Giants huddle with Singletary
IT HAS been a long time since the Giants had a playmaking linebacker. And Ben McAdoo’s next coaching hire may be aimed at addressing exactly that.
A source confirmed that the Giants were interviewing Mike Singletary on Thursday for their opening at linebackers coach. The Hall of Fame linebacker, 57, was a 10-time Pro Bowler and eight-time All-Pro during his 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears.
The Giants haven’t fielded a linebacker of that caliber since the days of Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks, although that’s not the fault of former linebackers coach Jim Herrmann, who will coach the Indianapolis Colts linebackers in 2016.
In recent years, the position has become seemingly devoid of talent in East Rutherford. The Giants ended 2015 with Cowboys training camp cut Jasper Brinkley, special teams weapon Jonathan Casillas and veteran Mark Herzlich, undrafted in 2011, starting at linebacker. Then again, that was better than 2014, when Jameel McClain and Jacquian Williams, the club's first- and third-leading tacklers, were so unspectacular that they went unsigned on the free agent market the following spring.
The dearth of talent at the position has been due largely to GM Jerry Reese’s refusal to invest in quality linebackers; the Giants have drafted just one linebacker in the last four years combined, and that was Devon Kennard, a natural defensive end. Since Reese took over as GM in 2007, the club has drafted just one linebacker on the first day, picking bust Clint Sintim in the second round in 2009.
The potential hiring of Singletary would not fix that talent gap, but it would have other benefits. Much like defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who is expected to be retained, Singletary is another former head coach, having run the San Francisco 49ers for two years. He went just 18-22 over threeplus seasons as Niners head man from 2008-2010, but his experience could still benefit the untested McAdoo. Singletary also spent three seasons as a special assistant to the head coach with the Minnesota Vikings from 2011-2013.
McAdoo has also found a new offensive line coach. According to a source, he is expected to hire Mike Solari. Solari spent last season as the Green Bay Packers’ assistant offensive line coach and ran the 49ers’ largely successful Oline from 2010-14. McAdoo’s first coaching staff is nearing its completion, although the Giants are not expected to make final announcements until every vacancy has been filled.
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The team also will continue to hold auditions in South Florida.