The New York Giants defense has not played anywhere near as dominant as many fans hoped they would this year.
But coach Brian Daboll is still sticking by defensive coordinator Shane Bowen anyway.
The embattled Giants head coach offered a defense of his defensive coordinator after they allowed 30-plus points for the third straight game in their 34-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants (2-7) rank 29th in the NFL in yards-against per game (382.1) and are 28th in points-against per game (27.7) this year. They have allowed 380-plus yards in each of their past three games, all losses, despite having a robust pass rush — keyed by Brian Burns’ NFL-leading 11 sacks.
The Giants will play the Chicago Bears (5-3) at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Bears, of course, scored 47 points and put up 576 yards of total offense in their last-second win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Shane Bowen Is Still The Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Playcaller
Giants fans are understandably frustrated with Bowen and have been ever since he couldn’t figure out to stop the Denver Broncos from kicking a last-second field goal in 37 seconds in their season-altering 33-32 loss in Week 7.
Yet when asked straight up about Bowen’s status by Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Daboll confirmed that he was sticking by Bowen.
“He is,” Daboll said Monday when asked both if Bowen was the DC then if he was calling the plays.
Of course, Bowen has been under fire since Burns and All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence were critical of his calls in that loss in Denver. The Giants have twice allowed opponents to score in the last minute of the fourth-quarter in losses — in Denver and of course in Week 2 in New York’s OT loss to Dallas.
Daboll did reference a potential change in defensive scheme ahead of the game against Chicago this week, but he did not get into specifics.
“Each week you [alter the scheme],” Daboll said. “I’m not saying it’s a drastic thing. I’m just saying obviously [the defensive scheme] hasn’t been good enough, but that’s collectively. That’s my job.”
Shane Bowen, Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen Are Squarely On The Hot Seat
Daboll has been on the hot seat since New York’s 3-14 season a year ago, and nothing that has happened has altered many fans’ and pundits’ belief that he’s in over his head.
The loss to the Niners affirmed to many the Giants’ need to change their coaching staff. San Francisco was down its starting quarterback, Brock Purdy, plus multiple wide receivers yet still ran wild over New York’s overwhelmed defense by putting up 159 rushing yards.
The Giants rank 31st in run defense, allowing an even 150 yards per game. They have given up an average of 192.3 rushing yards per game over their losing streak and have surrendered at least 100 rushing yards in all but two games this year.
To Daboll’s credit, he has taken responsibility for the team’s ongoing struggles, which could also expedite his departure.
“It’s all three phases,” Daboll said. “That’s my responsibility.”
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