It was never going to be just on the players to save interim head coach Mike Kafka’s job. If he was ever going to be legitimately considered for the long-term position, his staff was going to need to step up as well.
The 38-year-old wasted no time promoting tight ends coach Tim Kelly as his interim offensive coordinator. It took him two weeks of watching Shane Bowen’s defense to fire the coordinator and hire outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen. The one position group that hasn’t seen any shuffling yet has been the special teams.
Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial has struggled to get much of anything out of his group. The last time fans saw this team, the G-Men were getting smoked by the New England Patriots before their Week 14 bye. Ghobrial’s unit struggled mightily, and it seems like nothing’s changed and no adjustments have been made -- because that’s what this team does best.
Sunday’s 29-to-21 loss to the Washington Commanders might push that narrative pretty fast. The overall effort at MetLife Stadium in Week 15 might finally be what does him in.
Michael Ghobrial might be the next coach out after Giants’ Week 15 flop
To kick us off (pun intended) -- while it didn't come back to bite them this time -- not elevating a kick/punt returner (even though they have two on the practice squad) after semi-realizing Gunner Olszewski wouldn't be active is borderline fireable.
Sure, Ghobrial isn't exactly in charge of making roster moves, but for him to sit back and allow stuff like this to happen consistently is more than enough proof that he ain't it.
The biggest indictment of the coordinator is the continued kicking woes. First, it was Graham Gano. Then, it was practice squad call-up Jude McAtamney. Now, it's kicker No. 3: Younghoe Koo. After kicking literal dirt in Week 13 against the Pats, the 31-year-old missed both of his field goal attempts against the Commanders.
How much longer can this team sit idly by and continue to do nothing about issues that have been pervasive for years? It's insane.
His saving grace might be veteran punter Cameron Johnston performing admirably, filling in for an injured Jamie Gillan -- who's also been struggling. Regardless, it's clear nothing special teams-related is working, and there's no time like the present to make a change.
If Kafka won’t clean up Ghobrial’s mess, it’s hard to see how he plans on cleaning up the rest of this team. It's only a matter of time before the organization cleans house anyway.