So much, so soon, so quickly, so relentlessly.
That is the life of an NFL quarterback and it all seems to happen sooner, more quickly and more relentlessly for a rookie going through it all for the first time.
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tRY IT NOWIt all comes at Jaxson Dart fast.
“It does, yeah,’’ he said.
The 22-year old heard that he might not play at all as a rookie, with veteran Russell Wilson signed to handle the job. It took only three games for that plan to get ditched and for Dart to take the reins. Dart was blessed to get to throw to a true No. 1 wide receiver in Malik Nabers, but that blessing lasted only two quarters before Nabers tore his ACL and was lost for the season. Dart had a good thing going with fellow rookie and good buddy Cam Skattebo, but that duo was broken up last week when Skattebo went down with a dislocated ankle.
Dart enjoyed the high of beating the Eagles on a Thursday night and the lows of back-to-back losses in Denver and Philadelphia. Just like that, the Giants are in a familiar spot at 2-6 after eight games as Dart tries to keep his perfect (2-0) record at MetLife Stadium intact when the 49ers come to town Sunday.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is forced out of the pocket during the third quarter against the Eagles. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
In a debut season already filled with evidence that he will be the quarterback of the future for the Giants, in the here and now Dart is experiencing the need to adjust on a game-to-game basis, as opposing defenses are learning what he brings to the field and devising ways to slow him down.
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In his first NFL start, Dart ran it 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Chargers. The coaching staff liked the looks of that and kept at it. Dart in start No. 2 ran it seven times for 55 yards in a loss in New Orleans. Then it was 13 rushes for 58 yards and a 20-yard touchdown on the opening series in a victory over the Eagles. The league noticed and decided to do something about Dart using his legs to make things happen.
Just like that, Dart saw opposing defenses change the way they attacked him to keep him contained in the pocket. Dart had a 1-yard rushing touchdown in Denver — to put the Giants ahead with 37 seconds remaining — but the Broncos made sure to keep enough eyes on Dart that there were defenders in his rushing lanes. He had five runs for only 11 yards.
A week later, the Eagles followed that lead, keeping Dart in a cage, of sorts, and his six runs managed only 17 yards. Yes, he did get into the end zone for his fourth rushing touchdown, but he was not a factor as a runner.
Dart admitted that the Eagles adjusted to what he does well and took it away from him.
“I just think that’s just kind of what the plan is for most teams going forward,’’ he said. “The Broncos did it, too. So yeah, they stayed disciplined in their gaps and I just thought that they played a good game.”
Some of Dart’s runs are scripted run-pass option plays called for him. Most are not, the result of Dart sensing pressure, escaping and deciding to take off. As he develops, the Giants most likely will want to see Dart stay in the pocket more often. But they will always want Dart to use his instincts and his athletic ability to make off-platform throws and improvise when needed.
Head coach Brian Daboll wants his quarterbacks to be mobile and non-robotic. He does not mind seeing Dart on the move as long as the movement has a purpose. Move to run for yards or move to keep a pass play alive.
Jaxson Dart gets tackled during last week’s loss to the Eagles. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post“There’s lanes outside,’’ Daboll said. “Keep your eyes downfield. Scramble rules. There’s a lot of quarterbacks that can scramble in this league with their legs. If it’s there and he’s got an opportunity to do it, he should do it. If not, we’ve got to do a good job of scramble rules, keeping our eyes downfield, becoming available for him as a passer. Just play the game.’’
Dart has already shown a proclivity to make plays off-script, so much so that it is fair to wonder if operating amid some degree of chaos is what he does best. More often than not, Dart is darting around rather than sitting back in the pocket and passing in an orderly fashion.
“I think he can get back there, read it, and do it,’’ Daboll said. “He has a good feel for the pocket. I’d say a lot of the really good ones in this league are able to do that.’’
