Giants’ GM Joe Schoen insists ‘we’re not far off’ despite team’s 2-8 record, more takeaways

There will be some who think he is delusional, but New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said on Tuesday he believes the 2-8 Giants are “not far off” from being a good team.

“I like the direction we’re going,” a somewhat defiant Schoen said during his bye week press conference. “I like my team. I like my strategy, the groups that help me in research and strategy, my scouting department, we’ve got a good coaching staff, and I truly believe we’re heading in the right direction.”

Schoen, of course, understands that it doesn’t look that way with the team at 2-8 and having lost five straight games. Especially on the heels of a 6-11 2023 season.

“Nobody’s happy that we’re 2-8,” Schoen said. “I believe in the process and, again, I believe where we’re going.

“Building it, sometimes it hurts and it’s painful and it’s hard to go through it, but we’re going in the right direction.”

Forget tanking for a draft pick

Schoen pointed out that the Giants have a young core of players and that much of the roster you see next year will be the same as it is this year.

“We have 19 of 22 starters are under contract for next year. I believe it’s 41 players on the 53. There is a young nucleus of players here and some veterans that are going to be together. We’re in a position where we have some continuity,” Schoen said. “Again, as this team grows together it’s important over these final seven weeks that a lot of these guys are going to be together again next year. We’re finally in a position where there will be some continuity year over year and it’s important that we find ways to win games, specifically those ones I spoke about earlier when it’s close. That’s part of changing the culture and expecting to win.

“You don’t want it to be here we go again. That’s a mindset that we’re still trying to develop.

“We do have a young team. We have the youngest defense in the league. We have Theo [Johnson], [Tyrone] Tracy, [Malik] Nabers, some young guys on offense that are playing major roles for us and contributing. It’s important for them to grow and learn how to win games as well.”

‘We’re not far off’

Schoen said “I really do” feel like the Giants could take a significant leap forward in 2025.

“I’m excited about the young players that we have. The build’s tough. It hurts sometimes as you’re going through it, but you gotta go through it to get to the other side,” Schoen said. “I like the young foundation that we’ve put in place, whether it’s [Brian] Burns and Dex [Dexter Lawrence] and Kayvon [Thibodeaux]. There’s some pieces that are going to be in place. Nabers, the rookies I talked about, Theo.

“There’s some young pieces here in place in terms of the foundation that we’re going to continue to build on. Another year of free agency and another draft, we’re not far off. We’re not far off.”

The Giants have yet to achieve it with Schoen as GM, but he is still attempting to build something that has staying power once it becomes successful.

“We’ll get into 2025 when we get there. I don’t know what that looks like right now,” Schoen said. “Again, we’re focused on these last seven games. But I do like where we are from a continuity standpoint. And I think that’s important. Year over year, having a core nucleus of players that can lead and teach and help implement the coach’s message, the scheme, whatever it may be, constant turnover and new players every year, that’s tough.

“And the goal all along was to build something that’s sustainable. And to do that, it takes time. And based on resources that you have, again, it’s painful going through it, but I think where we are right now and where we’re heading, yes, there should be [a leap].”

Close, but no cigar

Schoen pointed out that the Giants are 1-5 in one-score games. Add a 10-point loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and the Giants are 1-6 in close games decided in the closing minutes.

“We’ve got to find ways to finish games, and that’s what we’ll do the rest of the week,” Schoen said. “How can we, whether it’s the way we practice, the way we’re doing things, scheme, coaching, personnel, whatever it is, we’re going to look under every rock and try to figure out solutions moving forward.”

The Giants simply have to score more points. They are last in the league with an average of 15.6 points scored per game. They are last in the league in red zone offense, scoring touchdowns on only 39.29% of trips to the red zone.

“We’re moving the ball, we’re getting down there, and we get in critical situations and we’re 32nd in red zone,” Schoen said. “We’ve got to find a way to put the ball in the end zone. That’s a big part of it.

“Whether it’s execution, it’s scheme, it’s personnel, whatever it is, we have to figure it out. We believe we have the players in the building to do it. It’s execution.It’s not one individual each week. Maybe we have penalties or there’s a drop or we fumble. Everybody’s got a hand in it and we’ve just got to figure out how to come out and play a clean game with complementary football.”

Daniel Jones not completely to blame

The Giants might have a different starting quarterback when they return from the bye week to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Nov. 24 at MetLife Stadium. Schoen, though, sought to make sure Daniel Jones is not considered the sole reason for the Giants’ struggles this season.

“It’s everybody. Everybody’s got a hand in this,” Schoen said. “I know being the quarterback and offense coordinator, head coach, a lot of people like to point to those guys in general. Daniel’s played some good games, and there’s some games where maybe he’d like to have some throws back or do things differently, but in general, it’s not one individual or one situation that keeps occurring, unfortunately.

“We’ve got to find a way to get over the hump and make plays at critical times of the game, whether it’s red zone, third down, or getting off the field on defense, or tackling on punt coverage and not allowing a punt return for a touchdown. Again, there’s a lot of things that we can look at and we need to improve on.”

Schoen said any decision to bench Jones will be a “football decision” and not a financial one.

“The decisions we make will be football decisions,” he said. “We’re going to do the best football decision for us to win games.

“We’re 2-8. Everybody needs to, including myself, look in the mirror and how can we do things better. I understand you guys want to ask about Daniel and it’s the quarterback position. That’s what comes with the territory specifically in this market. It’s not all on one person.”

Were his first two drafts good enough?

As outstanding as his 2024 draft class looks, there are plenty of looming questions about whether or not the GM got enough quality players out of his first two draft classes.

“Wish I could bat 1.000. You always want to do that,” Schoen said, acknowledging he has not been perfect.

“I would say I like the guys in our first two drafts. Where we were then and what we were trying to do by moving back. We needed players. There were five healthy offensive linemen on the roster at the time,” he said.

“I believe in the people in the building. I believe in our process. I believe in the research that we do, the work we’re doing.

“I think you saw the results this last offseason with the draft that we had. I look forward to continuing to hopefully have some drafts that compare to this one. You believe in the process.”

Not throwing in the towel

Two of the players in those classes who have drawn questions are offensive tackle Evan Neal, selected No. 7 overall in 2022, and cornerback Deonte Banks, the team’s 2023 first-round pick.

Neal, fully healthy after offseason ankle surgery, started his first game of the season Sunday vs. the Carolina Panthers and played well.

“A premium pick like that you always want to bat 1.000,” Schoen said. “He’s been injured and, again, we’re looking forward with him and trying to build off the last game.

“It’s important that he could come in and contribute for us and just help us win. That’s what we’re looking for. Whoever the best five are right now we want them out there so we can go out and produce.

“Again I’m rooting for Evan. He’s done everything the right way since he’s been back on the grass and it paid off the other night and he played well. You mentioned mistakes that you made after that first season.”

Banks has had his effort questioned a couple of times throughout what has been a difficult sophomore season for him.

“Tae’s a young player. We did invest a high draft pick in and a first round pick as a corner,” Schoen said. “Played well a year ago. Changed the [defensive] scheme. Again, we’re the youngest defense in the league. It’s not just Tae that would like to have some plays back.

There’s other people as well. We’re not giving up on Tae. He’s got the physical traits.”

Schoen also insisted Banks has shown the Giants enough good play for them to believe he is capable.

“He’s shown the ability to match the top receivers on other teams and corner’s a tough position to play,” Schoen said. “You’re moving backwards and you’re going against some of the greatest athletes in the world that are moving forward. There’s balls that are going to be caught on you and he’s been in really good position on some of them.

“We’re not going to give up on Tae. He works hard. He wants it.

“I still believe he’s got a bright future.”