John Mara said Thursday that he still has confidence in GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, but he also expects “significant improvement” in their third season of 2024.
“I obviously want to show significant improvement over last year, but I’m not gonna make any specific guarantees or demands or anything like that,” Mara said at Hackensack University Medical Center, where the Giants unveiled a custom mural celebrating their 100th season.
“But they know what I want to see, and I have a lot of confidence in this particular team,” Mara added in his first comments since March. “The communication is great. And I think we’ve added some good pieces. Now it’s time to show everybody.”
Mara said “it’s hard for me to quantify” what he views as acceptable when asked whether just getting to the playoffs is enough of a barometer for a franchise with four Super Bowls.
“I want to see — what do I feel like when we walk off the field after that last game whenever that is?” the co-owner said. “Are we moving in the right direction or have we gone backwards? Do I still feel confident with the group that we have there? I believe that I will, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Mara, who was joined by Giants legends Phil Simms and Justin Tuck at the unveiling with Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett, said his optimism flows from Schoen’s “thorough” process and the strong “communication” between his GM and coach.
“They’ve both been a part of successful organizations,” Mara said. “They know what it looks like, and I expect us to take a big step forward this year.”
He said his obvious initial disagreement with Schoen over letting Saquon Barkley go this spring — as depicted in HBO’s Hard Knocks — did “not really” raise the stakes for Schoen in his third season as Giants GM.
“I mean, every year there’s gonna be a personnel decision that I’m not 100 percent in favor of, but at the end of the day, you let the general manager and the coach — particularly if they have a unified conviction — make the decisions. And then bi–h about it later,” Mara said with a laugh. “But that was the decision that they made, and no I wasn’t crazy about it at the time. I didn’t want to lose him. But I understood what their philosophy was, and you’ve got to let them do their jobs.”
Mara admitted “I was very surprised” when Bill Belichick didn’t land a job anywhere this season, and when asked if he thinks Belichick still can coach at a high level, he said: “Sure. Sure I do.”
But Mara stressed “I have a lot of confidence” in his current coach, Daboll, and thinks “we’ll be just fine.”
One reason is that Mara said he is still very high on Daniel Jones. He doesn’t regret paying his quarterback $40 million a year despite the fact that his front office was pursuing a possible draft trade for a QB one year later.
“I’m still happy we gave him that contract, because I thought he played really well for us in ’22,” Mara said. “Last year he got hurt, and let’s be honest, when he was playing, we weren’t blocking anybody. So let’s give him a chance with a better offensive line, with some weapons around him, to see what he can do.
“I was nervous about giving up too much to go and get a quarterback,” Mara continued. “But I was prepared to let them do that if that’s what they wanted to do. We made a decision to stay with Daniel, added a weapon for him, and I think that’s gonna work out for us.”
Mara admitted the offensive line still “looks a little shaky” early in this training camp, too, but said it’s too early to be concerned — although his front office’s rabid search for new signings and solutions would seem to say differently. They worked out another undisclosed tackle after Thursday’s practice, as well.
“It’s way too early,” Mara said. “The offense is always behind the defense at this stage of the game. I think the pieces that we added to the offensive line will help us eventually … It was obviously a big area of concern for us, and it has been for a lot of years.
“That’s why we added a few pieces this year — more than a few pieces,” he added. “I expect us to be better there, but until we start playing games and showing that, that’s just talk.”
Mara said he was “nervous” about participating in Hard Knocks initially before the show’s taping began this spring, but he thinks “all-in-all, it worked out.”
He also stood up for director of player personnel Tim McDonnell, who was prominently featured as a key fixture in the front office’s biggest decisions during the show.
“His talent evaluation skills, his work ethic and the respect that he has not only in our building but around the league,” Mara said, when asked what makes McDonnell a valuable asset. “Sometimes I get tired of reading that, ‘Oh, he’s only there because he’s my nephew.’ If you go and check with people around the league, you’ll see what kind of respect he has as a personnel executive.”
JONES, OFFENSE GO DEEP
Daboll’s first-string offense bounced back a bit on Thursday. Jones hit deep touchdowns to Malik Nabers and Jalin Hyatt, plus a pass to rookie tight end Theo Johnson up the seam. He was also intercepted by linebacker Dyontae Johnson, though, on a pass tipped by linebacker Bobby Okereke. And the defense would have recorded a handful of sacks if the plays had been live. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dru Phillips, Boogie Basham and Brian Burns all would have sacked Jones on different plays. The players were in shells, not pads. Reserve safety Alex Johnson made two interceptions on the day, one of Drew Lock and one of Tommy DeVito … Rookie safety Tyler Nubin practiced for the first time in camp, returning from a calf injury. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said the starting safety spot is Dane Belton’s “job to lose,” though, and said of Nubin: “it’s tough to improve when you’re not practicing.” So it was a timely return for Nubin … New offensive line signing Greg Van Roten, last year’s starting right guard for the Las Vegas Raiders, took snaps as the first-team center with John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) still sidelined. He only received a handful of reps, however. Austin Schlottmann remained the primary center with the first team …. Jon Runyan Jr., the wire-to-wire right guard this spring, logged a full day at left guard on Thursday, reinforcing the ongoing juggling act occurring up front to figure out Jones’ protection … Dexter Lawrence (illness) didn’t participate in team periods for a third straight practice. Schmitz, tight end Lawrence Cager (hamstring), Tomon Fox (hamstring), running back Jashaun Corbin (undisclosed injury), linebacker Carter Coughlin (lower-body), tackle Evan Neal (left ankle) and safety Jalen Mills (non-football injury) did not practice. Most of them did some rehab work on the side, but Coughlin was nowhere to be seen … Corner Mario Goodrich, claimed off waivers on Wednesday from the Eagles, practiced on Thursday. The team released corner Stantley Thomas-Oliver from the active PUP list to make room.
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