With the curtain on the 2020 season set to go up in just ten days’ time, there’s a talented ensemble cast waiting in the wings. And to hear their leading man tell it, they’re ready to put on quite a show.
Quarterback Dak Prescott sat for a brief conference call with reporters on Wednesday and set the stage for the unveiling of the Cowboys offense in Los Angeles in Week 1. But despite (or perhaps because of) a brand-new coach and just a handful of practice sessions in this shortened preseason, Prescott talked about picking things up where the Dallas offense left off in 2019.
There are some new faces in some key places, for sure, but this season’s offense won’t be a from-scratch overhaul. Mike McCarthy may be the head coach now, but it’s still offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s attack plan when the Cowboys have the ball.
“That continuity has been huge,” Prescott said. “Been important for me. And not just for me, but everybody within this offense, from some of the veteran offensive line guys to the receivers. I had a talk early on with McCarthy: just the importance of it being Kellen’s show and the way that he does things. The majority of the quarterbacks you look at in the league that have had a lot of success have stayed in the same system, so that was the big importance: for him to keep me and the rest of this offense in the same system and take what we’ve done over the past few years and grow on that. We’ve had some success, but we’re just trying to take that to the next level. And that’s what he offers us.”
McCarthy’s not the only addition that the Cowboys hope will take them to the next level. The most visible on-the-field change within the Dallas offense will be the introduction of rookie receiver CeeDee Lamb. Expectations couldn’t be much higher for the Oklahoma product, who was pegged by the team as the best pass-catcher in the draft, yet improbably fell in the Cowboys’ lap with the 17th overall pick.
Prescott’s already thrown to some elite talent over his short four-year career, but he says Lamb certainly lives up the hype.
“My confidence is to the roof with him,” Prescott said of Lamb. “When he came in, I had high expectations for him because of the guy that I initially met in the offseason when we were throwing and when we were getting together. You could just tell the type of guy he is, the type of player, the type of competitor he is. So my expectations for him rose immediately from that meeting. To get into training camp, to see what he’s done, to see what he can do… I think he’s had as good a camp as anyone has, any position on this team. It’s exciting. As I said before, he’s going to play a huge role in our success, not only this year but in the future. I’m excited for it. Excited for him.”
CeeDee Lamb on @1053thefan on playing with Dak Prescott: “I’m enjoying it, man. His knowledge on the field is impeccable. Just going in there, knowing I can ask him anything and he’ll have the answer for me, that builds my confidence as a rookie WR and just as a WR in general.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 2, 2020
And it’s not just the starting cast. The Cowboys are blessed with a repertory of talented bit players, too. Guys like Noah Brown and Cedrick Wilson may not exactly be household names, but they’ve proven themselves to the point that the club released Devin Smith, a former second-rounder.
Prescott credited both Wilson and Brown for “their playmaking ability.”
“That ball is in the air, both of those guys feel like it’s their ball. Those are two guys you can almost throw fifty-fifty balls to and they’re going to come down with it more times than not. Very smart. Don’t make many mistakes, if any at all,” Prescott glowed. “Over the last couple of days in scrimmages, both of them have caught touchdowns and made big plays for this offense, so they’re just going out there and doing exactly what’s asked and letting their game speak for themselves.”
The first year of Moore’s offense was mostly successful. The Cowboys finished 2019 ranked third in the league in total passing yards behind Prescott’s best statistical year as a pro. With two more yards through the air, Prescott would have set a new Cowboys single-season record. As a unit, they scored 49 touchdowns, one away from placing in the league’s top five.
But that’s not to say that Prescott isn’t also looking to take a further step in his own evolution as an NFL passer. The two-time Pro Bowler will have a few new responsibilities on his plate in 2020.
“[I’m] Being asked to do some things, but I think they’re all things that I want to take. I want to take control of putting more of it in my hands, whether it’s getting from one place to another, whether it’s calling my own plays at certain times during two minutes, all things that makes the quarterback position special. More than anything, I’m happy that I get to take on these decisions and some of the things I’m being asked to do.
“I’m a guy that’s tough on myself, so I’m never to the point where I’m exactly where I want to be,” he explained. “But I’m always getting better, for sure, [I] can say that. Feel very comfortable in the offense, comfortable with the guys. Getting adjusted with communication, the new terms, the new words, that’s almost second nature, I guess you could say, now. I’m kind of right where I need to be and feel very comfortable with the offense and where we’re going as a team.”
McCarthy has put together an impressive cast, the kind that should be able to tear through whatever script Moore has crafted. But Prescott is the one with his name on the marquee. Where they ultimately go will largely depend on him and how he performs when the lights finally come up.
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