EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It was the final game of Eli Manning's first career 2004 season. New York Giants the legend was in garbage time when the disaster occurred Philadelphia Eagles when he tried to go through his pocket to play out.
It didn't end well for Manning. Earlier in the year, the No. 1 overall pick thought he had a spot, but that blunder caused him to be torpedoed by Eagles safety Jerome McDougle, who was returning to play. The blindside hit sent Manning to the turf and the ball fell to the ground as the clock struck zero.
Just 11 games into his career, the rookie learned a quick lesson.
“That was definitely my ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment,” Manning said years later.
“I thought he was dead,” his father Archie said after the game.
Eli Manning learned in his first game that the NFL was different from playing at Ole Miss. Some of the things he got away with at the collegiate level didn't work here.
Giants Rookie Jackson DartThe learning curve took a little longer. His seventh start proved there would be consequences if he didn't change his game. Dart got a concussion in defeat on November 9 Chicago Bears. It was the fourth time in eight games since the preseason that Dart had to be evaluated for a concussion.
It turned out last straw for coach Brian Daboll. The hit occurred during Dart's sixth run of the event.
The rookie missed two games. He is expected to return to the Giants on Monday night against the Giants. New England Patriots (8:15 p.m. EST, ESPN), but with the understanding that he can't continue to play recklessly. Interim coach Mike Kafka and the team are trying to fix that.
The Giants (2-10) allowed some reckless play under Daboll without emphasizing the need to be more careful. Reserve defender Jameis Winstonwho started two games in Dart's absence, said he would only relay a message from the coaching staff and management when it was brought to him first. He didn't want Dart to change his style of football, the same one that got him into the NFL and the first round of the draft.
However, sometimes those few extra yards that Dart's heart and natural competitiveness yearn for just aren't worth it, especially if it's near midfield or when he's already made the first down. After his teammates were unable to play two games due to a concussion, they realize something needs to change for the long-term and short-term benefit of the player and the team.
“When he runs across the field [during practice]everyone shouts: “Slide!” Slide!” the tight end said. Theo Johnsonone of Darth's closest friends. “I'm talking about the building, training and things like that. People are like, we're all like, “Hey, there's going to be sliding in the game, right?” “
“I'm just talking about defensive backs and cornerbacks,” backup quarterback Jameis Winston said of who he should consider as a one-on-one ball carrier. “No defenders, no midfielders. These are my original things.”
“I told him [to get down] since his first try in the preseason,” starting offensive lineman John Runyan Jr. said.
“I tell him all the time. I was like, 'Bro, please get down!'” Veteran receiver. Darius Slayton said. “Franchise defenders, when they [get injured]the season is over.”
The Giants can't let that happen. Keeping Dart healthy is a priority this season and beyond. They invested heavily in Ole Miss' first-round pick.
“Moving forward, I need to be more available to this team,” Dart said last week after being removed from concussion protocol. “That's obviously at the forefront of my thoughts as I move forward.”
DARTH WAS wild man on the field at Ole Miss. Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden described his style of play as “reckless… careless and… dangerous” after watch a movie from his student career. He predicted that Dart would often be in the blue medical tent being checked for concussions if it wasn't modified. That's what happened quite regularly early in his NFL career.
According to multiple sources, the Ole Miss coaching staff also regularly fought similar battles with the ultra-competitive quarterback. They also wanted Darth to defend himself better so he wouldn't have to. leave or skip games.
The thing you love about a successful quarterback is also the thing you fear most. But this is essentially him.
“He was always a kid, and things changed every time there was a competitive atmosphere,” said Brandon Dart, Jackson's father. “His competitive spirit was just naturally heightened. And ever since he was little, he acted this way. And so I think some of it is innate.”
Brandon Dart coached his son during his formative years in Utah. During a phone call with ESPN, he chuckled at the thought of chatting with young Jackson before practice. Jackson Dart would light up and tell his father who he wanted to face that day in training. He was always one of the biggest and strongest kids. Then, as he prepared for training, young Jackson shake your head, slap your head and swell.
“He just loved that part of football,” Brandon Dart remembers. “He just loved to hit, he loved to take the ball. He liked to cheer everyone up. And it makes me smile because I remember those days when I was a little kid. Just his love for the game. And it was just him.
That's why it's so hard to get Dart to stop trying to run down linebackers. This is who he is at his core. And this is what has always led him to success.
Dart was a midfielder at youth level. His father was a defensive back who played at the University of Utah. His brother Diesel is currently a three-star recruit out of Corner Canyon High School in Utah whose primary position is also at safety. Jackson Dart has the same defensive mindset. He wants to take that shot more than he wants to take it, even though he's a defender and plays on the other side of the ball.
But this is the NFL, not college football or high school football in Utah.
“She’s not going after SEC quarterbacks anymore,” a senior NFC executive warned before the draft. “These are NFL defensive backs and linebackers. This is different.”
WHILE DART IS HERE tried his best to stay out of the blue tent, he had no problem getting into the end zone. He totaled 17 touchdowns in seven starts. All Giants quarterbacks combined threw for just 19 touchdowns last season.
Ten of Dart's touchdowns were passing and seven were rushing. Dart averaged 3.4 designed runs per game this season. That's third behind the Jets. Justin Fields and Eagles Jalen Hurts. His 5.0 yards per carry on planned runs trails only Baltimore. Lamar Jackson.
Clearly there's a lot to like about Dart. That's part of what makes the Giants head coaching vacancy. so desirable.
“First and foremost, this is the New York Giants,” former NFL head coach Jon Gruden told ESPN. “I mean, this is one of the founders of football. This is New York. This is Jackson Dart. You know what kind of talent he is. You know he has arm talent, athleticism. I know he's a smart guy. He's a great competitor. I think that's pretty much a good description of why this job is desirable.”
For many, Dart's presence will be high on the list of reasons they want the job. Gruden was delighted with his pre-draft. He sees potential in the young quarterback, and nothing that has happened at the next level has changed his mind.
Dart's talent and skills easily transferred to the NFL. When he was behind center, the Giants scored over 30 points against Denver Broncos and Eagles. No other quarterback has scored 30 points against either defense this season.
Early results seem to indicate that Dart has a real chance to become a top-tier defender.
“This could be a great situation,” Gruden said. “But Dart has to do his part. He must stay healthy. He must stay there. He must be who he is supposed to be.”
It depends on whether he learns to avoid putting himself in danger.
THERE WILL BE GIANTS now put Dart back in the lineup knowing they can't just operate the same way they did before the concussion. They must ensure that their valuable possessions are not exposed to situations that are harmful to their health.
“The best ability is accessibility,” Winston said.
This probably means that Kafka will trigger fewer scheduled runs. Or maybe just push more often and urgently to get down or out of bounds when the concussed Dart is close to the boundary.
It looks like some changes will be made.
“Yeah, I mean you definitely take that into consideration,” newly promoted Giants offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said.
One offensive lineman told ESPN that he didn't expect the game plan to include smart runs this week against the Patriots. This should help limit the number of hits Dart takes.
People both inside and outside the Giants organization recently spoke with Dart and called for the rookie quarterback be more thoughtful when and how he will run, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney even said recently that they showed video of other quarterbacks playing Darts to show the difference between being aggressive and acting in self-preservation.
It's still a slippery slope. The Giants don't want to completely give up what makes Darth so dangerous.
“I'm still getting used to this game. I'm getting used to this speed, this level,” Dart said. “In college, you can look at my tape, I very rarely slid. It's a different animal. For me, I obviously have to be more responsible when I'm in the open field. But I felt like I was getting better at it every week.”
Dart slipped twice in Chicago before being injured. He said this week that he didn't take a single unnecessary hit in that Bears game.
But Tierney said they are trying to “pick their spots.” It all depends on the game situation. When you're in “town” with a lot of different people around, get down. When you are running through the “village”, keep running. Kelly even noted that it's not worth fighting for every yard in the first quarter.
Situational awareness is paramount. Experience is priceless. Dart only gets this by playing. That's why it was so important for him to come back so late in the season. He wanted to come back last week but didn't clear the protocol.
The answer doesn't seem to be a major overhaul of the main board. Just reconfigure a wire or two.
“There is a balance,” said Kafka.
Make Dart slide instead of rushing at defenders head-on like he did. earlier this season against the Philadelphia Eagles. It's better to go out of bounds than to fight for a few extra yards on the sideline. Find a way to get down to the ground and avoid the big hits in traffic.
Manning has become a master at avoiding big hits. The hope is that Dart can improve his skills with more experience, even if that means continuing to run and play with his feet.
“That's what makes him like that,” Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. “And it doesn't really change him, it's more like he just plays smarter because we need you.”
