At least the next time will not be the first time.
Charlie Bullen got through his debut as a novice defensive coordinator, making the in-game calls for the first time two weeks ago in the Giants’ 33-15 loss to the Patriots.
There were some good moments and plenty of not good in another bad day at the office for the Giants.
Bullen replaced Shane Bowen, who was fired by interim head coach Mike Kafka after the Week 12 loss at Detroit.
Bullen, previously the outside linebackers coach, gets another crack at it Sunday against the Commanders.
“I would say probably the coolest thing for me or biggest not unforeseen thing about it is there’s a rhythm and a flow that I felt myself get into in the game that felt pretty comfortable, and you can’t replicate that until you go through it,” Bullen said. “Not knowing what that would feel like or what that actually becomes in-game, I just didn’t have that feel. So, in the preparation two weeks ago leading into New England week, I was chasing everything, looking at everything, the volume, scripting everything, and it was a lot.
“Now having been through that and knowing how the game goes and how the flow goes and getting a feel for the opposing play-caller, that’s actually shaped how I’ve approached this game-week process. So that was the biggest unforeseen part of it, but it was actually pretty cool, and I’m glad that I now have that experience.”
Special teams follies played a big part in the Patriots reaching 33 points.
Bullen’s unit allowed just three points in the second half.
If not for Lane Kiffin, Jaxson Dart might not have developed over the course of his three years at Ole Miss to become a first-round draft pick.
Dart is close with Kiffin, and naturally was a highly interested bystander when Kiffin made a mess of his departure for LSU.
“Yeah, crazy,” Dart said. “I think with Kiff, he kind of does some things that are unexpected. But I’m looking forward to his next opportunity, and me and him just have such a great relationship. So, I know for him that he’s going to put his best foot down and do some really great things for that program. I’m definitely excited for him.”
“I’m also really happy for Ole Miss, keeping coach [Pete] Golding at the helm there. I was also just happy that they were able to keep their offensive staff, being able to come back and coach the rest of the playoffs. I felt like that would be kind of, I don’t know, just disrespectful a little bit to not allow those guys to finish it out. Really happy to see, or excited to see their run for a national championship this year.”
Of all the kicking missteps for the Giants this season, seeing Younghoe Koo shockingly pull up and not even take a swing at the ball on a field goal attempt vs. the Patriots was quite a lowlight.
“Yeah, that was certainly interesting,” Kafka said. “And, obviously, it’s things that you don’t really see a whole lot. But, listen, he came right back. He owned it. He came right back to it. If something like that happens, you obviously don’t want that to be something that happens consistently. So, he’s working his tail off to get that fixed and cleaned up. The whole operation could have been cleaner.”
The Giants made a series of moves Saturday in advance of Sunday’s game.
They signed WR Dalen Cambre and OLB Tomon Fox from the practice squad, activated DL Elijah Chatman and P Cameron Johnson from the practice squad, and activated LB Darius Muasau from injured reserve.
To make room on the roster, OLB Victor Dimukeje and CB Nic Jones were put on injured reserve, and CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse was waived.
