Mike Kafka’s new Giants challenge comes with defensive crash course

In the most trying times of the Giants’ season, Brian Daboll resisted the public outcry to fire Shane Bowen. 

That loyalty wasn’t lost on Bowen, who fell on the sword Thursday for the four blown double-digit leads that contributed to Daboll’s firing earlier this week. 

“There’s a responsibility that falls on me,” Bowen said. “We haven’t been good enough defensively, particularly closing out games. Evaluating everything — scheme, personnel, different situations. We have to find ways to win these games and not give it up in the fourth.” 

Interim head coach Mike Kafka is a former NFL quarterback, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator who suddenly finds himself standing behind the defensive huddle in practices.

In other words, Kafka, in his audition to be a head coach, isn’t acting like he is only responsible for one side of the ball. 

“From an operation standpoint, he’ll bring his presence around. He’s there,” linebacker Bobby Okereke said. “He’s making sure guys’ communication is up to par. He’s making sure, pre-snap, our huddle operation is great, and if it’s not, he’s having us to do it over. He’s kind of just stamping standards and benchmarks we need to make.”