Sportsnaut
The Jaxson Dart era will officially begin on Sunday as the New York Giants (0-3) face the Los Angeles Chargers (3-0) at MetLife Stadium.
Few are giving New York a chance to pull off a monumental upset. But head coach Brian Daboll has high expectations for both his team and his new starting quarterback.
“I expect him (Dart) to prepare, I expect him to go out here and get better each time he plays. It’s not always going to be perfect, but I do think that he has the right makeup and athleticism,” said Daboll. “Look, we’re going to do everything we can do to help him be the best player. I know he is as well. It’s not just on one person, it’s on the entire team, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
It will definitely take a team effort for Big Blue to beat a Chargers franchise for the first time since Week 4 of the 1998 season. In particular, five key players need to step up for the team to win its first game of the season.
The spotlight will be on the 22-year-old rookie quarterback as he makes his first start against one of the league’s best defenses. Dart was impressive in the preseason, but the regular season is a different animal, and Los Angeles will try to confuse him with their schemes.
The former Ole Miss quarterback remained undaunted by the pressure of making his first start and becoming the new face of the franchise.
“I don’t really feel pressure. I feel like pressure is given to those who play at a high level, and the best players in the world are the ones that are kind of involved with that word, pressure. I don’t feel it in that standpoint. My focus is just trying to win one game at a time,” Dart told reporters Wednesday.
With a younger and more mobile quarterback at the helm, it will be interesting to see how New York’s offense evolves. They’ll probably run more RPOs and have him roll out of the pocket to utilize his legs. He’ll certainly experience some rookie growing pains, but how he responds will go a long way toward his progression as an NFL quarterback.
Dart isn’t the only rookie making his NFL start for the Giants on Sunday. Cam Skattebo officially becomes the lead back with Tyrone Tracy Jr. out due to a dislocated shoulder.
Skattebo was the lone bright spot in the team’s 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, carrying the ball 10 times for 60 yards and a touchdown while catching six passes for 61 yards. Now with Tracy sidelined, he’ll be thrust into a bigger role against the eighth-ranked Chargers defense.
New York would like to give the rookie a heavy dose of carries rather than force Dart to carry the offense. But that will be difficult against a Los Angeles defense that has shut down opposing running backs. If you...
