Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart warms up before a preseason game
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart warms up before a preseason game
The Giants are sending offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to the booth for Sunday night’s opener against Dallas. That puts a new layer between the play caller and Jaxson Dart, even with headsets and staff communication covering the distance.
Nagy tried the booth during the preseason and liked the view. He said it lets him see more of the defense and trust the coaches on the field to handle the fast communication. It is a reasonable setup, but it puts even more of the moment on Dart when the Cowboys start changing the picture after the snap.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart prepares before a preseason game
Jaxson Dart warms up before a preseason game. Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
The Giants are giving Jaxson Dart a different kind of support
Dart starts Year 2 with a bigger role and a new coordinator. He threw for 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie while adding 487 yards and nine scores on the ground. The Giants do not need him to win the game alone, but they need him to stay composed when the first call is not there.
The booth can help Nagy spot a coverage adjustment that is hard to see from the sideline. It cannot make Dart’s decisions for him. The quarterback still has to handle the clock, take the simple completion, and tell the huddle what comes next.
Matt Nagy’s booth choice tests the Giants communication
Dallas has rebuilt its defense with more edge speed and a deeper secondary. The Giants will see looks that demand a quick answer, especially on third down.
I like the thought behind Nagy being upstairs. A young quarterback does not need a coach hovering beside him between every snap. He needs a clear voice in his headset and an offense that has answers ready. Sunday will show whether the Giants have both.