Giants' defensive woes persist: Problems point to players and coaches alike

The Giants said plenty of good things this offseason about the defense improving. But seven games in, there’s little to show things are better.

The hand-wringing over the Giants’ fourth-quarter collapse in Denver overshadowed the inconsistency of a unit that’s been just as frustrating as last season. But it’s not surprising that coach Brian Daboll declined to make any staff changes.

Regardless of how some feel about defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, it’s Daboll who’s in charge of the entire operation. A firing now would be another indictment of Daboll’s decision-making to retain him after last year as much as Bowen’s play-calling.

The players also have to be accountable. They’re the ones on the field who have trouble executing. The Giants have scored at least 30 points in three games this season — as many as they’ve had the last two seasons combined — but are 1-2 in those games.

“Everyone’s got to look at the man in the mirror,” linebacker Bobby Okereke said Monday. “It’s easier to point the finger but from a team perspective, it’s better to point the thumb and figure out what I can do better as an individual. So, that’s what we’re all about to do.”

The blame starts with Daboll, who perhaps didn’t want to deal with letting a second defensive coordinator go after parting ways with Wink Martindale after the 2023 season. By bringing Bowen back, he put trust in him to fix things.

That trust hasn’t yielded many positives. Yes, the defense played mostly well in a loss to the Commanders. Brian Burns has played at an elite level with nine sacks, tied for the NFL lead. They also held the Saints to one offensive touchdown, even if it was an 87-yard catch-and-run.

There just hasn’t been obvious moments of dramatic improvement.

Let’s break it down.

The Giants’ fourth-quarter issues remain up and down. They’ve gotten two shutouts in the final period leading to wins. But they’re the only team this season that’s allowed two opponents to score at least 20 fourth-quarter points.

They had halftime leads in four games but only won two, a sign they’ve struggled to finish or make enough adjustments.

“You put all this work, all this time and effort into winning,” safety Jevon Holland said Sunday. “Being on your [stuff], making sure that your keys are right, you’re studying the right film. You do all that during the week and then you still come out, you lead at half and then you lose. That’s a tough situation to be in.”

How about the run defense that needed to improve from last season? Outside of stopping Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, it hasn’t gotten better.

The Giants are 28th with allowing 29 runs of 10 or more yards. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had a 21-yard run and an 18-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter Sunday.

As a result, the Giants are 30th in opponent rushing yards per carry (5.23) and 29th in first downs allowed. That’s important because not only do the Giants face Barkley again Sunday, they host 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey in two weeks.

Finally, there’s a glaring lack of turnovers. It was nice when the Giants forced two turnovers against the Eagles. But their turnover chest has been pretty empty besides that.

Their five takeaways are tied for 26th with the Bills and Broncos. Four interceptions in seven games is better than having only five last year. But they haven’t forced enough mistakes to give the offense more possessions.

Add it up and many people share responsibility for the defense not being better. Bowen might lead the group, but Daboll is stuck beside him. The players also have to be better.

Sunday’s loss exposed a defense that hasn’t taken enough steps forward from last season. As painful as that defeat was, the pain will be greater if they can’t get right and ruin whatever hope Jaxson Dart brings at quarterback.

“All we can do now is move forward,” Holland said. “Take what we got from this game, whatever the lessons were, add more on and use those lessons to help us be better in this next game.”

n  Giants cut McAtamney

Kicker Jude McAtamney’s Giants tenure ended when the team waived him Tuesday.

McAtamney missed two extra points Sunday, including a costly one after Dart’s go-ahead touchdown with 37 seconds left.

McAtamney missed three extra points over the last two weeks. He was signed to the active roster after Graham Gano suffered a pregame groin injury before the Giants’ Week 3 loss to Kansas City.

Gano is eligible to come off injured reserve this week. The Giants also have kicker Younghoe Koo, who was signed to the practice squad after Gano’s injury.