Does Ben McAdoo Alone Get The New York Giants More Wins In 2016?

Jerry Reese made significant additions to the defense in the offseason, but will Ben McAdoo’s role as head coach lead the New York Giants lead to more wins in 2016?

When Ben McAdoo was hired as head coach of the New York Giants in January, it ended the Tom Coughlin era that produced two Super Bowl Championships – and three straight losing seasons. Though Coughlin had his strategic faults, it was more likely deficiencies in the roster itself that created the worst defense in the NFL.

Jerry Reese did his part to correct some of the flaws in the defense, but will the coaching change itself add wins to 2015’s 6-10 record?

Sports Illustrated did a study earlier this year examining the 75 new coaches hired since 2005. In regards to win totals, “despite all the new hires, success looks like flipping a coin; 36 coaches (48 percent) fared better than their predecessors when it comes to win percentage, while the rest had an equal or worse win percentage.” Coaching hires tend to happen on franchises trending downward, so it’s not surprising that win percentages don’t spike when a new HC is installed.

One of the appeals of the McAdoo hire was continuity. Eli Manning could continue the offense that has been successful since McAdoo’s hire as offensive coordinator rather than reboot his career once more. But even in terms of attitude, McAdoo doesn’t stray too far from the Coughlin era, either. The way NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan describes it, “McAdoo is Coughlin when it comes to his demeanor and work ethic, only he’s 30-plus-years younger.”

Often there’s a new attitude that comes with a new regime and according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, McAdoo is a reason for optimism. “Whatever it is, there’s a new energy in the building. That counts for something. History suggests a new coach taking over a veteran team is usually good for an additional two-plus wins. Whether that’s the result of a new approach, new confidence, or a better direction hardly matters. The players believe things feel better already under McAdoo.”

So, if there’s no major changes in the offense or coaching style, will McAdoo’s mere presence revive a team that won a Super Bowl just four and a half years ago? Of course, Jerry Reese spent $200 million on high-priced defensive free agents and used four of six draft picks bolstering said defense. One would have to conclude that the personnel will have more to do than a coaching change, but an injection of newer, younger blood at the top must add value and, in turn, wins.