Giants.com is counting down to the start of 2024 Giants Training Camp with 24 questions in 24 days.
21) Who are the new coaches to know on Brian Daboll's staff?
Dan Salomone: The Giants enter 2024 with nine new members on Brian Daboll's coaching staff, including two coordinators. Four returning coaches also added responsibilities to their titles or changed roles.
New coaches:
- Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen (previously with Titans)
- Special Teams Coordinator Michael Ghobrial (Jets)
- Offensive Line Coach Carmen Bricillo (Raiders)
- Assistant Offensive Line Coach James Ferentz (retired player)
- Tight Ends Coach Tim Kelly (Titans)
- Running Backs Coach Joel Thomas (Saints)
- Outside Linebackers Coach Charlie Bullen (University of Illinois)
- Defensive Assistant Zak Kuhr (Titans)
- Assistant Special Teams Coach Cam Achord (Patriots)
New titles:
- Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka (previously OC)
- Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/DB Coach Jerome Henderson (DB Coach)
- Offensive Passing Game Coordinator/QB Coach Shea Tierney (QB Coach)
- Assistant Secondary Coach Mike Adams (Assistant Special Teams Coach)
John Schmeelk will dive deeper into the Xs and Os of Bowen's scheme in tomorrow's Question of the Day – spoiler alert – but here's a rundown of his credentials.
Bowen came over after his sixth season with the Titans, eighth overall in the NFL. Tennessee promoted him to defensive coordinator in 2021 after he spent his first three seasons as outside linebackers coach. In 2023, Bowen boasted the No. 1 defense in red zone scoring (allowed touchdowns on 37.7 percent of drives inside the 20), goal-to-go scoring (42.9 percent resulting in touchdowns), and third-down conversation rate in the red zone (23.4). In addition, Tennessee ranked second in inside the 30 touchdown efficiency (34.7 percent) and opponent third-and-short conversions (50.0 percent).
From 2021 to 2023, the Titans surrendered the fewest rushing yards in the NFL (89.7 yards per game) and a league-low 3.70 rushing yards per carry. They allowed 33 rushing touchdowns in that span; only the Ravens and Patriots gave up fewer with 30 apiece. Overall, the Titans allowed 106 touchdowns from scrimmage in Bowen's three seasons as defensive coordinator, the seventh-fewest in the NFL.
Ghobrial, the other new coordinator, spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coordinator on the Jets' staff and before that was a special teams coordinator on the collegiate level for five years.
In 2023, the Jets' kickoff coverage was the NFL's best, allowing an average of just 15.3 yards a return. Their opponents' 40.4-yard net punting average ranked seventh in the NFL. Kicker Greg Zuerlein made 35 of 38 field goal attempts, including five-of-six from 50+ yards, a .921 percentage, and scored 120 points.
The previous season, special teams captain Justin Hardee was selected to his first Pro Bowl after posting a career-high 14 tackles. He became just the sixth Jets special teamer to be selected to the Pro Bowl since 1970 and the only core special teamer. Two of the six were chosen during Ghobrial's tenure.
Last but certainly not least, eyes are always on the Giants' offensive line coach. Bricillo spent the past two seasons in the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he coached offseason addition Jermaine Eluemunor. It was his 20th year of coaching, fifth at the NFL level. He spent the previous three seasons with the New England Patriots, including two years as their offensive line coach after being promoted from coaching assistant.
In his first season with the Raiders in 2022, despite starting seven different offensive line combinations, Bricillo's group paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged 4.81 yards per carry, the second-highest average in franchise history. Raiders rushers were also stuffed for a loss or no gain only 68 times that season, the fewest in the NFL.
Although they never overlapped in New England, Bricillo, like Daboll, entered the NFL coaching ranks under Bill Belichick. Bricillo also spent one season with – and then took over for – legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, who won five Super Bowls and was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
In 2021, running back Damien Harris rushed for 15 touchdowns, the second-most in Patriots history. As a team, the Patriots recorded 24 rushing touchdowns, the third-most in franchise history. New England's 146.6 rushing yards per game in 2020 rank seventh in franchise history and was the Patriots' best rushing attack since 1983.
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