Interim head coach Mike Kafka confirmed on Monday morning that Shane Bowen has been fired and that outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen will take over as interim defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.
Kafka’s decision reversed course after he had said following Sunday’s 34-27 overtime loss that he had “a lot of confidence” in Bowen. It came two games into Kafka’s tenure as interim after the firing of former head coach Brian Daboll.
“I just had an opportunity to watch the tape, look back at a few weeks, watch a lot of the defense, watch a lot of what was kind of going on, the communication, and just felt like this was the right time to do it,” Kafka said. “When I got the job, you know, quickly I didn’t want to make a lot of rash decisions and jump to anything really quick. I wanted to have some time to sit back, evaluate it, look at it, and kind of figure out what the best thing to do was.
“So I wanted to be calculating how I handled it, and I thought today was the right time.”
Why Bullen, a 41-year-old who has never been a coordinator when there are more experienced coaches on the defense?
“I have a lot of faith in Charlie and the things that he’s brought from the pedigree that he brings coming into this defense,” Kafka said. “I think he’s a smart coach. I think he’s detailed. He’s aggressive. And his room has had a lot of production.
And “I think he’s ready for the task, and I know he’s ready for the task.”
Bullen worked with highly-regarded defensive coordinator Vance Joseph with the Arizona Cardinals. Joseph is now coordinator for the Denver Broncos, who have one of the league’s best defenses. With the Miami Dolphins, he worked under Matt Burke. Burke is currently coordinator for the Houston Texans, who are second in the NFL in points allowed.
Kafka said this was his decision, made in consultation with GM Joe Schoen.
“These decisions aren’t easy,” Kafka said. “Shane’s a good person. He’s a good man. He’s a good coach. Just the results weren’t where we wanted them to be.”
The Giants are 30th in the NFL in points allowed at 27.8 per game and last in the league in run defense, giving up 5.9 yards per rushing attempt.
Kafka said that Bullen will have the freedom to make whatever changes he deems necessary.
“We’re going to give Charlie the reins to go and make the corrections that he sees fit for the defense, whether it’s personnel, whether it’s scheme, whether it’s communication, calls,” Kafka said. “He’s going to have to work hand-in-hand with the whole defensive unit to make sure that it’s his vision on how he sees it.
“And obviously, I’ll have my fingerprint on there as well and be there and try to be an asset for the group as well.”
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