Giants HC Brian Daboll sends a powerful message to rookie QB Jaxson Dart following Week 5 loss to the Saints
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll defended his rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart following his team’s poor performance in Week 5
The New York Giants’ 26-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints was incredibly frustrating, as it represented a visible step backward for the offense. Five turnovers, three of which were committed by rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, derailed what could have been a momentous Week 5.
After any loss, fans and media members aim to direct blame for a poor performance. Dart stood up in front of the media and humbly took responsibility for his mistakes that contributed to the loss. Head coach Brian Daboll acknowledged that the way he carries himself is why he’s bought into him.
“There’s no young quarterback I’d rather have to work with than Jaxson,” Daboll told the media.
Jaxson Dart’s leadership continues to stand out
It’s generally assumed that at any level of football, quarterbacks are expected to shoulder the blame for bad games. That isn’t always the case, as evidenced in the history of the sport, where finger-pointing has fractured locker rooms.
While Dart’s performance in the second half was troubling due to his lack of consistency, he did remain consistent in his communication with his coaches and teammates. Daboll shared that Dart acted similarly after the loss to the Saints as he did in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I’m not saying he was the same, but even after the first game he played and we won, he goes back to the things that he could have done better,” Daboll told reporters, “I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for the young man and how he’s handled really everything on the field, off the field.”
The respect that Daboll has for Dart is one thing, but the emphasized respect that the whole roster has for him is critical, especially after a disappointing loss.
“I think they all respect Jaxson for his talents, one, and how he is. He’s a pretty humble guy. They see how he works. They know he’s a rookie. Again, there are going to be ups and downs.”
While it’s promising to hear how mature Dart is compared to the typical rookie quarterback, we do need to acknowledge that the way he played on Sunday remains an issue. Dart is far from a bad quarterback. He had several impactful plays that were flashes of a reliable and game-changing starting quarterback in the NFL. However, he’s also far from confirming he can be a long-term starter in the league.
It was excusable for Dart to have been limited as a passer against an elite Chargers defense without Malik Nabers. However, facing a lifeless Saints team and having three easily avoidable turnovers cannot be swept under the rug.
Relitigating the turnovers he had on a Monday isn’t completely necessary, but it’s important not to make excuses for a young passer. Dart has plenty of time to improve, and Giants fans should not be impatient with his development just because Daboll’s time has entirely run out. However, the most essential thing for Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles is reducing avoidable turnovers.
One of the most challenging aspects of explaining quarterback play to fans is the difference between a young quarterback turning the ball over because they’re being aggressive and them turning the ball over because they misdiagnosed a play. Dart’s first interception was an example of aggressiveness that didn’t pan out on a fourth-down play. The second interception was a misread of what Beaux Collins was doing, and the fumble was a result of poor ball security. The former is more easily correctable than the latter.
Compounding errors for Dart is something that hurt him in college. In his worst games, one turnover would lead to worse and worse mistakes. The Saints’ loss was a regression to that college tape. Hopefully, the rest of the year, he can be better about putting errors behind him and bouncing back quickly.
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