New Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen huddles with Post columnist Steve Serby for some training camp Q&A.
Q: How familiar are you with the history of New York Giants defense and defensive coordinators?
A: Yeah, I’m very, I’m very. I know there’s been a high standard here. There’s been some exceptional players, obviously. There’s been a bunch of coaches that have come through here that went on to do big things elsewhere as well. It’s not something I look upon lightly. I think that’s the beauty of being here, right? Is the tradition, the history going on a hundred years of football and all the great defensive players that have been here, just walking down the halls and you see their pictures up outside the meeting rooms and everything else. There’s a standard here, and an expectation for defensive football. And it’s one that I know myself and our coaching staff and hopefully all these players are fighting to uphold.
Q: How would you describe your play-calling style?
A: I try to be pretty methodical about it. I try to be mindful of offensive coordinators’ tendencies, I try to be mindful of my own tendencies. It’s stuff we kind of address throughout the week. But I think I’m pretty in tune to situations, what we need to do to put our players in positions to be able to execute certain calls based on the situation. But again, I’m a big believer in it’s not always the play-calling, there’s such thing as bad play calls, there’s not such thing as good play calls, right? I’m going to do my best to hopefully put these guys in a situation where they can go play and they don’t have to overanalyze. To me, the best play call I can give them is something I can get in quick, and they can get lined up and they can go play and I’m not causing any hesitation, any worry, concern for a late play call, for going back and forth being indecisive. I try to keep the game simple in their minds, not be overly focused on scheme as much as I am. Let’s get it in, let these guys go play, and they know the weaknesses, they know the strengths, and then if we have issues we can correct it on the sideline.
Q: What traits are important to you in a Shane Bowen football player?
A: First and foremost, I want guys that play hard, that are relentless, that stand out on film running to the football … not turning things down, guys that are physical. … I want evidence on film of them being smart players, right? Having some awareness of situations, what’s going on in the game, how situations change play by play. And then lastly, really for me, is guys that are fundamentally sound. … In my mind, that’s what it takes to win at this level — like everybody’s talented, so those fundamentals and techniques, that’s the separator, and that’s ultimately how these guys are going to win their one-on-ones.
Q: What won’t you tolerate?
A: First and foremost is guys that don’t play hard. Guys that don’t run to the ball. Playing hard makes up for a lot of stuff. It’s hardly ever going to be perfect, as much as we coach perfect and we want it to be perfect, it’s very rarely perfect. It’s an imperfect game, and things are going to happen, matchups are going to happen. We’re going to get out-leveraged, we’re going to miss a tackle. … And to me, effort’s the equalizer. Like, if we can play hard, find a way to get the guy on the ground, let’s go play the next play and to try it again and see what happens. No. 2 would probably be guys that lack toughness, right? Guys that turn it down, guys that struggle with the mental toughness of the game. Things aren’t always going to be roses for us. We got to be able to respond to adversity. I want tough guys, not only physical but guys that are made up of some mental toughness that can turn the page and move on. And probably the next thing I would say, dumb football plays moreso in terms of things that cost the team, right? Everybody’s going to have a missed assignment here or there — we try to minimize them as best we can — but the stuff like taunting, standing over the guy when we clearly know the rules, leaving our feet to hit the quarterback when we clearly know the rules, hitting the quarterback in the head when we clearly know the rules. Things like that, dumb stuff that cost the team that are preventable that we coach these guys not to do.
Q: If you had to define what you want the personality of your defense to be, what adjectives would you use?
A: I would say aggressive and violent … relentless … fundamentally sound … and then lastly, probably dependable. We’re dependable enough to be in the right spot, know our assignment and make the plays we’re supposed to.
Q: How do you motivate?
A: I try to do my best to encourage these guys, to stay positive. Obviously there’s things we got to do to coach and correct. I think throughout the week, for me I try to keep my thumb on them, I think all our coaches try to keep our thumb on them pretty good throughout the week to make sure we’re learning and progressing and not making the same mistakes twice. But come game day, that’s the players’ day to me. I do my best to make sure they know that that’s their day to go play. We’re going to have to fix things on the sideline and things are going to come up, but we got to be able to turn the page and go onto the next play and not be focused on what happened. I think the biggest thing is just continuing to encourage these guys and hopefully for them to see all the stuff that we’ve been working on and the things that we’re preaching as they carry it over to the field, it’s paying dividends for ’em.
Q: What makes coach Brian Daboll an elite offensive play-caller?
A: I think he’s creative with his pieces. He finds unique ways to get guys involved and get them the ball. He does a lot of creative things, guys in different spots. I think he does a good job really having multiple things off different looks. Obviously a good understanding of defensive football, and weaknesses and where to attack and where are the answers to certain things — which I think a big part of being a play-caller is making sure you know your answers and what you want to get to.
Q: What is unique about Dexter Lawrence?
A: He’s so big and so athletic, it’s tough for offenses to handle, especially one-on-one. Just the size alone, the length, and then you have that type of athleticism at that size … it’s tough. [I] think the thing I’ve been most pleased about is just his growth as a leader. He’s got a good understanding, relationship with guys across the unit. He works hard, he’s committed, and I’m sure you’ve heard me say this before, but usually the best players are the ones that they’re the best players for a reason — because they work hard, they’re bought in, they take every bit of coaching, they’re engaged every single meeting, they’re soaking it all in. And he’s no different, right? There’s a reason he’s been as good as he is, and it’s not all God-given ability. Really excited to have him and what he brings — obviously on the field, but all the stuff off the field as well.
Q: What is the one trait that Brian Burns has that is a “wow” factor?
A: I would say sudden. Like he is an explosive, twitchy player. He can get off the rock, he can get out of his stance, first-step explosiveness. I think the ability to go in and out. He’s extremely shifty, which sometimes with some of these straight line get-off guys you don’t always see the same twitch when they have to move laterally, and he has all that just the same.
Q: Same question about Kayvon Thibodeaux.
A: Kayvon’s got a little bit of everything. I think the thing for him is his ability to kind of — I don’t know a word for it — but to wiggle, to slither. … Like, he can find soft shoulders and arms, all those elements where he can be slippery, where he can find ways to get off blocks or win rushes and find ways to the quarterback.
Q: How comforting for you is having Bobby Okereke in the middle of your defense?
A: Very. He’s smart, he’s in tune, he’s focused. Every single play I feel like he’s locked in. He’s a great communicator, a great encourager. Our guys look to him, which is important for that position having somebody in there that can kind of set the tone out there and rein guys back in maybe when it’s not going great. Guys know they can turn to him, and they’re going to hear his voice however many snaps we have a game. So having that piece on the field — not only obviously the play and the instincts, the length and the ability to get to the football, all that is obviously great and what we need — but I think the leadership and just his football IQ and some of those things will naturally rub off on some guys, especially when I’m not out there being able to bark at ’em.
Q: What is your game-day temperament on the sideline?
A: I would say I get a little bit more probably animated throughout the week than I do on game day, Again, to me the game day is a player’s day. There’s a time and place, obviously — something ain’t right, or something’s going on where you gotta get ’em going, or get an individual player going — but for the most part, I try to stay as even-keel as I can. I think I owe it to them. Like, I’m not going to be at my best if I’m getting overly worked up one way or another. It’s going to take away my focus. Like I said earlier, I want these guys to be able to move on to the next play. I’m asking them to do it, I got to be able to it, and then once the series is over, we can address what we need to address. Coach — not yell, but coach — and get things fixed, and then we gotta go and move on, and we gotta get ready for the next series.
Q: What excites you about Malik Nabers’ physical tools?
A: I think just his ability to separate. He’s a sudden mover. You see the explosiveness in and out of breaks. He’s made some plays down the field with the ball. He finds ways to get open and he catches the ball.
Q: What drives you?
A: I think the players. I want to do everything I can to help these players and hopefully get them in a position to be successful and for our team to be successful. I don’t want to let them down. Obviously, I got my family, everything else, all the other reasons to be successful and do what I do. When push comes to shove, I’m in there to get the players in the best position to make plays on Sunday. Try to be my best for them every single day and finding whatever I can that can help them, whether it’s coaching them or giving them info on an opponent or whatever that might be.
Q: Who are coaches you’ve admired over the years?
A: Obviously Vrabes [Mike Vrabel], because I’ve worked with him, I kind of came up learning from him. … Obviously Bill Belichick. I’ve been exposed to some of that just from being with [Bill] O’Brien and being with Vrabel, it’s kind of that whole tree. There’s some carryover with Dabs in that regard. … Andy Reid, his creativity and everything that he’s been able to achieve everywhere he’s been. The players love playing for him, so you see the relationship side of that from him.
Q: What did you take from Vrabel?
A: I would say probably the biggest thing with Mike is coach everything, sometimes to a fault the players would say I’m sure, but coach everything. Like, we’re not coaching results, we’re going to coach every single action. Like, just because we got a [tackle for loss], there’s probably three or four things we can coach on that play. Because the next time it probably ain’t gonna be a TFL if we do this again. So, coach everything, being detailed. The NFL game is so situational, everything’s so close, so many games come down to one score in the fourth quarter, so I think the situational understanding, not only as a coach but being able to get that to the players. I would say the situational aspect of the game was a big emphasis at Tennessee, and it’s kind of rubbed off on me. And then just be yourself. As a coach, these guys are going to see through you real quick if you’re trying to be somebody you’re not. So be yourself, be honest. Like, there’s no reason to sugarcoat anything, or to not tell the truth. These guys want to know the truth, they want to know where they stand — good, bad, indifferent. We owe that to them as coaches.
Q: What was it like working for Urban Meyer, as a grad assistant at Ohio State?
A: I learned a lot. It was really my first exposure outside of Georgia Tech with Paul Johnson. It was good for me to get back on the defensive side, but I think just a demand for excellence, the accountability aspect — to your teammates, to your position group, to the unit — was always a huge thing with him. I thought he had a really good feel for the pulse of the team, what buttons to push, what buttons when we probably didn’t need as many buttons pushed. And then just the intensity throughout — whether it was the offseason, whether we were in Week 10 — pretty much everybody in that building, I think you felt the urgency every single day and the intensity of what it takes to be successful.
Q: What will it be like for you next week going up against Todd Downing, the Jets’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and former Titans offensive coordinator?
A: It’ll be great to see Todd, there’s actually a few — Keith [Carter] is the O-line coach there, Tony Dews is the running backs coach. So there’s a handful of guys that I had a chance to work with in Tennessee that are up here, so I’m excited to see those guys and catch up, see how the families are and everything else. It’ll be fun.
Q: How have you fared against Aaron Rodgers?
A: I think it’s been hit or miss. I know the most recent game in Green Bay, we beat them [27-17 Titans win] on a Thursday night in ’22.
Q: What do you make of him 40 years old coming off an Achilles?
A: He’s been one of the best in the league for a long time, and I’m sure he’s itching to get back out there, and he’s going to have a chip, just like anybody else, to kind of prove that he can still do it. Until something tells me otherwise, I’m going to assume he’s going to be at an elite level.
Q: Describe your NFL dream, as a safety and cornerback at Pickerington Central High School and linebacker at Georgia Tech.
A: I was always a baseball player [catcher]. I kind of thought I was gonna go that route, then in Ohio football kind of reigns. We had hopes of going to the NFL, but honestly I was thinking about becoming a high school football coach. Had a lot of great coaches coming up through — my dad [Phil] being the first, coached me pretty much in everything growing up until about seventh or eighth grade. And then had really great relationships with my high school coaches. I got injured my junior year, I fractured my neck. So then from there I kind of fell into coaching. I had to do something to keep my scholarship, so I hung around and was a student assistant coach, and then Jeff Monken got the Georgia Southern job and left and took the offensive grad assistant’s with him. That’s when Paul Johnson asked me if I wanted to stay on as an offensive G.A. I got my start in coaching as an offensive G.A. in the triple option coaching the offensive line.
Q: How frightening was that fractured neck?
A: When it happened, it was kind of one of those shooting pains to some degree, like arms went stiff. It was scary just because I really didn’t know at the time what was going on. It was scary in the moment for those few minutes, but after that, it was a little bit more I guess disappointment than anything, that it was coming to an end a little bit sooner than I imagined. I think I might have had a chance to maybe have a tryout, right (laugh)?
Q: What kind of a coach was your father?
A: I would say that’s the one thing probably that I try to hold on to is how encouraging he was, how uplifting he was … very detailed, had his own way about coaching different things. I was younger but I never remember it being negative.
Q: Favorite catchers?
A: Johnny Bench was before my time, but my grandpa loved Johnny Bench. I liked [Mike] Piazza.
Q: Favorite football players?
A: My first favorite football player when I was younger was Brett Favre. I think his attitude, his approach to the game, the competitiveness, it felt like you could feel the fire coming off of him every play.
Q: You worked at a pizza place during high school?
A: There’s this little place called Kingy’s Pizza in my hometown. My sister was the waitress there at one time and my brother kind of hung around there working a little bit, and then I worked there for about six months until I left for college.
Q: What did you do there?
A: So, they had this kind of like drive-up service place in the back where you could drive through and get drinks and whatnot, and I worked in there.
Q: What did you get paid?
A: Honestly, I don’t even remember … not a whole lot (laugh). I got meals for free, so that was an added bonus.
Q: Favorite New York City things?
A: We’ve done the shows, which have been awesome — my daughter is big into dance, so she loved the shows. Obviously Times Square is a little crazy, but walk in Central Park, we went to Museum of Natural History, which is pretty cool, my daughter enjoyed that. Still working on finding some of the food spots.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Abraham Lincoln, Vince Lombardi, for my [7-year-old] daughter I’d probably go Taylor Swift.
Q: Favorite movies?
A: “Frequency,” “300,” “Wedding Crashers.”
Q: Favorite actors?
A: I grew up on the Adam Sandler movies — “Happy Gilmore,” “Billy Madison,” all those.
Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?
A: I’m a country guy. I was born in Tennessee … Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: I’ll go with pizza. We’re in New York.
Q: You mentioned Adam Sandler. Do you use humor in your defensive meetings?
A: I try to, I try to keep it light. I don’t know if the players always find me funny (laugh). I’m probably a little more sarcastic funny than telling jokes and everything else, but I try to keep it light when I can.
Q: What is your message to fans about the 2024 Shane Bowen New York Giants defense?
A: I want them to see guys that care, that they play with passion, that it shows up on film how passionate we are about playing this game — through our effort, through our fundamentals, through our aggressiveness and how much we are going to attack with our play style. Hopefully they see some resolve, the ability to play the next play, and our understanding it’s not always going to be tough, but our ability to show that mental toughness play in and play out, and be able to turn the page. Again, it’s never going to be perfect. We’re going to bust our ass and try to make it as perfect as possible, but at the same time, hopefully they see us making some plays, doing things the right way, and when it’s not great, us responding.
