Giants have their head coach in Pat Shurmur
While Pat Shurmur is getting ready to coach the Vikings offense in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, it became clear this week that the Giants and Shurmur are on the precipice of working out a deal that will make him the 18th head coach in Giants history.
After Sunday's game, win or lose for the Vikings, Shurmur can interview for a second time with the Giants, which -- if all the reports are accurate -- will be more of a formality to iron out details before anything is official. If the Vikings lose Sunday, the Giants can announce Shurmur as the head coach as soon as Monday if they should choose. If the Vikings advance to Super Bowl 52, an official announcement will wait until Feb. 5.
According to the New York Post, Shurmur is infatuated with the Giants job, because of the cache that comes with the position. He is also said to be excited about the prospect of working with Eli Manning at the end of his career, and potentially drafting his successor in this April's Draft. Shurmur certainly knows quarterbacks, he has been credited with developing QBs from Donovan McNabb to Case Keenum.
Working with a veteran like Manning would be a boon to Shurmur, especially in his first year back as a head coach.
As far as a coaching staff is concerned, we have a couple of answers. It appears that Steve Spagnuolo will return as Defensive Coordinator. This is not surprising, because Shurmur was Spagnuolo's offensive coordinator at the Rams. This would be like returning the favor in a way. Not to mention keeping Spags gives the Giants some stability on the defensive side of the ball, and gives Shurmur someone he can lean on.
Still the biggest concern with the hiring of Shurmur is his personality. Former Browns executive Mike Holmgren tore apart Shurmur in an interview with Gary Myers of the Daily News, painting the Giants head coach as someone who is rigid and too serious.
"It’s hard for him to shoot the breeze. He’s really bright and works really hard. He has a good way about him with his staff. I’m disappointed he didn’t come in and talk to me enough. I was down the hall. I wish Pat had done that with me more." Daily News.
Holmgren even said that Shurmur needed to lighten up, which might partly explain a 9-23 record in Cleveland; then again it is the Cleveland Browns, and it is not like Holmgren did a great job as a general manager.
Shurmur doesn't need to be gregarious like Rex Ryan for the Giants to be successful. And he doesn't need to go full Bill Belichick either. But if he is comfortable being on the quiet side, at least publicly, the Giants won't care, especially if he wins. In fact a lot of players have come to Shurmur's defense, calling him a great coach with a fire in his belly.
Plenty of challenges await Shurmur. Not only will he need to distinguish who the quarterback will be for 2018, but he will need to hit a home run on the first round pick. Will it be Sam Darnold? Josh Rosen? Or do the Giants go the safe route and select an offensive lineman? Or surprise people and take a very talented Saquan Barkley out of Penn State?
He will have to deal with a locker room fractured by bad tempers and arrogant personalities. Odell Beckham Jr., Landon Collins and Dominque Rodgers Cromartie are three names that come to mind of guys who have caused disruptions for the team in the past year.
Then of course there are the expectations. The Giants are expected to turn their misfortune around in 2018. Nobody thinks that last season's 3-13 disaster was a sign of things to come. Shurmur and General Manager Dave Gettleman have to assure there is no repeat of 2017.
After Sunday's game, win or lose for the Vikings, Shurmur can interview for a second time with the Giants, which -- if all the reports are accurate -- will be more of a formality to iron out details before anything is official. If the Vikings lose Sunday, the Giants can announce Shurmur as the head coach as soon as Monday if they should choose. If the Vikings advance to Super Bowl 52, an official announcement will wait until Feb. 5.
According to the New York Post, Shurmur is infatuated with the Giants job, because of the cache that comes with the position. He is also said to be excited about the prospect of working with Eli Manning at the end of his career, and potentially drafting his successor in this April's Draft. Shurmur certainly knows quarterbacks, he has been credited with developing QBs from Donovan McNabb to Case Keenum.
Working with a veteran like Manning would be a boon to Shurmur, especially in his first year back as a head coach.
As far as a coaching staff is concerned, we have a couple of answers. It appears that Steve Spagnuolo will return as Defensive Coordinator. This is not surprising, because Shurmur was Spagnuolo's offensive coordinator at the Rams. This would be like returning the favor in a way. Not to mention keeping Spags gives the Giants some stability on the defensive side of the ball, and gives Shurmur someone he can lean on.
Still the biggest concern with the hiring of Shurmur is his personality. Former Browns executive Mike Holmgren tore apart Shurmur in an interview with Gary Myers of the Daily News, painting the Giants head coach as someone who is rigid and too serious.
"It’s hard for him to shoot the breeze. He’s really bright and works really hard. He has a good way about him with his staff. I’m disappointed he didn’t come in and talk to me enough. I was down the hall. I wish Pat had done that with me more." Daily News.
Holmgren even said that Shurmur needed to lighten up, which might partly explain a 9-23 record in Cleveland; then again it is the Cleveland Browns, and it is not like Holmgren did a great job as a general manager.
Shurmur doesn't need to be gregarious like Rex Ryan for the Giants to be successful. And he doesn't need to go full Bill Belichick either. But if he is comfortable being on the quiet side, at least publicly, the Giants won't care, especially if he wins. In fact a lot of players have come to Shurmur's defense, calling him a great coach with a fire in his belly.Plenty of challenges await Shurmur. Not only will he need to distinguish who the quarterback will be for 2018, but he will need to hit a home run on the first round pick. Will it be Sam Darnold? Josh Rosen? Or do the Giants go the safe route and select an offensive lineman? Or surprise people and take a very talented Saquan Barkley out of Penn State?
He will have to deal with a locker room fractured by bad tempers and arrogant personalities. Odell Beckham Jr., Landon Collins and Dominque Rodgers Cromartie are three names that come to mind of guys who have caused disruptions for the team in the past year.
Then of course there are the expectations. The Giants are expected to turn their misfortune around in 2018. Nobody thinks that last season's 3-13 disaster was a sign of things to come. Shurmur and General Manager Dave Gettleman have to assure there is no repeat of 2017.
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