On the brink of his recently agreed upon 4 year contract to continue as the QB of the Dallas Cowboys, let’s acknowledge 3 outstanding traits about Dak Prescott as a Dallas Cowboy.
Before we get into it, let’s not forget Prescott was looking for an extension since last offseason. His gruesome injury, set a timetable on the Cowboys’ front office. It set a moral dilemma as well. The Jones family had to severely weigh its options on Dak’s future. The kid did amazing things during his contribution in the 2020 season. A better defense, like the one that showed up on the second half of the season, would have gone a long way for Dak Prescott’s 2020 record. Heck, the Cowboys’ could’ve even made the playoffs as things stood at the end of the NFC East season.
Dak Prescott: The Leader
An intangible not even attributable to stats, is leadership. Dak Prescott is a natural at it. He plays with poise and leads the same way. Likes to win for a living. Prescott is competitive, enthusiast, focused, determined and above-all humble. His greatest trait is to care about others and treat them as brothers.
When Dak Prescott left the field against the New York Giants early in the campaign, few could have doubted his leadership skills. His old coach, Jason Garrett, was there for him when he fell to the ground. It is perhaps Garrett’s genuine concern for Prescott, even as a rival, which characterizes both of them. Garrett’s hand is clearly trust upon Prescott, and he has been able to develop much quicker than planned. Trusting Prescott into the starting role after Tony Romo was injured during a preseason game, was a defining moment in the Cowboys franchise.
Even though Mike McCarthy is now the Cowboys head coach, we must look at Jason Garrett to understand the leadership skills Prescott possesses. During Garrett’s tenure, Tony Romo conceded his starting role to Dak Prescott, basing his statement on meritocracy. It is perhaps this concession as well, one of the pivotal examples to outline Prescott’s influence on the team. Yes, Prescott had a great first season as a Dallas Cowboy, but he wouldn’t have done it without Garrett or Romo.
A QB room with both Jason Garrett and Tony Romo, gave Dak Prescott a lot of depth, insight and analytical views. He was able to dissect Romo’s intrinsic leadership skills, along with Garrett’s tremendous support. Jason Garrett understood, like no other coach, the two main things Prescott needed: a leader figure and a supporting hand. Dak Prescott got both in his first season as a starting quarterback. It is no wonder Patrick Mahomes has turned out to be such a leader as well, as he got the same treatment from Andy Reid and Alex Smith.
Ball Security
When we talk about Dak’s poise and determination, we have to take a look at his first games as a Dallas Cowboy QB. One of the main reasons that Dallas chose to stick with Prescott and let Tony Romo retire, was ball security. Ball security is the main focus on a quarterback in the National Football League. Carson Wentz can relate to that. Simply put, NFL teams look for a QB that will not put his team at risk by making a poor decision. Defenses will have good reads, and receivers will miss the mark or drop passes. Quarterbacks are just not allowed to have the miscues all by themselves. The more they miscue, the more likely they are to be out of a job.
Dak Prescott showed the world he was tremendously meticulous about ball security during his early days in the NFL. He still worries about every pick he throws, wants to be accurate, strives for completions. The Dallas Cowboys know that they need security to stay in the game, and Dak Prescott has shown through thick and thin that he can be that guy.
Some might say his scheme favors ball security, but then again, why doesn’t every team try the same scheme with their starting QB? Prescott is the scheme as much as the scheme is Prescott’s. Number 4 has genuinely adapted to play secure football. His long throws seem more rehearsed than chaotic. Short throws are sure to accumulate yards for his offense. Receivers know they can count on him to put them in a position to excel. He just asks for the same in return.
Player Intelligence
Being an NFL Quarterback is not just about throwing an accurate football, knowing the plays or leading. In order to be one of the best, you need a Quarterback that understands the game of football and can be ahead of defenses.
Jerry Jones once said during Tony Romo’s first season as a TV analyst: “To know that we had him here, with all of his knowledge now being showcased to the world, and still not be able to win a Super Bowl with him, is my biggest regret”.
Dak Prescott did not have an easy task in filling the shoes left vacant by Tony Romo as the leader of the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo is one of the highest Football IQ players of the game. Along with Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, Romo was like able to get out of a stress play and hit an improvised route like no other. Yes, Tony Romo had his turnover issues. Yes, Tony Romo was not able to win a Super Bowl, nor get near one. But no one can deny his football IQ is still one of the top of the game.
Dak must fill Tony Romo’s shoes with excellence, and has shown that he can make in-game adjustments to get out of trouble. Nonetheless, experience determines how high a QB can go when talking about player intelligence. During his first few years in the NFL, Prescott has found a way to make his offensive approach better. His played games in 2020, were the showcase of doing things the right way. His mental toughness was proven once again, coming from behind in the better part of these games.
Dak Prescott now faces a challenge he has not faced before, which is playing under the pressure of a multi-million multi-year deal. He must prove that he is healthy enough to undergo a full season and put the Dallas Cowboys in a position to succeed.
