The New York Giants are a clown show. They have been for the better part of the last three years, and it's time for a change. The tandem of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll just isn't working, and instead of taking what's happening at face value and being proactive, ownership is sitting on its hands, hoping the same approach will magically yield a different result.
It's infuriating for everyone involved.
Tuesday offered a chance for the dynamic duo to adjust the roster — one way or another — via the trade deadline. At 2-7, it was unlikely the team would have been buyers, but with players like Russell Wilson, Evan Neal, Jalin Hyatt, and Deonte Banks, the opportunity to sell (however low) was on the table. The fact that certain players are still occupying roster spots post-deadline is a clear indication this team is committed to the same losing formula it's had for years. And it's time for ownership to step in and make a change.
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It's unlikely John Mara will fire both Schoen and Daboll in-season, but one of them has to go. Sure, it wasn't great that Schoen ignored making deals on deadline day, but his power is severely restricted the rest of the way, with only free agent or practice squad signings and releases in his control. Daboll, on the other hand, is responsible for steering the ship on Sundays — a job he's not qualified for — and it's time to pull the plug.
Giants have no choice but to move on from Brian Daboll after trade deadline
Schoen not making a move to help his head coach suggests there isn't much faith in the 50-year-old to come close to turning things around.
Why waste assets on a coach that has shown zero ability to do much of anything with anyone? Dart isn't going to save Dabs, nor should he have to. The organizational mess displayed every week is the by-product of a fourth-year head coach, whose inability to get his team prepared has set this franchise back years.
The numbers don’t lie — this is an unprepared, undisciplined team. And that’s on him.
Anthony Rivardo of Empire Sports Media highlighted the systemic failures that continue to plague this organization, with all the fingers pointing at Daboll. Through nine weeks, the G-Men:
- Rank 1st in delay of game penalties (7)
- Rank T-5th in false starts (15)
- Rank 2nd in DPI (nine) (200 yards lost ranks 1st)
- Rank 5th in total penalties committed (69)
- Rank 4th in total penalty yardage (583)
- Have blown three two-possession leads (vs DAL, NO, DEN)
- One three-possession lead (vs DEN)
- Rank 14th in third-down conversion rate (40.0%)
- Rank 19th in fourth down conversion rate (52.94%)
- Rank 26th in red zone conversion rate (50.00%)
It's time for Mara to stop seeing Daboll for who he could be and start seeing him for what he isn't — the right head coach for the Giants. For real, how much more of a mess does the front office need to see to make a change?
Shane Bowen’s defense has been unwatchable. And Mike Kafka’s offense has been inconsistent. But the lack of discipline, poor clock management, and inability to win through gameplanning and adjustments aren’t coordinator issues — they’re head coach problems. And four years in, Daboll still hasn’t figured it out.
The good news is there’s a clear next step. The Giants could elevate Kafka to interim head coach and give him the final eight games to see if there's anything there with him and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
He’s been in the mix for HC jobs in the past and played a key role in Dart’s development — while also helping mold Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. At this point, there’s no difference between three wins and six wins the rest of the way. But giving Dart a chance to grow with a forward-thinking offensive voice at the top is worth the shot.
The writing’s on the wall — it’s time to move on.