The 2019 Giants are inarguably terrible.

We can all agree on that. They’re 2-10 and have lost eight straight games, one shy of tying the longest losing streak in franchise history.

But are the Giants’ problems — particularly on defense — a scheme issue or talent issue?

Former Giants linebacker Carl Banks — a Ring of Honor member who is now the color commentator on the team’s radio broadcast — thinks it’s a scheme issue, and that second-year James Bettcher has woefully underachieved.

Banks pulled no punches while ripping Bettcher on Twitter.

(Banks earlier this season went after rookie cornerback DeAndre Baker for loafing. And veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins just criticized Bettcher for not using him — Jenkins — correctly.)

Though the Giants clearly lack talent — which makes you wonder if general manager Dave Gettleman should get canned, along with the entire coaching staff — Banks believes that talent isn’t the primary problem here.

Steve all can be true at the same time. But it is fair to ask ourselves if the team cannot stop the same plays (crossing routes) in 2 seasons is it scheme or players? If teams continue to target Haley and you give no help is it scheme or players? Same things=same results. https://t.co/IBP0kfSERF — Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) December 2, 2019

A good talent without a play to maximize is a waste. Bad habits are formed when emphasis is not on a sound fundamental foundation. Too many explosive plays for me to say this is a sound scheme.. too many individual breakdowns to say fundamentals are emphasized.. — Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) December 2, 2019

there are many things about the D that are head scratchers.. schematics are a major concern of mine. — Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) December 2, 2019

scheme doesn't work for the players they have — Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) December 2, 2019

So Banks — who, again, is a team employee (along with being a Giants legend) — very clearly has problems with Bettcher. That’s how bad things have gotten in this brutal Giants season.

From 2015-17 with the Cardinals, Bettcher did some encouraging things. But with the Giants the past two years, he hasn’t been able to live up to those previous accomplishments. To be fair, the talent level isn’t close to what it was in Arizona. Yet Banks isn’t fully buying that excuse.

All along, this was going to be a make-or-break season for Bettcher. If he could thrive with this young (and, in some cases, just-plain-unimpressive) group of defensive players, then maybe he could parlay that into a head coaching job in 2020. But if the Giants’ defense flopped again in 2019, it seemed entirely possible that Bettcher would be canned, as the fall guy.

Of course, as it turned out, the Giants are so dreadful across the board that coach Pat Shurmur — he of seven wins in 28 games as the team’s head coach — is on his way to getting fired. So Bettcher will be a goner anyway — just not how most people figured he’d go.

NFL analyst Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater.