Brian Daboll may have left the building, but his impact is still very much in place.
The former New York Giants head coach, now the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, was known for pushing an aggressive mindset in his players, specifically in quarterback Jaxson Dart. Under Daboll, the young QB often took unnecessary risks, putting the ball or himself in harm's way.
It's a deeply ingrained habit, one that dates back to his days at Ole Miss. Daboll did nothing to correct the pattern. Now, it's on new head coach John Harbaugh and his staff to rein in some of Dart's more wild tendencies. It could be a process that stretches well beyond 2026.
Giants' John Harbaugh must lead Jaxson Dart to a more controlled 2026 performance
At times, Dart seemed to play with an "all or nothing" mentality. He would either hit his checkdowns or he would push the ball down the field, often into tight windows. While downfield throws are necessary in building a complete offense, many of Dart's shots had Giants fans collectively holding their breath.
Per PFF, Dart's Turnover Worthy Play Rate of 3.4% ranked eighth in the NFL last season. It's not a great mark, but that can be expected for a rookie quarterback. When you account for his average depth of target, though, the picture becomes a bit more concerning. Dart's ADOT of 8.8 yards is lower than many of the QBs around him. This shows that when he did push the ball down the field, it was often ill-advised.
The Giants' quarterback's affinity for risk went beyond the stats. He took far too many hits when running the ball, leading to consistent injury concerns. Daboll didn't seem to do much to correct the issue.
Of course, nobody is arguing for a completely risk-averse offense. Dart needs to push the ball down the field when shots are available to him, and taking hits as a quarterback is sometimes necessary. The key is learning when to take those risks.
That's where Harbaugh and his staff come in. It will be their job to teach Dart how and when to let the ball rip down the field. They'll show him how to protect himself when he's running the ball. This will be a process, but it's necessary to change these habits if Dart is going to be the long-term answer for the Giants at quarterback.
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