Giants Next Move: Time to let Reese and Coughlin go
By Michael Stewart
Jerry Reese has been the New York Giants GM since 2007; which coincides with the Giants 1st Super Bowl victory since 1990-91season. Also in 2007, Reese was credited for a successful draft which produced at least 7 players that were key contributors during the playoffs and Super Bowl victory.
However; it has been well documented that the core of the 2007 draft was put together by former GM Ernie Accorsi. Throughout Reese’s tenure as the Giants GM, his drafts have been far from successful; despite the selection of Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014, Reese has had many more misses than hits. Below is a list of draft picks (each year); which illustrates my point:
2008: Kenny Phillips/Terrell Thomas/Mario Manningham/Bryan Kehl/Jonathan Goff/Andre Woodson/Robert Henderson
2009: Hakeem Nicks/Clint Sintim/Will Beatty/Ramses Barden/Travis Beckum/Andre Brown/Rhett Bomar/DeAndre Wright/Stoney Woodson.
2010: Jason Pierre-Paul/Linval Joseph/Chad Jones/Phillip Dillard/Mitch Petrus/Adrian Tracy/Matt Dodge.
2011: Prince Amukamara/Marvin Austin/Jerrel Jernigan/James Brewer/Greg Jones/Tyler Sash/Jacquian Williams/Da’Rel Scott
2012: David Wilson/Rueben Randle/Jayron Hosley/Adrien Robinson/Brandon Mosley/Matt McCants/Markus Kuhn
2013: Justin Pugh/Johnathan Hankins/Damontre Moore/Ryan Nassib/Cooper Taylor/Eric Herman/Michael Cox.
2014: Odell Beckham Jr. /Weston Richburg/Jay Bromley/Andre Williams/Nat Berhe/Devon Kennard/Bennett Jackson.
2015: Ereck Flowers/Landon Collins/Owamaqbe Odiqhizuwa/Mykkele Thompson/Geremy Davis/Bobby Hart.
If I give Reese the benefit of the doubt with the 2014 and 2015 draft as it might be a bit premature to fully gauge the value at this point. Also, factor in that David Wilson’s injury was unfortunate. His draft from 2008 to 2013 have accounted for 31 out of the 43 players drafted as either under achievers or busts.
Failing to draft well also has a direct connection to searching for talent through free agency; which translate to inflating their salary cap. Many experts have stated that to measure a successful GM is to not judge his selections in rounds 1 and 2, but rather through rounds 3-5. Reese has demonstrated a lack of accomplishment in the mid-rounds during his tenure; which has weakened the Giants depth.
Tom Coughlin has had a successful run as the Giants Head Coach, but it hasn’t come with failure at some point as head coach. There were many times when Coughlin’s job was on the line; especially during the 2 seasons in which the team won the Super Bowl. If not for a late season hot streak in both seasons, Coughlin would have most likely been replaced.
This season has really illustrated major flaws of his coaching inability with 5 losses in the final minutes of the game and poor clock management. With a weak schedule and weak NFC east, the Giants should have been able to win most of these close games or shouldn’t have been close games at all. Instead, they are faced with a 6-9 record (after an embarrassing lost to the Vikings 49-17) and another year of what ifs.
The best they can finish is 7-9, but most likely 6-10; as they have problems beating the Eagles. I am a big fan of Tom Coughlin and he will go down as one the best head coaching in Giants history. However; even I believe it’s time for a change and a new face to lead this team moving forward.