The Giants’ Brian Daboll gambled on himself by demoting Mike Kafka as a suspect. With Bill Belichick looming, will this save his job?

There was never any doubt based on what we saw back in spring practice and now throughout training camp. But Giants coach Brian Daboll essentially confirmed the obvious Thursday: He’ll be pushing offensive coordinator Mike Kafka aside and awarding games in 2024.

Or at least that’s where things are headed, as Daboll confirmed Thursday, less than two and a half weeks before the Sept. 8 regular season opener against Minnesota.

The approach makes some practical sense, even if Daboll demotes Kafka after blocking him from interviewing for the Seahawks’ passing game coordinator job last offseason. (The NFL is, after all, a cold business.)

Bottom line: Daboll is betting on himself as he enters Year 3 on a hot seat and tries to bury last season’s 6-11 disaster. A repeat of that mess would surely result in him being put on the turf.

Daboll, who has extensive game experience, called plays at times last season, pushing Kafka. But this time, he’ll do it from Week 1 — and likely for the entire season. Giving up the game during the season would be an unexpected and harsh admission of massive failure.

So will this approach work? Can Daboll save his job for 2025 with Bill Belichick looming as a possible replacement?

It is not said. But it’s hard to blame Daboll for taking over the offense. If it falls, it might as well fall on its own terms. Calling plays – especially given his experience level – is certainly his right as a head coach. And Kafka had to know this was possible, even if he was forced to stay in East Rutherford by Daboll blocking that Seattle interview.

Still, regardless of who called the Giants’ offensive play in Week 1, this unit — which was a complete joke last season — faces a lot of questions. And the opening is fast approaching. Thursday marked the Giants’ 18th and final practice ahead of Saturday’s preseason finale against the Jets.

Don’t bet on starting quarterback Daniel Jones playing in that game. The Jets will rest their starters anyway. So this wouldn’t even be a chance for Jones to redeem himself against a starting defense after looking terrible against the Texans’ top unit (in Week 2 of the preseason) and so-so against the Jets starters ( in Wednesday’s match). common practice).

Beyond Jones, the Giants have major continuity issues on the offensive line (which could affect Jones). Mainly because of injuries to center John Michael Schmitz and left guard Jon Runyan — and because right guard Greg Van Roten signed for about a week into training camp — the Giants haven’t had a snap this summer (in a practice game or preseason) with starting five linemen.

Is this line destined to be awful again? Well, it’s too early to say for sure. And surely the group can’t get much worse than it was in 2023. So there’s a low bar to clear.

It’s worth noting that Runyan is expected to be ready for Week 1. Which means the starters — Andrew Thomas, Runyan, Schmitz, Van Roten and Jermaine Eluemunor — will practice together before facing the Vikings. However, all of the issues on the interior line are worrisome – even with steady participation at tackle this summer from Thomas and Eluemunor.

So Daboll will try to make it all work — and save his job — while overseeing an offense led by an uninspired quarterback who will have to play behind what may be another shaky line. Oh, and the Giants have exactly one player to fear – rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Through two seasons under Daboll — who came to East Rutherford with a reputation as an offensive noisemaker and quarterback coach — the Giants finished 22nd and 31st in Pro Football Focus’ offensive ratings. So what will Daboll’s offense look like without Saquon Barkley?

That’s a huge question for Daboll to address. Barkley — in 32 games (including the playoffs) over the last two seasons — accounted for 22 touchdowns and 96 total yards per game. Where will the production come from now? Definitely Nabers. But who else? Someone?

As Daboll bets on himself, he’s about to find out.

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Darryl Slater can be reached at [email protected].