POLL: Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, or Pat Shurmur? Who should coach the Giants?

The New York Giants’ search for a head coach is reportedly down to three candidates, New England coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, along with Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

Which one would you choose?

In our previous poll including all six candidates who have interviewed, McDaniels got 52 percent (4,356) of 8,451 total votes.

Let’s briefly look at all three candidates.

Josh McDaniels

Things have been quiet regarding McDaniels and the Giants since he interviewed for the job last Friday. The New York Post, though, says “The Giants are high on McDaniels’ ability to organize and direct a diverse offense and believe he would work well with Eli Manning, Davis Webb or a rookie quarterback, if they take one with the No. 2 pick in the draft.”

There have to be some concerns, though, after McDaniels’ failed two-year stint as head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2010. The questionable decision to go with Tim Tebow as quarterback, problems with players and a question about how McDaniels would mesh with a strong GM who has final say over personnel, which is the case with Dave Gettleman.

Rich Hill of SB Nation’s Pats Pulpit told us last month that the Patriots’ 41-year-old offensive coordinator is ready for another opportunity:

“I think Josh McDaniels is going to be an outstanding coach because he’s learned from his errors with the Broncos. He’s a brilliant offensive mind and he’s been in a league of his own at calling games and making adjustments since the 2014 season,” Hill wrote in an e-mail. “His biggest flaw was his inability to forge relationships with players and the organization and he’s actively tried to improve on that front since his return to the Patriots. He’s been ready to lead for the past few seasons.”

McDaniels could also end up filling the head-coaching vacancy with the Indianapolis Colts, or staying with the Patriots as heir apparent to Bill Belichick.

Matt Patricia

Co-owner John Mara was adamant when Gettleman was hired as GM that the Giants, after the Ben McAdoo disaster, needed a more experienced coach.

“I think, obviously, it has to be somebody who has either had head coaching experience or at least has been a coordinator for a significant period of time because I think if you don’t have that, the odds are really stacked against you,” Mara said.

Patricia, New England’s 43-year-old defensive coordinator, is the only one of the reported finalists without it. He has, however, been part of Bill Belichick’s staff since 2004, has coached both offense and defense and has been a coordinator for six seasons.

Patricia, an aeronautical engineer who chose a career in football over working on submarines and aircraft carriers, likely scores highly in a couple of other areas Mara outlined.

“You’re looking for someone who has intelligence, but leadership qualities, too. Somebody that’s going to be able to command the room when he stands up there in front of that team,” Mara said. “And we don’t have any preconceived notion about whether it has to be an offensive or a defensive coach. Ideally, it will be somebody with previous head coaching experience, but that doesn’t have to be the case, either.”

The New York Daily News has been adamant in recent days in reporting that the Giants will hire Patricia.

One source I have been in contact with agreed with that assessment, saying that “Patricia has been their target from the start. If they can get him, he’s the guy.”

Patricia could also go to the Detroit Lions, where former New England Director of Pro Personnel Bob Quinn is general manager.

Pat Shurmur

Some might consider Shurmur, who did a two-year stint as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, a surprising finalist. He checks a number of boxes for the Giants, though. Head-coaching experience and success as an offensive coordinator with a variety of quarterbacks and in a variety of places are chief among them.

He comes with the recommendation of Joe Banner, the CEO in Cleveland at the time who actually fired Shurmur from the head-coaching job.

“It was not an evaluation of him,” said Banner, who also worked with Shurmur with the Eagles. “I know Pat really well. I mean, A-plus guy. There’s nothing in the intangible category of quality of person, partner for GM, cares about winning, the players will like and want to support, he’s A-plus in all those kinds of things. Excellent offensive coach.

”If I were interviewing right now, Pat would be near if not at the top of my list of people I’d be looking at.”

Shurmur also appears to have options. There are indications he could end up replacing the recently-retired Bruce Arians as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.