His offense in shambles, his offensive line in disarray, his quarterback black and blue, Kevin Gilbride understands the mandate: fix it. And fix it now.
No pity parties will be thrown for the 0-3 New York Football Giants as they limp into Arrowhead Stadium to confront the 3-0 Chiefs. No excuses will be accepted. If John Mara has to play right guard and Steve Tisch has to play center, so be it. Everyone, remember, was on notice when the season started, and it is certainly no different now at the Quest Diagnostics Crisis Center.
Gilbride has been with Coughlin right from the start, and he admitted Thursday that it has been 10 years since he has had to face a stretch this difficult or challenging in the wake of Carolina 38, Giants 0.
“Oh there’s no question. We went through a tough time our first year here when we made the decision to part with the Kurt Warner Era and go into the Eli Manning Era, but you understood there was going to be growing pains, and there were, there were,” Gilbride said.
“Now, it’s not the quarterback position or receiver, but there’s some other spots, the backs and the line, are going through some growing pains as well, so it’s never pleasant. But the good thing is we’re working at it, and I think no one’s quitting, they’ve hung together, they’re doing all those things right, and you hope it pays off.”
He was the quarterbacks coach back then, replaced John Hufnagel as offensive coordinator in 2007, and two Super Bowl rings later, he has this message for disgruntled and apoplectic Giants fans:
“As disappointed as I was in our performance, all it does is intensify the resolve that we’re going to get this thing squared away. We’re going to work and fight with our players to get them better, and to put them in positions where they have a chance to perform at a level that enables us to win.”
Gilbride was asked if his pride was stung.
“Oh, there’s no question,” he said. “That’s me when they’re out there. How they play is me, so I take it very personal, there’s no question.”
Manning was asked what he would tell Giants fans about Gilbride.
“He’s a tremendous coach, and always does a great job game-planning and giving us plays that give us opportunities to do our job well, to make plays,” he said. “If we go and execute how we’re supposed to, we’ll be in good shape.”
Victor Cruz was asked what he has learned about Gilbride as a coordinator.
“He never panics,” he said. “No matter what the situation is, no matter what happens, he’s never in panic mode, he’s never exuded that in his play calling. He’s always been reserved and understands exactly what he has on his offense and how he attacks each and every team each and every week.”
Gilbride’s counterpart, Perry Fewell, needs to find a way to get to Alex Smith every bit as much as Gilbride needs to keep the Chiefs pass rushers off Manning.
“We challenge them to improve their technique, improve their knowledge and scheme, but it’s up to us to try to put them in positions where they have a chance to be successful, and that’s what you’re constantly doing,” Gilbride said.
It’s that much more problematic without a running game. They’re still waiting on David Wilson, for crying out loud.
“It’s all part of the game plan, get him involved, but he’s got to continue to grow with his understanding of what’s taking place on the field so that you can take advantage of the skills that he does have,” Gilbride said.
Some two-minute hurry up? Some illusionary traps? Screens?
“We’ll try to do whatever we can to galvanize this group and give them a chance,” Gilbride said.
This was not a time for him to crack the whip.
“He’s positive. He’s upbeat,” Kevin Boothe said.
Asked if he has been fiery in meetings this week, Gilbride said that’s not the right formula.
“No, because I didn’t think that’s what they needed,” he said. “I think they needed to be uplifted.”
He can’t afford Big Blue Nation to be screaming ‘O,’ no! again.