Gilbride vs. Sheridan

by dELIghtful on Jan 20, 2009 10:17 AM EST

I'd like to draw a comparison between this move and the last internal coordinator promotion the Giants made: Kevin Gilbride from QB coach to OC.

Following the 2006 season, Eli Manning was not where people expected him to be. He led the Giants to the playoffs (some might say the Giants made the playoffs in spite of him) two straight years but was unable to earn a victory. One could have argued - many did - that he was the weak link on that side of the ball.

That offseason, the Giants fired John Hufnagel and promoted the QB coach. I, for one, was pessimistic about the move. As much as I believed Eli had the talent to be The Answer for this team, I thought it was short-sighted to promote the man who was most responsible for his development.

Obviously, it worked out. Was it because Gilbride called better plays for Eli? Was it because Palmer did a better job tutoring him? I'm not sure. But that brings me to what's happening in 2009.

Steve Spagnulo is gone, and the Giants have promoted their LB coach, Bill Sheridan. One could argue - I would, at least - that the linebackers were the weak(er) link on defense this year.

Was it a case of personnel? Possibly. The Giants will surely make moves to improve quality and depth at LB. And hopefully whoever replaces Bill Sheridan will have the same success turning things around that Chris Palmer did.

I thought the parallel was interesting. There's certainly something to be said for loyalty and continuity. It's obviously hard - as show by the first 2.5 games of 2007 - to adjust to a new system.

Thoughts?

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Comments

Yes, LB was our weakest link on D this year.

Many BBVers expressed conern about LBs this time last year (most memorably for me, pot and 57.) They were right. I for one believe the problem is personnel, not coaching. Apparently TC and JR feel the same way.

by blue gonz on Jan 20, 2009 12:22 PM EST reply actions

Agreed, George

Think about it. Kiwi was supposed to be a linebacker. Wilkinson was supposed to start. Neither of those things happened. So, you end up with guys playing OLB all season who weren’t even supposed to be on the field.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 20, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Palmer

I absolutely think Palmer had a major influence on Eli’s development, mostly from a psychological standpoint. No matter who was playing this year (Eli, Carr, if Woodson played) I would expect them to step in nicely into the fold, and that speaks wonders about Palmer.

by squid92 on Jan 20, 2009 4:49 PM EST reply actions

continuity

is a lot more important the offense i think. Definitely to a QB, and even more so for a developing QB which Eli was. I’ve never liked Gilbride, but he was definitely a huge step up from Hufnagel, though seems to have the same weaknesses

by queler on Jan 20, 2009 11:22 PM EST reply actions

Btw, this changes nothing.

Gilbride should go.

by squid92 on Jan 20, 2009 11:53 PM EST reply actions

well gilbride

was given special consideration because he was coughlin’s offensive coordinator in jacksonville. promoting sheridan is probably based on the organization’s sentiment that he understands spags’ aggressive defense the best out of all the defensive coaches and is most likely to bring success to the unit. we’ll see….. id expect a couple rough patches early on next season. gilbride was awful against the eagles, agreed. but who do you bring in besides him?

by mahmoodzaky on Jan 21, 2009 6:28 AM EST reply actions

No one, I believe,

unless he goes on his own (gets an HC offer.)

by blue gonz on Jan 21, 2009 8:32 AM EST up reply actions

i just hope

He doesn’t understand Spags schemes, in the same way Johnnie Lynn understood John Fox’s schemes

by queler on Jan 23, 2009 10:57 AM EST reply actions

finally

I knew I had read an article before about how amazingly incompetent Lynn was in taking over for Fox. Finally found it http://nyg.scout.com/2/223379.html This is why I get all riled up thinking about the guy responsible for having Sehorn manned up on TO the whole last half of the Trey Junkin game

by queler on Jan 23, 2009 11:02 AM EST up reply actions