Here's a quick summary of Kevin Gilbride's conference call with us scribes:
-- He said he didn't really interview with TC for the offensive coordinator job, that Coughlin told him after the playoff loss that "if things work out, you'll be the coordinator." Assuming Gilbride meant that if TC was retained, Gilbride would stay in the role he had for the final two games of the season.
-- Said that Eli needs more consistency, and that TC's search for a QB coach won't be rushed. Gilbride was both the OC and QBs coach in several of his previous stops, but TC feels a separate QBs coach is needed here.
-- Gilbride was clearly jazzed by his stint as OC for the final regular-season game and the playoff game. "Overseeing (the offense) and just being a contributor are two different roles," he said. "I enjoy overseeing the whole operation because you're the guy who's responsible for the success or failure of the offense."
-- Biggest change for next season has to be in the downfield passing game -- not just in terms of when those plays are called, but for whom. Gilbride made a point of saying that Eli has to trust more than just Plaxico Burress, and that the receivers have to gain Eli's trust. Also said more than once that Jeremy Shockey has to be more involved in the downfield passing game.
-- He said the coaches have high hopes for Brandon Jacobs, but that "you want to have at least two backs who can run the ball. Almost all teams have that now."
-- He doesn't anticipate any coaching changes on offense, other than the QBs coach being added.
-- Need to have better focus and touch in the red zone, even though statistically, the Giants were better in the red zone than in 2005 -- 27-for-51 (52.9 percent) for TDs in 06, 27-for-59 (45.8 percent) in 05. Funny what a few extra wins will do for your perception.
So that's what Gilbride says... I wasn't on the job in 2004, but I always thought it was odd that Gilbride, a guy with vast head-coaching and OC experience, was hired to coach Eli and John Hufnagel, who had been a QB coach with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, was hired to be the OC... I get the sense that Hufnagel's personality jibed better with Coughlin than did Gilbride's fiery ways, but now we'll all get a chance to see if Gilbride can work with TC.
Comments (2)
I get the feeling that Gilbride and Coughlin will say anything these days...
They better have Plax and Toomer and Shock work with Eli in the offseason.They better find a running back to offset Tiki type of yardage.
The could have found out alot more about Jacobs this passed season yet they chose not too.
Hell...NOW they want Eli to see the field more... NOW they say that ? Giant fans have been screaming this stuff all year !
When you take a good hard look at the 2006 Giants, you got to wonder about the coaching staff. There insight and stratedgy was pathetic.
But, here we go again ! There back !
Artie - Did you see Eli's reaction watching his brother's great win last evening - he had his game face on - same dead-pan expression with no emotion -the guy's a bust in more than just football... AND YOU CAN PRINT THAT !