Former Giant questions many of the things that have done the last few seasons
Former New York Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas took the organization — including coach Brian Daboll, general manager Joe Schoen and co-owner John Mara — to task for the current state of the team during a recent appearance on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast.
‘Where are the leaders’?
Casillas, a Giant from 2015-17 and a member of the 2014 Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, was particularly upset by the drain of veteran leadership from the roster over the past two seasons.
That drain has included running back Saquon Barkley, quarterback Daniel Jones, wide receiver Sterling Shepard, defensive tackle Leonard Williams and safeties Julian Love and Xavier McKinney.
“The leadership that has been there for the last two years they’re either off the team or they’re not playing right now because they’re injured,” Casillas said. “This is, I feel like, the biggest issue that the Giants face.
“Tell me a team that went to or won a Super Bowl that was young. I don’t get the positives of having such a young team. That means it’s a mistake-ridden team, it’s an undisciplined team and that’s what you’re seeing. You’re seeing a lot of mistakes in these games.”
Casillas did give credit to Schoen for having a quality draft in 2024, but maintained those players need to be surrounded by more veteran leadership.
“I would like to see some more veteran free agents come in here. If they have another draft and they hit it out the park now you have, what, 12 draft picks that are playing in 2025 from the last two years,” Casillas said. “Where the leaders at right where are the leaders to help them become professionals?
“Having a veteran guy to to navigate and help assist you through some decision-making that you’ll have, some choices you’ll have to make that can go really, really good or really bad. I think that’s always good and I just feel like the successful teams in the league have a great balance of really good young talented players and solid veterans that understand not only just how the league works, but how winning works.”
More involvement from John Mara?
This take from Casillas will raise the hackles of more than a few Giants’ fans. While letting Barkley go to the Philadelphia Eagles is considered by many a major faux pas by Schoen, Casillas faults Mara for letting the GM make a move it seemed on ‘Hard Knocks’ the co-owner felt was wrong.
While many have called for Mara and his family to step back from football decisions, Casillas called letting Barkley leave a “huge mistake.’ He believes Mara knew letting Barkley leave was wrong and not only could have, but should have stopped it.
“I would love for John to be more involved in his own product,” Casillas said. “He’s bringing in people to run his team and he’s allowing some things to happen when he knows they shouldn’t happen.
“I feel like we’re over here suffering watching this beautiful, talented running back that runs with the amazing grace and power and speed and elegance of Saquon Barkley, and also the human being aspect of it.
“That clip of him (Mara) in ‘Hard Knocks’ saying I’m going to have a hard time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philly. He knew it, he knew it could happen, he knew it was a possibility and it still happened. What the heck, man?”
All about the quarterback?
Is fixing the Giants as simple as finding the right quarterback?
“It fixes a lot. Jayden Daniels definitely took that Commanders team to a whole ‘nother level, but you need pieces in place,” Casillas said. “Pieces in the quarterback room. A veteran quarterback if you’re going to draft a young quarterback. If you’re bringing in a veteran quarterback you better have a solid backup in case he gets hurt.
“The Giants need a 1A and a 1B, but they’ve got to be quality players.”
Casillas also offered a strong opinion about Daniel Jones, the quarterback the Giants moved on from this season.
“Daniel Jones is not a winner. He’s never really won,” Casillas said. “I respect the hell out of Daniel Jones, I really do, because I know how hard it is to play in New York, especialy [at] the quarterback position.
“He’s tough as nails. I don’t think he was ever an elite passer of the football. I always questioned his decision-making, but you can never question his toughness … I just don’t think he was better than he showed us in 2022. I think that was his ceiling.”
Schoen and Daboll
We will likely find out if the Giants’ current GM and head coach will be the ones looking for the team’s next franchise quarterback. Casillas said he’s “not sure” if Schoen and Daboll can turn the Giants around, of if they will get the time to try.
“These are two younger head coaches and GMs. This is their first time doing it and like players that just step into the league for the first time we expect them to make mistakes,” Casillas said. “But, how long does that go for? At the end of this season it’ll be three whole years, one playoff appearance, one playoff win, but since then two years of really bad football.”
