Dabs considers taking over play calling duties in 2024

[Analyst]

Giants head coach Brian Daboll considering taking over play-calling for 2024 season

"It's something I'm looking into," Daboll said, via the team's official website. "I think there's 20 head coaches at this point in time that call plays in the league (either offensively or defensively). … There might be a little bit more. I've been doing a bunch of research, but no decision has been made. I'm still going through that process, thinking about what we need to do."

Daboll earned the Giants head coaching gig based partly on his skill leading an explosive Buffalo Bills offense, where he was the architect and play-caller for four seasons. Since taking over in New York, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has primarily been the man calling the shots.

Daboll considering returning to his roots as a play-caller underscores the importance of the 2024 season.

"Certainly," he said. "I did it for a long time. There's a lot of things that go into it. Part of the evaluation that I talked about, there are some other things that I'm looking into. I take my time and do what I think is best for the team."

"Still working through that process," Daboll said. "There's quite a bit of people nowadays that do that. So, again, it's something that I'll look into. Whatever I feel is best for the football team, that's the way we go."
 

[straightrazorman]

The definition of insanity, so they say, is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

[ratbastich]

Harry S. Truman...way before my time...said, "The buck stops here". If you don't feel your people can get the most out of your employees then yes, call the plays, but also realize that if you can't get anything out of them either then either you have put the wrong players together or you just don't have it. Either way, you are ultimately responsible.

[cdngfan]

Glass half full on this.

The issue with play calling is its a full time job. So is being an HC.

Having promoted Kafka to assistant HC should mean more than just a title and pay bump. It should leave some in game head coaching decisions on Kafka’s plate as well as prep and pre game planning.

If we have a decent year he’s probably gone next year (there’s a delta between fan opinions and GM opinions of Kafka, like it or not).

If I was Dabs I’d take over playingcalling for sure. He needs a good W-L but more importantly to me he needs a better relationship with his assistants and this is one less neck to choke if he’s calling plays. But you can’t do it all and that means giving up control like you did in yr 1 and 2 when you let Kafka call plays. He needs to let Kafka handle some of his HC responsibilities.

[GameTime]

I liked when he first became the HC he dished off that responsibility to his OC. He had enough to deal with learning how to be an HC.

Last season he got punched in the face and the gut just about every week and had mini implosions along the way.

In 2024 he needs to get his head screwed on straight, figure out how to manage his coaches without potentially being a total dick and if he deems it the best choice call the ****ing plays. Just get it the **** done Dabbs

[McCherry]

Mar 27, 2024 9:28:13 GMT -5 cdngfan said:

Glass half full on this.

The issue with play calling is its a full time job. So is being an HC.

Having promoted Kafka to assistant HC should mean more than just a title and pay bump. It should leave some in game head coaching decisions on Kafka’s plate as well as prep and pre game planning.

If we have a decent year he’s probably gone next year (there’s a delta between fan opinions and GM opinions of Kafka, like it or not).

If I was Dabs I’d take over playingcalling for sure. He needs a good W-L but more importantly to me he needs a better relationship with his assistants and this is one less neck to choke if he’s calling plays. But you can’t do it all and that means giving up control like you did in yr 1 and 2 when you let Kafka call plays. He needs to let Kafka handle some of his HC responsibilities.

I think that's a good assessment of the situation with Kafka. It has to be tough for him, he obviously wanted to take the OC job in Seattle, which would've been a much better situation. Especially in terms of launching his coaching career.

And with so many assistants leaving the Giants this offseason, you can understand why the Giants implemented some damage control by blocking Kafka from leaving, and maintaining some consistency. You just hope these two can keep some kind of working relationship, in what could be a very uncomfortable arrangement in Kafka's final year of his contract. 

[TEM]

Lert's look at reality. It does not matter if Micky Mouse is calling the plays. If the game plan is flawed. It was 80% of the time last season. When the game preparation is out of alignment with the talent available on game day. Only God can fix that with play calling.

[te88]

Mar 27, 2024 9:28:13 GMT -5 cdngfan said:

Glass half full on this.

The issue with play calling is its a full time job. So is being an HC.

Having promoted Kafka to assistant HC should mean more than just a title and pay bump. It should leave some in game head coaching decisions on Kafka’s plate as well as prep and pre game planning.

If we have a decent year he’s probably gone next year (there’s a delta between fan opinions and GM opinions of Kafka, like it or not).

If I was Dabs I’d take over playingcalling for sure. He needs a good W-L but more importantly to me he needs a better relationship with his assistants and this is one less neck to choke if he’s calling plays. But you can’t do it all and that means giving up control like you did in yr 1 and 2 when you let Kafka call plays. He needs to let Kafka handle some of his HC responsibilities.

I would also have Daboll call plays.

It puts him back doing something he is comfortable with. He did not thrive in the ‘overseer’ role. Calling plays might give him a more narrow focus and allow the coaching team to handle some of the other responsibilities. There were too many in game decision lapses and moments of chaos in time crunch scenarios.

[te88]

Mar 27, 2024 10:33:29 GMT -5 TEM said:

Lert's look at reality. It does not matter if Micky Mouse is calling the plays. If the game plan is flawed. It was 80% of the time last season. When the game preparation is out of alignment with the talent available on game day. Only God can fix that with play calling.

For me it is less about the playcalling and more about what set up allows the coaching staff to be best coordinated and able to make decisions in real time.

[TEM]

Mar 27, 2024 10:56:15 GMT -5 te88 said:

Mar 27, 2024 10:33:29 GMT -5 TEM said:

Lert's look at reality. It does not matter if Micky Mouse is calling the plays. If the game plan is flawed. It was 80% of the time last season. When the game preparation is out of alignment with the talent available on game day. Only God can fix that with play calling.

For me it is less about the playcalling and more about what set up allows the coaching staff to be best coordinated and able to make decisions in real time.

That is a flaw that need to be corrected. 

[ThatGuyRich]

Mar 27, 2024 9:52:58 GMT -5 McCherry said:

Mar 27, 2024 9:28:13 GMT -5 cdngfan said:

Glass half full on this.

The issue with play calling is its a full time job. So is being an HC.

Having promoted Kafka to assistant HC should mean more than just a title and pay bump. It should leave some in game head coaching decisions on Kafka’s plate as well as prep and pre game planning.

If we have a decent year he’s probably gone next year (there’s a delta between fan opinions and GM opinions of Kafka, like it or not).

If I was Dabs I’d take over playingcalling for sure. He needs a good W-L but more importantly to me he needs a better relationship with his assistants and this is one less neck to choke if he’s calling plays. But you can’t do it all and that means giving up control like you did in yr 1 and 2 when you let Kafka call plays. He needs to let Kafka handle some of his HC responsibilities.

I think that's a good assessment of the situation with Kafka. It has to be tough for him, he obviously wanted to take the OC job in Seattle, which would've been a much better situation. Especially in terms of launching his coaching career.

And with so many assistants leaving the Giants this offseason, you can understand why the Giants implemented some damage control by blocking Kafka from leaving, and maintaining some consistency. You just hope these two can keep some kind of working relationship, in what could be a very uncomfortable arrangement in Kafka's final year of his contract. 

I think both of you are right on it. I'll be surprised if Kafka and Dabol can make it through the season. If Dabs calls the plays this will be the 2nd time the play calling is taken from him. I'm don't think Dabs was such a tremendous play caller in Buffalo. He had Josh Allen. Josh Allen his whole career has made gravy out of broken plays.

Peyton Manning made that asshole Nate Hackett look like a great OC. He got 2 HC gigs out of it and he's worse than Josh McDaniel who also got 2 HC gigs and was fired from both because he was Tom Brady's OC.

Dabs or Kafka didn't show squat last year with that God awful offense in every position group. I hope what looks like such a jump of an improved OL that it can bring the rest of the offense with it. Kafka on his last year of his contract if he doesn't leave the first day the contract ends I will be shocked. They give him a title and a raise and then are thinking about taking away the bread and butter of his job.

We'll see what happens with the play calling, the QB, and the offense. It doesn't look good to me at this time. And if were losing again which it looks like the volcano erupts a little earlier.

[DJones19]

If Daboll takes over the playcalling that tells me he doesn't have full trust in his own guys he hired.
After his falling out with Wink..I don't think this is a good look for him.

Daboll should focus on being a head coach, and let the coordinators do their job.

[Analyst]

Mar 27, 2024 10:33:29 GMT -5 TEM said:

Lert's look at reality. It does not matter if Micky Mouse is calling the plays. If the game plan is flawed. It was 80% of the time last season. When the game preparation is out of alignment with the talent available on game day. Only God can fix that with play calling.

Not to mention our last 6 QBs have been:

Daniel Jones
Mike Glennon
Jake Fromm
Davis Webb
Tyrod Taylor
Tommy DeVito

You can call the best plays in the world. If you dont have the guy to execute, its all over. 

[jaymas]

Mar 27, 2024 11:18:12 GMT -5 DJones19 said:

If Daboll takes over the playcalling that tells me he doesn't have full trust in his own guys he hired.
After his falling out with Wink..I don't think this is a good look for him.

Daboll should focus on being a head coach, and let the coordinators do their job.

Do the 20 other head coaches in the league that call plays not have trust in the guys they hired?

[lt56]

GOOD! WTF is taking so long!

Coming over from Buffalo he was suppose to be this damn QB Whisperer or something, the guy who can fix Daniel Jones and turn him into Josh Allen 2.0

Instead we been stuck watching Kafka Brutal Dink and Dunk Garbage Offense

[McCherry]

Mar 27, 2024 10:33:29 GMT -5 TEM said:

Lert's look at reality. It does not matter if Micky Mouse is calling the plays. If the game plan is flawed. It was 80% of the time last season. When the game preparation is out of alignment with the talent available on game day. Only God can fix that with play calling.

I don't think that's the case at all. The offensive scheme is sound, the play calling and execution isn't.

I don't know how you watch shitty QB's make awful plays. An OL that can't run or pass block, a practice squad player in DeVito, Tyrod Taylor's multiple inexplicable goal line blunders against Buffalo and LA, and say the offensive game plan is what's wrong. 

Essentially what you're saying is that the WR's, OL and QB aren't the problem.

[TEM]

Mar 27, 2024 12:47:38 GMT -5 McCherry said:

Mar 27, 2024 10:33:29 GMT -5 TEM said:

Lert's look at reality. It does not matter if Micky Mouse is calling the plays. If the game plan is flawed. It was 80% of the time last season. When the game preparation is out of alignment with the talent available on game day. Only God can fix that with play calling.

I don't think that's the case at all. The offensive scheme is sound, the play calling and execution isn't.

I don't know how you watch shitty QB's make awful plays. An OL that can't run or pass block, a practice squad player in DeVito, Tyrod Taylor's multiple inexplicable goal line blunders against Buffalo and LA, and say the offensive game plan is what's wrong. 

Essentially what you're saying is that the WR's, OL and QB aren't the problem.

I disagree. With the way that offense was structured. Let's start with the O-line. It was a flawed scheme before the season began. Technically our best drive of the season was against 2s in the 2nd preseason game.  What does that say about the entire play structure of the offensive design? 

[McCherry]

Mar 27, 2024 12:53:24 GMT -5 TEM said:

Mar 27, 2024 12:47:38 GMT -5 McCherry said:

I don't think that's the case at all. The offensive scheme is sound, the play calling and execution isn't.

I don't know how you watch shitty QB's make awful plays. An OL that can't run or pass block, a practice squad player in DeVito, Tyrod Taylor's multiple inexplicable goal line blunders against Buffalo and LA, and say the offensive game plan is what's wrong. 

Essentially what you're saying is that the WR's, OL and QB aren't the problem.

I disagree. With the way that offense was structured. Let's start with the O-line. It was a flawed scheme before the season began. Technically our best drive of the season was against 2s in the 2nd preseason game.  What does that say about the entire play structure of the offensive design? 

The OL suffering injuries, lacking depth and overall talent had nothing to do with the offensive scheme. That's a failure of talent evaluation and execution.

Our best drives were in the second half of week 2. We saw how the offense could work, if only for just a flash.

[TEM]

Mar 27, 2024 13:23:59 GMT -5 McCherry said:

Mar 27, 2024 12:53:24 GMT -5 TEM said:

I disagree. With the way that offense was structured. Let's start with the O-line. It was a flawed scheme before the season began. Technically our best drive of the season was against 2s in the 2nd preseason game.  What does that say about the entire play structure of the offensive design? 

The OL suffering injuries, lacking depth and overall talent had nothing to do with the offensive scheme. That's a failure of talent evaluation and execution.

Our best drives were in the second half of week 2. We saw how the offense could work, if only for just a flash.

That O-line was bad on day 1 

[IrishMike]

Mar 27, 2024 11:58:13 GMT -5 Analyst said:

Mar 27, 2024 10:33:29 GMT -5 TEM said:

Lert's look at reality. It does not matter if Micky Mouse is calling the plays. If the game plan is flawed. It was 80% of the time last season. When the game preparation is out of alignment with the talent available on game day. Only God can fix that with play calling.

Not to mention our last 6 QBs have been:

Daniel Jones
Mike Glennon
Jake Fromm
Davis Webb
Tyrod Taylor
Tommy DeVito

You can call the best plays in the world. If you dont have the guy to execute, its all over. 

Well the fact he talking about this and researching this means that he doesn't believe that all the issues last year (or two) were because of those QBs. He must believe that the playcalling had something to do with our failures. We as fans can say what we want but the HC is looking at playcalling as one of the reasons for our failures so there is probably some truth to it.

I'm all for it. One guy was a great play caller in Buffalo and the other guy never called plays until coming here. It should be considered.

[Analyst]

Mar 27, 2024 19:44:24 GMT -5 IrishMike said:

Mar 27, 2024 11:58:13 GMT -5 Analyst said:

Not to mention our last 6 QBs have been:

Daniel Jones
Mike Glennon
Jake Fromm
Davis Webb
Tyrod Taylor
Tommy DeVito

You can call the best plays in the world. If you dont have the guy to execute, its all over. 

Well the fact he talking about this and researching this means that he doesn't believe that all the issues last year (or two) were because of those QBs. He must believe that the playcalling had something to do with our failures. We as fans can say what we want but the HC is looking at playcalling as one of the reasons for our failures so there is probably some truth to it.

I'm all for it. One guy was a great play caller in Buffalo and the other guy never called plays until coming here. It should be considered.

I dont think you can ever deal in absolutes. Its never "all" on the QB. The problem is, the QB is the head of the offense. When the head is lacking, the rest of the unit wont live up to expectations. 

We all saw Dabs go off on DJ several times last year after looking at the tablet and seeing the missed opportunities. 

[IrishMike]

Mar 28, 2024 11:56:35 GMT -5 Analyst said:

I dont think you can ever deal in absolutes. Its never "all" on the QB. The problem is, the QB is the head of the offense. When the head is lacking, the rest of the unit wont live up to expectations. 

We all saw Dabs go off on DJ several times last year after looking at the tablet and seeing the missed opportunities. 

You could also say that the OC is the head of the offense and when the play calls are bad the offense will suck. Dabs went off on everyone last year, including the play caller and every QB lol.

I'm just saying that you need to fix the things you can, he obviously thinks play calling might be part of the problem, the OL was part of the problem and the back up QB was part of the problem. We are about to find out if WR1 or QB1 were the bigger problem in his mind.

I want to know if Dabs called plays the second half of the Cardinals game because that offense (yes even with Jones) looked fantastic. If him calling plays makes that a consistent thing then he better do it.

[keyofgmen]

If you feel you have to take away play calling from your OC...

You should fire him and move on. Otherwise it's leadership no win.


 

[Analyst]

Mar 28, 2024 17:05:07 GMT -5 keyofgmen said:

If you feel you have to take away play calling from your OC...

You should fire him and move on. Otherwise it's leadership no win.


 

Agreed

[Analyst]

Mar 28, 2024 16:41:14 GMT -5 IrishMike said:

Mar 28, 2024 11:56:35 GMT -5 Analyst said:

I dont think you can ever deal in absolutes. Its never "all" on the QB. The problem is, the QB is the head of the offense. When the head is lacking, the rest of the unit wont live up to expectations. 

We all saw Dabs go off on DJ several times last year after looking at the tablet and seeing the missed opportunities. 

You could also say that the OC is the head of the offense and when the play calls are bad the offense will suck. Dabs went off on everyone last year, including the play caller and every QB lol.

I'm just saying that you need to fix the things you can, he obviously thinks play calling might be part of the problem, the OL was part of the problem and the back up QB was part of the problem. We are about to find out if WR1 or QB1 were the bigger problem in his mind.

I want to know if Dabs called plays the second half of the Cardinals game because that offense (yes even with Jones) looked fantastic. If him calling plays makes that a consistent thing then he better do it.

Were there rumors he called the 2nd half of the cardinals game?

I know there was another game it was brought up.

[IrishMike]

Mar 29, 2024 7:33:01 GMT -5 Analyst said:

Were there rumors he called the 2nd half of the cardinals game?

I know there was another game it was brought up.

Yeah that was the rumor and the starting point for those rumors. Some people said it was obvious and you could see it on film, I didn't see it though. If they can bring that O to each game we could actually be a really good team.

[Analyst]

Mar 29, 2024 8:22:33 GMT -5 IrishMike said:

Mar 29, 2024 7:33:01 GMT -5 Analyst said:

Were there rumors he called the 2nd half of the cardinals game?

I know there was another game it was brought up.

Yeah that was the rumor and the starting point for those rumors. Some people said it was obvious and you could see it on film, I didn't see it though. If they can bring that O to each game we could actually be a really good team.

Well, it would make sense on why the results changed dramatically in that game at the half. It was night and day...bol. 

If thats the case, then I would suggest Daboll let Kafka go when Seattle wanted him as their OC. If Dabs wants to take the play calling completely away from Kafka, what good is Kafka? 

[IrishMike]

Mar 29, 2024 8:37:08 GMT -5 Analyst said:

Well, it would make sense on why the results changed dramatically in that game at the half. It was night and day...bol. 

If thats the case, then I would suggest Daboll let Kafka go when Seattle wanted him as their OC. If Dabs wants to take the play calling completely away from Kafka, what good is Kafka? 

I've always wondered what the Kafka would do in that case. The world seemed to think that the OC from the Chiefs deserved a HC job even though Reid was the play caller though. Perhaps making Kafka Asst HC is a way to give him some of those HC duties and free Dabs up to call plays.

In my mind we hired Dabs based almost exclusively because of his success calling plays for the Bills, let's keep him doing that.

[Jomo]

Mar 27, 2024 12:25:26 GMT -5 lt56 said:

GOOD! WTF is taking so long!

Coming over from Buffalo he was suppose to be this damn QB Whisperer or something, the guy who can fix Daniel Jones and turn him into Josh Allen 2.0

Instead we been stuck watching Kafka Brutal Dink and Dunk Garbage Offense

I think that the dink and dunk is borne out fo the horrendous OL we still have.

There aren't many plays when the QB can't even get to his 7 step drop without being pressured.

Not letting Kafka off the hook but most would call plays that contemplate huge pressure on every pass play.

That said, I am fine with Daboll calling the plays. I think it might get him more focused on the sideline and reduce the distractions.

[Fletch842]

Mar 29, 2024 9:13:13 GMT -5 Jomo said:

Mar 27, 2024 12:25:26 GMT -5 lt56 said:

GOOD! WTF is taking so long!

Coming over from Buffalo he was suppose to be this damn QB Whisperer or something, the guy who can fix Daniel Jones and turn him into Josh Allen 2.0

Instead we been stuck watching Kafka Brutal Dink and Dunk Garbage Offense

I think that the dink and dunk is borne out fo the horrendous OL we still have.

There aren't many plays when the QB can't even get to his 7 step drop without being pressured.

Not letting Kafka off the hook but most would call plays that contemplate huge pressure on every pass play.

That said, I am fine with Daboll calling the plays. I think it might get him more focused on the sideline and reduce the distractions.

between the new coaches and player turnover, we simply don't know where our O Line will be this coming season.  They were so damn bad last year, I almost can't imagine them staying at that putrid level...Doesn't mean they won't, but I think they will be significatnly better, maybe even pushing towards average play.  hell, I'll take mediocre, lol...