When Ben McAdoo stood in front of “the football capital of the world” during his inauguration as head coach last Friday, he delivered mixed signals regarding fresh leadership versus being the leader he’s replacing. While many can gather he’s on the right track this week as he assembles his coaching staff and establishes footing, the notion still potentially stirred initial doubt for this “tough” New York Giants fanbase.
On the one hand, McAdoo stressed the importance of earning his prolonged privilege by shaking things up for a franchise enduring a four-year playoff drought through excruciating fashion. It’s exactly why tenured champion Tom Coughlin needed to step down in the face of staleness.
However, there were other times when McAdoo’s clunky delivery and usage of Big Blue, Coughlin trigger words in that presser came off as though structure and culture would remain untouched, an alarming 6-10 repeat of a prospect.
This impression, of course, is served by a professed decision to not mess with the clock in honor of preserving “TC Time” and everything built over the past decade-plus. Moreover, all of this ironically transpired in a loosely off-putting monkey suit, to most viewers.
The outfit actually worked perfectly for three reasons: 1) horizontally slim stripes on black are never wrong; 2) it suggested further elevation of when Coughlin first loosened the disciplinary reins, thus intending to relax communal shoulders; and 3) Coach McAdoo can wear whatever he wants!
It’s a choice of style the man in charge (or perhaps his wife and kids) made himself. It was his first step in cementing authority, accountability and longevity.
It’s admirable to maintain continuity for Eli Manning and reward an offense ranked No. 7 in passing (271.7 YPG), tied for sixth in scoring (26.2 PPG) and No. 11 Chip Kelly-esque abundance (65.8 plays per game) in 2015. Still, McAdoo’s 38 years of age and subsequent lack of experience can easily be disconcerting.
The simple route, having been adequately groomed under the punctual and rigid class that is Coughlin, is copying the successful legend precisely down to t-crossings and i-dottings.
The legendary route, however, is for McAdoo to knock down the template as much as respectfully possible. He must reload by rebuilding it in his own name and way, even if it does end up looking similar.
With the First Pick
There indeed is an artful balance to filtering what still worked for the predecessor while re-energizing the evolving identity of this football team. Several of the Giants’ ensuing coaching moves indicate a positive first step in eventually tattooing McAdoo’s legacy.
The recruitment of wide receivers coach Adam Henry on Sunday perfectly achieves both sides of the argument, at least for Odell Beckham Jr. By reintroducing a constructive relationship from when OBJ played for LSU, it greenly brings back familiarity and instills more poise in New York’s superstar wideout while addressing an immediate need to reduce his antics and better channel the offense’s egos.
This is McAdoo agreeably adding a new perspective by offering an old one, a classic ingredient for nurturing player relations and reinforcing fundamentals.
Now take it one step further: announce you’re still calling the plays.
After all, Ben McAdoo originally made his mark in New York with the arrival of his flexibly high-flying scheme two seasons ago. Once comfortable, the result is Eli Manning’s most lucrative two-year combination of passing attempts and completions (766-of-1,219) and TD-to-INT ratio (65-to-28). Plus, former Green Bay Packers mentor Mike McCarthy employed such a standpoint, and McAdoo needs to be just as readily decisive, if not more so.
This is an instance where leadership can be asserted by NOT changing anything. He should resist the urge to delegate duties to promoted offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan and capitalize on Manning’s shrinking window.
The equally significant dismissal of strength and conditioning coach Jerry Palmieri on Monday means the reputations of injury proneness and fourth-quarter collapses (five in 2015) are recognized and being aggressively acted upon. McAdoo also knows how altering the schedule and rediscovering fun and loose football are as important as hiring someone to help keep the roster healthy and crisp late in games.
Now, take it one step further: mess with the clock.
Take a Big Apple Red Delicious—or Garden State bag of cranberries—and smash the numbers off of its face. While there’s validity in the punctuality and discipline it once symbolized, if he makes a huge spectacle it can rally the troops more effectively through motivational spontaneity and focused ecstasy.
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A subtler source of the gridiron woes is currently being mended with the parting of ways with offensive line coach and Coughlin disciple Pat Flaherty. Admittedly, the men upfront managed an averagely respectable 4.0 YPC for the ground game and kept Manning upright (157 yards lost on 1.7 sacks per game, fourth-best in the NFL) through nagging ailments and youth, making it seem like Flaherty still had teaching to do there.
Of course, the Giants’ deplorable third down conversion rate (11th-worst 37.8 percent) informs their inability to seize control of contests, which has to start up front.
It is a strong-willed chess move by McAdoo to render an outlet for championship wisdom out-of-order, and an opportunity to situate more of his own hand-picked guys in sideline headsets (or perhaps Coughlin’s son-in-law Chris Snee is interested).
Now, take it one step further: allow Steve Spagnuolo to test shallow waters.
With Spagnuolo’s lethal Super Bowl pass rush paling in comparison to any stint after 2008 (dead-last in sacks and yards allowed in 2015), one could argue that Ben McAdoo might as well have enacted a clean sweep. Then again, a certain OC’s game plan once came across the wrong way with Coughlin and personnel alike before flourishing in Year Two.
Particularly once the alleged tug-of-war opponent Philadelphia Eagles opted for Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator on Tuesday, Spags’ options are left thinner. McAdoo and the front office could have fished a little deeper to truly assess the competency of their incumbent, granting Spagnuolo equal opportunity to explore and toying with the emotions of an NFC East rival along the way; overall, the “transaction” is still right-minded.
McAdoo made his voice and philosophies heard and respected, building the originality and rapport that led him to this point. Ultimately he figures Spagnuolo warrants a second season, too.
Honor traditions and loyalties to both former and present contributors, but just make sure it’s solely and clearly due to a fluid process and lucidly led vision.
It’s a delicate balance between the consistency of New York Giants morality and staying true to the head coach he authentically aspires to be. Even if Ben “Tom Coughlin” McAdoo’s press conference left some people unsure at first, it is Ben McAdoo who’s on the correct path to fixing matters for the fans and lore that deserve better, rather than the same.
Soon he’ll find the nerve to defy protocol and challenge Reese on draft day, when Derrick Henry and Laquon Treadwell are inexplicably being targeted over Myles Jack or Ronnie Stanley.
Baby steps, Coach McAdoo. Now loosen that tie.