Ever since Tom Coughlin was shown the door by the New York Giants, the head coaching position has been a revolving door. Additionally, the Giants’ general manager performance has also left plenty to be desired.
As the Giants continue their GM and head coaching scouting, the importance of these two particular searches are more important than ever as the Giants need to turn it around in a hurry.
Former Giant and two-time Super Bowl champion, Mathias Kiwanuka, spoke to Giants Wire this week regarding his show “Odds with Ends” on MSG Network and was asked about the Giants’ GM and head coaching searches.
Although Kiwanuka had instability in his career in regards to being switched back-and-forth from linebacker to defensive end, his coaches were pretty consistent throughout. The former two-time champ was asked how important this particular time around that Big Blue’s searches go right.
“It’s imperative… I’ve had very strong coaching experiences throughout my entire career actually. Even going back to college, Tom O’Brien was there my entire time, my high school coach was there my entire time, like I never had to deal with a changing of the guard from the head position,” Kiwanuka said. “We had multiple coordinators, we had at least two D-Line coaches but the head coach, the main message remained the same.
“So I think, if it’s wrong it needs to be changed. It’s better to make big sweeping changes one time than to continue putting duck tape on a broken situation. So, I think this time — not to say it wasn’t last time — but it’s very imperative that the search goes correct. What I mean by correct is that regardless of who that person is in that position, they get the desired results, which is a championship.”
As if the trend wasn’t strong enough, this year’s playoff teams consist mostly of teams whose head coaches are offensive-minded. While the offense is in desperate need to get fixed, Kiwanuka doesn’t feel it’s important for the Giants to get an offensive-focused head coach:
“I think that’s an area where we’re (the Giants) are definitely struggling. I think Patrick Graham has done a decent job defensively, scheme-wise, motivation-wise in getting those guys prepared and ready. I think it’s imperative that the offense is fixed,” Kiwanuka said. “Maybe because I was a defensive player, I don’t necessarily think you need to have an offensive-minded head coach, you just need a great offensive-minded coach or offensive coordinator to be in control of the offense.
“So, if you are going to go with a defensive-minded coach, he needs to understand his limitations and bring in somebody and allow that person to fix the offense. The offense needs to be fixed, the offensive line has to be fixed, the quarterback position needs to be able to shine, needs to be a reason for success and not just another player out there casually contributing. So I don’t agree with that; I don’t think you need an offensive-minded head coach. I think you need a great offensive mind in control of the offense and that can be done at the coordinator level.”
While the Giants’ general manager search could be over sooner rather than later, the head coaching search will follow soon after. With the current state of the Giants, the upcoming draft where the team owns two top 10 picks and for the development of Daniel Jones, it’s more important than ever that the Giants get their searches right this time around.
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