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Giants’ Bobby Okereke forming strong connection with Shane Bowen, expressing high enthusiasm.
Bobby Okereke is energized after learning about the Giants’ defensive strategy for the 2024 season.
“I had an excellent conversation with him,” Okereke stated on Friday. “I’m extremely thrilled.
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This is promising news for the Giants, as one of their key team leaders and essential players expresses optimism about Shane Bowen, the newly appointed 37-year-old defensive coordinator.
Following a career-best season in his debut year with the Giants, Okereke felt disheartened when disagreements between head coach Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale necessitated a new defensive leader for the team.
It was a challenging situation for Okereke, but displaying his professionalism, he proactively reached out to Bowen, initiating the beginnings of a positive relationship.
“I’m genuinely thrilled by how quickly we connected based on our conversation,” Okereke expressed while engaging with Super Bowl Radio Row. “We spent about 10 minutes discussing football, sharing my experiences, including playing under Matt Eberflus in the Cover 2 system, Gus Bradley in the Cover 3 system, and of course, Wink in the blitz-man system.
“I’m eager to delve into their approach, our approach now. Just excited to get back to playing football again.”
Okereke, who spent four years with the Colts before becoming a standout free agent acquisition for the Giants, emerged as the centerpiece and strategic mind of Martindale’s defense, delivering his finest season with career highs in passes defensed (10), forced fumbles (four), sacks (2.5), tackles for loss (11), quarterback hits (six), and snaps (1,128 — covering 100 percent of the defensive workload).
He concluded the season with a team-leading 149 tackles, the second-highest total in his career.
Now, Okereke faces the task of gearing up once more to adapt to a new defensive scheme.
He believes Bowen’s system — previously leading the Titans’ defense for the past three years — will differ significantly from Martindale’s ultra-aggressive blitzing style.
“We’re going to simplify it, ensuring everyone understands our approach clearly, minimizing complexities, and emphasizing fundamental football,” Okereke explained. “We’ll likely incorporate a mix of 3-4 and 4-3 formations, along with quarters, Cover 2, Cover 5, so we’re all eagerly anticipating the transition.
“Will this transition ultimately benefit the defense?
“I believe it will be highly beneficial,” Okereke remarked. “It mirrors my initial experience when adapting to the Wink system during my first few games. I was able to bring many of the techniques I learned from previous systems and integrate them into Wink’s approach. I think everyone will undergo a similar adjustment, and it will be much smoother.
“Many of the tools and fundamental principles we learned from Wink are deeply ingrained in us; they’re part of our skill set. Now, we can apply them to a different defensive scheme with a different playing style. It can only enhance our performance.”
Martindale, aged 60, did not secure a defensive coordinator position in the NFL. On Friday, he was appointed by Michigan to oversee the defense for new head coach Sherrone Moore, who succeeded Jim Harbaugh (now with the Chargers).”
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