There’s a actually unusual disconnect occurring in East Rutherford proper now and that was by no means extra evident than on Thursday when New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen fielded questions from reporters.
Particularly, Bowen was requested in regards to the dip in manufacturing for veteran linebacker Bobby Okereke, who was on a celebrity trajectory in 2023 however has fallen off significantly this season.
In his first yr with the Giants, Okereke recorded 149 tackles (92 solo, 11 for a loss), six QB hits, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
By way of 12 video games this season, Okereke is properly off that tempo, recording 93 tackles (47 solo, six for a loss), two QB hits, 2.0 sacks, and no interceptions.
“I believe he’s been good. He’s been strong for us. Chief. Runs the present for us. Will get guys lined up. Makes performs once they’re there for us. He’s executed job these days right here attacking the soccer,” Bowen stated of Okereke. “He’s profiting from alternatives to get his palms on the soccer and use his size.”
Bowen was pressed in regards to the statistical discrepancy, which is probably going because of an altered defensive function counter to the type of play underneath Wink Martindale, however admitted he was clueless when it got here to the precise numbers.
In actual fact, Bowen was so indifferent from what Okereke had executed in 2023 that he inquired with members of the media and requested that they inform him.
“Truthfully, I don’t actually know,” he stated. “How dramatic is it? Is it like dramatic, dramatic?”
The reply flustered Bowen.
“Solo tackles is fairly dramatic?” he requested. “I believe he’s flying round and being productive when he’s on the market. He’s doing the whole lot we ask of him.”
It’s not unheard-of that coaches and coordinators can’t rattle off precise field rating statistics however Bowen appeared to have zero clue about what Okereke did only a season in the past. You don’t need to have an eidetic reminiscence to know the veteran’s manufacturing is approach down, particularly when evaluating the movie.
Bowen ought to have studied the gamers he was inheriting and at the least acknowledged to a point the place the bar for manufacturing had been set. The truth that he had no concept and relied upon members of the media to tell him is regarding. And it solely provides to the compounding variety of dangerous optics this Giants crew is mounting underneath normal supervisor Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
