If the New York Giants owners (John Mara and Steve Tisch) have learned anything from the franchise’s rich 95-year history, it’s that the key to success is maintaining structure and routine within the organization. Usually, Mara and Tisch use caution when it comes to dismissing front office staff personnel, but the Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur regime has been a complete disaster. If it wasn’t for 20 years of futility shown by James Dolan’s New York Knicks, the Giants would be deemed New York’s laughingstock sports franchise.
No more time is needed to reflect on the issue at hand, the product on the field hasn’t improved under Gettleman and Shurmur’s watch. It’s time for the organization to move on and cut their losses immediately. A move of this nature can’t wait until after the season as a complete overhaul of the front office is needed right now and that starts with Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur being let go.
Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur Regime Must End
What The Giants Owners Need to Ask Themselves?
The Giants are in the midst of their third straight double-digit losing season as the franchise has sunk to the bottom of the NFC East with a 2-11 record. They’re destined to have another high draft pick in next spring’s NFL Draft.
Mara and Tisch must ask themselves if Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur have moved the rebuild in the right direction. If not, then a new regime must be hired to guide the franchise’s rebuild on a new, completely different path.
Removing Gettleman and Shurmur is a necessary move if the Giants owners believe the team isn’t far from contending for a divisional title, especially with the current unstable state of the NFC East. The Gettleman and Shurmur regime has done a horrible job of assembling a roster to compete each week. It’s hard to imagine the Giants keeping this partnership around for another year after compiling a 7-22 record in close to two seasons at the helm.
Gettleman’s Missteps as Giants General Manager
At his introductory press conference, Gettleman declared that he was going to carve out a winner with the Giants in his own way. That meant adhering to three principals: running the football, stopping the run and rushing the quarterback. Gettleman felt these three areas are the key to becoming a consistent winner in the NFL.
Gettleman pledged to rebuild the offensive line because “they allow you to compete.” However, this area of the rebuild has been an utter disaster. Each off-season during his tenure as the Giants general manager, Gettleman seems to be scrambling to find upgrades at the guard and tackle positions. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, Kevin Zeitler or Mike Remmers, none have played to expectations with Big Blue. Collectively, they have blown blocking assignments which has contributed heavily to the regression of Saquon Barkley this season. The patience for chemistry to develop has expired; it’s time for the Giants to go back to the drawing board and revamp the entire offensive line once again.
Another area on the roster that hasn’t improved under Gettleman is the defense. The unit cannot generate a consistent pass rush, and there have been too many blown coverages late in close games and too many missed tackles that turn short gains into big runs. The defense has given up 30-or-more-points in seven of the team’s 11 losses this season. Gettleman’s time to fix this mess is over as he needs to be held accountable for not acquiring the right personnel that fits James Bettcher’s scheme.
Shurmur is The Wrong Man For The Job
The quality of the roster is up for debate, but the Giants have enough talent to at least compete on the field. The one common narrative in all of the losses this season is a lack of imagination with Shurmur’s play-calling. The offense is about as predictable as a high school team: run twice before attempting a long pass play, then punt.
The Giants have an impressive quartet of slot receivers, but Shurmur struggles to get them the football in the open field where they can make a difference and score touchdowns. At the start of most games, the offense looks quite impressive in moving the football downfield, but Shurmur struggles to make in-game adjustments and the momentum gained often fizzles out in the second half.
The main reason why the Giants hired Shurmur was because he’s recognized as being the NFL’s top quarterback whisperer. It’s his responsibility to mold first-round draftee Daniel Jones so Jones can take over the reins as the Giants franchise quarterback from Eli Manning. But Shurmur has failed to take the rookie quarterback from point A to point B in his developmental process this season. At times, Jones has looked good throwing the football, but the high rate of turnovers raises some concerns.
In 10 starts, Jones has accounted for 25 turnovers (11 interceptions and 15 fumbles with 10 of them lost) this season. The interceptions are a combination of misreads and overthrowing the primary receiver. Each is very fixable, but Shurmur has failed to teach Jones how to anticipate an oncoming pass-rusher, so he can protect the football better in the pocket. Often, a turnover has provided ideal field position for the opposing team.
What’s Next For The Giants
The NFL is a results-based business, so neither Gettleman nor Shurmur should be surprised if they’re shown the door. The Giants need an injection of enthusiasm and accountability all throughout the organization. Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur have failed on both counts.
The Giants are fading fast from being relevant in the NFL. Once, this franchise was the epitome of winning, but they have fallen into the black hole of ineptitude. The Giants have only one playoff appearance since 2011. It’s time for Mara and Tisch to cut their losses in the front office before it’s too late.
The next regime cannot consist of retread candidates who are looking to rewrite their own league history by resurrecting the Giants back to prominence. Nor can Mara and Tisch reward a current employee with a promotion based on their years of service to the franchise.
The Giants need to hire the hottest general manager/head coach tandem on the open market. Both candidates must have the type of personality that when they speak, everyone listens to their every word. This characteristic will come across quickly in the interviewing process.
Mara and Tisch must select a general manager who has the passion to build a Super Bowl contender and a head coach who loves teaching the game to a roster filled with eager players. A partnership of this nature should be destined for greatness in the NFL for many years to come.
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