John Harbaugh eventually became the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
That doesn’t mean hiring Matt Nagy is a bad thing for quarterback Jackson Dart.
Ultimately, while the OC has the entire team under his purview, Dart’s presence will continue to be crucial to the Giants’ offensive direction and overall look.
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“I think Matt Nagy, I do think his offense fits Jaxon Dutt,” NBC Sports analyst Chris Sims told NorthJersey.com and The Record on Tuesday morning. “Jackson Dart has the ability to run an offense and play backyard football, and I think Matt Nagy is going to enhance that because he’s going to understand the players he’s got.
“He’s going to give the Giants some structure and some discipline and some offensive play,” Sims said. “But he’s not going to take away the natural ability and feel for the game that God gave him, and that’s what I love about it.”
Nagy, 47, was part of an offense built and managed in Kansas City by legendary NFL coach and multiple Super Bowl champion Andy Reid that featured Patrick Mahomes.
While Nagy hasn’t called a game since becoming head coach of the Chicago Bears, he has played an integral role in Kansas City’s offense.
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“Someone got a gem,” Reid said of Nagy, referring to his chance to become a head coach this cycle.
It was the most impactful move Harbaugh made as he assembled his coaching staff after Ravens head coach Todd Monken moved to Cleveland and accepted the head coaching job.
Having the right structure, both overall and from a personnel standpoint, will be critical to the Giants’ success under Harbaugh, especially in year one. If he can take a page from what Mike Vrabel did in New England and bring Josh McDaniels back as Meyer’s head coach, finding the right mix of experience, innovation and rapport could allow Dart to take his game to another level.
During his 18-year tenure in Baltimore, Harbaugh hired five offensive coordinators with NFL head coaching experience: Cam Cameron, Jim Caldwell, Gary Kubiak, Mark Trestman and Marty Mornweg. He also hired Todd Monken, a former head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi.
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Nagy was a college quarterback at the University of Delaware. He’s a proponent of the West Coast offense and likes his quarterbacks to navigate the pocket and use his arms to run plays downfield in addition to following the defense with his legs. This speaks volumes about Dart’s talent.
Outside of Mahomes, Nagy spent his time as Bears head coach against a group of quarterbacks who were far from the best of his generation: Mitch Trubisky, Chase Daniel, Nick Foles and Justin Fields.
What’s next for the Giants offense?
Now that Harbaugh has his own head coach, the Giants will continue to expand his offense. He interviewed Shane Day of the Chargers and Alex Tanney of the Colts for OC; one of them might be a good fit as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. Could another Harbaugh lieutenant in former OC Greg Roman (recently fired by Jim Harbaugh) come to the Giants as run game coordinator?
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Former Wake Forest and Fordham coach Dave Clawson, who has been close to Harbaugh over the years, was considered a possible senior offensive assistant.
Dart is nowhere near his ceiling as a player, which is why the Giants haven’t hesitated to talk about making it a priority to help the 22-year-old take his game to the next level and beyond.
It seemed like every big performance Dart had as a rookie last season came from matching his mind to his physicality. His instincts are impressive, he knows what’s going to happen on the other side of the ball and when it’s called for he knows he can throw the ball.
Dart has a knack for turning difficult looks into routine. He promised over the summer that he wouldn’t become a robot, and he’s stuck to that throughout the season while also staying away from negative performances, striking a balance that keeps the entire organization excited about the potential for the future.
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“You build your team around your quarterback. You build your team around your players and the things they’re good at,” Harbaugh said. “I like the way [Dart] Play. I love his talent, his skills and all that he has accomplished, but more importantly, I love who he is and what he is about. “
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What hiring Matt Nagy as New York Giants offensive coordinator means for Jackson Dart
