Tag: Dave Gettleman

Trent Dilfer: Giants should hire new coach from college ranks

Trent Dilfer believes the New York Giants need to break their traditional mold and hire a new coach from the college ranks.

The cry from the New York Giants fans base is clear… It’s time for the Giants to stop what they have been doing an try something completely different.

That means changing their philosophy of hiring familiar faces and retreads to run the front office and lead the team on the field.

Many Giants fans on social media have suggested the team should look to the college ranks for a new coach with a fresh approach and 21st Century ideas. Former NFL quarterback and television analyst Trent Dilfer also believes its time for the Giants to restructure their organization rejoin the rest of the NFL.

From NJ Advance Media:

“The most explosive offenses in the NFL, with the best quarterback play, most of those teams — if not all of them — have a Saturday coach on their staff with a lot of influence,” Dilfer told NJ Advance Media. “Meaning a coach that has studied the college football game extensively. You have to have college elements in the offenses right now.”

Dilfer is OK with the Giants hiring a CEO coach who doesn’t necessarily have an offensive/quarterback-developing background. But that coach would need to bring in somebody legit to handle those duties — and an emphasis on college football’s offensive influences is a must, said Dilfer.

“You have to take advantage of the [run/pass options], the line-of-scrimmage screens, some of the misdirection stuff, some of the creativity that the college game has kind of introduced to the NFL,” Dilfer said. “They don’t have to have coached in college, but somebody that has really taken a deep dive into the schemes and the creativity of Saturday football.”

We agree. What the Giants have been doing has obviously not worked. The handling of the Tom Coughlin-Ben McAdoo transition was a disaster. Jerry Reese’s personnel decisions were questionable and the hiring of the out-of-touch Dave Gettleman to replace him has set this team back even further.

Pat Shurmur is a wonderful man but his career arc stops at offensive coordinator. He is not an effective head coach and the decision to put this young team in his and his average staff’s hands has obviously been a mistake.

[lawrence-related id=635911,635927,635914]

Gil Brandt: Giants GM Dave Gettleman doing an ‘outstanding job’

Hall of Fame executive Gil Brandt believes New York Giants GM Dave Gettleman is doing an “outstanding job” despite the criticism.

The job of New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman may very well be on the line after just two seasons in blue, but don’t tell that to Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Gil Brandt, who believes Gettleman is doing an “outstanding job.”

“I think he’s doing an outstanding job,” Brandt told the New York Post. “I don’t care what they say, I just know the players that they got, and how I graded those players. See, what Gettleman does is a lot like we used to do. He rolls the dice that they can be great players. They may be a bust, but they can be great players.”

So far, it’s too early to call any of Gettleman’s investments “great players” or “busts.” Some, like guard Will Hernandez, have all the potential in the world but aren’t playing well. Meanwhile, you have others like fifth-round rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton who are blowing expectations out of the water.

“They’ve done a great job of accumulating young players, and especially in the later rounds,” Brandt said. “Like the guy from Auburn [Darius Slayton], the wide receiver, he is gonna be, I think, a really good player. The left guard [Will Hernandez] I think is a good player, I think the guy they got from Clemson [Dexter Lawrence] is a good player. I think the Giants’ future is very bright.”

There have been a few flubs in Brandt’s eyes however, including the decision to trade up in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft for cornerback DeAndre Baker, who has struggled for much of the season but come on late.

“DeAndre Baker, I think, might be a better safety than he is a corner,” Brandt said. “He was very good as a cover corner at Georgia, I think he lacks a little quickness to be a really great corner in the National Football League.”

Interestingly, Brandt also gave Gettleman credit for acquiring defensive lineman Leonard Williams from the New York Jets — a move widely criticized by fans and media members alike.

“I thought coming out of the draft, Williams was a top-five player,” Brandt said. “And I got to know him quite well. Was a great character guy there at USC. This is a quality, quality individual, I think. I would love to have him for a third-round pick. I don’t think you’re gonna find anybody as close to his ability in the bottom half of the first round.”

All things considered, Gettleman has done a relatively good job freeing up cap space, unloading bad contracts and stocking the team with young talent. And while it hasn’t yielded any positive results yet, it’s only been less than two years.

Maybe, just maybe, Giants owners will see it the same way and keep Gettleman on board.

[lawrence-related id=635901,635896,635890]

Report: Expectations are that Giants will fire Pat Shurmur

Expectations around the league are that the New York Giants will fire head coach Pat Shurmur and possibly even GM Dave Gettleman.

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is a dead man walking, and following a 23-17 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, even he sounded like someone resigned to what’s to come.

“Yeah, I do,” Shurmur said when asked if he expects to finish out the season. “But I just have to wait and see. You have a lot of tough ones for me today.”

Shurmur has been given every opportunity to save his job, but he’s been unable to take advantage of it and with less than three weeks remaining this season, expectations around the league are that Shurmur will be fired on Black Monday.

And general manager Dave Gettleman? Yeah, he might be in some trouble, too.

None of this will come as any sort of surprised given that the Giants are currently mired in a nine-game losing streak, have failed to win a game in October and November (and now December) for the first time in franchise history and are staring down the barrel at the league’s worst record (Cincinnati is one-game worse). However, some may wonder if another complete rebuild is the answer.

Consistency is essential in the NFL and teams that lack it are often the ones that find themselves in a vicious repeating cycle. The Giants may now become one of those teams as Shurmur’s termination would usher in the fifth different coach in New York since 2013 — Tom Coughlin, Ben McAdoo, Steve Spagnuolo, Pat Shurmur and whoever comes next.

It will also mean an entirely new coaching staff for the Giants, a potential change in systems yet again, a potential disagreement over the quarterback position and a complete reset on the learning curve for players.

And should Gettleman also be canned, the Giants will be looking at their third general manager in a three-year span.

Yikes.

[lawrence-related id=635043,635027,635013]

Giants Twitter continues to take aim at Pat Shurmur, Dave Gettleman

After the team’s latest loss, New York Giants fans took aim at GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur on Twitter.

The New York Giants led the Philadelphia Eagles, 17-3, at halftime on Monday night and fans were loving it. Coupled with an impressive start to the game by quarterback Eli Manning, there was suddenly some optimism and excitement brewing.

Then everything fell apart.

The Giants allowed 20 unanswered points in the second half and into overtime, managing just 29 total yards over the final half-plus and at times, Pat Shurmur was very obviously being out-coached.

Following the latest loss, it comes as little surprise that Giants Twitter focused in on Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman.

Black Monday is going to be an interesting day for these Giants. Do Gettleman and Shurmur get sent packing or do they return? And if so, how will Big Blue Nation react?

[vertical-gallery id=634941]

Leonard Williams demanding top dollar from Giants

Leonard Williams is openly demanding top dollar from the New York Giants in order to stay in town and continue losing.

New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams is sick and tired of losing, and in order to stay entrenched in a negative culture, he’s going to require top money.

And no, that’s not a report or a product of rumors. Rather, Williams is upfront about it and with four games remaining this season, wanted general manager Dave Gettleman to know it’s either a monster deal or no deal at all.

“I know that I want to get a big contract, and I know that I am worth a lot,” Williams told NJ Advance Media. “If I don’t think they’re giving me what I think I’m worth, then obviously I think hitting free agency would make sense. Everything is going to have to match up.

“I definitely think I’m a top-tier interior defensive lineman, in that top percentage of the d-linemen. I wouldn’t say Aaron Donald [level]. But I would definitely put myself up there with a lot of those other top guys.”

Whatever is just shy of “Aaron Donald level” is what Williams expects to be paid. And if the Giants don’t offer it, the two 2020 NFL Draft picks that were used to acquire him are going straight in the trash.

But the Giants will have one advantage — so long as the money is there, Williams would be open to re-signing prior to free agency.

“Yeah, I would be, if I felt like they were offering me something that I think is worth it,” Williams added.

“I like to be committed to where I’m at. I like the fact that the GM and the owner wanted me here. I think it speaks volumes that they were willing to trade for me in a rebuilding year. I think that shows that they want me to be a part of this program.”

Some will argue that Williams has not played well enough to warrant such a contract, and to some degree, it would be difficult to disagree with that sentiment. At the same time, he hasn’t played as poorly as some would suggest, as the Giants have seen their run defense do a complete 180 since Williams’ arrival, while he also leads the team in QB hurries and QB hits over that same span.

Still, Williams seems to be over-valuing himself and setting a bar the Giants won’t be able to reach unless it’s out of sheer desperation. Accordingly, Gettleman’s acquisition of Williams only looks that much worse now.

[lawrence-related id=634745,634739,634708]

Report: Ex-Giant Odell Beckham tells coaches, players he wants out of Cleveland

Former New York Giants WR Odell Beckham has reportedly been telling coaches and players he wants out of Cleveland.

Over time, former New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. became known as someone who was never happy, always wanted change and consistently believed the grass was greener on the other side.

That’s not a knock on Beckham, who was a tremendous teammate and fierce competitor who craved winning more than oxygen. Rather, it’s a reflection on the instant gratification era in which we currently reside.

After several losing seasons in blue, Beckham became frustrated with the situation in New York and passive-aggressively voiced those concerns. As a result, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns this past offseason — a trade he pretended came as a surprise.

After letting the reality of the trade sink in, Beckham bought into Cleveland’s championship dreams and expressed a belief that being reunited with friend Jarvis Landy and inheriting Baker Mayfield as his quarterback would lead to his Super Bowl prayers being answered.

They weren’t.

Now mired in a career-worst season and facing an offseason surgery for a sports hernia, Beckham appears done with Cleveland and has reportedly been telling both opposing coaches and players to free him from the misery.

Earlier this week, Beckham was coy when asked about his future with the Browns and provided the typical maybe/maybe not response most Giants fans had become accustomed to.

“I couldn’t tell you what’s going to happen. I couldn’t sit here and tell you whether I’m going to be here, want to be here, don’t want to be here. This is exactly where I’m at now, and I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else. God has a plan, and in the offseason, everything will figure itself out,” Beckham said, via Browns Wire.

“I feel like I’ve been here before, asking questions about the next team while I’m on a team already. That’s just something that I’m just going to tune out right now. Catch me in the offseason and we’ll see what happens.”

Beckham had been there before. He later returned to another familiar well.

When Giants wished Browns fans “good luck” following the Beckham trade, those in Cleveland took it as an insult or sour grapes. Up and possibly until his comments earlier this week, they may have still believed that. Now? Not so much.

Having fun yet, Cleveland?

[lawrence-related id=634663,634694,634667]

Bill Polian: Dave Gettleman has a plan for the Giants

Bill Polian believes in New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman and thinks he will turn this franchise around.

In the midst of an eight-game losing streak, many believe the jobs of New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur may be in jeopardy.

There’s no denying the Giants are in the middle of a rebuild and they may have done the right thing by getting Daniel Jones’ feet wet in his rookie season. Gettleman also said that the Giants could compete while in the rebuild; that narrative has been put to rest as the team is 2-10 this season.

During an interview on WFAN, former Colts GM and current ESPN analyst, Bill Polian, said that Gettleman has a plan for Big Blue.

“It starts with solidifying the fronts on both sides of the ball, it’s obvious that there’s still work to do there.” Polian said of how important building the trenches are.

Polian hired Dave Gettleman as a scouting intern with the Buffalo Bills back in 1986 when Polian was the Bills GM.

Polian reiterated how important it was to be able to rush the passer and pinpointed Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley as key pieces already in place.

The Giants will have a high draft pick (likely in the top 5) and could get yet another young key franchise piece. The thought of the Giants landing Ohio State Product Chase Young surely gets Giants fans excited.

Whether or not Gettleman has his job going into next season is unknown. But it is nice to see the six-time executive of the year having Gettleman’s back. At this point, with the Giants’ third consecutive losing season, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but they do have a young core as they continue to rebuild the team.

[lawrence-related id=634513,634505,634498]

Did Giants ownership force an Eli Manning farewell tour on Pat Shurmur?

Conspiracy theorists are out in force suggesting Eli Manning is back under center because New York Giants ownership wanted him to be, but…

Entering the 2019 regular season, a popular but unsubstantiated conspiracy theory was that Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch forced veteran quarterback Eli Manning on both general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur.

If that were true, Shurmur was quick to pull the plug — much faster than the owners would have liked had they mandated Manning starting — and went to rookie Daniel Jones in Week 3.

Now entering the final stretch of the season and a Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, people are once again donning their tinfoil hats and suggesting ownership is again cramming Manning down the throat of Gettleman and Shurmur.

The injury Odell Beckham Jr. suffered late last season was initially called a quad injury, later a hematoma and then a hamstring issue. There’s never been any actual clarity on what injury OBJ actually suffered through, and the player and team could not agree on the severity of it.

Ultimately, Beckham was unable to play through whatever the injury was and missed the final stretch of the season.

Earlier this year, running back Saquon Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain and missed several games, returning well ahead of schedule and taking quite some time before he even looked remotely close to the same player.

Meanwhile, the ankle sprain Jones suffered at Duke in 2018 came during the Independence Bowl, and just as he did a week ago against the Green Bay Packers, he played through it. He didn’t have to test it the following week, so there’s no certainty he could have or would have played.

Jones also missed several weeks due to a broken clavicle, so the notion that he “played through it” is an argument that is just hemorrhaging water. And his broken wrist? Yeah, Jones played through a summer basketball camp with it before even realizing it was broken, so it’s not like he was taking shots from 300-pound defensive linemen or anything. Or, you know, trying to throw a football with it.

There’s also the other elephant in the room… Forget the obvious nature of the injury and all the limping (and struggling) Jones did after suffering the ankle sprain in Week 13, he’s currently refined to a walking boot after testing revealed an injury that almost consistently keeps players out for 3-to-6 weeks if not longer.

Not to mention, if Shurmur is coaching for his job and hitched his wagon to Daniel Jones, why would he even humor ownership and put Manning back in at this point? Unless he got a guarantee that doing so would save his job, it would make absolutely no sense whatsoever for Shurmur to flip flop with only a month of a lost season remaining.

Allow me to throw out my own conspiracy theory: Daniel Jones has a high ankle sprain, can’t play and as his backup, Eli Manning, will now step in and start just as QB2 is designed to do for all 32 NFL teams.

I know, I know… It sounds crazy, but maybe — just maybe — that’s all this is.

[lawrence-related id=634418,634440,634395]

Giants owner finally speaks, asks fans for patience

A New York Giants owner has finally broken his silence, providing fans with no answers, but requesting patience from them.

The New York Giants are currently mired in an eight-game losing streak — the second-longest such streak in franchise history — and all has remained silent in East Rutherford.

Besides the usual barrage of questioning for head coach Pat Shurmur and whatever players the team makes available throughout the week, no one has stepped up to face the music.

After canceling weekly interviews with WFAN, the Giants have enacted life as it would be seen in the film, “A Quiet Place.” There were no bye week press conferences, general manager Dave Gettleman has not been heard from in months and co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have remained out of sight.

That changed on Tuesday as Tisch briefly stepped out from the shadows in order to attend the March of Dimes Luncheon.

NBC 4’s Bruce Beck was able to corner Tisch and fire off some questions regarding the current state of the franchise, what — if any — changes were coming this offseason and if there was any specific message for fans.

There was.

Tisch offered absolutely no vote of confidence for Gettleman or Shurmur heading into the offseason, and arguably sounded a bit more assertive than usual.

Who wouldn’t love to be a fly on the wall when Tisch and Mara sit down to discuss what needs to be done and what’s next? You have to imagine that will be an emotionally-charged conversation.

[lawrence-related id=634277,634259,634245]

3 takeaways from Giants’ Week 13 loss to Packers

Here are three takeaways from the New York Giants’ Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, which dropped them to 2-10.

The New York Giants’ latest loss, a 31-13 slopfest against a recently struggling Green Bay Packers team, has all but put the lid on Big Blue’s designs of becoming a competitive team this season.

In front of a large throng of Packer fans, the Giants once again displayed for the whole word that thy are officially one of the NFL’s worst and most poorly run franchises.

Here are three takeaways (click away now if you’re looking for a silver lining).

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Numbers don’t lie

At 2-10, the Giants are officially the doormat of the NFC. There is no further to fall. They are it. John Mara and Dave Gettleman can be proud of the mess they’ve made of this franchise. Sure, you can blame Jerry Reese, but Gettleman has had two full offseasons and the team has gotten worse. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

How do you get to 2-10? Easily. The other team scores more than you every week, that’s how. They are averaging 19.2 points per game but have scored only 13 and 14 points respectively in the past two games. That’s not going to get it done when you’re allowing 28.2 points each week.

Who is to blame? Just about everyone. The team is not coached very well, has two many inexperienced players and the veterans who are here are under-performing.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3