Offense-first HC would have lots of proven DC option
Brian Daboll is not the head coach of the Giants yet and he might never be, but he certainly might be and should be considered the favorite to get the job. A team cannot hire a head coach because of who might come with him. Still, there is no doubt Daboll would have plenty of intriguing options to run his defense if he lands with the Giants.
Daboll, 46, is an offensiveminded guy all the way, other than two years at the start of his NFL coaching career as a defensive assistant with the Patriots. Since 2002, Daboll has concentrated on wide receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends, in addition to serving as the offensive coordinator with the Browns, Dolphins and Bills and one year at Alabama. If he becomes a first-time head coach with the Giants, he will need a strong presence to run his defense. As a first-time head coach, ideally this would be someone with plenty of experience.
How does a Daboll-Vic Fangio pairing sound? Or how about a Daboll-Don “Wink’’ Martindale duo? Or a Daboll-Mike Zimmer tandem? Keeping things closer to home, why not a Daboll-Patrick Graham tag team?
The other five known candidates for the Giants’ head coach job all possess a background on defense: Leslie Frazier, Dan Quinn, Lou Anarumo, Graham and Brian Flores. The options for the offensive coordinators they might bring in are less impressive than what Daboll would have at his disposal for defensive coordinators.
Fangio, fired last week as the Broncos head coach, has pretty much coached everyone and everywhere, developing a reputation for sound defenses as the coordinator with the Bears, 49ers, Texans, Colts, Panthers and in college at Stanford. Fangio, 63, might have been an uninspiring head coach but he has the goods as a defensive mastermind.
Martindale impressed the Giants when he interviewed two years ago for the head-coach job that eventually went to Joe Judge. Martindale, 58, ran the Ravens’ defense the past four years and it came as a surprise when John Harbaugh fired him after this season. Harbaugh said, “We have had a great run on defense’’ and praised Martindale for “a great job’’ before adding “Now it is time to pursue other opportunities. Sometimes the moment comes, and it’s the right time.”
Zimmer, 65, was the defensive coordinator with the Cowboys (for Bill Parcells), Falcons and Bengals before he was named the Vikings’ head coach in 2014. In eight seasons, Zimmer went 7256-1 before he was fired the day after this past season ended.
The Giants think highly of Graham, and he is under contract for one more year. This does not mean he is staying put and he is more likely to move on — he is interviewing for the Steelers’ defensive coordinator position. Graham is popular with the Giants’ players and ran an effective unit the past two years. If so inclined if he gets the job, Daboll could retain Graham — if he sees it as a good fit.
Daboll would have other, lesserknown options. If Jerod Mayo does not get a head-coaching job, the Patriots’ inside linebackers coach is a coordinator-in-waiting. Other defensive assistants on the rise include Teryl Austin (Steelers), Larry Foote (Buccaneers), Brendan Daly (Chiefs), Joe Whitt Jr. (Cowboys), Dave Borgonzi (Colts), Jerry Gray (Packers) and Greg Williams (Cardinals).