After fans were patiently waiting, the New York Giants finally fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen following another collapse in Week 12. However, despite both Marquand Manuel and Andre Patterson having play-calling experience, interim head coach Mike Kafka appointed Charlie Bullen to be Big Blue's latest DC.
While Bowen was somehow given an extremely loose leash by Brian Daboll before his firing, the 38-year-old interim coach is operating in the same way with Bullen. Kafka admitted that he plans to give the first-time DC complete creative freedom to make schematic changes as he sees fit.
Through 12 weeks, New York is home to the league's third-worst defense in large part due to Bowen's ineptitude. Additionally, Jahmyr Gibbs' 219-yard rushing game in the 34-27 overtime loss against the Lions has the Giants surrendering the most rushing yards per game in the entire NFL.
Mike Kafka is entrusting Charlie Bullen to spearhead Giants' defensive turnaround
Under Bowen's tutelage, the G-Men have failed at maximizing the talent on their defense. Abdul Carter slept through one of his meetings, he's only continued to mismanage Deonte Banks, and he and Kafka inexplicably benched Dexter Lawrence II in overtime despite being an elite run-stuffer.
The Giants led by 10 points on the road at the start of the fourth quarter, yet still managed to squander the lead. Luckily for Bullen, who has worked under two of the best defensive coordinators in the league in Vance Joseph and Matt Burke, he has some elite personnel to work with in New York.
The talent was never in question, as coaching was always the problem with his predecessor. A defensive line with Carter, Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux has impressed, but the unit's inability to create takeaways has plagued them throughout another playoff-less season.
It's encouraging to know that Kafka has faith in Bullen to turn things around, because the bar couldn't possibly be lower after dealing with Bowen. It's even more assuring that he's preaching accountability while providing him the leeway to figure out what works across these final six games.
The scheme the 38-year-old employed was a total disaster that ended in several blown leads as his group couldn't even stop a nosebleed by the time Sunday rolled around. As for Bullen, the fact they're giving him time to adjust to serving as a defensive play-caller provides fans with at least some cause for optimism.
Following up the Bowen disaster will certainly make his job easier, so we'll see how things end against the red-hot Patriots on Monday Night Football.