Giants’ Mike Kafka adjusting to new non play-calling role

They are called “mental reps.’’ An injured player cannot participate in the action on the field and so he observes and tries to take note of the play and pick up what he can. 

Mike Kafka is not injured, but the Giants offensive coordinator is doing more observing than usual this summer, as after two training camps as the play-caller he is not handling that responsibility.

Head coach Brian Daboll, a noted play-caller in his time in the NFL, is doing it in camp and there is every expectation he will continue once the season starts. 

And so, Kafka is trying to watch and learn. 

“I think it’s your approach,’’ Kafka said. “I’m going to take it as a learning approach, learn as much as I can from the people around me, and then contribute as best I can, whether I am calling plays or I’m not. Whatever that situation looks like. I’m going to do my best to help the team win.’’ 

This is the first bump in the road in Kafka’s coaching career.

After a five-year run as a quarterback moving through practice squads for seven different teams, Kafka was hired in 2017 as the Chiefs’ offensive quality control coach.

Five years later, at age 35, he was the offensive coordinator and play-caller for the Giants, as Daboll decided he did not want to call the plays as a rookie head coach.

Late last season, with the Giants’ offense struggling, Daboll took over some of those duties.

He is handling them on a full-time basis now, leaving Kafka, 37, to serve as a coordinator but not a play-caller. 

“During the week, I’m helping [Daboll] put together the offense, talking about the scheme, talking about the players, talking about our roster and what that looks like on the offensive side of the football,’’ Kafka said. “At the practice field, I’m helping complement the coaches and help coach and orchestrate how we’re going to operate on offense as far as practice flow, organizing drills and how we’re going to do those things. It’s an open communication, and it’s things that pass through me to Dabes, and we talk about how Dabes wants to run it, and then we go back and execute it for him.’’ 

Rookie S Tyler Nubin (hamstring) returned, not a moment too soon for him after he missed five practices.

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, referring to Nubin, declared, “It’s tough to improve when you’re not practicing.’’

With Nubin on the sideline, Dane Belton moved in as a starting safety alongside Jason Pinnock and will be tough to supplant. 

“One thing I’ll say for Dane is he’s taken ownership of it, and he’s fighting like hell to earn that job,’’ Bowen said. “Which he should. It’s his job to lose right now.’’ 

Greg Van Roten, in his first practice with the Giants, mixed in at center for a few snaps with the starters with John Michael Schmitz still out with a shoulder injury.

Van Roten, 34, has mostly been a guard in his 110 NFL games.

The expectation is he will line up at right guard. 

“I’ve started at all three positions inside,’’ Van Roten said. “That’s why I have that value, is my versatility. It’s just one of those things where you could put me in anywhere and I can kind of figure it out. I think that’s a big reason why I’m here.’’