New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll continues to preach an “embrace the process” message to his locker room even after falling to 2-8 on the season following a humiliating overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 10.
“I’d say there’s certain things we’re doing better. The record isn’t what it needs to be. But we’ll go back and evaluate the things we need to do to finish up strong the last half of the season,” Daboll told reporters after the game.
This is not the message fans want to hear nor is it something they believe. However, defensive captain Dexter Lawrence still feels as if Daboll’s messaging is reaching players in the locker room.
“I think it is. Just has to be comprehended a little better. Yeah, I think it’s getting through,” Lawrence said. “It’s just critical moments, and we’ve got to understand what those critical moments are to be able to win and come out on top.”
But there is somewhat of a caveat, Lawrence admits.
“It’s annoying for sure. But I’m not in other people’s heads or brains,” he said. “Maybe it’s got to be communicated differently or got to hear it from somebody else.”
Communicated differently or by someone else…
To be clear, Lawrence is not calling for Daboll’s job but that still doesn’t reflect well on the head coach. It also doesn’t reflect well on the team’s leadership structure if the young locker room — one of the youngest in football — is failing to grasp the lessons that are being taught.
If Daboll and the team’s captains aren’t getting through to the younger players, the Giants have a very serious problem on their hands. And this isn’t exactly a one-off as Lawrence and linebacker Brian Burns have repeatedly said the players need to “grow up.”
Something is amiss in the Giants’ locker room and that starts at the top. If Daboll and his captains aren’t getting through to the majority of the roster, changes must be made — even if that’s not what Lawrence was suggesting.
