‘Hate It!’ ‘This Sucks!’ — Rams Super Bowl Champ Reveals Exactly What Went Wrong for Giants Star Jaxson Dart Before Brutal Knee Injury
· Yahoo Sports
Jaxson Dart’s injury against the Los Angeles Rams left the New York Giants with another major concern, but former offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth believes the play also offered an important lesson for the young quarterback.
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Whitworth, a Super Bowl LVI champion and former All-Pro tackle, broke down the play that injured Dart and explained why quarterbacks need to avoid drifting too far backward in the pocket.
Andrew Whitworth Breaks Down Jaxson Dart’s Injury
Dart suffered the injury during the Giants’ opening drive of their 28-6 loss to the Rams. Rams pass-rushers Josaiah Stewart and Byron Young hit the quarterback while he tried to throw downfield.
Dart did not return, and further testing revealed more significant damage to his left knee, with season-ending surgery a possibility.
Whitworth was frustrated while watching the playback, pointing out that similar situations had happened several times early in the season.
“This sucks! Hate it! But it has shown up repeatedly early this season. Any QB has a real possibility of getting hit like this past 10yds.
“My favorite pass reps were when my RT and I could run guys by and have them slam into each other at 10–12 yds. QBs, if you want to buy time, move up and out of the pocket! Please!” Whitworth pleaded.
Whitworth’s breakdown revolved around how quarterbacks and offensive linemen work together inside the pocket.
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Offensive tackles are often trying to push edge rushers wide and past the quarterback. When a quarterback stays at the proper depth, those defenders can run past him without making contact.
But when a quarterback continues drifting backward, he can move directly into the path of those pass-rushers. That can create a dangerous situation, especially when multiple defenders are closing in from different angles.
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On Dart’s injury play, the Giants quarterback dropped deep behind the line of scrimmage while looking for a target downfield. Young hit Dart from his right side, sending him into Stewart, who undercut his legs.
Whitworth believes the play is a good example of why young quarterbacks need to learn when to step up rather than automatically retreating.
The Giants are now waiting for more information on the extent of the injury and Dart’s recovery timeline.
Head coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday that doctors were reviewing Dart’s MRI results and that the team had not made any final decisions. He also said he was unsure whether Dart could have stepped up in the pocket on the injury play.
For now, the Giants will have to wait for those evaluations before knowing exactly how long they could be without their young quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.