How Far Off Are New York Giants in Rebuild?

"I would say somewhere in the middle and closer to maybe that 9-7-1 team," Wilcots said. "I think they have a really good coach in Brian Daboll; I'm totally on board with the way that he coaches, the way that he helps players to improve. I think we've seen repeatedly in both seasons that there are moments where he can get the performance out of players beyond expectations."

Wilcots' point is well taken considering the Giants, even as they struggled with injuries and some internal strife the developed among the coaching staff, still stuck together and played hard right down to the bitter end even though their playoff chances all but vanished when they fell to 2-8 by Week 10 of the season.

Wilcots also said he has no problem with Daboll's fiery demeanor.

"It's like the best college professors you had when you were in school during your formative years of growth," he said. "It is the ones who are the most demanding that got the most out of you and why you may not have enjoyed it during the process. You sit here today thanking those professors or teachers who pushed you the hardest to make you what you are today.

"I could tell you that with the best coaches, you're typically gonna be uncomfortable. They're not here to make you comfortable. They're here to get the most out of you. And, coaches who are poking and prodding and pushing and being demanding, they tend to get the most out of the players."

Be sure to check out the rest of the Locked On Giants podcast interview with Solomon Wilcots, in which he also speaks about the messy breakup with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, whether Daniel Jones is the answer moving forward if it makes sense for the Giants to go quarterback in the first round, Saquon Barkley, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and a relatively new knee procedure called MACI.

The Locked On Giants podcast is available Monday-Friday, free wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.