There’s nowhere left for general manager Joe Schoen to hide. The New York Giants, struggling with a 2-10 record, have turned their final games of the season into a dramatic saga, akin to “Survivor.” After each loss, someone from the coaching staff has been let go. Most recently, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was dismissed after his team failed to maintain a double-digit lead in a 34-27 overtime defeat to the Lions.
The pressure is mounting, especially since the Giants have lost three games where they led by ten points or more in the fourth quarter. This leaves Schoen in a tight spot, as the focus shifts to the roster he assembled.
“I made the tough decision today to let Shane go as our defensive coordinator,” interim coach Mike Kafka stated. The team’s performance simply hasn’t met expectations.
Bowen’s firing comes as no surprise. The Giants rank near the bottom in both points and yards allowed this season, sitting at 30th in the league. This raises the question: why did it take so long to make this change? Last January, co-owner John Mara expressed frustration over the defense’s performance, stating he was tired of watching teams score easily against them. Despite his remarks, Bowen remained in charge until now.
It feels like an oversight that Schoen didn’t act sooner after Mara’s comments. While it’s understandable that Daboll hesitated to replace another coordinator after a tough transition from Wink Martindale, the longer Bowen stayed, the more the team’s defense struggled.
Last season, the Giants finished with a dismal 3-14 record. Bowen’s defense was average at best, ranking 21st in points allowed. This year, despite adding players like cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland, the defense has deteriorated further. Schoen has invested significantly in the defense—$99 million this year alone—but the results have been unacceptable.
One glaring issue has been the run defense, which is ranked dead last in the league. This problem has persisted since Martindale’s era, where the Giants also struggled against the run. Despite the investments in players, Schoen has neglected to prioritize the defensive line. Out of 14 picks he made in his drafts, only one went to a defensive tackle.
As the Giants move forward, they’ve assigned outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen as interim defensive coordinator. While he has never held the DC role before, his connection to Schoen may lend some consistency during this turbulent period.
Kafka is taking ownership of these decisions, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with Schoen. They need to work hand-in-hand to create a plan moving forward, especially as playoffs slip further out of reach.
Recent statistics show that in the NFL, teams that struggle with run defense often fall behind quickly in games. This year, the Giants exemplify this trend, which puts additional pressure on the management to course-correct urgently.
Bullen has five games to prove that the team’s troubles stem from coaching rather than the roster. If he can’t turn things around, Schoen’s future may be in jeopardy as well. The clock is ticking as the team heads into the home stretch of a challenging season.
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