The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
Stopping the run is the strength of Shane Bowen's defenses.
John Schmeelk: Fact - In 2022, the Tennessee Titans defense led the league in rush yards allowed per game, rush yards allowed per play, EPA allowed per rush, and success rate against the run. In 2021, they were top five in the league in terms of rushing yards allowed per rush and per play. They dropped a bit in 2023 after losing two of their defensive stalwarts, middle linebacker David Long and safety Kevin Byard, but they still finished in the top half of the league (13th) after allowing 107.7 rush yards per game. The Titans stopped the run as their first priority and I would not be surprised if the Giants do the same this year.
Lance Medow: Fact - In three seasons as the Titans defensive play-caller from 2021-2023, Tennessee ranked second, first and 13th, respectively against the run. Despite a small sample size, that's a strong track record and a big reason the Titans were also effective in limiting opponents in the red zone. When you have a reliable run defense, you force the opposition to lean on the passing game, which is not easy to do in tight spaces.
Matt Citak: Fiction - The Titans' run defense was undoubtedly dominant from 2021-23 under Bowen. However, the unit's success in the red zone was even more impressive. Tennessee allowed a touchdown on just 37.7 percent of opponents' trips inside the 20-yard line last season, which was the No. 1 mark in the NFL. They finished at the top of this category despite having the league's No. 16 scoring defense overall. And it wasn't just this past season that the Titans performed well with their backs against the wall, as the unit also finished with the No. 7 red zone defense in 2021 and No. 15 in 2022.
Dexter Lawrence will be the centerpiece of the new defense.
John Schmeelk: Fact - It really doesn't matter who the Giants hired as their defensive coordinator, the reply to this would be "fact". He is the Giants' best defensive player, and is the key to everything the Giants do on that side of the ball. I will be interested to see if Shane Bowen changes some of his front alignments to get Lawrence lined up directly over the center. I watched two Titans game from late last season, and he doesn't have a player lined up over the center very often.
Lance Medow: Fact - If you were to ask me who was the most critical player on the Titans defense during Shane Bowen's tenure, I'd say lineman Jeffery Simmons, who was his best run stopper and consistently put pressure on the quarterback. Dexter Lawrence fits that profile so he's the most attractive option with Kayvon Thibodeaux right behind him as the comparison to Tennessee pass rusher Harold Landry, who posted double digit sacks in 2021 (12) and 2023 (10.5) sandwiched around missing the 2022 campaign due to a torn ACL
Matt Citak: Fact - Bowen's promotion to defensive coordinator for the Titans in 2021 coincided with defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons' rise as an All-Pro. Simmons earned back-to-back second-team All-Pro selections in 2021 and 2022 after recording 8.5 and 7.5 sacks, respectively. He would have had a good chance of making it three years in a row had he not missed five games this past season, and yet he still finished with 5.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits. Simmons and Lawrence are the same age and both play along the interior defensive line. I expect Lawrence's dominance from the past two seasons to continue under Bowen in 2024.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (January 4)
T Tyre Phillips - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (January 4)
OLB Boogie Basham - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (January 4)
DL Armon Watts - Reserve/Injured (January 3)
C Austin Schlottmann - Activated, from Reserve (December 28)
DL Armon Watts - Activated, from Reserve (December 28)
OLB Boogie Basham - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 28)
S Raheem Layne - Reserve/Injured (December 28)
DB Alex Cook - Practice Squad Exception (December 26)
DL Casey Rogers - Practice Squad (December 26)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Activated, from Reserve (December 24)
DL Casey Rogers - Waived, No Recall (December 24)
DL Armon Watts - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 24)
T Ricky Lee - Practice Squad (December 23)
S Raheem Layne - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 21)
OLB Patrick Johnson - Reserve/Injured (December 21)
ILB Bobby Okereke - Reserve/Injured (December 21)
OLB Boogie Basham - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 21)
T Tyre Phillips - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 21)
QB Tim Boyle - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (December 14)
G Jon Runyan Jr. - Reserve/Injured (December 14)
S Raheem Layne - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 14)
CB Divaad Wilson - Free Agent Signing from ARZ Practice Squad (December 11)
S Tyler Nubin - Reserve/Injured (December 11)
C Austin Schlottmann - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 11)
T Jalen McKenzie - Practice Squad (December 11)
CB Greg Stroman - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 10)
CB Tre Hawkins - Reserve/Injured (December 10)
DL Ross Blacklock - Practice Squad Veteran (December 10)
QB Tim Boyle - Practice Squad Veteran (December 10)
CB Ekow Boye-Doe - Practice Squad (December 10)
CB Azizi Hearn - Practice Squad (December 10)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad; Injured (December 10)
DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 7)
DL Elijah Garcia - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 7)
DL D.J. Davidson - Reserve/Injured (December 7)
QB Tim Boyle - Waived, No Recall (December 7)
T Tyre Phillips - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 7)
CB Greg Stroman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 7)
DB Dee Williams - Claimed off Waivers from SEA (December 6)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 4)
DT Cory Durden - Free Agent Signing from LAR Practice Squad (December 2)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Reserve/Injured (December 2)
TE Theo Johnson - Reserve/Injured (December 2)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 27)
DL Armon Watts - Reserve/Injured (November 27)
T Joshua Miles - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 27)
CB Greg Stroman Jr. - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 27)
TE Greg Dulcich - Claimed off Waivers from DEN (November 26)
OLB Azeez Ojulari - Reserve/Injured (November 26)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exemption (November 26)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Activated, from Reserve (November 23)
QB Tim Boyle - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 23)
OLB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (November 23)
QB Daniel Jones - Waived, No Recall (November 23)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 20)
TE Jordan Murray - Practice Squad (November 20)
T Tyre Phillips - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
QB Tim Boyle - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Garret Greenfield - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Joshua Miles - Practice Squad Veteran (November 12)
T Joshua Miles - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 6)
P Matt Haack - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 12)
K Graham Gano - Activated from Injured Reserve (November 9)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
CB Art Green - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Practice Squad (November 6)
P Matt Haack - Practice Squad Veteran (November 6)
K Graham Gano - Designated for Return/Returned to Practice (November 6)
CB Nick McCloud - Waived, No Recall (November 5)
P Matt Haack - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (November 5)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (November 2)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (November 2)
K Greg Joseph - Reserve/Injured (November 2)
K Jude McAtamney - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 2)
T Marcellus Johnson - Practice Squad (October 30)
T Garret Greenfield - Practice Squad (October 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 30)
S Gervarrius Owens - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 29)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
CB Greg Stroman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
OLB Boogie Basham - Practice Squad Veteran (October 24)
DL Armon Watts - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 22)
OLB Boogie Basham - Waived, No Recall (October 22)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 19)
OT Chris Hubbard - Free Agent Signing (from SF Practice Squad) (October 18)
OT Andrew Thomas - Reserve/Injured (October 16)
DT Armon Watts - Practice Squad Veteran (October 15)
CB Duke Shelley - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 15)
P Matt Haack - Free Agent Signing (October 12)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Reserve/Injured (October 12)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
OLB Benton Whitley - Practice Squad (October 8)
G Cade Mays - Signed to CAR Active Roster from NYG Practice Squad (October 8)
ILB Matthew Adams - Activated from Injured Reserve (October 5)
OLB Benton Whitley - Waived, No Recall (October 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
LB Matthew Adams - Returned to Practice (October 2)
WR Kearis Jackson - Practice Squad (October 1)
CB Greg Stroman - Practice Squad Veteran (October 1)
TE Joel Wilson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
DB Alex Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE Lawrence Cager - Terminated (Injury Settlement) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
CB Duke Shelley - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 25)
LB Ty Summers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 25)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 24)
TE Joel Wilson - Practice Squad (September 24)
TE Lawrence Cager - Practice Squad; Injured (September 24)
CB Art Green - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Patrick Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (September 17)
K Greg Joseph - Free Agent Signing from DET Practice Squad (September 17)
K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (September 17)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (September 14)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
WR Chase Cota - Waived, Injury Settlement (September 13)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (September 10)
G Cade Mays - Practice Squad Exception (September 10)
OT Marcellus Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 10)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Free Agent Signing (September 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Practice Squad Veteran (September 9)
LB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad; Injured (September 9)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Carter Coughlin - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad Veteran (September 6)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 6)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 5)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 4)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 3)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 2)
WR Miles Boykin - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
CB Adoree' Jackson - Free Agent Signing (August 31)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 31)
S Gervarrius Owens - Practice Squad (August 30)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (August 29)
C Austin Schlottmann - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
DB Duke Shelley - Practice Squad Veteran (August 29)
DE Elijah Garcia - Practice Squad (August 29)
DB Art Green - Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Curtis Bolton - Free Agent Signing (August 28)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 28)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, OT Joshua Miles, LB Ty Summers - Practice Squad Veteran (August 28)
LB K.J. Cloyd, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller, DL Casey Rogers - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Anthony Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from GB (August 28)
S Gervarrius Owens - Waived, No Recall (August 28)
LB Matthew Adams - Reserve/Injured - Designated for Return (August 27)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Reserve/Injured; Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
LB Darrian Beavers, LB K.J. Cloyd, LB Tomon Fox, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, C Jimmy Morrissey, DT Casey Rogers, TE Jack Stoll - Waived (August 27)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, DB Tre Herndon, WR Isaiah Hodgins, DB Darnay Holmes, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, DB David Long, OT Joshua Miles, OT Matt Nelson, WR Allen Robinson - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 27)
DB Mario Goodrich, G Jalen Mayfield, DE Ovie Oghoufo - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
RB Joshua Kelley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Breon Borders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Jonathan Sutherland - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
DT Timmy Horne - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
WR Ayir Asante, DT Kyler Baugh, DB Christian Holmes, DB Clayton Isbell, WR John Jiles, LB Trey Kiser, RB Lorenzo Lingard, T Marcus McKethan - Waived, No Recall (August 25)
DB Clayton Isbell - Free Agent Signing (August 20)
WR Dennis Houston - Waived/Injured (August 20)
DT Kyler Baugh - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
LB Trey Kiser - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
DL Ryder Anderson - Waived/Injured (August 19)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Injured (August 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
TE Tyree Jackson - Waived/Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 16)
RB Joshua Kelley - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Raheem Layne - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Jonathan Sutherland - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
DL Jordan Phillips - Traded to Dallas Cowboys (August 15)
S Jalen Mills - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Failed Physical (August 15)
DB Elijah Riley - Reserve/Injured (August 15)
RB Lorenzo Lingard - Free Agent Signing (August 12)
RB Jacob Saylors - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
OT Evan Neal - Passed Physical (August 11)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 11)
CB Christian Holmes - Claimed off Waivers from WAS (August 5)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived/Injured (August 5)
CB Mario Goodrich - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (July 31)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury (July 31)
OL Greg Van Roten - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
CB Aaron Robinson - Waived, Failed Physical (July 30)
DB Breon Borders - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
QB Nathan Rourke - Waived, No Recall (July 28)
TE Theo Johnson - Passed Physical (July 28)
OT Evan Neal - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
DB Jalen Mills - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
TE Theo Johnson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 16)
RB Jacob Saylors - Free Agent Signing (June 18)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Injured (June 18)
CB Tre Herndon - Free Agent Signing (June 12)
TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Retired (June 10)
S Tyler Nubin - Selection List Signing (May 31)
DB Elijah Riley - Free Agent Signing (May 30)
RB Gary Brightwell - Waived, Injured (May 30)
TE Theo Johnson - Selection List Signing (May 22)
LB Darius Muasau - Selection List Signing (May 15)
CB Dru Phillips - Selection List Signing (May 14)
DL Elijah Chatman - Free Agent Signing (May 13)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Waived (May 13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Selection List Signing (May 10)
WR Malik Nabers - Selection List Signing (May 10)
K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (May 10)
WR Ayir Asante, WR John Jiles, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, G Jake Kubas, DE Ovie Oghoufo, DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing (May 10)
RB Deon Jackson - Waived, Injured (May 10)
WR Allen Robinson - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
QB Nathan Rourke - Claimed off waivers from New England (May 7)
DB David Long - Free Agent Signing (May 1)
Giants select LB Darius Muasau with No. 183 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. with No. 166 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select TE Theo Johnson with No. 107 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select CB Dru Phillips with No. 70 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select S Tyler Nubin with No. 47 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select WR Malik Nabers with No. 6 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
DB Nick McCloud - Restricted Free Agent Signing (April 15)
LB Matthew Adams - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 12)
DL Jordan Phillips - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 11)
WR Miles Boykin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
S/LB Isaiah Simmons - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 5)
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing (April 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
CB Darnay Holmes - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OT Matt Nelson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OL Austin Schlottmann - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
TE Chris Manhertz - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
TE Jack Stoll - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 15)
OL Jon Runyan - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
RB Devin Singletary - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
QB Drew Lock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
DB Jalen Mills - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR/PR Gunner Olszewski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Carter Coughlin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OLB Brian Burns - Acquired via trade with Carolina Panthers (March 13)
LB Benton Whitley - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
G Mark Glowinski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
LB Tomon Fox - Reserve/Future Signing (January 10)
DL Ryder Anderson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
WR Dennis Houston - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
RB Deon Jackson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
G Jalen Mayfield - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Joshua Miles - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
Personnel dictates scheme in football more than the other way around.
John Schmeelk: Fact - Every decent coach in the National Football League is going to customize their scheme based on the players at their disposal. It is a player-centric game and they are the most important factor in how a team performs and how coaches choose to play them from a schematic standpoint on the football field. Coaches that bring a scheme and force players into roles that they are not able to perform are doomed to failure. Given how Bowen uses his defensive linemen, I would not be surprised if adding a more athletic defensive tackle to take Leonard Williams spot at the three-technique (lined up between the guard and tackle) was a priority this offseason.
Lance Medow: Fact - You must scheme around your players' strengths, as the opposite will likely turn out to be a lost cause. For example, if you don't have pass rushers that can consistently win one-on-one battles, you may blitz more to make up for that, or vice versa. If you have strong cover corners, then you'll likely shy away from using a zone defense because the boundary players in the secondary are more effective defending a man as opposed to an area. If you ask most coaches in the NFL and any other level of football, they'll tell you the ideal strategy is to customize the scheme to the personnel or else you'll have issues sooner rather than later.
Matt Citak: Fact - Going all the way back to his introductory press conference, head coach Brian Daboll said that "schemes are going to be what the players are best at." In the two years since, Daboll has remained consistent with that philosophy. Creating schemes that are better suited for the personnel on your roster is by far and way the more productive way to go than forcing players into set schemes, regardless of their skillsets. This is common practice across the NFL.
The most intriguing staff update this offseason is the hiring of OL coach Carmen Bricillo.
John Schmeelk: Fact - Other than a team's coordinators, it is hard to argue that the offensive line coach is not the most important assistant coach on every NFL coaching staff. Getting the players on the offensive line to play together as a cohesive unit is critical to the unit's success, and therefore the productivity of the offense in general. Adding talent to the line will also help this process, but getting continued improvement from younger linemen like Evan Neal, John Michael Schmitz, Josh Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan will be even more critical to that overall improvement. Bricillo did a good job of getting a group of non-first round picks (except Kolton Miler) and journeymen on the offensive line to succeed in Las Vegas, and the hope is he can do even more with a group that has a stronger pedigree here in New York.
Lance Medow: Fact - Carmen Bricillo isn't just an intriguing hire; you can make a case he's the most important addition to the staff as that facet of the team will dictate so many other areas of the offense. The bulk of Bricillo's experience is at the high school and collegiate levels, and that's noticeable because developing offensive lineman is a key part of his job. The Giants still have several young players up front including four that were drafted in the last two years: Evan Neal, Joshua Ezeudu, Marcus McKethan and John Michael Schmitz. The Raiders' line made strides over the last two seasons, and that group didn't showcase an All-Pro player. That's encouraging given the nucleus of the group he's inheriting here in New York.
Matt Citak: Fiction - Bricillo's hire is certainly one of the most important changes to the coaching staff this offseason. But when it comes to the most intriguing staff update this offseason, I'm going with the internal promotions for three coaches. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka added the title of assistant head coach, while quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney was also named offensive passing game coordinator. On the other side of the ball, secondary coach Jerome Henderson added defensive passing game coordinator to his title. All three coaches are well-regarded both internally and around the league, and all three will play a crucial role in the team's success in 2024.
