The New York Giants Have Forgotten Their Identity
By Erik Lambert
People will argue that promoting Ben McAdoo to replace Tom Coughlin was the right call based on what the New York Giants did last year.
Of course the easy counter to that is was that success really about McAdoo or the timely infusion of talent free agency brought them last year? One thing is for sure. It’s hard to imagine the Giants going on Florida boating trips before a playoff game in Green Bay. The same Packers team that Coughlin had owned in two previous postseason meeting. It’s becoming clearer by the day that McAdoo is a great offensive coordinator, but an average head coach.
Just look at Eli Manning for confirmation. In 2015 when McAdoo focused on the offense the veteran quarterback threw 35 touchdowns and went to the Pro Bowl. Since being promoted to the head job, McAdoo hasn’t had as much time to obsess over the details with Eli. As a results Manning’s quarterback rating went from 93.6 to 86.0 last year. It doesn’t seem to be getting better after a listless performance in Dallas that saw him throw for 220 yards and an interception against a depleted Cowboys secondary.
There is more style and less substance to these Giants
To be fair not having Odell Beckham on the field hurt, but that’s an excuse. There were other weapons to use and the Giants couldn’t find any of them. They had no rhythm and looked exactly the same way they did at Lambeau back in January: dazed, confused and a little bit disinterested. They aren’t the Giants teams of the Coughlin era or the Parcells era. They don’t run the ball. They don’t dominate the line of scrimmage. This isn’t a team that looks like the aggressor.
People can say Coughlin was past his prime. One thing was always clear though. He knew how to get the most from his team in the big games. This Giants team doesn’t anymore.