Giants Country

New York Giants Mailbag: "Changes Need to Come" Edition

Let's open up the mailbag to see what's on the readers' minds this week.

Patricia Traina

New York Giants Mailbag: "Changes Need to Come" Edition
New York Giants Mailbag: "Changes Need to Come" Edition /
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If you'd like to submit a question for the mailbag, please use this link to avoid having your question land in spam. You may also post your questions on X (formerly known as Twitter) to @Patricia_Traina, hashtag #askPTrain. Please note that letters may be edited for clarity/length.

(From Raymond S.) A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that I was concerned with Thibodeaux not showing up or being out of position on many defensive plays. Does he lose concentration? Is he tired? Is he hurt? (It seems like the Giants are always playing injured players). I don’t see the proper intensity the position calls for. Do you agree? I promise to stop picking on him after this email.

I'm going to hold you to that promise, Raymond! So let me ask you this. When you watch Thibodeaux, are you only watching him, or what's happening around him? Is he opening up opportunities for others to make a play, or is he completely invisible to the point where he's a definite nonfactor?

Let me know if that's what you're watching--I know that's what Wink Martindale and the coaches are watching as well.

I will say this about Thibs. I'd like to see him get stronger in setting the edge against the run. And I think he will.

(From Len P.) Watching the game against the Saints. I would have brought Tyrod Taylor in the second half. DeVito seemed to struggle a bit. My thought is that they are trying to see if DeVito is their backup QB for next year. I understand that Taylor is a free agent after this season. Devito would be the cheaper option. What are your thoughts?

Len, I don't understand your question. If you want to see if DeVito can be a QB2 next year, why would you suggest taking him out at halftime against the Saints, struggles or no struggles?

That said, it's pretty obvious that DeVito has been auditioning to be in next year's quarterback room, and he's shown that he deserves a chance to compete. Is he a QB1 right now? No. But can he be a QB2? With some more development, why not?

(From Mike Z.) How much are the Giants missing Richie James? It seems that last year, when the Giants needed a first down or just yardage, James would be open. I thought of Richie as DJ’s go-to receiver. Do you think I’m crazy?

Mike, I think a better question is how much are the Giants missing having a legitimate No. 1 receiver like Odell Beckham Jr.? And please don't tell me Richie James was a No. 1 receiver on this team last year because we know that's not true.

(From Don M.) 4. Last year, at the beginning of Schoen and Daboll's reign, the fans and media touted them as being the real answer to finally bring the Giants back to being a competitive team. Fast forward, and what we have, in my opinion, is a coach and GM who has made more mistakes that have set this franchise back years.

Schoen grossly overpaid Daniel Jones, who had just 15 touchdown passes in 2022 but was given a four-year, $160 million contract. Jones went 1-5 as a starter this season with six interceptions and two touchdowns. In 6 years, if you don’t know if you have a QB, then you don’t. The offensive line was needed following the 2022 season, but the Giants overlooked this position in free agency. As a result, they lead the NFL with 76 sacks allowed. Draft picks like Neal and others are examples of their incompetence.

My question is, does the Giant management understand how far the franchise has been set back by the decision of the GM and Coaching duo, and what happened to John Mara? He usually appears during the bye week but has hidden from saying anything about the team's direction.

Don, let's pump the brakes here for a moment and re-set. First, John Mara never speaks to the media during the bye week, not in all the years (30+) I've covered the team. The only time I can recall him making an in-season appearance to speak to the media was when the Eli Manning fiasco and fallout happened. So, nothing to see here, as far as I'm concerned--John, if he speaks, usually does so at the end of the year with an occasional (and brief) appearance at the league meetings. We will see if he does.

Second, you're entitled to your opinion, but I question whether you're looking at the whole picture in reaching your conclusions. The Giants' choice at quarterback was a result of two factors: 1) believing that they could take the next step with Jones, who got them back to the playoffs last year, and 2) drafting so far down in the order that even if they wanted a new quarterback on a rookie deal, they weren't going to get one unless they mortgaged the future. You say they overpaid for Jones because you're looking at that $40 million APY. That is not a true APY, as there is NO WAY Jones plays out that entire deal.

The offensive line? Have you thought maybe the coaching is at play here behind a unit (and individuals like Evan Neal) that has struggled to take a step forward? Look at other offensive linemen who have been on this team and gone on to have success elsewhere. Jon Feliciano is a great and recent example. The guy struggled with the Giants and was benched while with the Bills, but he's thriving in San Francisco. Could it be coaching that made the difference?

Now granted, I'll give you that they should have invested in a swing tackle rather than on another slot receiver as they did, but the simple fact that this offensive line struggles with stunts is a damning statement against the coaching and what these guys are being taught in the classroom.

And as much as I hate to use injuries in any argument, this team has to figure out how to limit these soft tissue injuries that cost guys multiple weeks. I had Pratik Patel on the Locked On Giants podcast a few weeks ago--Pratik used to be a member of the Giants' strength and conditioning staff that, as led by Aaron Wellman, was pretty effective. I recommend you check out those shows--there were two of them (Part 1 is here, and Part 2 is here.) I know I learned a LOT of stuff I didn't know about behind the scenes when it comes to S&C.

The bottom line is that this team is in a rebuild. It caught lightning in a bottle last year thanks to a soft schedule and the newness of the staff. But injuries, coaching decisions, and other factors have all caught up to the team, putting it where it should have been a year ago.

I'd start by looking at whether Bobby Johnson is the right man for the job, then go from there.

I have no idea, Jeff. Flashlights or a portable light, depending on what they're looking at?  

Brian, I haven't dove into that just yet, but I think they will add a veteran in free agency just in case the draft doesn't go as planned. But I also think they'll add a quarterback during the draft--I don't know if it will be in the first round, but I'd be shocked if they don't draft a quarterback.

What slot am I drafting in, and who's on the board when my turn comes up? Seriously, appreciate the question, but let's circle back on the draft stuff once the draft order is set; all the underclassmen who plan to declare do so, and I run a mock draft simulation because right now, I haven't jumped into the draft stuff. Among the possible positions for Round 1 are WR, QB, and Edge in that order.

Getting a No. 1 receiver. I think the draft will likely be the best place to look for that. I also think getting another legitimate pass rusher is a top priority.

Congratulations Ed! Your question inspired the idea for my latest Locked On Giants podcast. I didn't go into player resolutions, but I did go into a few team resolutions.

Richard, thanks for the question. I haven't noticed nor taken count. And I don't think it's fair for me to speak on behalf of others. I'm happy to share how I feel, and I've said before that I do not endorse tanking. I've said that having a top draft pick doesn't necessarily guarantee you get a stud. I've also learned that people will believe what they want, regardless of what I or anyone else says, so if it makes them happy to call for a team tanking, then have at it.

Kris, I think if Jones gets ahead of schedule on his rehab, maybe he could bring in at least a conditional third-round pick. Don't forget that his full salary next year is guaranteed, so I suspect the Giants would have to offer to help with some of that (another reason I don't see a trade happening).

You actually answered your own question there. For what it's worth, I go back and forth on McGaughey and whether they move on from him. Yes, special teams have had their issues, but a lot of those have been on the execution, I think.

There's no such thing as a "stupid question, only stupid answers."--that's what one of my earliest school teachers used to always say.

I think they move on from Peart. Injuries have hurt his development, and I think at this point, you start over with a young offensive lineman that you put on a rookie contract, and you let him compete with Phillips for the swing tackle role next year.

Darius, I don't exactly like calling for people to be fired because, with very few exceptions, there are always reasons behind a unit not performing up to snuff that is beyond their control. 

You could make the argument that all the injuries on offense hurt Kafka, but you can also make an argument that some of the play-calling decisions he made left something to be desired and that Daniel Jones badly regressed when they tried to take the offense to the next level. 

I've always believed that a college head coaching job was in his future if he aspired to be an NFL head coach one day. So I think he will take it if such a job opens up.

Pete, I agree with you that JMS had an uneven year. I think he progressed in some areas--his combo blocks were solid, and he seemed to handle the speed of the game better as time went on, for example. 

But recognizing stunts looked to be a problem, not just with JMS but with the entire line. I think he needs to improve in his recognition of what's in front of him. And I think he will do just that. 

Joseph, Craig Fitzgerald, the current Strength and Conditioning coach, is taking a college post with the University of Florida, so they will make a change there anyway. Happy New Year to you and yours, and thanks for your support.

Thank you, Nick. Appreciate your support.

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for over three decades for various media outlets. She is the host of the Locked On Giants podcast and the author of "The Big 50: New York Giants: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants" (Triumph Books, September 2020). View Patricia's full bio.

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