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Joe Schoen had a pretty good start as the general manager of the New York Giants. Before he arrived, the team hadn’t been winning much or making it to the playoffs for five years. But in his first season, the Giants surprised everyone by getting into the playoffs with a 9-7-1 record and even won a game. Fans were excited and hopeful again.
But now, things aren’t looking so great for Schoen. Last season, the Giants struggled, finishing with a 6-11 record. This year, after a tough loss in Germany to the Carolina Panthers, their record is 2-8, tying them for the worst in the NFL. If the season ended now, they’d have a high draft pick.
Despite these setbacks, Schoen remains optimistic. In a recent press conference, he stated that he doesn’t think the team is “far off” from turning things around. He pointed out their young roster and highlighted players like Kayvon Thibodeaux and Malik Nabers as reasons for future hope.
“Schoen said he doesn’t think the team is “far off” and cited their 1-5 record in one-score games as evidence of why he feels that way. Schoen repeatedly noted the youth of the roster and pointed to players like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Malik Nabers, Brian Burns, Tyler Nubin, and Tyrone Tracy as reason to think that the future is bright.”
Is Schoen completely wrong? Not necessarily. Close games can swing either way, and they’ve got promising players to build around, like Dexter Lawrence and Andrew Thomas. But there’s no denying some glaring issues.
The quarterback situation is particularly troubling. The extension given to Daniel Jones hasn’t panned out, leaving the Giants in a bind. Even if they secure a top draft pick, finding a solid quarterback isn’t guaranteed. It’s a gamble every team faces.
The offensive line also needs help. Andrew Thomas is talented but has struggled with injuries, missing significant time over two seasons. This has contributed to Jones being sacked frequently—29 times this season alone.
Schoen’s tenure hasn’t been all bad, though. He’s made some smart moves, like drafting Malik Nabers and trading for Brian Burns. Unfortunately, decisions like letting key players walk and extending Jones’ contract have overshadowed these successes.
There’s potential on this team. If they can solve their quarterback woes, they might become playoff contenders again. However, finding that quarterback is easier said than done. Just look at how other teams have fared with high draft picks.
Without a reliable quarterback, it’s hard to claim they’re close to success. Since 2011, the Giants have only made the playoffs twice and could end up with the worst record this season. Schoen’s optimism might be part of why they’re struggling so much now.
