ORLANDO, Fla. — For all the screaming and screaming that went down last season, New York Giants coach Brian Daboll feels some regret.
Daboll and the Giants went 6-11 in a tumultuous year that ended with an explosive encounter between Daboll and former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. The incident ended with Martindale abusing his former boss, and the two eventually parting ways.
“Well, there are definitely times when I wish I could have handled things a little differently,” Daboll said of the past year. “So you keep growing and you keep evolving.”
At one point midseason, Daboll denied rumors of a falling out with Martindale, saying, “The biggest argument between Wink and I is who gets the last piece of pizza.”
The emotional Daboll came under fire last season for the way he interacted with staff. Over the past few months, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN that some of his assistants have been unhappy with the atmosphere at work.
After a tumultuous offseason, the Giants have seven new coaches in addition to two new additions to the strength and conditioning program.
Daboll said he is a “passionate” person and that his offseason as a coach always involves self-evaluation and change. This offseason was no exception. His considerations include the scheduling process, practice methods, meeting structure and its leadership group, and more.
“You have to grow in this business,” Daboll said. “You have to learn from some mistakes. You can build on what you think you did well and approach it with an open mind.”
Most of Daboll's emotional outbursts were witnessed from the sidelines. He had a very excited conversation with Martindale over halftime during the blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Early in the season, he flipped a tablet in the direction of quarterback Daniel Jones after a bad play.
The Giants don't think it's gotten to the point where any intervention is necessary, but it hasn't gone unnoticed.
“Sometimes I wish he would tone it down a little bit,” owner John Mara said Monday. “But I'm also in team meetings and I see how he acts around people and coaches in the office, where he always stays calm. During games. Does he get excited sometimes? Yeah, so do I. I don't feel it.'' I don't think it's a big problem. ”
The Giants went 9-7-1 and won a playoff game in general manager Joe Schon's first season under Daboll. The second year did not go as planned due to injuries to key players.
The owners' confidence in Shane and Daboll remains undiminished.
“I still believe we're moving in the right direction and I have all the confidence in the world in Joe and his staff and Brian Daboll and his staff,” Mara said. “I think the communication is great. I think the process they're going through is great and I think we're heading in the right direction. Of course not everyone is going to buy into that until we start winning games, but… I happen to be going to do that.’ Trust me on that. ”
Due to their performance thus far, Daboll and Shane will enter their third year facing external pressure. But they have remained steadfast in their desire to build the team the right way. It will take time to rebuild a roster that was in tatters when he took office.
Mara has persevered after firing three of New York's previous coaches after two years. Shane and Daboll are already entering his third year.
“I think you always have to give them positive reinforcement and I think we did that,” Mara said. “Did I give them any assurances? No, I haven't, but I think they know that I believe in them.”