Giants' Mike Kafka needs to put his own stamp on this football team
Interim Giants head coach Mike Kafka looks on after a game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Mike Kafka’s first week as an interim head coach brought needed buzz to a troubled Giants season.
There was excitement over him getting a chance after interviewing for head coaching jobs. Players were intrigued before last Sunday’s game, and pleased afterward with how he handled the new role.
Perhaps the only person unfazed was Kafka, who understood the main task and didn’t publicly get caught up in a moment for which he’s likely been waiting.
“My focus was on the game,” Kafka said after the team lost to the Packers, 27-20. “My focus was on the players, putting them in the best positions, just thinking through how we were going to play the game.”
That’s good because the buzz is over. Kafka’s audition for the job begins in earnest now. His decisions — not just wins and losses — will determine if he’s trying to right the ship or just maintain things until the end of the season.
His opening week was about adjusting to being in charge, whether it was evaluating personnel or meeting with coaches. From here on out, it’s about showing what being in charge looks like.
On Monday, Kafka said things will be kept status quo right now, as far as staff changes. This is a big test because things can’t stay the same if the Giants keep losing.
Can defensive coordinator Shane Bowen keep his job with another collapse? Sunday was the Giants’ fourth time giving back a fourth-quarter lead. The Packers’ go-ahead drive was aided by a 33-yard pass on third-and-10.
This isn’t a new problem. The Giants allowed late big plays while blowing leads at the Broncos and Bears. The Packers gained 5.6 yards per carry, the latest team to run wild on them.
Firing Bowen before last week wouldn’t have solved the problems created under previous coach Brian Daboll. But since Daboll is gone, Kafka has a chance to assert his new power by dismissing Bowen should things not improve.
It won’t fix the Giants’ personnel issues but it will allow a different voice to have the chance to fix things.
Speaking of personnel, that’s Kafka’s second test.
Jaxson Dart hasn’t been cleared from concussion protocol yet. The Giants got reminded of what life without him looks like last week. Dart is far from a finished, polished product but he remains their best chance to win games.
Protecting him the rest of the season is paramount. It’s fine to use Dart on running plays but overuse has consequences. While Daboll was in charge, Kafka was the play-caller, so he had a hand in calling a lot of designed runs for Dart.
That needs to change, as does Dart knowing when to slide more. The Giants were effective running the ball Sunday against a Packers team that entered last week ranked sixth in run defense. Devin Singletary scored twice and Tyrone Tracy fought for extra yards on a day when he finished with a season-high 88 yards.
Perhaps that’s a formula to try — Lean heavier on the running backs and trust an offensive line that has been improving.
“I definitely do think that game really, we kind of asserted ourselves,” Tracy said. “But at the same time, Dart’s legs are going to be an asset.”
It’s an asset Kafka must manage wiser. A good coach leans into his players’ strengths, but saves them from themselves. These final six games are critical for Dart’s development and he needs to be on the field, not the sideline.
Finally, Kafka’s discipline methods will be watched after Abdul Carter was punished for missing a walk-through while in recovery getting treatment. Who’s next to be held accountable?
Will Deonte Banks be pulled for not tracking the ball? If a player shows questionable effort, will Kafka yank them from the game?
He drew a line in the ground by disciplining the rookie linebacker. How will that manifest itself with veterans not pulling their weight? That may be one tell that things have changed at 1925 Giants Drive.
Now that the high of his first week is over, it’s on Kafka to manage this team better and show if his decision making proves to be head-coaching material, or just that of a substitute teacher.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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