THE STORYLINE:
For all intent and purposes, Jaxson Dart is being asked to be Superman.
The New York Giants have become a cesspool of incompetence. Changing general managers, scouts, coaches, players. Nothing has worked. Nothing changes. If anything, the results are getting worse.
Everything the Giants do is wrong. The players they scapegoat or let go now go onto excel with other teams. Their own offseason acquisitions fail to deliver and their grandiose plans to turn the franchise around are not yielding results. Now team employees are attacking those who take notice (see the Bob Papa-Bobby Skinner mess). The media is reporting fans have hired planes to fly over the stadium on Sunday.
So the New York Football Giants find themselves 0-3, facing a murder’s row schedule of opponents. Once again, it all fell apart, this time more than a month before Halloween. If the defense shows up, the offense doesn’t. If the offense shows up, the defense doesn’t. Usually, both, along with the special teams, come up short.
The Giants find themselves – again – in an awkward situation. They gambled that bringing back the head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and 10-of-11 starters on offense would work simply with a quarterback change. They brought in three new quarterbacks, including a 1st-round selection. Now the entire coaching staff is on the verge of being fired in January, and they know it. But what to do about the general manager and quarterback? Would hot coaching prospects want to be tied to either? As BBI poster GiantGrit has said, the Giants always make everything more complicated than it should be.
Unless this week was choreographed by the team (which I doubt; they aren’t that clever), the way the quarterback switch was announced is VERY telling. Ever since Schoen and Daboll have entered the picture, they have insisted that everything was a collaborative decision. Not this time. Daboll repeatedly made it known on Wednesday that the quarterback switch was his decision, and his decision alone. Even when pressed if ownership or management had a role in the change, Daboll said it was his decision. For those not paying attention, it was a “holy shit!” moment.
Adding fuel to the fire was Daboll’s brief comments to the media about practicing in the rain, something he has not done in the past, and seemingly mocking the “medical people” (Daboll’s used the air quotes when describing them; he tried to walk this back on Friday) suggests that Daboll may not have had full command of the New York Giants ship. Indeed, the noticeable change in his demeanor since the departure of Daniel Jones and the arrival of Jaxson Dart lends support to those who believe that Daboll has not been happy with the groceries he has been provided.
What if Daboll did not want the team to re-sign Jones in 2023? What if Daboll wanted to start Dart in Week One? What if there are players on the roster (Evan Neal and Jalin Hyatt) who management wants but Daboll doesn’t? Combine that with him now being on the verge of being fired, his comments and actions this week make more sense. We may have reached the “fuck it” stage… if I’m going to lose my job, I’m going to do it my way. Conspiracy theory garbage? Perhaps. But the puzzle pieces fit.
Daboll is no innocent. Pundits around the league are starting to notice the same thing fans have complained about: his offense is uncreative and predictable. His defensive coordinator – again – sucks. His teams are regularly out-coached and ill-prepared to meet the opponent’s intensity level.
Enter Jaxson Dart. Poor kid. The 22-year old is being asked to do the impossible: save everyone from themselves. It seems as if only Dart can save Daboll, and perhaps ironically, save the general manager who Daboll seems to be distancing himself from. At least publicly, the players don’t seem to be very inspired by the switch. Dexter Lawrence, Malik Nabers, and others were very muted on Wednesday when talking to the press. It may be tough to blame them. They see this for what it is, a desperate attempt to have a rookie save the entire situation.
So is Jaxson Superman? Can he save the day? If he does, a legend will be born.
THE INJURY REPORT:
- RB Tyrone Tracy (shoulder – out)
- WR Malik Nabers (shoulder – probable)
- WR Darius Slayton (calf – probable)
- WR Beaux Collins (hamstring – probable)
- TE Theo Johnson (toe – probable)
- LT Andrew Thomas (foot – probable)
- OC John Michael Schmitz (neck – probable)
- DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (foot – doubtful)
- DL/OLB Chauncey Golston (ankle – out)
- ILB Darius Muasau (concussion – probable)
- ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf – probable)
- CB Art Green (hip – probable)
- PK Graham Gano (groin – out)
GIANTS ON OFFENSE:
Given the overall nightmare schedule, there really isn’t a soft landing spot to start Dart so Sunday is probably as good as any. That said, the Los Angeles Chargers are 8th overall in defense and 3rd overall in scoring defense (less than 17 points per game). Note the Giants injury list – the starting running back is out, three wide receivers (including Nabers) are playing hurt, as are the starting tight end, left tackle, and center.
The Chargers like to pressure with their front four and have their back seven play more coverage. They are strong in run defense (8th overall) and pass defense (9th overall). Expect Los Angeles to double Nabers, try to confuse Dart by disguising coverages, and force the Giants to drive the field without making mistakes.
If Dart is to succeed, he needs his offensive line to help him. Hopefully, Andrew Thomas can play much longer this week. Dart is likely to spread the ball around more, especially to Theo Johnson and Darius Slayton, if both are healthy enough to have an impact. Since Dart is more comfortable with a spread offense, look for the Giants to do that instead of condensing the formations. Remember, he played exclusively in the shotgun in college.
Other than self-preservation, two of the big reasons Daboll made the QB switch was the team’s abysmal red-zone and 3rd-down conversion performances.
GIANTS ON DEFENSE:
As sad as it sounds, Dart is not only being asked to inspire the offense, but also the defense. My Superman reference doesn’t sound so stupid now, does it?
We all know the issue here. Jim Harbaugh is the king of running the football. The Giants are 31st in run defense. You don’t need me to tell you what the defensive key to this game is. That said, the Chargers are actually 2nd in passing offense too, averaging 270 yards per game. Overall, combing both run and pass, Los Angeles is 6th in offense.
The Giants’ defense has one turnover this year. One. Bowen can shove that pirate chest up his ass. It’s likely to go the way of Jerry Reese’s Super Bowl countdown clock.
GIANTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
Remember my comments above about every decision the Giants make has been wrong? Look no further than Graham Gano. So here we are again.
QUOTES:
Jaxson Dart: “I’m ready.”
THE FINAL WORD:
The Giants are 1-14 in their last 15 games. That’s never happened to the team before in its history. Save us, Superman!