Just like the New York Giants do with their rookie signal-callers, Pat Shurmur’s NFL development of Jaxson Dart. They drafted him 25th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft. Dart, who is enjoying his redshirt freshman season, currently serves as the backup to veteran quarterback Russell Wilson. His odyssey this season started with sitting out the first two games. While he has been limited in terms of playing time, his role within the team is focused on development and preparation for future opportunities.
Dart only gets one or two first-team practice reps per week. This places a ceiling on his experience against starting caliber talent. He’s a very active participant in his development as a player. When they finish practice, he works one-on-one with former starter Jameis Winston and the younger receivers. That additional preparation gives him the confidence to work his way through the starters’ practice script. He brings invaluable perspectives from the field to Dart on the game’s direction.
In practice Dart mainly runs with the scout team, which has provided him with bonus experience playing the role of an upcoming foe’s quarterback. Giants’ offensive coordinators Mike Kafka, Brian Daboll, and Shea Tierney have dedicated significant time to tutoring and developing Dart’s skills. In fact, they’ve even developed a special short-yardage package tailored for him to ensure Dart has a chance to crackle strategically when duty calls with no penalties.
In a recent game against Dallas, Dart finally saw the field for three snaps, all of which were running plays. It was his first experience with live-action since joining the team, and this brief opportunity on the Oscar-winning feature changed everything. As he continues to learn from Wilson and Winston—who collectively boast 288 starts—Dart remains focused on his development rather than immediate game-day performance.
“I see a huge value in sitting because yeah, I mean in today’s culture it’s all about win-now. What can we do now?” said defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches, emphasizing the importance of patience in Dart’s development.
Giants’ coaches are dedicated to making sure that Dart is ready before they ever even think about putting him in as a starting player. Smith thinks it’s wise to hold off on that kind of decision until at least Week 8. The rationale behind this approach lies in a broader trend: 18 of the 25 Super Bowls in the 21st century have been won by quarterbacks who did not start early in their rookie seasons.
The coaching staff will continue to emphasize defined tasks and expectations for Dart. He will need to accomplish these objectives to establish himself as the franchise’s long-term starter. “He’s got to see the game through the quarterback’s eyes on the sideline. He’s got to be seen to be the champion for that communication. Each day we’re trying to groom him and when he has to play, he’ll be ready to play,” said Brian Daboll, underscoring the importance of Dart’s preparation.
Dart himself has expressed his understanding of his current situation, stating, “There’s just a lot of things that I’m breaking down.” He understands that being able to sit back and watch the game from the sidelines provides him an entirely different view. Now I’m finally able to stand back and see the entire defense. As a passer, you only get to see a small scope of the play unfold. This is particularly the case when you’re in the line of scrimmage. Not only do I have that perspective, but I think that’ll really deepen my learning, he continued. That’s an exciting opportunity for growth.
“It’s definitely helped me prepare, because now I’m able to see adjustments that we can make every time we come off the field,” he explained.
Dart possesses a powerful competitive fire, and he can’t wait to make his impact on the game. He understands that he needs to learn as much as he can from the sidelines. “As a competitor, I don’t have a blast watching from the sideline,” he admitted, highlighting his desire to prove himself when given the chance.
Kafka highlighted Dart’s potential, expressing confidence in his abilities: “He doesn’t know how lucky he is.” That declaration speaks volumes about the expectations for Dart’s immediate impact on this squad.
Dart has been on an incredible ride with the Giants. He’s eager to learn some of the best lessons from his coaches and veteran teammates. Despite the move up, the franchise is optimistic this development period will prepare him for a seamless transition to the pros. When the time comes, he’ll be ready to take on a starting role. His serenity and effort are the anniversaries that convince the Giants that Dart will make it. They envision him growing into an important player in their long-term talent-centered goals.
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