Why Jaxson Darts feet hold the key to his Giants Year 2 jump

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va.— Jaxson Dart’s feet aren’t just used for scrambling. The tiresome debate over whether the Giants quarterback has learned when to run (and avoid big hits) and when to kill a bad play with a throwaway has overshadowed the idea that Dart needs to improve his footwork as a dropback pocket passer to take a leap forward in Year 2.  Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.

“It’s a mandate,” ESPN NFL analyst and former quarterback Dan Orlovsky told The Post. The Giants incorporated many Ole Miss elements into their offense last year to ease Dart’s rookie transition.New offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is running more of a traditional NFL offense that requires Dart to be more frequently under center (79.9 percent of snaps in the shotgun last season) and use more play-action fakes (26.9 percent) to balance out RPO (run-pass option) concepts. Orlovsky counts three ways quarterbacks generally evolve “from their young time when they have moments of success to taking the next step.” While tweaking the throwing motion does not apply to Dart, the other two — reading defenses more efficiently and progressing footwork — do. “They master the understanding of the importance of their three-step drop and what kind of three-step drop, the five-step drop and what kind of five-step drop, the seven- or eight-step drop and what kind,” Orlovsky said.

“And how that ties into not only the route but the concept and the protection.That is where he has to take an astronomical step.” Pocket footwork clicked for MVPs Josh Allen (Bills) and Lamar Jackson (Ravens) late in their second seasons and eventually elevated former bust Sam Darnold (Seahawks) to meet expectations. “There are a few things mechanically that are different,” Dart said early in camp.

“Probably just the biggest thing is a little bit of footwork landmarks in the pocket.But we’ve repped the...