Five key elements that could make or break Giants' Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll down stretch

Pat Leonard, New York Daily News on Nov 14, 2024

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — Brian Daboll, with GM Joe Schoen presiding, is the first Giants head coach ever to have two or fewer wins through 10 games in back-to-back seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The last time the Giants franchise had two or fewer wins through 10 games in consecutive seasons was 51 years ago, when Alex Webster started 2-7-1 in 1973 and Bill Arnsparger went 2-8 to open 1974.

After this Week 11 bye, Schoen and Daboll have seven games left to back up the GM’s claim of progress before their third season comes to an end.

Here are five key changes, players or trends that could either buy them a fourth season or send John Mara and Steve Tisch back into the hiring market:

Drew Lock at quarterback

A quarterback change is inevitable. Whenever Schoen and Daboll take Daniel Jones out, the offense has to improve. That would help Schoen demonstrate personnel savvy at the sport’s most important position and support Daboll’s case as a competent coordinator when he has better QB play. Then those realities could strengthen their arguments for sticking around to draft the Giants’ next QB in April.

If neither Lock or Tommy DeVito improve the offense’s results, though — and if the on-field product gets even worse — Schoen and Daboll will have no legs to stand on. That will be especially true if the locker room believes that Jones is being benched for a player who does not give them a better chance to win.

Evan Neal at right tackle

Now that Schoen and Daboll have moved Jermaine Eluemunor to left tackle and inserted Evan Neal at right tackle, they have to make this front five work. That means Schoen’s 2022 No. 7 overall pick needs to be serviceable at minimum to help rescue the GM’s underwhelming track record in the draft.

Neal graded an impressive 93.4 as a run blocker in his first start of the season against the Panthers, but was marked as only a 49.4 in pass protection. An early home game against Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming out of the bye should be a good barometer for how encouraging or worrisome this new front five will show down the stretch.

Rookie growth

Schoen’s fifth-round pick of running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. looks like a good one. No. 6 overall wide receiver Malik Nabers is a special talent, despite recent growing pains. But Schoen needs the rest of the rookie class he has been championing to step up to validate his claims.

Second-round safety Tyler Nubin needs to take better angles to the ball and make more plays in space. Third-round corner Dru Phillips has shown flashes of good play but has to avoid costly miscues in tackling or coverage that can undercut the bright spots.

And tight end Theo Johnson’s inconsistent run blocking and 16% drop percentage on targets, per Pro Football Focus, have to get cleaned up. Otherwise, Schoen is relying more on hope than on production to argue that this rookie class is littered with obvious hits.

Kayvon Thibodeaux off I.R.

It’s also important for Schoen’s 2022 No. 5 overall pick to mature into a consistent and reliable contributor and presence for Shane Bowen’s defense to turn itself around — and for the GM to be able to promote Thibodeaux as one of his good selections.

So far in his career, Thibodeaux has shown flashes but has left the Giants wanting more. A monstrous second half of the season coming off wrist surgery and rehab would add a bright spot to the Giants’ outlook that currently does not exist.

Clean management

Every week it seems the Giants step in it with a new self-inflicted wound. There was their catastrophic Week 2 decision not to activate a backup kicker against Washington behind an injured Graham Gano. They had tons of penalties during a prime-time loss to Pittsburgh. Their end of half and game situational football strategies and defense typically let them down.

They’ve had rampant injuries in the middle of their practice weeks. They’ve had two complete no-shows against Minnesota and Philadelphia. Daboll’s playcalling has been questionable in big moments, and fourth down decisions seem to be guided by no consistent principles or philosophy.

Too much goes wrong with the Giants that they could have easily avoided with better management and choices. It’s not just on the players. It’s on the GM and coach to position them better. Otherwise, they could both be replaced.

Giants remaining schedule (combined 34-34 record): vs. Buccaneers (4-6), at Cowboys (3-6, Thanksgiving), vs. Saints (3-7), vs. Ravens (7-3), at Falcons (6-4), vs. Colts (4-6), at Eagles (7-2).

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