I think in the end he was too arrogant. He refused change. He refused to see the problem with his offense and if you read between the lines seemed to blame Eli for the failure. Nothing was a poor plan, it was always poor execution. Sure he sometimes said "put it on me" but it was obvious that he did not believe it.
He got lucky and was able to win with a great defense and no offense last year. Even in the playoff game he seemed to think that once we had the lead we no longer needed to be aggressive.
He decided the o-line from last year would get the job done, because he thought his offensive scheme was good enough to overcome it. He never gave some of the newer pick-ups (like Fluker) a chance to play in pre-season. He insisted in staying with the 11 personnel whatever the cost. He would not give up play calling and acknowledge that there might be a better way. He defended players who played badly (o-line, LBs) and hung players like Eli out to dry.
Our heavy handed team did not play complementary football, couldn't execute, failed to protect the Duke, needed more discipline, needed to improve consistency and to adhere to sound fundamental football principles. We practiced well, we were well prepared, what else could the coaches do? None of that was HIS fault.
He seemed to feel vindicated when management allowed him to bench Eli. Clueless to the end.
Also - and slightly off topic. Why would you bench Eli to play Geno. Geno is on a 1 year contract, if he plays well he costs more - or leaves. If he looked that good in practice then why would you ever want to show the rest of the league?
and Special Teams
Also, holding on to the Duke.
He did give up play calling mid season...but there seemed to be zero adjustments or creativity to adapt after defenses had clearly gone to school on how to stop his basic scheme.
I mean, everyone watching knew we really wanted to throw quick slants...once teams started sitting LBs in those passing lanes, we had no answer.
Who knows what was really going on in the locker room, but there was enough smoke to assume the fire was real.
His handling of the Eli debacle was just another symptom of his fatal stubbornness/arrogance
2. No legitimate offensive system.
3. Tried to act like Parcels
As a successful head coach, he was completely reliant on an outstanding defense and Beckham. With the defense underachieving this year (it sounds partly due to his influence) and Beckham hurt, he oversaw a historically bad offense/team.
-From his inability to manage a full team as a head coach instead of seeing himself as an offensive coordinator +
- To mishandling a QB controversy of his own creation
- To losing the defensive players who ultimately revolted against him
- To then botching his interaction with the press and all that leads to losing the fans.
- Even the part where he said that professional players should motivate themselves, its not on the coach...pure Handley.
There is even more there, but it's shocking how some of the warning signs were there in the 11-5 season, but they all pretty much blew up in his face in rapid succession this year. I really believe the opening loss to Dallas, when the offense looked asleep and awful, it was an "Emperor has No Clothes" moment that the Giants didn't fix anything with their offense all offseason and they were hoping for the best and the defense would win again.
Awful.
While that was a great quality to display in his rookie season, I wonder how much self-scouting he did in the offseason to recognize and address his weaknesses.
To me it seemed like a kid in a man's game. Can you really imagine other NFL: teams hampered by not knowing if Ben MacAdoo is callibng the plays?
That's basically code for "I am motivating the team to play hard, I am giving them a winning gameplan, the players aren't winning". It was startling. He basically assumed no blame for the loss and passed it off to everyone else.
I still have the image in my mind of Beckham on the ground in agony and Ben couldn't care less. He was too busy selecting the next play from his Chinese menu.
A lot of people said he was good at Xs and Os but a poor communicator. I never thought he was an Xs and Os guy because his offense was laughable. He got a lot of credit for “fixing” Eli and the offense when he became O-Co but I firmly believe that had everything to do with OBJ coming to the team and zero to do with McAdoo. In the end, I just don’t think he was very good at anything.
But that is just not his personality. He came off as awkward, robotic and stubborn because he was trying to be something he is not: a HC
And this goes back to what you said, arrogance.
2. Completely unimaginative offense. Very plain, way behind the league.
I know he wasn't gonna say no to become a HC, of course not, and this was an ideal situation for him with a revamped defense prior to 2016 and everything going his way, he no longer had Coughlin over him and he could do (or not do) what he wanted with the team.
I think his look, his image, his haircut, wrong time...and very wrong place did him in. Of course, benching popular Eli and then LOSING with his savior Geno the same week. Yeah, I know...11-5 in 2016 but Eh. That defense was championship worthy but everything unfolded since Green Bay in 2017.
Glad he's gone. Thanks a lot Philly.
This ^^^.
Also "The Duke" was f'ing stupid. His should call his pud, the Duke.
Plus playing the wrong guys and wrong positions on Oline sucked.
Not having Aaron Rogers at QB was another shortcoming.
But that is just not his personality. He came off as awkward, robotic and stubborn because he was trying to be something he is not: a HC
I think there is a lot of truth in this...
Even down to the haircut. Seems like he tried to act like a Head Coach, because he was uncomfortable in himself or incapable of BEING one. As soon as people sense an insecurity in you, like you don't know what you should even look like... if you can't even figure out yourself, how is your team supposed to respect and be confident in you if you display a teenage identity problem as a 39 year old HC?
Or if Mara or someone told him his hair needs to be styled neater since he's now HC, shame on them... if that's the case then him allowing the cutting off of his balls is obvious to a whole team who might then suddenly lose respect for him as a man... and not that he was a leader of men anyway.
-From his inability to manage a full team as a head coach instead of seeing himself as an offensive coordinator +
- To mishandling a QB controversy of his own creation
- To losing the defensive players who ultimately revolted against him
- To then botching his interaction with the press and all that leads to losing the fans.
- Even the part where he said that professional players should motivate themselves, its not on the coach...pure Handley.
There is even more there, but it's shocking how some of the warning signs were there in the 11-5 season, but they all pretty much blew up in his face in rapid succession this year. I really believe the opening loss to Dallas, when the offense looked asleep and awful, it was an "Emperor has No Clothes" moment that the Giants didn't fix anything with their offense all offseason and they were hoping for the best and the defense would win again.
Awful.
Nice summary. I'd add failure to understand Aaron Rodgers was not the Giants quarterback.
Being handed a fustercluck of an OL helped destroy him...and his DC as well. Tom Quinn is the anchor that will weigh down any coach.
But bottom line...Ben McAdoo did in Ben McAdoo.
Reese's roster construction was the bigger issue than Mcadoo in my opinion.
Weaknesses:
Stubborn. Did not design an offense around the players actually on the roster. He was dealt a very weak hand. But his job then was to find the best players or best combinations of players and start them. And change the scheme accordingly. He failed to do that. This is the biggest reason (next to weak team) that we've only won 2 games.
Self defeating weakness:
Arrogance and presence. His arrogance and the way he comports himself makes him radioactive. His presence makes me want to puke. He's really hurt himself here.
He has a lot to prove given that this was his first job not just as a HC, but an OC. He may have a lot of trouble getting another OC job immediately. He really may need to eat some humble pie and go back to being a position coach.
Weaknesses:
Stubborn. Did not design an offense around the players actually on the roster. He was dealt a very weak hand. But his job then was to find the best players or best combinations of players and start them. And change the scheme accordingly. He failed to do that. This is the biggest reason (next to weak team) that we've only won 2 games.
Self defeating weakness:
Arrogance and presence. His arrogance and the way he comports himself makes him radioactive. His presence makes me want to puke. He's really hurt himself here.
For shot gun draws? Arrogance with predictable sets, personnel and plays?
Most of all he damaged the brand. Reese was even worse!
That and he lacks social skills and possesses an ineptitude for understanding conflict and resolution.
Stubborness - he refused to acknowledge mistakes and make changes, other than benching the star QB.
Lack of communication - even though the first 2 were really bad, this is his real fatal flaw. He just didn't communicate well, with the players, with the media, or with the fans.
It was actually the American sub commander (played by Scott Glenn) who bested the Soviet. The look on the Soviet commander's face reminds me of McAdoo
Arrogant Ass - ( New Window )
Bingo. The hair is a good example. He should have thought I did OK last year, but still have a lot to learn and been humble. Instead he thought he was all that and clearly he was not.
Awesome!
That's basically code for "I am motivating the team to play hard, I am giving them a winning gameplan, the players aren't winning". It was startling. He basically assumed no blame for the loss and passed it off to everyone else.
Exactly! Seems like he is supporting the players when he is actually throwing them under the bus.
Honor? What would you know about honor? This from the guy who openly roots for our starting QB to break his neck in a game against our hated rival. You wouldn't know honor if it bit you in your loser ass.