Giants coaching search: It’s New England coordinator day

The carousel of interviews for the New York Giants’ head-coaching vacancy continues to spin today, with Giants interviewing New England Patriots coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia.

Both, of course, are among the most hotly-sought after coaching candidates in this hiring cycle. Fifty-two percent (4,356) of 8,451 voters in our poll want McDaniels, the Patriots offensive coordinator, to be the coach. Seventeen percent (1,398 voters) chose Patricia, the defensive coordinator.

Josh McDaniels

He is considered to be the crown jewel of the current group of coaching candidates. He is also being courted by the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts for their vacant head-coaching jobs.

McDaniels, 41, can afford to be choosy. After a failed stint as head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2010 ended with an 11-17 record, McDaniels found his way back to the Patriots and is once again atop everyone’s list of potential coaches. He can choose the opportunity — ownership, GM, quarterback, roster — he feels most comfortable with. He can also stay in New England and wait, either for another offer or for Bill Belichick to retire. The Boston Herald says McDaniels will “need the perfect situation to leave the Patriots.”

Question is, what would he consider the “perfect situation?”

Rich Hill of Pats Pulpit told us recently that he believes McDaniels is ready for his next opportunity as a head coach:

“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’ tenure in Denver included Jay Cutler asking to be traded, staking his future on Tim Tebow at quarterback and reported difficulty in relating to players and staff. Can he prove to the Giants he has learned from those things? Can the Giants show McDaniels theirs is the opportunity to should jump at?

Matt Patricia

Has never been a head coach but, like McDaniels, has multiple suitors. He also has interviews with the Lions and Arizona Cardinals. The 43-year-old has been a New England assistant since 2004, going from an offensive assistant and rising to defensive coordinator, a spot he has held since 2012.

He is an aeronautical engineer, so he’s definitely a smart guy. He will have to prove to the Giants, though, that his lack of experience as a head coach won’t be a problem. Having just been through a failed experience with a first-time head coach in Ben McAdoo the Giants figure to be very careful about hiring a head coach who hasn’t done the job before.

Jim Schwartz update

There had been previous reports that the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator and former Detroit Lions coach would interview with the Giants on Saturday. Art Stapleton has reported that no Schwartz interview is currently on the Giants’ agenda.