New York Giants and Tom Coughlin stay united

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Just what are they thinking? The New York Giants kept Coach Tom Coughlin for another year.

The Giants season recently ended with a loss to Philly.

Many questioned whether Coughlin, who has a 25-25 record with the Giants, was the right coach for a team that faltered a year after winning the NFC East with an 11-5 mark. Despite reports that players were tuning out their no-nonsense coach, Mara said Coughlin still has the respect of the team.

Now usually… your intrepid author is not a big fan of blaming the coach for everything, just for some things. The coach has some important jobs. It is his philosophy that is going to guide your team. Often, it a coach will just stick to his philosophy and become the best at it, and then it can work.

Proof of this is in the incredible differences between how each team functions. There are passing teams, running teams, defensive teams, west coast offense teams, gambling teams, etc.

Another major job is preparation. Some coaches are very hands on. Most of them are very detailed and have a definite vision. Some like to delegate that vision to their assistants.

A third job is game management. This is where fans can see some obvious problems with some coaches. Maybe as simple as mismanaging the clock during a two minute drill, not adjusting to what the other team is doing, or maybe a major gaffe.

Marinelli blows it

The Lions coach Rod Marinelli went for it on 4 down in a game late in the year when only 10 points down. They were in easy field goal range. There was ample time to get the ball back and score. Good coaching dictates you take the field goal.

This gives a boost to your defense, because they know if they stop the other team, they have a chance to win or tie the game.

Instead the Lions failed to get the first down and lost the game right there.

Tom’s in Trouble

This is the area where Coughlin has been criticized the most. It appears to fans and even the players that he gets out coached.

So this could be problems with both preparation and game coaching. Top it off, he has a very stern, unforgiving philosophy towards his players. In other words, they don’t like him being the coach.

Of course, some of the players made the usual presumptive statements about him being a good coach, but too many times, even in public, the players have called him out on his coaching or lack there of.

Now if you throw in Eli Manning’s lack of progress at quarterback, you have to wonder. What are the Giants thinking bringing this guy back to coach?

NFL Football Fan Question The real question is not will Tom Coughlin last as coach, because he is probably already a lame duck as they pursue Weiss or Cowher next year. The real question is what is going to happen to Eli Manning?

As always, any NFL Football related comments are welcome.

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