New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen spoke to the media on Thursday.
That, in and of itself, is somewhat remarkable. Not that the Giants’ defensive coordinator spoke — that’s ordinary. Rather, it’s remarkable that Bowen is still the defensive coordinator who took questions from the media. There have been plenty of calls for Bowen’s job over the last four weeks, and many were surprised when it was Brian Daboll, and not Bowen, who was fired on Monday.
Or that Bowen wasn’t fired along with Daboll.
So when Bowen stood at the podium on Thursday, he first thanked the Giants’ now-former head coach for the opportunity Daboll gave him. He also took responsibility for the Giants’ defensive collapses this year.
“There’s responsibility that falls on me,” he said. “We haven’t been good enough defensively, particularly closing out games. Something we’re working at, evaluating everything, scheme, personnel, different situations, what we can do to continue to improve and find ways to be at our best when it matters most. Find ways to put these players in positions to make plays at critical parts of the game when it matters most. So, it’s something we’re continuing to dive into, continuing to work at. We have to find ways to win these games and not give it up in the fourth quarter.
“My focus is doing my best to get our guys in a position to make plays where we can finish these games and perform better defensively when it matters most.”
Bowen noted that he and interim head coach Mike Kafka already have a solid relationship. He also confirmed that there will be changes to the defense, both on the field and how they prepare throughout the week.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be anything drastic,” Bowen said. “I mean, there’s obviously things we need to do a little bit differently. Obviously, game day is most important, but that’s throughout the week as well, right? Just the process throughout the week, what that looks like to be able to get us to game day and then be able to go out there and perform on game day. So I don’t know if there’s going to be anything drastic, but there will be some things that we’re adjusting as we go.
“The major emphasis for us is finding ways to be at our best when it matters most. At the end of these games, we have leads and doing the best job I can to make sure our players are in situations when the time comes, they can make the plays that are needed to win those games.”
Bowen acknowledged several factors that have contributed to the Giants’ defensive collapses. He noted that both execution and discipline have been lacking, and that fatigue at the end of games has been a compounding factor as well.
“I think it’s a myriad of things, like you mentioned,” he said. “Ultimately, in these situations, you look around the league, and as they come up, I mean even the end of half ones that came up at times, right? It’s about finding ways to make plays when it matters most. And it starts with me putting them in a position to do so where we can.”
Bowen didn’t elaborate on how the Giants could rectify their defensive problems. However he did reaffirm that he’s been working with Kafka to find ways to do right by the players.
“Making sure I’m doing everything I can for these players to get the results we want,” he said. “And to get the results these players deserve, and being at our best, again, when it matters most.”
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