Daboll Puts Future on the Line with Dart: Can Rookie Quarterback Revive Giants?
The New York giants’ struggles this season culminated in a decisive shift at quarterback, with rookie Jaxson Dart set to take the reins from veteran Daniel Wilson. The move, signaling a lack of confidence in the 14th-year wilson, came after a 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs where Wilson missed three consecutive throws from inside the red zone - a sequence reminiscent of the situation that led to Daniel Jones’ benching following a week 10 sack taken with open receivers in the 2023 season.
Despite initial consideration to delay Dart’s debut, perhaps shielding him from the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers’ defense, the Giants will now turn to the rookie against the winless New Orleans Saints in Week 5. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the organization acknowledged there are no easy matchups in the NFL.
The decision to start Dart early provides a clear evaluation opportunity. While acknowledging the challenges facing a young quarterback, the Giants point to precedent – Eli Manning achieving a 0 quarterback rating against the baltimore ravens during his rookie season and still developing into a triumphant NFL player – as evidence that adversity can be overcome with the right intangibles.
Though,integrating Dart won’t be seamless. He has had limited practice time with the first-team offense, and the team will need to assess how veterans, who previously praised Wilson’s leadership, adapt to the change. Captain Darius Slayton voiced concerns two weeks ago, stating, ”If you kind of look at the history of football, it hasn’t always served people well to just throw people in the fire…this league is hard, this league is tough, and you see players get chewed up and spit out all the time.” This sentiment was reportedly shared within the organization, as evidenced by a leak to ESPN’s adam Schefter before the week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys, indicating a preference for patience with Wilson and further advancement time for Dart.
wilson’s performance did not allow for continued patience. The Giants’ offense, under head coach Brian Daboll, ranks 31st in scoring as the start of the 2023 season. With his hand-picked quarterback now starting, Daboll faces mounting pressure to demonstrate his offensive acumen, mirroring the success he achieved as Josh Allen’s offensive coordinator in Buffalo.
Success for Dart is challenging to define, but for Daboll, wins are crucial to secure another season as head coach. The early move to Dart offers clarity regarding his potential. A successful season could overshadow past decisions made by Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, while a disappointing outcome will provide his successors with the data needed to assess Dart’s future.
The relationship between Daboll and Dart appears strong. A post-draft phone call, captured on camera, concluded with both sharing “I love yous,” followed by Daboll stating, “I’m banking on you,” to which dart replied, “Smart man.” Five months later, Daboll is entrusting his career to the 22-year-old quarterback.
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