Tag: brian daboll

Giants’ Brian Daboll one of best offensive minds in NFL

The New York Giants could be looking at a quarterback with the sixth overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

If North Carolina’s Drake Maye is still on the board when the Giants pick, they could reel him in. He would like that as his interactions with Big Blue thus far have all been positive.

“It was good in there. Meeting with coach (Brian) Daboll, big fan of him, offensive mind, one of the best,” Maye told reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this weekend.

“So, it’s just getting in there, getting to know those guys, Mr. Schoen. So, it was good in there.”

Maye also has a relationship with former Giants quarterback Eli Manning, whom he also gave glowing praise to.

“Eli, big fan. I think Eli would probably say he’s probably seen me too much, I’ve been following him around. It was always on Zooms,” Maye said. “I think the biggest thing is being a sponge, soaking it all in.

“I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t know it all just being up there with Eli, and like I said, David Moore, I’ve trained with him down there in Alabama; he was his backup at Ole Miss. So, just kind of the small world of connections and I’m just trying to soak it all up.”

Maye was asked if the future Pro Football Hall of Famer gave him any advice.

“Yeah, just be myself,” he said. “Don’t be somebody I’m not, and at the end of the day, don’t give the NFL too much spotlight or credit. You know, just going out there playing ball.”

Solid advice from one who knows.



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J.J. McCarthy got a feel for running the Giants’ offense at Combine

Despite New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen insisting that Daniel Jones is the team’s starting quarterback when healthy, it seems everyone expects the Giants to still draft a quarterback this year.

Granted, they need a backup given Jones’ injury history, but do they really need to target someone like Caleb Williams? Or is someone like J.J. McCarthy a potentially better option?

Williams and other top-tier quarterbacks are likely to be gone by the Giants’ first pick, so they could consider trading up. Or they could trade down and wait for McCarthy — assuming he doesn’t rocket up draft boards.

There could be other options, but it seems that Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll took an interest in McCarthy at the 2024 NFL Combine during their formal meeting.

“I drew up a play that I can run in every situation — third down, fourth down, first and second, all that good stuff,” McCarthy said, via the New York Post. “And then the coaches were kind of changing my verbiage and making it their own. It was really nice to kind of get a feel of what that offense would be like and it was actually a lot more simple.”

McCarthy says all of the right things and presents himself in a professional yet approachable manner. He remembered different details about each meeting he had rather than giving vague complimentary answers about coaches.

He built a solid foundation at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh, and if someone can develop him from here, he has the potential to be a great quarterback.

But should the Giants target him? If they are going to draft a quarterback as so many have predicted, then McCarthy is as good an option as they’re going to get without trading up.

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Giants regime ‘under real pressure’ entering pivotal 2024 season

In the first year under head coach Brian Daboll, the New York Giants appeared to be trending in the right direction. They punched their ticket to the playoffs and even secured their first postseason victory since Super Bowl XLVI.

But things took an ugly turn in 2023 as the team finished with a 6-11 record, fell just shy of setting the all-time record for sacks allowed, and saw in-fighting spiral out of control.

That continued into the offseason as Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale saw their relationship completely deteriorate and ultimately end with a “parting of ways.”

There were also reported issues between Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, as well as other coordinators and assistant coaches.

Due to failures of the past season and the optics surrounding the regime’s relationship issues, many around the league believe 2024 could be a make-or-break season for general manager Joe Schoen and Daboll, reports Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

Schoen emphasized that the Giants are in the midst of a build that will take time, but the sense around the league is that this is a pivotal year for this regime.

Daboll’s overhaul of half of his staff amid strained relationships has league sources viewing him as being under real pressure to get things turned around next season.

The pressure to succeed in New York is significant enough to burst pipes as it is. The extra off-field issues only add to that and have thrust Schoen and Daboll into a precarious position.

Many believe they deserve additional time to set things right but another ugly season in 2024 will have co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch fuming. They haven’t exactly been patient over the past decade and are desperate to see the franchise return to its former glory.

The Giants not only need to win, but Daboll must avoid additional fallouts with members of his staff.

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Giants players grade Brian Daboll, training staff high in NFLPA poll

The New York Giants may have been one of the worst teams on the field over the last decade, but off the field, they’re still one of the league’s top franchises to play for.

In the latest tNFLPA Team Report Card release, the Giants finished among the top teams in a poll of 1,300 players who provided information about their current clubs.

The Giants were ranked 13th in the NFL, scoring an overall grade of B+.

The eight categories included in the poll were: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, training staff, team travel, and locker room.

The Giants were rated highly across the board with their training staff leading the way with a top grade of A+. They also finished in the top 10 in treatment of families (B+, 5th), food service/nutrition (B+, 8th), training room (B+, 5th), and team travel (A-, 9th).

Their worst grade was in the area of strength coaches (B+, 28th) followed by weight room (B, 13th) and locker room (B, 14th).

The Giants apparently knew that there were issues in the strength and conditioning ranks last year. Craig Fitzgerald left and was replaced last month by Frank Piraino.

To be clear, the locker room category is not about morale but the physical room itself. 92 percent of the Giants players feel they have sufficient, functional space in the locker room.

The training staff was rated the highest in the NFL.

One of the most well-respected training staffs in the league. The players feel like they significantly add to their personal success.

Team travel was also a key area. 95 percent of players feel like they have enough room to ‘spread out’ with a “good amount of first-class seats.” They also have no roommates on the road.

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The 33rd Team ranks Giants’ play-callers in middle of NFL pack

There is a lot of emphasis on play calling in the NFL these days. If you have a good one, you’re likely to go deep into the playoffs and possibly the Super Bowl often.

The 33rd Team ranked the NFL play callers in a recent post and the usual suspects topped the list: Kyle Shanahan of San Francisco, the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay, and Andy Reid of Kansas City.

Where did the New York Giants’ duo of Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka fall? Right in the middle of the pack at No. 16.

Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka probably deserve to be higher on this list, I know. Daboll got Josh Allen rolling in Buffalo and got the most out of Daniel Jones in 2022. The way Daboll and Kafka crafted the New York Giants offense around Jones’ strengths — quarterback run game and quick passing — were phenomenal.

Unfortunately, all of that fell away in 2023. The offense added talent, but somehow got worse along the offensive line, which cratered the whole thing.

At their best, Daboll and Kafka are probably top-10. I just want to see it again after how disastrous last season was.

Derrik Klassen, a film analyst for The 33rd Team, fails to mention the rash of injuries the Giants suffered in both the quarterback and offensive line ranks.

The Giants were forced to rely on all three quarterbacks and went through over a dozen iterations along the offense line which clearly affected the playcalling.

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‘No tension’ between Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka

When reports surfaced last season suggesting there was a growing tension between head coach Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale, the New York Giants swiftly and emphatically denied it.

“I’d say the biggest argument that Wink and I have had is who has the last piece of pizza,” Daboll said after a Week 12 game. “I got a lot of respect for Wink. He’s done a good job. I’ll leave it at that.”

One high-ranking Giants official told the New York Post that any reports to the contrary were “complete bulls–t.”

Over time, it became apparent that their pants were on fire.

The moment the regular season ended, that tension between Daboll and Martindale boiled over, and the two sides eventually “parted ways.”

But it wasn’t just Martindale who reportedly had issues with Daboll. Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey apparently wanted out and got his wish when he was fired on Black Monday.

Meanwhile, there were also mounting reports that offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was so dismayed that he was willing to move laterally if it meant escaping East Rutherford.

The Giants blocked those attempts and later rewarded Kafka with the title of assistant head coach.

On Tuesday, while meeting with reporters at the 2024 NFL Combine, general manager Joe Schoen insisted there are no issues between Daboll and Kafka and that any reports to the contrary were agenda-driven.

Where have we heard that before?

“There is no tension there,” Schoen said, via Giants Country. “Mike’s a really good coach; he’s a great teammate. He’s an asset around the building, and he’s a young coach who’s been a coordinator for two years; we elevated him to a new title because we will continue to develop him as a head coach.

“There is a lot of like for him around the league; he’s in demand. He was a finalist for two jobs over the last couple of years, and he’s earned it; he’s a really good coach with a bright future and an asset to the organization. There’s no tension between Mike and (Daboll).”

One of Kafka’s reported gripes is over play-calling duties, which Daboll stripped from him several times throughout the 2023 regular season and may take over in 2024.

However, given that Kafka is such a “good coach” who excelled at his job, surely the Giants won’t reduce his role despite giving him a promotion. Right?

Well…

“I’m never going to tell (Daboll) what to do,” Schoen said when asked if Kafka would maintain play-calling duties. “That’s his world. I’ll be a sounding board and give advice, but I’ll never tell him what to do as a coach. So, if he decided he ever wanted to do that, that’s up to him. I’m never going to tell him one way or the other what to do on the field and whatnot. That’s his world.”

If the Giants are “developing” Kafka into a future head coach, not committing to him as a play-caller amid reports of frustration is an interesting and never-before-used tactic.

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9 questions New York Giants GM Joe Schoen must answer at NFL Combine

The 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana gets underway on Tuesday, February 27 as teams and prospects begin to arrive for the “Underwear Olympics.”

Although on-field drills don’t officially begin until Thursday, press conferences are lined up to start the week. 26 of the league’s 32 general managers will speak, including New York Giants GM Joe Schoen.

Schoen will take the podium on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. ET and he’ll have a boatload of questions that need answering.

Here’s a look at nine topics Schoen must address.

Note: Giants head coach Brian Daboll is one of 12 coaches who is not slated to conduct a formal interview.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Schoen has remained openly committed to quarterback Daniel Jones but how much of that is just lip service? The GM often gives very carefully thought-out comments that lack any real substance.

This is a chance for NFL reporters to pin Schoen down and ask him point-blank: Do you still believe in DJ as much as you did when you gave him a four-year, $160 million contract? Yes or no?

The questioning will have to be firm and direct or Schoen will skirt it by turning it into a conversation about Jones’ torn ACL and whether or not he’ll be ready to start the season.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

There have been multiple reports suggesting that Schoen jumped on the headset for a few games last season as the relationship between Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale deteriorated.

That’s not an uncommon practice for general managers but the timing of it certainly raises some eyebrows.

This is a chance to ask Schoen why he did that after Jay Glazer’s report and what he learned about Daboll’s relationship with the other coordinators and assistants during that time.

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a public reality that Daboll and Martindale clashed. It’s undeniable and something Schoen must be pressed on. Simply wishing Martindale well without an explanation of what happened is unacceptable.

Schoen needs to elaborate on how the relationship deteriorated and why there were additional reports of conflict with other coordinators and assistants.

Does Schoen believe Daboll has to change how he interacts with people? Does the coach bear any responsibility for the fallout(s)?

Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Speaking of clashes, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was reportedly willing to leave the Giants for a lateral move due to his deteriorating relationship with Daboll and the likelihood that he’ll be stripped of play-calling duties.

Asking Schoen who will call plays will result in a circular answer: “That’s a decision Daboll will make.”

Instead of asking Schoen who will call plays, the GM should be asked if he, personally, believes Kafka should continue calling plays in 2024. If yes, why? If not, also why?

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

We already know that Schoen will say he wants running back Saquon Barkley to remain with the Giants. We also already know that the two sides will negotiate, the GM will do what’s best for the Giants, and yadda, yadda, yadda.

What do you believe is the market value for Barkley? Is it greater now that the salary cap ceiling was set much higher than anyone anticipated? Is it equal to or less than the value you placed on Barkley a season ago? Does another injury reduce his value in your mind?

It’s been more than a year of the same exact answers when it comes to Barkley. It’s time to take a different approach to the questioning.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Schoen said he wanted safety Julian Love to remain with the Giants a season ago but he never really fought hard to keep the captain. The GM put a line in the sand and stuck with it just as he did with Barkley.

Will safety Xavier McKinney be given that same treatment? Is he a top-end safety the team needs to keep or is he another interchangeable piece?

The franchise tag is likely out of the question, but would Schoen be willing to use the transition tag? And if so, will it be more than just a show to appease McKinney’s fans?

AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Two years ago, Schoen said one of his first orders of business would be drilling down into the injury data and finding out why the Giants are routinely among the league leaders in man games lost.

After two seasons with the Giants still among the NFL’s most-injured teams, what has Schoen discovered? What is being done to avoid this problem and what additional changes are expected in 2024?

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Schoen is undoubtedly open to trading down in the 2024 NFL draft but what about up? Whether it’s for a quarterback or another position, are the depth-lacking Giants willing to surrender additional draft capital to target a specific player? What is the risk/reward of trading up with so many personnel needs?

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest issues facing the Giants this offseason is — and stop us if you’ve heard this before — their offensive line.

They already need two starting guards and plenty of depth, but what do they do with Evan Neal? He has not performed well at right tackle and for every one step forward, he takes two steps back.

Is it time to pull the plug? Should Neal be moved inside to guard?

If Schoen refuses to discuss moving Neal to guard and continues to express faith in him as a right tackle, he should be asked how much longer that leash is. What does he need to see before making a change at RT?

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Giants likely to use second pick on a quarterback?

In public, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll remain committed to and confident in quarterback Daniel Jones.

However, in private, the regime may be regretting their decision to sign DJ to a four-year, $160 million contract.

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, during a recent appearance on Talkin’ Giants with Bobby Skinner and Justin Penik, shared his insight.

“I don’t believe, from my sources, that they view Daniel Jones the same way that they viewed him at this time last offseason when it was like, ‘we can not lose Daniel Jones.’ Do I think there’s a chance he’s still QB1 going into next season? Yeah, I do,” Dunleavy said.

But that does not mean the Giants don’t intend to address the position. Schoen has been transparent about their needs at quarterback with Jones coming off a torn ACL and Tyrod Taylor likely hitting free agency.

They could sign a veteran in free agency but Dunleavy believes they’ll also select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft, albeit with their second pick and not necessarily No. 6 overall.

“I think there’s a very good chance that they use their second pick, whether that’s a second-round pick or trade-up to a second first-round pick, I do think there’s a chance that’s what they end up doing at quarterback,” Dunleavy said. “And then you’re looking at the J.J. McCarthy’s, Michael Penix’s, Bo Nix (or) someone like that after picking a Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers at six.”

However things play out, expected Jones to face stricter competition for the starting job in 2024 than he has previously.

“I do think there will be competition for Daniel Jones one way or the another,” Dunleavy.

Ultimately, Dunleavy believes, the decision at quarterback will provide the blueprint for the Giants’ plans for Schoen and Daboll moving forward.

If owners John Mara and Steve Tisch allow them to take a quarterback at No. 6 overall, it indicates they’re not on the hot seat and will remain until at least 2025. But if they are on the hot seat — and Dunleavy believes they are — it makes no sense for the Giants to take a quarterback at No. 6 and then force that player on an incoming regime a year later should things crumble again next season.

A lot can change between now and the draft, but how the Giants approach the quarterback situation in free agency and then the draft will tell you a lot about how ownership sees things playing out and how much faith Schoen and Daboll actually have in Jones.

If Schoen and Daboll have job security, Dunleavy could even see them trading up for a quarterback in Round 1. But…that’s beginning to seem unlikely.



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CBS Sports lists Giants among teams ‘poised to take major fall in 2024’

The New York Giants had a great first season under head coach Brian Daboll, surprisingly making the playoffs and winning a road playoff game.

Daboll won Coach of the Year honors for his efforts that season. But the Giants followed that up by dropping to 6-11 in 2023.

The disappointing 2023 campaign was due, in large part, to injuries with multiple missed games by key players including Daniel Jones, Andrew Thomas, Saquon Barkley, and Darren Waller.

However, the errors extended further, including bad roster management, poor coaching, and poor play on the field.

Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports doesn’t expect any of that to change in 2024. In his list of five teams poised to take a major fall next season, the Giants were ranked among them.

There are some teams that really weren’t as good as their record indicated — and one of them was the Giants. Even though New York finished 4-3 in its last seven games, was there any reason to feel optimistic about the team at the conclusion of the season?

Saquon Barkley, the best player on an offense that finished 29th in points per possession and 30th in yards per possession, is a free agent. Daniel Jones was horrendous last season, and the Giants are on the hook for a $47.105 million cap hit in 2024 for a quarterback who may not even start the year (ACL injury). Even if Jones plays, he’ll be playing behind an offensive line that’s perpetually poor (allowed 85 sacks last season).

Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale also left, as the Giants will have to learn a new scheme under Shane Bowen. Fortunately there’s talent on that group, even if they were 20th in points allowed per possession last season. The Giants were a bad football team last season, and may be worse in 2024.

With the defense being the best unit on the field in 2023, losing Wink Martindale could have a big impact. The offense could also take a major hit if they lose Saquon Barkley in free agency.

Certainly, with free agency and the NFL draft still on the horizon, it’s a little early to determine how the Giants will fair in 2024. However, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Big Blue will be even worse in 2024, which could lead to yet another head coach and potentially general manager search this time next year.

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Mike Kafka was open to leaving Giants after being scapegoated in 2023

The New York Giants replaced two of their three coordinators this offseason. They hired Shane Bowen to take over the defense after the team parted ways with Wink Martindale and fired special teams coach Thomas McGaughey in favor of Michael Ghobrial.

The one coordinator that stayed put — Mike Kafka (offense) — also had a bit of a tumultuous offseason. He was actively being courted for (and reportedly sought) opportunities elsewhere after Giants head coach Brian Daboll pinned a huge portion of their offensive woes on him.

From SNY’s Connor Hughes:

There was absolutely tension there. The idea there wasn’t is comical. This is no different than when so many tried to convince you there wasn’t an issue with Daboll and Wink Martindale. Kafka had his playcalling revoked at points last season — scapegoating him for the unit’s problems. He was open to leaving — maybe even more than that, I was told. The Giants prevented it. They were never going to let him leave for a lateral position.

And that promotion given to Kafka? Well, there was a little self-serving motivation behind that, too.

The promotion, or added job title, comes with a pay boost. That’s commonplace in the NFL. A team prevents you from leaving, but gives you extra money in response. To view that as a sign all is A-OK between the two in Giants land is silly.

The Giants were one of the NFL’s least productive offenses in 2023. They were 30th in points per game (15.6) and 29th in yards per contest (280.0).

Injuries to the offensive line, all three quarterbacks, and two of their key producers (Saquon Barkley, Darren Waller) led to inconsistency and dysfunction when the Giants had the ball.

Blaming Kafka was the easy way out. The bottom line is very little went right and there were few or no solutions in many of those situations.

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