SB Nation New York Editor's Pick
An open letter to Anyone who questions Coach Tom Coughlin's Leadership abilities...
by Todd C NY on Jan 20, 2011 6:53 PM EST
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PrintAfter having spent the last several days reading comments and reaction to Antrel Rolle's comments in an interview on WQAM radio earlier in the week about NY Giants coach Tom Coughlin being too uptight, I am compelled to write this blog! Antrel as you know by now, commented that Coach Coughlin was "Too uptight..." further complaining that Coach Coughlin made the players report too early to the stadium on Game day (and this apparently upset him...awweee) Rolle has since apologized in an exclusive interview with Inside Football's Pat Triana (and I commend him for doing so)...However...Because of his comments, he has opened a Stale can of worms among fans, who seem to buy into Rolle's comments and some comments from former players, including former NY Giants great's, Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber. I am not here to dispute your opinions!..well perhaps I am...I am here to present the Book on one of the Greatest coaches the NY Football Giants have ever had!
Tom Coughlin is a tough coach! He learned under one of the best! Bill Parcells! As Wide receivers coach from 1988 - 1990, Coughlin obviously played a role in helping the giants achieve victory in Superbowl XXV. After leaving the Giants, he took over the head coaching job at Boston College, compiling a record of 21 -10 -1 over a three year span from '91 - '93 finishing 9-3 in his final season and highlighted by a 41 - 39 victory over #1 ranked Notre Dame!
He took over the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 in the Jaguars inaugural season and in only their second year in existence, took the Jaguars to the AFC Championship! The Jags won 6 out of their last 7 games, finishing 9 - 7. (So much for un-warranted tag as a late season choker!) They defeated the mighty Denver Bronco's 30 - 27, to earn the right to play in the AFC Championship against the Pats.
In 1997, Tom Coughlin's third season as Head Coach, he guided the Jags to an 11-5 record (tying them with Pittsburg) but had to settle with second place due to a tiebraker, propelling them Once Again into the AFC playoffs!
Again in 1998 his team would finish 11 -5, this time winning their first AFC Central Title. Also hosting their first Playoff game in a 25-10 victory over the Pats!
Jacksonville's 5th season, 1999, saw Coach Coughlin (Once Again) guide the Jag's to the pinnacle of success, posting a 14 - 2 record and another trip to the AFC Chanpionship! They Destroyed the Miami Dolphins 62 - 7 in the Divisional round, setting records for points and margin of victory, and let's not forget the Dolphins were coached by Jimmy Johnson and quarterbacked by the Great Dan Marino!
Coach Coughlin was tough there as well, demanding his players act with class and discipline! Some of the Jaguar players grumbled about his (seemingly indignant) rules but Coach Coughlin would not be deterred! Coughlin knows what it takes to win. What he accomplished in Jacksonville is still unprecedented to this day! This is not opinion, this is Fact! If you want to blame Jacksonville's last three losing seasons on bad coaching, or somehow losing the team because of discipline, think again! Salary cap issues with the Jags forced them to lose too many great players, depleting the team of many of the stars that Coughlin himsel had drafted.
Tom Coughlin arrived here in 2004 and inherited a NY Giant team that went 4 - 12 the previous year, had totally lost their identity, and were in desperate need of Leadership! ...I know!...I've been a fan since '65! Coughlin took a lot of heat for benching Kurt Warner in favor of Eli, but He turned out to be the genious on this one as well! In Eli's first full season the Giants finished 11 - 5 in 2005 also winning the NFC East for the first time in Five seasons!
Since coming to coach the Giants, Tom Coughlin has taken this team to the Playoffs in four consecutive seasons 2005 - 2008..Coached us to a Superbowl victory in 2008 ('07 season), and The Giants have won the Division Twice! As a head coach he has dealt with the deaths of both Giant owners, Wellington Mara and Bob Tisch in '05...Tiki Barber's very public bashing of Coughlin in 2006 (blaming Coughlin for his early exit from the game)....Strahans late entry to the team , as well as a new GM in '07....The Plexi(ass) gun situation in '08! And through it all has tried to shield his players, taking the heat for losses, that were almost always Player Mistakes and not unsound play calling or Game strategy!
So if you want to complain along with some very Stupid (Burress) and ungrateful (Barber..Shockey) players that needed some guidence, that Tom Coughlin is too tough, then Remember what the Giants were before he got here! You'll get no sympathy from me! Tom Coughlin is not only a great football coach, but also a man of great integrity and leadership! Something sorely lacking in the days of the Pampered, Spoiled, Millionaire athlete!
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eli manning
deserves way more credit for the giants success than tom coughlin does…. and that is my opinion
by The Blood of Eli on Jan 20, 2011 8:07 PM EST reply actions
eli manning
I’m a big fan of Eli’s …but put the credit where the credit is due here! This piece is about Coughlin’s leadership abilities. This is about Tom Coughlin’s accomplishments. If you are going to hang the Giants success on how Eli performs , then you would be setting yourself up for heartache my friend! This year Eli was inconsistent at best! His two handed panic toss against Tennessee this season inside the redzone for a drive killing INT was Sickening to watch! Eli’s non slide and Fumble that cost us another chance to win late in a game…which BTW cost us both those games! Please…I like Eli, but don’t get me started! The players and not the coaching staff should take FULL Responsibility for the Giants Collapse and for missing the playoffs this year!
Eli and Coughlin together make this team successful
That’s how it is because that’s how it was. I can’t say the team would be as successful if Jim Zorn was coaching with Eli throwing the ball. I also can’t say the team would be as successful if Coughlin was the lead and David Carr was the starting QB.
sigh...
IT'S THE SUM OF THE FREAKING PARTS
Sorry if it seems I’m ragging on you, but this is for everyone.
The defense did not win super bowl 42. Eli did not win SB42. Nor did Spags or Coughlin or Reggie Torbor or Jeremy Shockey or Fran Tarkenton.
It was the SUM of the parts that became GREATER than the whole. Take any one person away and the results are different.
All you hear about is the past, the past... the past is the !@#$ing past, this is the present.
THIS IS TEMPORARY! A CHAMPIONSHIP IS PERMANENT
-Michael Strahan
IT'S THE SUM OF THE FREAKING PARTS
I’ll buy that….Like I said, I like Eli….Let’s stick to the subject matter here! My Article is called AN OPEN LETTER TO ANYONE WHO QUESTIONS TOM COUGHLIN’S LEADERSHIP ABILITIES! sorry for the caps, but people here aren’t getting it! As far as Eli goes I stand by what I said…He cost us two games this year ….He was inconsistent THIS YEAR! Of course it takes a team…and I;m saying Tom Coughlin is a Great Coach and a Proven Winner! That’s all
Right, but.......
I cannot remember a Giants team just flat out gave up as many times as they have or that has given up so many big plays or that seems to collapse like the this team that Coach Coughlin has been “in command of”. I am not saying he is a bad coach but if you because he is NOT a bad coach, but if the players don’t want to play for him than what do you do? The team can say that they love him and respect him all day long but will they play for him? And why is this team sooo un-disciplined if discipline is his “thing”? I’m just saying its easier to replace a coach than the whole team. And right now there are a few coaches out there that could come in and pull these guys together. This is not a bad team I mean they were 10 and 6! So why are we having this discussion AGAIN this year? I understand last year because Sheridan was running the defense, and the year before that Plax shoots himself but you can’t put that playoff game against Philly all on Plax! What about the Super Bowl year? Let’s face it if that’s the only reason he is still coaching the team! This year it was all about mistakes interceptions, fumbles, special teams, big plays on defense etc. So if he runs such a tight ship WHY do these things happen? It’s not all on Coughlin but he is the one who gets all the blame b
by bleedblueandburntorange on Jan 27, 2011 11:09 AM EST up reply actions
I will Rec.
I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.
HIRE Josh McDaniels !!!!
I will Rec.
Josh McDanials!!! You are either being sarcastic, or Parents need to check and make sure their Children have really gone to bed!!! You are delirious!
Rec. = Recommended.
I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.
HIRE Josh McDaniels !!!!
he knows that...
but he likes to put the subject heading he’s replying to into his heading….
and I don’t think he’s a big MCD fan either.
I cant help him then.
I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.
HIRE Josh McDaniels !!!!
Unfortantely....
There are still fans that when the next loss, incompleted pass, interception, fumble, dropped pass, missed field goal, blocked punt. or bad play will want to trade Eli, fire Coughlin, fire Reese, fire the water boy, knock down the stadium and build a new one, get new owners, resign Plaxico, and give back all the super bowl trophies because they think we dont deserve them.
"Todd C in New York"
clever disguise for “Tom Coughlin in New York”
Details of the operations of an interstate dog fighting ring were revealed, with some portions involving drugs and gambling. Gruesome details involving abuse, torture and execution of under-performing dogs ... He admitted to being involved in the destruction of 6–8 dogs, by hanging or drowning...
40 years in the business
and he does not know what a bad DC or bad ST coach looks like?
I think Coughlin has done a pretty good job.
But It’s not fair to compare Tom to Parcells who was the ultimate motivator. I love watching those old videos of Parcells reminding the players why they lifted all those weights.
I love Parcells and the way he coached. We would have been hard pressed to win our first Super Bowl without him. If Jerry Jones wasn’t such an a**hole Dallas would probably have two more rings by now.
by giant fan since 57 on Jan 21, 2011 4:50 PM EST reply actions
TC is a great coach
and he certainly has a hand in drafting players along with former GM Ernie Acorsi and current one Jerry Reese. And they have done a good job with that part of the team too. I like TC alot, BUT, I am at aloss as to why he cant get his special teams in order after 7 seasons. We have had some decent special teams at times thanks to the likes of Jeff Feagles (AKA “The Weapon”), Tyree, Hixon, Blackburn, but HOW IN THE HELL is Tom Quinn still the coach there!? TC is a sound, field position, dont turn the ball over coach yet our special teams suck and the ST coach is not accountable.
I just think he is too loyal and risk-averse…. Remember the days of fake punts? Parcellls had BALLS. Anyway, I feel like we are too predictable and too interested in continuity. Two flaws in our team. But over-all, I think we are 1 impact LB away from a great D, and 15 fewer TO’s from a great O.
"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!
exclamation marks don't make a point
There were way too many exclamation points in your letter! Coughlin has thrown his hands up in the air too many times! He manages the team well! His discipline is undoubtedly a good thing! but players don’t reach into their guts for him. , don’t leave themselves broken on the field for him. The Giants have walked away from losses with too much in the tank too many times in the last two years. Point: why hasn’t Quinn been fired. Why hasn’t Dodge been tied to a set of railroad tracks somewhere in Hoboken?
I read the letter because it was addressed to me.
And I don’t buy into the player talk, and extrainious BS surrounding him, what I care about is the playoffs.
7years and 4playoff wins, all in one season which I wouldn’t trade for anything, but outside of that 1 out of seven years… he hasn’t been able to win a playoff game here.
He’s average, which leads to status quo, He’ll find a way to beat the teams they are supposed to win and nothing more which I’m not thrilled about. But for now I guess I just sit back and enjoy the offseason, and wait and hope for the Giants to avoid the seemingly inevitable second half collapse, that has become Coughlin’s calling card, next year.
Prove me wrong TC.
TC is running out of time........
Hey I always believed in TC. He really chabged ny mind this season, particularly while sitting in the stands during the great collapse. No hands team when an on-sides kick was inevitable. Huge mistake. Then playing the fourth quarter not to LOSE was another fiasco. I gave TC the credit as the head coach for the superbowl win and in turn blame him first and foremost for the collapse again this season. I think he steps up in 2011-2012 or he’s history.
Agreed
I love TC but there have been too many “collapses”. I understand that he is not on the field and that the players deserve just as much blame but this is not the first time and I am willing to bet that it will not be the last. I cannot remember a Giants team that caved so many times and gave up so many big plays and just flat out QUIT! This has been the norm, with the exception of the Super Bowl year, and why is that? I am at a loss for words to express my disappointment! These Giants are agruablly just as good or better than the two teams playing is the Super Bowl and yet again we are discussing another dissapointing year filled with sooo much promise and just as much frustration. How can we have an uptight, stickler for the rules, run a tight ship, discipline oriented, no nonsense coach and have so many let downs and make so many mistakes? Either our team isn’t as good as we think or they are flat out NOT LISTENING to TC! And if that’s the case than he does not own that locker room! Players can say how much they love the guy and how much they respect him but in the end the proof is on the field. Sorry I love Coach Coughlin and I do not want to see him go but that may be the best thing for the Giants. That and run Kevin Gilbride’s ass out of town!
by bleedblueandburntorange on Jan 27, 2011 4:55 AM EST up reply actions
A Giants fan from Texas...love it :-)
"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!
Why thank youuuuuuuuu!!!!
Been a fan since the Giants lost to the Bears in the 84 playoffs. I was raised around a bunch of bonehead Cowgirl fans but you can’t choose your family right. Oh and by the way Hook’em Horns!
by bleedblueandburntorange on Jan 27, 2011 10:51 AM EST reply actions
Mighty glad ta have ya
I got much respect for you folks from Texas, other than most residents liking the Cowgirls, but hey, dey the local team, so what else can ya expect?
I’ve been a fan since sunday dinner at Grandma’s in the 70’s. I had no choice. My family indoctrinated me and boy am I glad they did!
"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!
Coughlin's a good leader
I’m just no so sure he’s so good at picking the supporting cast to go around him.
Quinn? Absolute suckage on special teams, for the most part.
Gilbride? OK guys, we’re winning by 10. Let’s run left, run right, run up the middle, then punt. As a matter of fact, let’s do that until the other team wears our defense out and takes the go-ahead score. Oh crap, they beat us.
Who knows – maybe those weren’t 100% TC choices. He’s a good overall leader though.
Quit playing not to lose. Start playing to WIN! Geeez...
Coughlin, his leadership & Eli.
Tom Coughlin is an old school coach & a good one. His teams are always well prepared. It is a sign of the times that players quit during games. They talk a better game then they play. A buffoon like Rex Ryan attracts players because he lets his players do or say what they want. What has he won? Coughlin beat the best team in football in the Super Bowl. His team showed the NFL how to beat Brady. His team showed the NFL how to handle Vick. Ryan didn’t buld this Jet team it was basically in place. Coughlin had to return the Giants dignity. At times it appears that Couhlin cares more than some of his players do. Coughlin is a Giant & I’m glad that he is our coach. If Rolle & Phillips made some plays against the Eagles or the Packers we might stll be playing. On the on side that some say we weren’t ready for, Coughlin told the kick return team to be ready for it several times & they dropped back before the ball was kicked when they should have waited & the on side kick was successful. Just another example of his players being prepared but not getting the job done.
Eli is what he is. A little Brett Favre in trying to make some impossible throws & a little Phil Simms with his toughness. Eli will frustrate you & then make big play. He is one of the best 2 minute qb’s in the league. We don"t beat N.E. if he doesn"t get away from those tackles to make the pass to Tyree. When his Giant career is over he will be the best qb that we ever had.
Eli is WELL on his way
to being the best QB we have ever had. I just hope (and believe) he gets us at least one more Lombardi Trophy. Like Ernie Acorsi told Wellington Mara when he drafted Eli: “This kid is gonna win you a championship, and he’s gonna win you more than one…”
"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!
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