Brian Daboll: Giants QB Jaxson Dart learning cadence not ‘rocket science’ at rookie minicamp

While Jaxson Dart was the second of the Giants’ two first-round picks in last month’s NFL Draft, the quarterback will be the rookie most in the spotlight over the summer, and that began when New York held its first practice of rookie minicamp on Friday.

Dart, who was selected 22 picks after edge rusher Abdul Carter, will face his first test of communicating Brian Daboll’s plays from the sideline to the huddle in 7-on-7 drills and, perhaps more importantly, use a snap count cadence after using a clap throughout his collegiate career.

“Most college guys haven’t done it,” the head coach said about using a cadence. “But it’s not too hard to learn a cadence. Say a couple words, voice inflection… but I wouldn’t say it’s like rocket science to learn a cadence.”

Dart is just one of three new quarterbacks on the roster, with Russell Wilson, who was named the starter, and Jameis Winston joining in free agency. And when it comes to cadence, which Daboll called “a weapon for the quarterback,” he will have to fit his in with the signal caller ahead of him on the depth chart.

“You try to let the younger guys, even like [Tommy DeVito], hear those guys and you try to make it as similar as you can,” he said. “Because now they’re in with different linemen and you don’t want one cadence to sound like something [else]. Those quarterbacks do a good job in the room of trying to get it to sound like the guy that’s running it.

“So, Russ is running it, he’s got a certain style of cadence, we’re kinda working off him. We’ll say it together. ‘Hey you’re a little bit off on this rhythm.’ He’ll be in there with those older guys and learn how to do it.”

And while it might not be rocket science, “there is an art to it, and the really, really good ones are exceptional at it. So, we’ll work with him on it.”

Speaking after practice, Dart said that doing a snap count has “been something that I’ve always wanted to do.”

“I've always kind of practiced it on my own or kind of just messing around with buddies and whatnot,” he said. “But I think it's always a little bit of a transition. It really goes for anybody from the college level to the NFL level. The cadence is different no matter where you've been at. 

“So, you're always gonna have a little bit of a learning curve. But it's something that really excites me. And I think that you have so many opportunities and advantages with the cadence. And you can do so many different things that can take advantage of the defense. So, definitely something I wanted to continue to excel at each and every day.”

But Friday was more than just snapping the ball. 

“This is the first time he’ll be out there doing our stuff,” Daboll said. “And there’s a reason to try to get him in there and adjusted to hearing the play call from the walkie-talkie, getting in there calling the play, not just running no-huddle.”

With just under four full months before Week 1 of the regular season, it may feel like all the time in the world to get ready and not enough time at all for the rookies participating in the first short practice of the season. For the head coach, it is time to “get into the program and start swimming.”

Likening this period of the offseason to an acclimation period, there is some amount of pressure off of Dart as Daboll expects mistakes and plenty of learning experiences.

“You learn from the mistakes, you teach off of them, come back the next day, you build off of it,” he said. “There will be some good things, there will be some bad things. It’s his first day of camp.

“He hasn’t thrown with any of these guys, he’s calling plays in our system for the first time. But, same as all the other positions: They got a lot to learn.”

Daboll did correct himself with the help of a reporter in pointing out that wide receiver Juice Wells, Dart’s teammate at Ole Miss, will provide a familiar face during camp as he competes for a roster spot as an undrafted free agent.

“He’s a good player, that’s why he’s here,” he said, noting the WR is in camp for his skills on his own. “But it’s always helpful when a quarterback has some familiarity with some of the guys that he’s played with.”

Veteran quarterbacks fitting in 

On Wilson and Winston, the head coach said the veterans have been picking up the new system well and have “done a nice job” this far.

“I think there's a good comfort level with giving them a play call, them controlling the huddle,” he said. “Again, we’re not going against a defense now, but the communication process has been good. They’re working on the timing with the players that they’re throwing to. But they’ve been two good additions for us.”

Wide receiver room and Gabe Davis

The Giants are returning the top four receivers from a year ago – Malik Nabers, Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton (who re-signed this offseason), and Jalin Hyatt. But might Gabe Davis, who has familiarity with Daboll’s system from their time in Buffalo and was released this week by Jacksonville, be an option? 

“We’ll always look to improve roster anyway we can,” Daboll said. “But these guys [the ones already on the roster] have had a good Phase 2 with Russ and Jameis there.”