How Cowboys are Getting the Best Version of Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott wasted no time in putting the Cooper Rush hysteria to bed. Rush’s efforts to guide the Cowboys to a 4-1 stretch were important for Dallas’ chances to make the playoffs, but in two short weeks, it has been made clear how much better equipped for playoff football the Cowboys are with Prescott behind center.
Prescott has been a machine since returning to the lineup. Over the past two weeks, Prescott ranks fourth in DVOA, fifth in adjusted net yards per attempt, and fourth in EPA. He also ranks ninth in on-target percentage despite a fairly aggressive 8.9 air yards per attempt, 10th in the NFL. What really captures Prescott’s machine-like play is how well he has limited negative plays. According to Sports Info Solutions, only 5.5% of Prescott’s plays have been considered a “bust,” a play that loses one or more EPA. That is the lowest mark in the NFL over the last two weeks. In a limited sample, Prescott is playing aggressive, efficient football with hardly any drawbacks.
Now, that should have been expected in his return against the Lions. The Lions just fired defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant, their pass rush is still lackluster, and they have virtually zero defensive talent outside of Jeff Okudah. It was a perfect warm-up opportunity for Prescott and he took advantage.
Last week’s game against the Bears should not have been the cakewalk it was, though. Matt Eberflus’ new-look Bears defense ranked 12th in pass defense DVOA before Prescott ran them through a buzzsaw. Rookie slot cornerback Kyler Gordon hasn’t put it together just yet, but Jaylon Johnson is a formidable No.1 cornerback and the safety pairing of Eddie Jackson and rookie Jaquan Brisker has been one of the best versus the pass this season.
What changed between the opener against Tampa Bay and the Bears game was play calling. For a majority of the past few seasons, the entire burden of Dallas’ offense has been thrust on Prescott’s shoulders. The offense was static in its personnel, formations, and pre-snap movement and loved to lean on sharp, timing-based routes as the basis of the passing offense. Prescott has the capacity to operate like that, but even for quarterbacks who can do it, offense should never have to be that difficult. There are no extra points awarded for playing offense on hard mode. Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore were forced to find simpler answers when Rush was at quarterback, and now they have been able to carry some of that over with a better point guard running the show.
