Giants' Dexter Lawrence, DC Shane Bowen take some responsibility for Brian Daboll losing his job
The Giants' Dexter Lawrence walks off the field after a game against the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 2. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Dexter Lawrence turned 28 Wednesday, the same day the Giants announced that Jameis Winston will start Sunday against the Packers.
Lawrence began his birthday week processing other major news: Coach Brian Daboll had been fired. So the defensive tackle spoke his mind Thursday about seeing a third head coach let go during his tenure.
“That’s my guy, but he’s going to be OK,” Lawrence said. “I know who he is as a man and he’s gonna be all right. Our job is to go ahead and win the next game, so that’s what we’re gonna do.”
At the same time, Lawrence felt partially accountable for the decision. It’s the Giants’ defense that gave back two double-digit fourth-quarter leads during this four-game losing streak. It’s the defense that has allowed an NFL-leading 115 fourth-quarter points.
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen thanked Daboll on Thursday but acknowledged “there’s responsibility that falls on me” with regard to the firing. Lawrence also shouldered some of the blame.
“We win more games, that doesn’t happen,” he said. “Me personally, I take that as I could’ve done more, which you always can in a loss or a win. So you just got to keep going. It happened. They believe that it can get us to the next level and I’m on the train and we’re going to keep riding.”
With interim coach Mike Kafka in charge, the defense is getting a fresh set of eyes to both discuss and evaluate how to fix things. It’s a learning process for players, given that Kafka mostly worked with the offense in his four years on staff.
Linebacker Brian Burns said that in his two seasons, he barely had any conversations with Kafka. Now Kafka has been roaming over to the defense and challenging them more with verbal jabs. It has impressed Lawrence, who is still learning about Kafka’s personality.
“I had to ask one of the coaches, does he have one?’’ Lawrence quipped. “He seems cool, man. I’m enjoying him. It’s different because you never hear from him; now you hear from him all the time.”
Bowen said that after talking with Kafka, he doesn’t expect drastic changes with the defense. But there will be some adjustments, as things have gotten worse in this four-game slide.
Starting with Week 7 in Denver, the Giants have only one takeaway and have allowed 401.3 yards per game, fourth- most over that span. They’ve also allowed at least 14 points in every fourth quarter.
“I think it’s a myriad of different things that are showing up,” Bowen said. “And I have to do a better job finding ways to create some opportunities for these guys to make the plays we need when we need them at those times in the game.”
It’s a challenge that won’t get easier with a Packers offense ranked in the top-10 in passing. But with Daboll gone, the onus is on the players as much as the coaches to get it right.
That’s what Lawrence believes. If he had a birthday wish, it’s for the Giants to end this losing streak and the defense to play up to the level he expects, especially with a new coach to impress.
“I just want to win for the organization,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, just to win for this organization and the owners and things like that. That’s what I’m going to try to do each and every week. I’m trying to prepare the right way, get my guys prepared the right way.”
Hodgins reunion
The Giants brought back an old friend Thursday, signing receiver Isaiah Hodgins off the Steelers’ practice squad.
Hodgins played in 28 games with the Giants from 2022-24, including 14 starts. He caught 56 passes for 593 yards and seven touchdowns.
The move comes after receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey was signed to the Broncos’ active roster.
Blue notes
Jaxson Dart (concussion), Chauncey Golston (neck), Evan Neal (hamstring), Tyler Nubin (neck), Rakeem Nunez-Roches (toe), Bobby Okereke (shoulder), Darius Slayton (hamstring) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) didn’t practice for the second straight day.
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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