Is it Time For Tom Coughlin to be Fired? Giants Get Thumped By Saints 49 to 24

I try not to be reactionary very often, but one of the ESPN guys (Gruden, I think) said it best when he said something like “this team just doesn’t play with any emotion, emotion is important. Sure injuries accumulate and it leaves a bad feeling in the locker room…”. This Coughlin lead Giants team has come up short on TOO many occasions for Coughlin to remain the head coach. Maybe it’s time for me to admit that the Giants need a fresh start.

The Giants have started 5-2 or better every year Coughlin has been the head coach of the Giants, but they haven’t made the playoffs the last two years (and look like they could be missing it again this year) because of epic end of the season collapses. Let’s count the ways.

In 2008 the Giants were the best team in the league, Plaxico Buress shot his leg and the Giants faltered down the stretch losing three of their last four regular season games and getting beat At Home vs the Philadelphia Eagles 23-11.

Ok give a pass to Coughlin for that, tough situation.

In 2009 the Giants started the season 5-0, but then lost four games in a row. Won a game against Atlanta making them 6-4. They had a very winnable game vs an average Denver Broncos team and went out to Denver and lay an absolute stinker losing 6-26. They scored 6 freaking points, but bounced back to beat Dallas in a must win game to stand at 7-5 before losing to Philadelphia beating Washington to stand at 8-6 poised for a playoff run with two games left.

The combined score of those last two games vs the Panthers and the Vikings was 85-16.

They didn’t even show up!!

2010 was a new year. Again a hot start and yes there were injury problems, but let’s skip ahead to week 15. The Giants stood at 8-4 needing to win one of two key games to make the playoffs (because of tie-breakers). They had to beat the Eagles or the Packers.

They get up a huge lead on the Eagles, but have the most crippling second half loss I’ve ever seen and maybe ever. Highlighted by TWO terrible special teams plays. The Eagles got an onside kick off on the Giants (happened again this year in San Francisco) who looked clueless and then their punter kicks the ball in bounds and DeSean Jackson ends the game instead of bringing it to over-time. YET he keeps the special teams coach (even though they were also dead last or close to dead last or well below average in all areas of special teams: punt return average, KR average, and coverage units).

Huge game vs the Packers. The Giants lose 45-17. Again NOT EVEN Competitive.

They beat Washington in the final week ( a terrible Redskins team 17-14 but it’s too little too late).

2011 rolls around the Giants start hot at 5-2, but they lose two terrible games at the Redskins and vs the Seahawks at home.

They barely beat (at that time) a win-less Miami Dolphins team at home 20-17 and then they go out to New England and have an impressive last second victory in New England.

They lose a nail biter out in San Francisco.

But then needing a win vs the Eagles (at home I might add) the Giants don’t even show up. They don’t try to block anyone, they don’t want to catch passes, they don’t want to attack the quarterback. And Eli almost wins it for them at the end, but they lose.

And then tonight, just terrible.

The problem I have with all of this is the Giants don’t just lose big games, they are not even competitive in so many big spots it’s embarrassing.

And the problems that are there never get fixed. Bad special teams mistakes, dropped passes, and this year so many offensive line penalties.

How many times have the Giants had a false start in or near the red-zone this year (the Seahawks when they were driving for the win and tonight early vs the Saints are just two and I could think of many more if I wasn’t so disgusted at the moment). Delay of game penalties, “communication issues in the secondary and on defense”, missed assignment all over the place. I know what Coughlin’s reputation is, but what I’ve seen on the field the last three years doesn’t match the reputation.

Brandon Jacobs taunting penalty down 21-10 in the beginning of the third quarter. This is one of the dumbest teams in the league

The other problem is this team is loaded with talent. They have a franchise QB, they have a very good defensive line, they have very plus offensive weapons, they have an exorbitant amount of high picks in their secondary (Deon Grant (long time ago), Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Aaron Ross, Prince Amukamara are all 1st round picks. Terrel Thomas (now injured) and Corey Webster are 2nd round picks.

How do they get blown out so much in Big prime-time games?

Maybe I’m just stewing over a terrible loss and there is time to turn things around this season for the Giants, but who honestly can expect them to, and if they can’t maybe it is just time for a change in New York.

Let me know Giants fans, am I out of bounds here. If the Giants miss the playoffs again should Coughlin keep his job?

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