GIANTS: Hired Brian Daboll
When the latest attempt to reshape the franchise began, the Giants were doing something they had never done before, including men in their search that didn’t have ties to the team. Their preference was a two-for-one package to acquire a GM and head coach that worked together last season. The Buffalo Bills were an exceptional choice, and being that there were two men on the market that have been vital to their success over the last few seasons, big blue wasted no time in hiring both of them. Former assistant GM and 42-year-old Joe Sochen were announced as the new GM last week, before former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was given the keys to the full-time project, becoming the 22nd head coach in franchise history.
Brian brings 21 years of NFL experience is a five-time Super Bowl champion from his days s a coach with the New England Patriots, has overseen the progress of star franchise QB Josh Allen in Western NY, was the assistant coach of the year last season and was also an NCAA champion in 2017 with Alabama before going to rack up the “Bills” in Buffalo. His personality as a “nice guy” is a shift from Joe Judge’s “tough guy” mantra the last two seasons and could help relax the players as they strive for knowledge and development to better their game.
One of the most significant talking points of the offseason was how to evaluate QB Daniel Jones, who hasn’t amounted to much in his first three NFL seasons. Owner John Mara announced at the press conference the team was committed to the Duke native, and Daboll quipped he wanted Jones to be himself in that he was going to do all he could to help him and didn’t need to fill the shoes of Allen or franchise predecessor Eli Manning. Jones said that Daboll had already met with him, and the two got along well. He said he would also contact Josh Allen for advice on what it’s like playing under his new proclaimed boss.
Up next for BD is figuring out his coaching staff. It’s been announced that Patrick Graham will remain the defensive coordinator, and as just before I hit “publish” on this article, the rest came of it out. The other coaches include two from Buffalo in Quarterback coach is Shea Tierney from the Bills, and the Offensive line coach is Bobby Johnson. Jerome Henderson will help the defensive ends and Thomas McGaughey
will remain as the particular team's coordinator.
But perhaps the biggest one of them all came at the position of offensive coordinator, as Mike Kafka got hired from
the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs.
Overall, did the Giants get it right? We will see you come September. All we can hope for as fans are the start of a new era of a successful rebuild in Giants land.
FUN FACT:
Fourteen years ago today, Eli Manning and the Giants took down the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII 17-14 and ruined their undefeated season. 18-1 New England!
KNICKS: 24-28
This team is highly infuriating. On their most recent road trip, the Knicks went winless in losses to the Cavs(95-93), top-seeded Heat(110-96), and reigning champion Bucks (123-108). Monday was a bit of a reprieve with a 116-96 win over the Kings, but Wednesday was a snap back to reality.
The Knicks hosted the 35-18 Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night and contained NO2 overall pick from 2019 and star in JA Morant, holding him to a skillful 23 points on 9/27 shooting. They also got a spark from Evan Fournier, who went for 30, as well as Immanuel Quickly, whose 11 points off the bench helped cut a 19 point deficit down to five in the fourth quarter.
But when it mattered most, the team once again crumbled, as Jarret Jackson JR finished with a game-high 26 points, and Zaire Williamson went for 21 in the Grizzlies 120-108 victory. The scapegoat here is undoubtedly Kemba Walker, who started and went a putrid scoreless in 17 minutes.
New York is 2-7 in their last nine, four games behind last year's group at this time, and is 12th in the 15 teams Eastern Conference. Embarrassing.
RANGERS: 30-13-4
It’s been an emotional week for the citizens of Rangerstown, USA.
On Thursday, they suffered their first regulation loss to a non-playoff team in the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-3 at Nationwide Arena. But while it was disappointing, the fanbase and players geared up for Hank night. The anticipation for Henrik Lundqvist night had been sought out ever since he announced his retirement a few months ago. The Rangers showered him with multiple tribute videos, gifts, and speeches by Mike Richter and Kevin Weeks. It was a blue carpet ladden ceremony, and one indeed fit for a king. The emotionally spirited crowd changed “HENRIK” all ceremony long, and when it was Hanks's turn to speak, you could hear a pin drop at times in the world's most famous arena. Lundqvist, as classy as ever, thanked everyone from his coaches to his family, to his teammates, and of course, the fans who had supported him throughout the ups and downs over 15 years.
Once the game got underway, the sold-out crowd roared as the Blueshirts took an early 2-0 lead. But for the second straight night, they would squander the advantage, even with Igor Shesterkin in the net. Down 3-2 and being outshot 34-27, New York had the last gasp in the final second of the game. Still, Mika Zibanejad’s goal was waved off due to goaltender interference initiated by Ryan Strome, who pushed Wild goalie Cam Talbot’s pad into the net before the puck went in, thus forcing the referee to wave off the goal.
But while as frustrating and deflating as that loss was on a special night such as that one presented, the Rangers had a chance to take some frustration on the last place expansion Seattle Kraken at the Garden in a Sunday Matinee. A game that I (Yes me) attended. Once again, it was 2-0 Blueshirts, but that lead didn’t feel all too quaint because of their recent history, and for every shot New York had, Seattle had about seven on Igor, who stood on his head all game long. Naturally, with 68 seconds remaining and the Kraken with the six on four advantage(Chris Kreider was boxed for a penalty), Yanni Gourd roofed one over Shesterkin’s blocker from the opposite side of the net(Nothing he could do about it except respect the shot) to tie the game at two. Everyone in MSG was thinking OT, all except Kandre Miller, who rifled one home from the point with 34 seconds left, to give the Rangers a regulation 3-2 victory. Igor earned the first star of the game honors with 40 saves. However, coach Gallant called the game “awful” and said he expects more from his team than they showed in this game. They were outshot 42-24, and their top line mustered three in total. But on Tuesday in the last match before Winter a break, “The Turk,” as some call him, got exactly what he wanted.
Two nights later, Shesterkin backstopped the Rangers to yet another victory, this time turning aside 34 shots in the 5-2 win over the NHL-leading Florida Panthers, who entered MSG averaging five goals per game and just shellacked the Blue Jackets 8-4 the previous night(Back-backs are part of the league, and the Panthers usually have no problem with these types of games. Rangers went through this on Hank night).
New York relied heavily on their Vezina front-runner early on but found their groove and used their physicality to Florida’s elite pass rush. When they didn’t, it was Shesterkin there to stymie their attack. It wasn’t until 30 minutes in, down 2-1, where the Blueshirts took over, as Alexi Lafreniere began a four-goal onslaught that included two from Chris Kreider, who now has a league-leading 33 on the season. The victory puts the Blueshirts in high spirits as they head into the Winter Break, as they’re tied in first for points in the Metropolitan Division and are looking like the surprise of the NHL with their playoff-caliber play. This victory over Florida and the way they got it, having been in a “slump” before it and the level you have to eclipse even to stand a chance, tells you all you need to own about the resiliency of this group, and it’s exciting to watch.
ISLANDERS: 16-17-6
My friend came over to me and said that while the UBS arena is stunning, it’s also “quiet” and eery in there. Wednesday night's dud against the previously 14-27-4 Seattle Kraken showed me why, as the gutless Islanders fell 3-0 in a game they couldn’t afford to lose given where they’re at in the standings. The Isles have played 39 games but only have 38 points on the season and are currently 17 out of Boston, who has played 43. While there’s still plenty of hockey left, allow me to quote the words of Jim Mora “Playoffs? Are you kidding me?”
NETS: 29-22
When the big three are on the floor at once, Brooklyn is unstoppable. But when they’re not, and Kyrie Irving is only a part-time player, things can get ugly. That’s what’s transpired in Nets world over the past couple of weeks, as they’ve slipped from the top seed of the East down to sixth with their latest six-game skid, and just two games above the play-in line, where the streaking Charlotte Hornets(28-24) are lurking.
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