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants (November 19, 2023)

Dexter Lawrence – © USA TODAY Sports

DECEMBER 9, 2023 GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
WR Parris Campbell (knee), TE Daniel Bellinger (illness), and RT Evan Neal (ankle) did not practice on Saturday. Campbell and Bellinger are officially “questionable” for Monday’s game against the Green Bay Packers while Neal will miss his fourth game in a row.

DL Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DL A’Shawn Robinson (hamstring), and ILB Isaiah Simmons (ankle) were limited in practice. All three players are “questionable” for the game.

QB Tyrod Taylor (ribs) and ILB Carter Coughlin (hip) fully practiced. Both are expected to be available for Monday’s game.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
There is no media availability to the Giants on Sunday. The Giants host the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium on Monday night.

Nov 102023
 
Adoree' Jackson, New York Giants (October 29, 2023)

Adoree’ Jackson – © USA TODAY Sports

NOVEMBER 10, 2023 GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
RT Evan Neal (ankle), OG Mark Glowinski (personal matter), and CB Adoree’ Jackson (concussion) did not practice on Friday. Neal and and Jackson have been ruled out of the game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Glowinski, who has missed two straight days of practice, is officially “questionable” for the game.

When asked if Neal was headed towards Injured Reserve, Head Coach Brian Daboll responded, “Too early to tell.”

RB Jashaun Corbin (hamstring), RB Deon Jackson (concussion), WR Parris Campbell (hamstring), and OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle) were limited in practice. Jackson has been ruled out of the game. Corbin, Campbell, and Ojulari are “questionable.”

LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), OG Justin Pugh (ankle), and S Dane Belton (back) fully practiced. All three are expected to play.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Their is no media availability to the Giants on Saturday. The team pays the Dallas Cowboys in Texas on Sunday.

Oct 272023
 
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (September 10, 2023)

Daniel Jones – © USA TODAY Sports

OCTOBER 27, 2023 GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
The only player who did not practice on Friday was RB Gary Brightwell (hamstring). He’s officially been ruled out of the game against the New York Jets on Sunday.

The following eight players were limited in practice:

  • QB Daniel Jones (neck – ruled out of Jets game)
  • WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee – probable for game)
  • TE Darren Waller (hamstring – questionable for game)
  • LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring – doubtful for game)
  • RT Evan Neal (ankle – questionable for game)
  • OC John Michael Schmitz (shoulder – questionable for game)
  • OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee – questionable for game)
  • CB Adoree’ Jackson (neck – questionable for game)

“(Jones is) throwing,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll who ruled Jones out of the game. “He feels better every day. He’s done a good job here with the things that he can do out here on the practice field. Take it one day at a time, but he’s getting closer… All I’ll tell you is I meet with the trainers and the doctors and what they tell me he can do, that’s what we do.”

When asked if he thinks Jones will play again this year, Daboll responded, “He’s getting better, and we’ll see where he is next week. I don’t have a crystal ball with injuries, but he is getting better, and we’ll see where he is next week.”

RB Saquon Barkley (elbow) and PK Graham Gano (knee) fully practiced and are expected to play.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Their is no media availability to the Giants on Saturday. The team plays the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

Oct 132023
 
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (October 8, 2023)

Daniel Jones – © USA TODAY Sports

OCTOBER 13, 2023 GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
The following seven players did not practice on Friday (also includes official injury designations for game against the Buffalo Bills):

  • QB Daniel Jones (neck – out)
  • LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring – out)
  • RT Evan Neal (ankle – questionable)
  • OC John Michael Schmitz (shoulder – out)
  • OT Matt Peart (shoulder – out)
  • DL D.J. Davidson (knee – questionable)
  • OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle – out)

In addition, the following six players were limited in practice (also includes official injury designations for game against the Buffalo Bills):

  • RB Saquon Barkley (ankle – questionable)
  • RB Gary Brightwell (ankle – questionable)
  • WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee – probable)
  • TE Darren Waller (groin – questionable)
  • OL Shane Lemieux (groin – questionable)
  • ILB Micah McFadden (ankle – questionable)

The following five players full practiced (also includes official injury designations for game against the Buffalo Bills):

  • OG Marcus McKethan (knee – probable)
  • CB Deonte Banks (ankle – probable)
  • CB Cor’Dale Flott (ankle – probable)
  • CB Adoree’ Jackson (ribs – probable)
  • P Jamie Gillan (illness – probable)

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

  • LT Andrew Thomas (Video)

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Their is no media availability to the Giants on Sunday. The team plays the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York on Sunday night.

Sep 302023
 
Azeez Ojulari, New York Giants (August 21, 2022)

Azeez Ojulari – © USA TODAY Sports

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring) did not practice on Saturday and has been ruled out of Monday night’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. “He practiced a little bit in individual two days ago, just wasn’t feeling right, didn’t practice him yesterday,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll. “He won’t make the game… He went through a few little drills (on Thursday), didn’t feel right, we took him out right away and just want to make sure the player’s ready to go and do the necessary rehab and stuff. So, I’d say it’s week to week. Whether he’ll be ready next week, I’m not sure. Really week to week.”

RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), TE Daniel Bellinger (neck), DL D.J. Davidson (elbow), and OLB Azeez Ojulari (hamstring) were limited in practice. OL Ben Bredeson (concussion) fully practiced. Barkley has officially been ruled “doubtful” for the game while the other four players are expected to be available.

“Saquon will practice, do a little bit more,” said Daboll before Saturday’s practice. “We’ll see where he’s at and take it right up to game time.”

“Yeah, it’s a high ankle sprain,” Barkley said after practice.

“(Ojulari) had a good week,” said Daboll. “He had good practice yesterday. Feels good, practiced well. So, unless something happens today, counting on him being there.”

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Their is no media availability to the Giants on Sunday. The team plays the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on Monday night.

Sep 152023
 
Andrew Thomas, New York Giants (August 22, 2021)

Andrew Thomas – © USA TODAY Sports

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
Every player on the 53-man roster practiced on Friday. “Everybody’s practicing, and we’ll reevaluate after practice,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll.

WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), TE Darren Waller (hamstring), LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), OT Matt Peart (elbow), OLB Azeez Ojulari (hamstring), LB Cam Brown (ankle), CB Deonte Banks (calf), CB Cor’Dale Flott (hamstring), S Gervarrius Owens (hamstring), and PK Graham Gano (ankle) were limited in practice.

“I talk to (Thomas) every day,” said Daboll. “So today, he said he feels a little bit better. We’ll do a little bit more with him today… I have discussions anytime a player is injured. Obviously, I refer to the medical staff. I trust those guys implicitly, but I also want to talk to the player to see where they’re at, their head’s at, and you want to do the player right. So, if he’s ready to play, he’ll play. And if he’s not, he won’t.”

Practice squad player CB Amani Oruwariye (neck) returned to practice.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

  • LT Andrew Thomas (Video)

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Their is no media availability to the Giants on Saturday as the team travels to Arizona to play the Cardinals on Sunday.

Aug 162023
 
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (August 1, 2023)

Sterling Shepard – © USA TODAY Sports

AUGUST 16, 2023 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP REPORT…
The New York Giants held another training camp practice on Wednesday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The practices are no longer open to the public.

GIANTS CUT LINEBACKER…
The Giants have waived/injured inside linebacker Troy Brown, who suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury at practice on Tuesday. The Giants signed Troy Brown as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft.

INJURY REPORT…
WR Wan’Dale Robinson (ACL) and CB Aaron Robinson (ACL) remain on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List.

RB Gary Brightwell (unknown), WR Cole Beasley (leg), WR Sterling Shepard (rest day), WR Collin Johnson (knee), TE Darren Waller (rest day), LT Andrew Thomas (rest day), OL Tyre Phillips (unknown), DL Dexter Lawrence (rest day), DL Ryder Anderson (triceps), and LB Cam Brown (unknown) did not practice.

RT Evan Neal officially cleared the concussion protocol.

PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media sources:

  • Giants practiced indoors in shorts and shells. It was a “carded” (aka game plan) practice where the team practiced a lot of situational work in preparation for Friday’s preseason game.
  • First-team offensive line was LT Matt Peart, OC John Michael Schmitz, and RT Evan Neal with Ben Bredeson, Mark Glowinski, and Joshua Ezeudu rotating constantly at the two guard spots.
  • Marcus McKethan was the second-team right guard.
  • Shane Lemieux was the second- and third-team center.
  • Julién Davenport practiced with the third team at both tackle spots.
  • Lawrence Cager received some first team reps at tight end.
  • Jordan Riley saw snaps with the first team defensive line.
  • Micah McFadden continues to practice with the first team at inside linebacker.
  • QB Daniel Jones connected on a 60-yard to WR Jalin Hyatt. Jones also threw another deep pass to WR Darius Slayton.
  • WR Jalin Hyatt was used on an end around.
  • Safety Bobby McCain picked off a pass from QB Tyrod Taylor.
  • CB Adoree’ Jackson picked off one pass and broke up another.
  • S Dane Belton almost picked off a pass from QB Tommy DeVito.
  • CB Deonte Banks was step for step on an incomplete pass to WR Darius Slayton, as did CB Tre Hawkins on a deep pass to WR Isaiah Hodgins.
  • OC John Michael Schmitz picked up a twist from OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux.
  • Giants ran a fake punt with RB Matt Breida picking up good yardage.
  • WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton made a leaping touchdown catch on a pass from QB Tommy DeVito.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
There is no media availability to the team on Thursday. The Giants play the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Friday.