After two seasons with head coach Pat Shurmer which resulted in a combined record of 9-23 , New York Giants team president John Mara and Chairman Steve Tisch announced the organization will be moving on from Shurmer to the delight of many Giants fans. This will be the teams third time searching for a new head coach in the last five years and with many teams doing the same this offseason, the Giants may have the clearest decision of them all; Hiring Baylor University head coach Matt Rhule as the new leader of the New York Football Giants. To preface, after Baylor’s Sugar Bowl loss, Rhule stated that he would like to return to the university but in previous interviews he has expressed interest into coaching in the NFL.
Rhule born and raised in New York City is no stranger to the Giants organization considering he was an assistant coach when Tom Coughlin coached the team in 2012. During Rhule’s time with the team, now General Manager Dave Gettleman was a personnel analyst meaning they have worked together before. In a recent interview with 247sports, president John Mara spoke on his ideal candidate for the open coaching position stating, “I’m looking for leadership that’s the big thing going forward…. somebody who’s gonna help us with our football reorganization we’re in the process of undergoing right now.” Coach Rhule is very well acquainted with the struggles of building a team from the ground up and it is a task he has proved to be very capable of executing. After his stint as an assistant to Tom Coughlin, Rhule was named the head coach of Temple University an American Athletic Conference school that was never taken seriously in the world of College Football. In his first season as head coach Matt Rhule’s Owl’s were once again a laughingstock going 2-10 in a disastrous year. But, by all accounts Matt Rhule is truly a leader of men and the following season he recruited some new players that fit his vision and got seemingly all of the team to buy into his coaching style. That 2014 season Temple went 11-2 and the winning never stopped, 2015 10-4, and 2016 10-3.
When Rhule arrived at Baylor in 2017, the program was in the midst of a rape scandal which caste a dark cloud over the University as a whole. This brings us to this past year 2019 where Matt Rhule in his third year as Baylor head coach, led his team to an 11-2 season and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl. Rhule who took over his second distraught football organization proved once again that he is a true leader of men and effective rebuilder. When speaking to the New York Post, Giants safety Sean Chandler stated, “He’s able to connect with all his players, so that just makes you want to be able to play for him that much harder.” It is clear that coach Rhule garners respect from his players with his “no nonsense” authority that can put a team that has lost hope back in check. Yes the most prolific example of “no nonsense” coaching is Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots but a more suitable example is Miami Dolphins first year coach Brian Flores. When Flores took over the reigns the Dolphins to NFL fans were simply a poor team “tanking for Tua” a team that traded superstars such as tackle Laremy Tunsil and Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Although Flores’ Dolphins finished 5-11, Flores similarly to Matt Rhule during his time at both Temple and Baylor, got his players to buy into his system and play for him in the midst of a lost season.
Now, speaking on what goes on in between the hash marks, coach Rhule has spent time coaching on both sides of the ball and has a history of bringing his prefered staff as well as his schemes to the team in which he inherits. Those with high understanding of the wonderous game that is football are aware that it is a monumental task for a young quarterback like Daniel Jones to learn the new offensive scheme that a new coach may bring. This may lead some to believe that the firing of Pat Shurmer may inadvertently hinder the development of the young prospect. So what’s the kicker? Well, Pat Shurmer and Matt Rhule have very similar offensive schemes. Shurmer who came from the Minnesota Vikings brought with him a ‘power spread’ offense with run pass option concepts he picked up on from his time in Philly with Chip Kelly in 2014. Matt Rhule in his three years with Baylor ran a ‘zone spread’ offense which is very similar to what Danny Dimes ran in the 2019 season. But, where the power spread implements a power running game, Rhule’s zone spread provides a zone rushing game which utilizes the athletic ability of a teams running backs. With star second year running back Saquon Barkley having somewhat of a sophmore slump, many in New York pointed to the fact that Shurmer’s power run game does not capitalize on Barkleys explosive one cut ability. If Rhule is in fact next up for the Giants, Barkley will once again excel thereby relieving some pressure from developing quarterback Daniel Jones.
So, Dear New York Giants, if you want your future head coach to be a true galvanizing leader, a proven rebuilder, a man who knows your system, and a coach who is going to bring respect to your organization: hire Matt Rhule.
4th and Short Sports 