ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported on Thursday that the New York Giants will interview former 49ers head coach Mike Singletary for a position as linebackers coach. Singletary is a 10-time Pro Bowler and was voted to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 1998.
Ben McAdoo is continuing to assemble his staff and Singletary would be a big-name addition to help resurrect a beleaguered linebacking corps. His hard-nosed style could be helpful for an LB group that needs a little tough love. McAdoo knows Singletary from his days with the San Francisco 49ers; they were both assistants in 2005.
Linebacker play in 2015 was abysmal to put it lightly. They allowed 101 catches to tight ends, the most of any NFL defense. Granted, there were injuries; all three starting linebackers ended the season on I.R.. However, the starting LBs in recent memory haven’t been awe-inspiring. The last first-round pick the Giants used on a linebacker was in 1984 when they drafted the great Carl Banks.
Ed Valentine of Big Blue View sums up perfectly Jerry Reese’s approach to linebackers during his tenure. “The Giants have continually taken late-round fliers on linebackers in the draft and tried to patch together a decent group by picking up leftovers other teams no longer wanted.”
Coaching was not the issue with the linebacking corps last year. But if McAdoo can add Singletary to his staff, an experienced head coach and former linebacker, he will certainly bring value to the sideline. If the Giants do look to draft a linebacker at number 10 in the draft, Myles Jack should still be on the board waiting for them. Adding a young talent and a position coach with the resume of Singletary could revitalize what was an awful group this past season.