4 Brian Daboll mistakes that are ruining the NY Giants' season

The NY Giants showed some promise over the first few weeks of the 2024 campaign, but they have officially hit rock bottom following an embarrassing home defeat to the Eagles. For the second year in a row, the season has quickly slipped away. Most Big Blue supporters are already looking toward next year.

One constant in this equation is head coach Brian Daboll. While he hasn’t been dealt the best hand, some of his in-game coaching decisions have been terrible. He even personally cost the G-Men a win earlier in the year. Here are the four biggest blunders by Coach Dabes this season:

4. Starting Joshua Ezeudu at left tackle instead of Jermaine Eluemunor

Time and time again, Joshua Ezeudu has proven that he should not be a starting tackle at the NFL level. He was atrocious in the preseason on the outside, and Giants fans thought that chapter had officially closed. Instead, Daboll turned to him to start at left tackle against the Eagles after Andrew Thomas underwent season-ending foot surgery. The result was an eight-sack performance by Philly and the Giants' worst offensive line showing to date.

Jermaine Eluemunor, who has been the Giants’ top offensive lineman in 2024, has the versatility to switch from right to left tackle. Doing so could have better protected the quarterback’s blind side while also giving Evan Neal another chance to prove himself. While he has a decent run-blocking track record, Ezeudu had no business being in the game this past Sunday. It should fall entirely on Daboll for starting an inept player against Philly.

3. Conservative game management vs. the Cowboys

The Week 4 clash between the Giants and Cowboys during Thursday Night Football was one of the most frustrating defeats of the year, primarily because NY failed to cash into the end zone all game long. However, the Giants had an opportunity to reach paydirt on the first series of the second half.

Down 14-9 at the time, the offense conducted an 11-play, 77-yard drive all the way to the red zone. It was 4th-and-goal at the 3-yard line, and the Giants could have gone ahead with a touchdown. Instead, Daboll — who often takes these kinds of risks — discarded the opportunity and kicked a field goal despite it being the team’s best chance to score all game. Unsurprisingly, the offense went cold after that and spoiled what could have been a massive victory.

2. Mismanaging the quarterback situation and benching Daniel Jones

Fans have been calling for Danny Dimes' job since Week 1 — years, for that matter — and Daboll did not make a QB switch until early in the fourth quarter last week. Drew Lock replaced him under center for three drives. Somehow, he was miles worse than what we've seen from Jones all year. Regardless of how he performed, Daboll chalked it up to looking for a 'spark' within the offense, yet later confirmed Jones would remain the starter.

NY's offense has looked pitiful and continues to put the defense in a bad spot. Sitting at a measly 2-5 record, Daboll has yet to make a noteworthy change on the offensive end. When will enough be enough? If your starting quarterback can't give you the spark you need for an offense, you should probably consider moving on from him. And if the team is adamant about sticking with Jones the rest of the way, there was no reason to damage his confidence and have him ride the pine for Lock with plenty of time to play.

1. Not opting to elevate another kicker while Graham Gano was hurt

Blame offseason decisions, quarterback play, or whatever else for NY’s other losses, but Daboll’s Week 2 error against the Commanders was the ultimate coaching gaffe. He knew prior to the contest that kicker Graham Gano was dealing with a groin injury. However, he opted not to elevate practice squad kicker Jude McAtamney to the 53-man roster. It was a grave mistake that cost NY a victory.

Gano left the game after suffering an injury during the opening kickoff, as if nobody else could have seen that coming. The Giants had a kicking fiasco from then on, resulting in an ugly extra-point try by punter Jamie Gillan, two missed 2-point conversions, and a crucial failed fourth-down try later on. Big Blue squandered at least three points from Daboll’s laziness, and Washington went on to win 21-18. It was irresponsible of NY’s coach and showed the fanbase that he was completely unprepared for the game. This was practically a fireable offense on its own.