Photo Credit: James Escher
It has been a tough year to say the least for Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. From the the plethora of injuries to key players, scrutiny regarding his coaching style, and the lack of ability to finish winnable games. These troubles have lead many to call for his removal, arguing that it is time to put a new voice in the locker room. Those sentiments may have some merit as the Giants have failed to perform up their capabilities in the seasons that surround their two Super Bowl victories. However, Giants co-owner John Mara has said that the thin coaching market could leave the team no choice but to keep the second longest tenured coach around a little longer.
Why He Should Stay
Over the past twelve seasons, Tom Coughlin has brought stability to the head coaching position. He’s become a consummate figure of the team and has a great relationship with the front office and Eli Manning. The players have come to respect him as a person and are willing to work hard to earn his trust. What also stands out is the fact that the Giants have only lost ten games in a season twice since he began coaching (2004. 2014). That say a lot about the environment he has put in place, one that gives the team the belief that it can overcome any obstacle to achieve. Combined with two championships, there is reason to feel optimistic about what coughing can bring, despite the struggles Big blue has gone through the past three years.
Why He Should Go
It goes without saying that a team takes on the persona of their head coach, and that's certainly the case for the Giants and Tom Coughlin. When he first arrived Coughlin brought a strict, no nonsense attitude to the foreground. He demanded a disciplined locker room, holding players heavily accountable for even the smallest of infractions. When that style rubbed some people the wrong way, he made an effort to better connect with the roster, becoming a more open minded coach who could level with his players instead of alienating them. This yielded great results as the team claimed two division titles (2008, 2011) and two championships. Unfortunately, Coughlin has now become far too complacent with the way things are and as a result, the team has fallen short of expectations. From his rather stubborn and outdated running style, failure (until recently) to grasp a new offense concept, and the mismanagement of games in the 4th quarter there is real concern that 30+ year coaching veteran has finally lost his touch with the game.
