Big Blue View
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart took a beating against the San Francisco 49ers. He was only sacked twice, though the first one was a big hit. Much has been made of the Giants’ decisions to use Dart on designed quarterback runs in a game that was out of reach.
However, the bulk of the hits Dart took came on four scrambles throughout the game.
This week I want to take a look at those scrambles, and the hits at the end of them, and see why they happened. Were they poor decisions by Dart, or a symptom of something greater within the offense?
First quarter, 13:55 – Third-and-5
Dart’s first scramble came on the Giants’ opening drive. It was an incredibly efficient drive and easily the best the Giants looked all game, and this was the play that really made everything go. The Giants were in a third and medium, just past the 40-yard line. They weren’t in four-down territory, nor were they anywhere near close to field goal distance.
The Giants are in their 11-personnel package with Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, and Ray-Ray McCloud at wide receiver, Theo Johnson at tight end, and Tyrone Tracy at running back. They align in a 3×1 set, with Robinson motioning from wide receiver to the slot and forming a bunch formation.
The 49ers call a quarters coverage with what looks like a MEG call on McCloud at the top of the screen and pure zone coverage against the Giants’ bunch formation. The Giants have a shot play called, with both Robinson and Slayton running vertical routes out of the bunch formation while Johnson runs a stick route to the first down marker and McCloud runs a slant — Tracy releases to the flat as a checkdown.
Unfortunately for the Giants, the 49ers are able to pick up the vertical routes, with the boundary safety able to get over to pick up Robinson while the field safety keeps Slayton in front of him. The underneath coverage also accounts for Johnson and McCloud, taking the pass to the first down marker away.
At the same time, the 3-technique beats Greg Van Roten but trips over Marcus Mbow — which knocks Mbow over as well — muddying Dart’s pocket and convincing him to scramble rather than try to extend.
Dart quickly commits to the run, refusing to slide as the defender goes to make the tackle. His forward momentum allows him to pick up the first down with a 6-yard run, but lands hard in the process.
Third quarter, 8:57 – First-and-10
Spinning ahead to the middle of the second quarter, the 49ers are up 20-7 and the Giants are trying to claw their way back into the game.
The Giants are once again in their 11-personnel package, starting the play in a 3×1 alignment before McCloud motions to the offensive left to create a 2×2 alignment. The Giants once again seek to attack all three levels of...
