The lesson for the Giants to study from the Washington Commanders’ roster development isn’t in regards to the significance of discovering a franchise quarterback.
It’s in regards to the worth of prioritizing management and tradition on the sphere and within the locker room.
The primary free agent class of Commanders GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn included the signings of linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, tight finish Zach Ertz, inside offensive linemen Tyler Biadasz and Nick Allegretti, operating again Austin Ekeler and edge rusher Dorance Armstrong, amongst others.
All of these gamers both added a veteran management part, a heightened degree of professionalism, improved efficiency or some mixture of the three to Washington’s dynamic.
Combining these personalities with incumbent leaders like Terry McLaurin and Jeremy Reaves — and longtime inside presences Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne — created the resilient group that has complemented and supported star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in these massive video games.
The Giants can study one thing from all 4 groups represented in Sunday’s NFC and AFC Championship Video games.
And the primary is the reminder to by no means once more underestimate or overlook the importance of tradition and management of their locker room.
That’s what GM Joe Schoen did when he let captains Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney stroll in free company to the Philadelphia Eagles and Inexperienced Bay Packers, respectively, after parting with Julian Love and Leonard Williams the 12 months earlier than.
He left the Giants roster not solely undermanned in expertise however in character, make-up and management, too.
Quarterback Daniel Jones didn’t even have the entrance workplace’s full confidence, and everybody knew it. Dexter Lawrence, though a wonderful particular person expertise, didn’t have the power to fill Barkley’s sneakers.
Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux was nonetheless a younger participant determining methods to be professional, and new edge Brian Burns was nonetheless studying the lay of the land.
So when the Giants confronted their inevitable adversity, they buckled. Lawrence shouted at teammates on the sideline. Malik Nabers stated the staff was “soft as f–k.” Jermaine Eluemunor stated not everybody was giving 100%.
By midseason, veteran proper guard Greg Van Roten of all folks — who had solely signed with the staff at first of coaching camp — was standing up after video games talking to the remainder of the staff.
If Schoen learns something from this 12 months’s NFL Remaining 4, he must be taking notes on how a lot management, character and professionalism matter to a staff. In reality, primarily based on how poorly he has performed on this space, he ought to in all probability refamiliarize himself with what they’re.
EAGLES LESSON: MOVE NEAL TO GUARD
There’s a laundry record of classes the Giants can study from the Eagles. However Mekhi Becton’s profitable transfer from deal with to proper guard in his fourth NFL season and fifth 12 months is a reminder that Giants proper deal with Evan Neal could also be salvageable if Schoen and Brian Daboll transfer him inside.
At the least it wouldn’t damage to attempt.
Schoen extremely stated the subject of Neal probably enjoying guard didn’t come up in Neal’s exit assembly on the finish of his third NFL season.
However Neal performed one season at left deal with, one season at left guard and one season at proper deal with in his three faculty years with Alabama. He’s comfy on the left facet. And if Schoen doesn’t discover a new spot for his former No. 7 total decide instantly, it’s arduous to think about he’s going to be part of this staff quickly in any respect.
Philadelphia and O-line coach Jeff Stoutland made it work with the Jets’ former first-round deal with decide Becton. The Giants must attempt it with Neal earlier than he leaves and another person does.
CHIEFS LESSON: COACHING MATTERS
Kansas Metropolis’s protection sacked Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud eight occasions in final weekend’s 23-14 Divisional spherical win, holding Houston to at least one landing all day.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s influence on the sport was apparent, notably when George Karlaftis recorded all three of his sacks within the fourth quarter.
Spagnuolo’s scheme and checks obtained Karlaftis remoted on Texans tight finish Dalton Schultz twice, with dummy blitzes from the within linebackers complicated Houston’s entrance.
Giants gamers think about defensive coordinator Shane Bowen an approachable and sensible coach, however he didn’t have game-changing solutions and in-game changes like his predecessor Wink Martindale.
The backfiring of Daboll’s energy play on Martindale — which led the previous DC to resign — created the 2024 defensive disappointment that co-owner John Mara lamented on breakup day. And it’s going to be tough to regain that edge with out altering the pinnacle coach and/or coordinator.
BILLS LESSON: WINNING IN DIVISION MATTERS
The Payments gained the AFC East for the fifth straight 12 months. They’re within the playoffs for the sixth straight season. They’re within the AFC Championship Sport for the second time in 5 years. And so they’ve reached the Divisional spherical in 5 straight years.
It begins with controlling their division. The Payments went 5-1 within the AFC East this season, they usually boast a outstanding 24-6 document in 30 division video games throughout their five-year run in first place.
The Giants, alternatively, are 4-14-1 within the NFC East together with playoffs. And so they have two third-place finishes, one fourth-place end and one postseason look in three years.
New York should begin by getting its first win over Dallas (0-6) within the Schoen/Daboll period, together with turning the tide on their embarrassing 1-6-0 mark in opposition to the Eagles.
Come to consider it, nonetheless, their 3-2-1 document in opposition to Washington isn’t wanting so promising now, both, with Daniels within the fold and the Giants 0-2 in opposition to him already.
Oh, effectively. Nothing they will do about it on Sunday, aside from watching to see which division opponent goes to symbolize the NFC within the Tremendous Bowl.
