Moeller: A Shurmur Solution To The Giants’ Needs

Pat Shurmur’s stock as the perspective Giants’ new coach substantially rose after the Vikings’ shocking last-second win over the Saints in the NFL playoffs.

The Giants took less than 24 hours to cash in.

According to multiple outlets and sources, Shurmur is expected to be hired as the Giants’ new coach once the Vikings’ season is over.

Shurmur, 52, has been the Vikings’ offensive coordinator over the past two seasons and has helped turn their attack among the league’s  top 10.

He reportedly was a finalist among New England’s Matt Patricia and Josh Mc Daniels, both reportedly are on the cusp of taking the Lions’ and Colts’ jobs respectively. Steve Wilks – apparent candidate of new GM Dave Gettleman – recently fell out of the loop.

Tennessee’s position opened Monday morning when Mike Mularkey and the Titans parted ways, and Arizona is still searching for a coach.

A veteran assistant and a one-time head coach, Shurmur fits the bill.

He is a buttoned-down, no-nonsense candidate who has a rather successful 19-year career, two of them as a head coach in Cleveland.  Overall, he has 26 years of coaching experience being part of eight playoffs teams and six divisional crown teams, being able to pick the brains of Andy Reid and Chip Kelly among other coaches.

That’s experience and arguably a background of a “CEO” of a coach noted as a requirement by Gettleman.

Shurmur reportedly interviewed well in the past and had the same result recently with the Giants.

His resume along with his stoic presence and business like demeanor round into the prototype head coach under the John Mara-Steve Tisch reign.

With the Browns, Shurmur won nine games in two years. Based on their recent production, that shouldn’t be viewed as a failure.

Shurmur was as an offensive coordinator in Philadelphia and was responsible for the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl with Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens.

A second stint with the Eagles produced one of the most prolific offenses in the history of the league. He beat the Giants as an interim head coach for one game in 2015 after Kelly was fired.

Shurmur was among the final candidates for the Eagles’ job.

He also spent time in the same capacity with the Rams, developing quarterback Sam Bradford early in his career into an offensive weapon with the team.

Since then, Shurmur has helped the Vikings with their meteoric rise to a Super Bowl contender.

He also helped restructure the Vikings’ offensive line into a major building block, an issue at the top of  Gettleman’s list.

Shurmur’s varied and successful offensive background would be a good fit to solve the Eli Manning-Davis Webb-likely upcoming rookie quarterback conundrum.

The Giants have a good mix on both sides of the ball and need someone who can perform a short tune-up.

However, can his quiet rapport with players be the right personality to reshape and reunite the Giants’ broken locker room?

It just may be. Shurmur’s experience can help him gain the respect of his players, unlike his predecessor.

One factor is for certain with the Giants – this hire has to be the right one.

Right now, it looks like it is.

 

About the Author

Jeff Moeller

Jeff Moeller has been covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and college football and basketball as well as high school sports on a national and local scene for the past 39 years. He has been a Jets and Giants beat reporter for the past 13 years.

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