With training camp underway, the time is now for the New York Giants.
First-year head coach Brain Daboll has his hands full.
For first-year general manager Joe Schoen, his hands are just full.
For the Giants, they’ve turned the page from the Dave Gettleman / Joe Judge era. It’s a new day, with new voices leading the way.
The fan base wants a winner, therefore it’s up to Daboll and Schoen to give them a team they can be proud of again.
For this to happen, however, patience is a must.
This is another rebuild for the Giants, the foundation they lay today will determine their tomorrow.
There will be growing pains, this we know. Still, the focus for Daboll and Schoen is clear. Focus on the now and put in the work.
This includes the evaluation of Daniel Jones, specifically his push to show he’s the team’s long-term answer at quarterback.
“Really just coming out and executing the offense is what we’re looking to do,” Schoen said. “You know, getting better each day. And that goes for the entire position group, Tyrod (Taylor) and Davis Webb, as well.”
How the players acclimate to Daboll and his coaching staff will be closely observed throughout training camp and preseason.
Furthermore, how Schoen and Daboll adjust to their new roles with the Giants will garner just as much attention.
“I learned a long time ago you have to take care of today,” Daboll said. “Being in the league for 20-plus years, there’s teams that people thought that were going to go all the way and didn’t make the playoffs. And there’s teams that people thought they weren’t going to. And what we try to focus on is getting better each day, like Joe said. Focusing on the things that we can do, and we control, which is going out there, having good meetings, having a good practice, trying to string good days together. And that’s really where our focus is going to be.”
In their last three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Schoen (assistant general manager) and Daboll (offensive coordinator) contributed to a 34-15 record. Three postseason berths, two straight AFC East titles.
Their success in Buffalo didn’t happen overnight. It was from the work put in from day 1, laying the foundation. They’ll now have an opportunity to do the same for a Giants franchise sorely in need of a winning makeover.
“We talked about this during the draft, and we talk about it now,” Daboll said. “We’re looking for smart, tough, dependable people in our organization. People that make good decisions on and off the field in terms of intelligence. Doing what they’re supposed to do when they’re supposed to do it all the time. And then have some mental toughness, some resiliency about them. Those are three qualities that we covet when we’re looking, whether that’s a draft pick, free agents, coaching staff, players. That’s the identify of what we’re trying to build.”
Anthony Rushing is on Twitter @TonyRushingNY
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