Kevin Gilbride and The New York Giants Are at a Dangerous Crossroads

Throughout my time on Bleacher Report, I have been an adamant supporter of Kevin Gilbride. 

Through his head-scratching decisions (a third and goal run from the 8-yard line against San Diego? Ugh.), and the general inconsistencies of the offense, Gilbride was usually the first man the fans targeted with venom.

What many failed to realize is for every gaffe and poor performance, the Giants benefited from his presence merely due to the continuity he brought to the offense. He was Manning’s first quarterbacks coach and he knows how to call a game that Manning will be comfortable in.

The offense’s performance over the past few years is a tribute to the bond between offensive coordinator and quarterback. Through all the criticism, year in and year out they have been one of the league’s most consistent.

However, there is a dangerously slim boundary that separates continuity and predictability. Gilbride will be entering his fourth full season running the Giants offensive ship. At this point, the players know what to expect in a game that he’s calling.

But when does it get to the point where the defenses will feel equally as prepared heading into a game?

Think about it. Gilbride is no creative genius. He’s an effective offensive coordinator that thrives when his game plan consists of balance and rhythm. If the team starts out slowly, his offense will need a big play of some sort to get something going. Otherwise, it is usually a long day for the offense.

Going back to 2006, when he succeeded John Hufnagel as Giants offensive coordinator prior to the finale against Washington, he has called eight games against Philadelphia, seven against Dallas, and seven against Washington. They certainly have their share of on-field experience and film to get an idea of what's coming.

Gilbride has some tendencies that it doesn’t take a mastermind to pick up on. There are too many time during a game in which the people in our section are calling the Giants play before it even happens. Odds are if Section 315 knows what’s coming, so is Bradie James.

When rumors emerged that a couple of teams were interested in Gilbride’s services, many Giants fans responded with giddiness, but for the wrong reasons. Many neglect that his play calling has led to the most offensive stability the Giants have had in decades.

The reality remains that during Gilbride’s tenure, both he and the Giants offense have had to make concessions. Gilbride was renowned for his propensity to throw the ball all over the field with the Houston Oilers, and it appeared that early on he tried to bring over the same mindset.

Maybe he realized it when he had Manning throw over 50 times in a brutally cold and windy night against Washington. Or maybe it was when he saw Manning’s touchdown to interception ratio nearly mirror each other for the third straight year.

But in the playoffs, his play calling transformed into making his Giants a run-oriented offense, in which the pounding runs of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw would isolate Giants receivers and set up the play-action. This healthy balance proved effective, as the Giants won the Super Bowl partially due to the offense’s ability to keep their defense off the field.

That was February of 2008. We are now approaching February of 2010. It may feel like a short period of time has elapsed, but in football years it’s been a century.

2010 will offer some of the highest expectations for a Giants offense in team history. Manning is coming off his best year, and is still getting better. The youthful Giants receiving corps is a year older, and is just starting to enter its prime.

The only way to maximize these weapons is for Gilbride to adjust again. Otherwise, defenses may take advantage of a Giants offense that may be a few bad games away from being regarded as reliable to frighteningly predictable.