New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen is optimistic about his team this season and beyond. After five years of building and tweaking, he believes he finally has a team that could contend in the NFC East.
"Without going position by position, I do like the roster," Schoen told reporters on Wednesday before the team took to the practice field. "I do like where we are. I'm not comparing it to other rosters, but again, I do like where we are on both sides of the ball. Special teams as well. Again, all three phases, I like the group. And without going each position, through each position, it's certainly a competitive group and those expectations this year."
After qualifying for the postseason in his first year on the job, Schoen's Giants have taken
a nosedive in the standings the next three seasons. The causes for the slump are multiple, and he received several reprieves that led him to where he is today.
The Giants, rather than spin their wheels with a new general manager, decided to keep Schoen and get him some help. They hired veteran Super Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh to run the team and expanded his role to include personnel decisions. Former NFL executive Dawn Aponte was brought aboard to handle the team's administrative issues and salary cap balancing.
All Schoen has to do these days is what he does best -- scout. He finds talent and runs it through the group to make sure it fits. The new process looks like it's working so far.
"To me, not only is he a really good coach, he's immersed in the personnel, and he's helpful, makes us think outside the box, challenges us. And that's what has ultimately led to a lot of good conversations, communications, ultimately making the best decision for the New York Giants," Schoen said of Harbaugh.
Last weekend, the Giants cut their roster to 53 players. After that, they filled out their 17-man practice squad. It's as solid a group as Schoen has put together since he got here from Buffalo in 2019. He said on Wednesday that he believes his Giants will be competitive "week in and week out" and described the painstaking task of cutting this year's roster.
"The cut down was very difficult this past weekend from a depth standpoint; some difficult decisions we had to make," he said. "And even the top 70 guys in terms of the practice squad, that was difficult for us. We were able to keep some of our in-house guys. We lost Caleb Murphy, and we were hoping (Darius) Muasau could get to the practice squad.
"So again, really competitive group, had a competitive camp, and I like our team; I like where we are. And now really, we just got to go out and do it, but I do like the roster; I like where we are. We had a competitive camp. And I'm looking forward to seeing how things go (next) Sunday versus the Cowboys."
Giant fans are, too.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants GM Joe Schoen knows the bar has been raised this season
