New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart isn’t flinching at the sight of the Denver Broncos‘ ferocious defense.
As Week 7 looms, Dart views the Broncos’ blitz-heavy scheme — renowned for sacking quarterbacks on every down, not just third — as his biggest challenge yet.
“Obviously, the sacks stand out as the first thing and their ability to rush the passer at every down,” Dart told reporters on Wednesday, praising their cohesion and coaching. “They’re just coached really well, and they play really well together. They play really hard.”
This gauntlet is keeping Dart up at night, but so does his excitement.
“It’s going to be a really good test for us, one that I think that we’re all excited for just because, in my mind, I see them as one of the best defenses in the entire league. So, being able to just go out and compete, yeah, they do a lot of really good things,” he said.
Drawing from his earlier experience on the road, Dart emphasizes weathering momentum shifts and resetting play-to-play.
“You’ve got to be able to weather the storm. Not everything’s going to be perfect. There’s going to be mistakes. There’s going to be momentum shifts throughout every game,” he noted, a mindset honed under Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.
Yet, amid a “monstrous” schedule and depleted receivers, Dart’s unshakable confidence shines.
“Well, first of all, I have a ton of confidence in everybody that’s here. We work really hard on a daily basis. We communicate at a high level,” he explained.
Banged-up starters like John Michael Schmitz Jr. test the line, but Dart trusts the depth: “Next man up,” he insists, shouting out tackle Andrew Thomas as “one of the best in the league” for his contagious leadership.
“Big shout out to AT. The level that he’s been able to play at without getting really any reps in camp,” Dart said. “It just shows what kind of player he is. I know that I can trust him. His leadership’s been contagious.”
Camp reps with backups have forged comfort, letting Dart vocalize offensive tweaks while staying open-minded.
“I’m very vocal on the things that I feel comfortable with. Then at the same time, I’m very open-minded to trying new things as well,” he said.
For the Giants (2-3), Dart’s moxie could turn this test into a statement. In a league of adjustments, his relish for the fight signals a rookie’s rise.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Jaxson Dart embraces Broncos pass rush as ultimate rookie test
