DWinzit
July-16th-2007, 06:26 AM
CALL COUGHLIN CORNERED
OLD-SCHOOL COACH MUST LEARN NEW TRICKS IN HURRY
By PAUL SCHWARTZ
full link - http://www.nypost.com/seven/07152007/sports/giants/call_coughlin_cornered_giants_paul_schwartz.htm?pa ge=2
July 15, 2007 -- Change.
That was one of the prerequisites laid out to Tom Coughlin.
Not his core beliefs about football. Not his hairstyle. Not his dedication to discipline or his abhorrence of tardiness or his old-school values. He had to change himself.
Giants ownership is not demanding a kinder and gentler Tom Coughlin, but it stipulates a more reasonable Tom Coughlin:laugh: . The man in charge does not have to be revered, but the acrimony leveled at Coughlin down the stretch of last season did no one any good. The perception of Coughlin was as a beleaguered captain at the helm of a ship gone adrift, complete with the requisite mutinous crew.
Coughlin enters his fourth season in New York with the gangplank waiting to be unfurled for that tortured walk into coaching banishment. Can he fend off what many believe is an inevitable conclusion?
He’s a respected and winning coach (93-83 in his NFL career, 25-23 with the Giants) instructed to adjust to the times and become more likeable, a better communicator with his players and less ornery with the media. And, oh yes, win more games.
“I think there’s no question I can improve,” Coughlin admitted to The Post recently about his personal relations. “I’m going to try to be more patient, I’m going to try to be someone who understands again the jobs and responsibilities of those around me.”
Of course, his staff is greatly altered, as the Giants enter the season with a strange and unusual trifecta of three new coordinators working for a holdover head coach. Coughlin stripped John Hufnagel of the offensive duties last season with two games remaining and canned defensive coordinator Tim Lewis as soon as the season ended. Special teams coach Mike Sweatman retired. Now, more than ever, it’s on Coughlin. They stayed with him, but told him to change . . . and along the way win more games. Easy it won’t be for Coughlin.
OLD-SCHOOL COACH MUST LEARN NEW TRICKS IN HURRY
By PAUL SCHWARTZ
full link - http://www.nypost.com/seven/07152007/sports/giants/call_coughlin_cornered_giants_paul_schwartz.htm?pa ge=2
July 15, 2007 -- Change.
That was one of the prerequisites laid out to Tom Coughlin.
Not his core beliefs about football. Not his hairstyle. Not his dedication to discipline or his abhorrence of tardiness or his old-school values. He had to change himself.
Giants ownership is not demanding a kinder and gentler Tom Coughlin, but it stipulates a more reasonable Tom Coughlin:laugh: . The man in charge does not have to be revered, but the acrimony leveled at Coughlin down the stretch of last season did no one any good. The perception of Coughlin was as a beleaguered captain at the helm of a ship gone adrift, complete with the requisite mutinous crew.
Coughlin enters his fourth season in New York with the gangplank waiting to be unfurled for that tortured walk into coaching banishment. Can he fend off what many believe is an inevitable conclusion?
He’s a respected and winning coach (93-83 in his NFL career, 25-23 with the Giants) instructed to adjust to the times and become more likeable, a better communicator with his players and less ornery with the media. And, oh yes, win more games.
“I think there’s no question I can improve,” Coughlin admitted to The Post recently about his personal relations. “I’m going to try to be more patient, I’m going to try to be someone who understands again the jobs and responsibilities of those around me.”
Of course, his staff is greatly altered, as the Giants enter the season with a strange and unusual trifecta of three new coordinators working for a holdover head coach. Coughlin stripped John Hufnagel of the offensive duties last season with two games remaining and canned defensive coordinator Tim Lewis as soon as the season ended. Special teams coach Mike Sweatman retired. Now, more than ever, it’s on Coughlin. They stayed with him, but told him to change . . . and along the way win more games. Easy it won’t be for Coughlin.