For the purpose of full disclosure, I have been an avid fan of the NY Giants since the late 1960's. When Bill Parcells was hired to replace Ray Perkins I was disappointed that they didn't go after a bigger name (and offensive minded coach) and after the 1983 season I wanted him gone (and thought that George Young had lost his mind by not firing Parcells the second the season ended). As recently as the middle of the 2007 season I was convinced that hiring Tom Coughlin was in fact a mistake and seeing that at best we were looking at another season of barely making the playoffs, to be followed by an early exit. felt tanking the remainder of the year for a much earlier than ~#20 pick in the draft would have made more sense than trying to make a run for the playoffs.
I've discovered in the nearly 55 years I've been alive that patience (which I often display a severe lack of) can be beneficial. I don't know how good Diaco will end up being but I do believe we won't be able to have a full read on his (and his staff's) capabilities for another couple of seasons. We'll need to endure some apparent steps forward followed by some apparent regression during this time.
Parcells speaks freely of the midway point of the 1984 season being his most critical time as a head coach. He notes that he was the recipient of a great deal of good happening all that same time from his players and coaches, to get that season to turn around and then continue building, had that season not turned around, he says he's pretty sure he would have been out of a job. At some point, Diaco will have a similar moment. We're not even close yet, if you ask me.
I've been able to have an abstract view at this season, and to me, it's glaringly obvious what's happened this season so far. Diaco's a kooky coach, that's learning - that's all. He developed this entire year long plan - that led to what? the frigging UCF game at mid-season. We were 3-3, and players were openly talking about how important that trophy was to them.
That's fine and dandy, but it's week 6, and you got homecoming, and the rest of the conference season to play.
Don't drink the poison - Randy Edsall used to say.
Diaco is learning that it's friggin hard work, to keep a team focused and playing well through an entire season, and do it in such a way that the progressively improve mentally and physically and peak at the end of the season.
My biggest concern, is that he had this team peak to early, and is struggling to get them to keep building for this season. As crazy as it may sound, reading it, it's what I'm concerned about.
I think all that's happened in the past 2 games, is that they drank their own poison after the UCF game in preparation that week, and against Cincinatti they showed all the signs of mental and physical fatigue.
That goes for both coaches and players.
How they perform Friday night, will be a good indicator of things to come for this season, and as far as fatigue goes, everybody is tired and sore, it's how you prepare and focus to overcome. A short week, might just be what we need most right now, instead of stewing on the past 2 games.
I think Coach Booby has probably learned an important lesson about preparing for the marathon of a football season, this year, that he can apply to next year.
