Jaxson Dart remains the backup quarterback, behind starter Russell Wilson. As such, coach Brian Daboll could dismiss repeated questions about the rookie. In his time with the Giants, Daboll has certainly shown a proclivity for responding to what he wants to and an ability to not answer queries about topics he prefers to avoid.
This much is clear: Daboll has no problem talking about Dart.
With the Giants coming off a dreadful season-opening 21-6 loss to the Commanders, there is not much — or any — positivity about the way Wilson and the entire offense performed, failing the first test in alarming fashion. If you do not have something good to say, don’t say much.
That seems to be the deal when it comes to analyzing how Wilson played in his Giants debut.
Wilson gets a second start Sunday, when the Giants try to win on the road against the Cowboys for the first time since October 2015.
It will not be easy and if there is more of the same, if the Giants cannot get into the end zone or score more than a handful of points, it is the nature of the sport that Wilson’s job security will be an even louder topic of conversation and debate.
Such is the deal when there is a first-round pick waiting in the wings.
“I think you embrace challenge,” Wilson said Wednesday after practice, responding to Dart’s presence right behind him on the depth chart. “I don’t think I run from challenges. I don’t think I run from anything. I know how confident I am in myself, confident I am in the guys that we have.
“My confidence never blinks. I’ve been through everything. I’ve been through all the biggest highs there could be, been through a few lows, but at the same time I also know my confidence never wavers.”
Wilson, 36, did not get where he is — a Super Bowl champion and someone worthy of Hall of Fame consideration as an under 6-foot, third-round pick — without being a fighter. This figures to be quite a battle for him. As opening acts go, this one was a dud.
Wilson from the opening snap in Landover, Md., did not look comfortable and the rhythm that quarterbacks crave never made an appearance.
It is disturbing that the numbers (17-of-37, 168 yards) were bad and the optics were worse. Wilson looked as if the first hint of pressure made him queasy in a pocket he did not seem to trust to protect him — with good reason.
Feeling the rush, Wilson’s eye level appeared to lower, watching for oncoming Commanders defenders and, as a result, not keeping his sight lines down the field.
“I didn’t play good enough,” he said. “You always want to play better. Whenever you don’t win, you always feel like there’s more to do.”
Daboll was not forthcoming, as far as breaking down Wilson’s performance.
“Look, I’m not going to get too much into last week,” Daboll said. “We’re moving on to this week. We go through our tape on Monday. We make our corrections in all facets, and I expect him to come out here and have a good week.”
Daboll, though, was far more expansive in giving a rundown of how he is getting Dart ready to play.
Dart, as the No. 2 quarterback, runs the scout team in practice, giving the Giants defense a look at how the next opponent might attack. Dart might get one or two snaps with the Giants starting offense. After practice, Dart stays on the field, going over the offensive script for that week, throwing to receivers.
Each week, he and Daboll meet to go over all this, with every rep on the scout team studied and analyzed.
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“You try to play that like a game the best you can with your timing, with your rhythm, with your eye control, with your mechanics, with when to take off, when not to take off,” Daboll said. “You treat those show-team reps, if you will, like game reps. And then when you’re standing behind the offense when they’re going, he’s taking game reps on every play, along with [third string] Jameis [Winston]. And they’re back there 10 yards going through the mechanics, motions, shifts, protection calls, re-identifications. They’re playing the game, not with the 10 other guys, but they’re playing it behind the huddle and taking advantage of every opportunity they can.”
If Daboll did not believe Dart was ready to play, he would not have elevated him into the backup role, where he is always one play away from getting on the field. When that time comes largely depends on how Wilson plays.
There is no doubt Wilson and the entire offensive operation need to improve drastically.
Daboll immediately after the loss did not commit to Wilson as the starter for Week 2 — he did that two days later. Wilson said he was unbothered by that.
“I don’t look into syntax and diction,” Wilson said, “and all the little words somebody says or doesn’t say.”