Tag: Dak Prescott

Here’s what’s wrong with Cowboys’ passing offense and how they can fix it

The roster and the play design deserve scrutiny in the Cowboys poor start in quick pass efficiency . | From @ReidDHanson

On a long journey, toll roads can be terrible. Oftentimes they sneak up on you, panic you with multiple payment lanes featuring unfamiliar signage, and then charge you exorbitant sums of money just to get to Point B. Locals aren’t quite so upset at the sight. They see an opportunity to cut commute time and come prepared with something like a “quick pass.”

A quick pass is a toll-road identification that typically lets regulars cruise through in the fastest lane while being charged the lowest amount. It’s a system hack for those in the know.

The Cowboys, like all NFL teams, have their own “quick pass.” It’s literally a quick pass, as in a pass delivered in under 2.5 seconds. Quick passes fall under the play design umbrella of the offense. Quarterbacks are tasked with progressions and improvisation while play designers are largely responsible for first reads and those system hacks known as quick passes.

Quick passes serve two major functions:

  1. They get the ball out faster than the pass rush can reach their target point.
  2. They create opportunities and also simplify reads based on pre-snap looks and smart opportunistic play design.

It’s an area in which the best QBs thrive. Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes are frequent names on the annual quick pass top 10 list. All of the above passers offer a certain competency, and all of the above passers accompany a respected, often elite, play designer.

Prescott is a name typically on this list. The Cowboys QB and his merry band of offensive weapons are deadly accurate when things are in rhythm and on time. This season – not so much.

Prescott and the Cowboys are the seventh worst in quick pass efficiency in 2024, calling into question the quality of the talent assembled by the front office and quality of play design under coach Mike McCarthy.

In all fairness, McCarthy is an easy target in this his fifth and possibly final season under contract in Dallas. McCarthy hasn’t been given an easy job in 2024. He’s endured a talent exodus for the second consecutive season and now coaches in a dreaded “lame duck” status amidst a soft rebuild. He’s trying to keep his signal caller alive while starting two rookies on his offensive line and he’s trying to move the ball without any running game to speak of or secondary receiver options in which to scheme.

It’s understandable that of all NFL QBs with 150 or more drop backs this season, Prescott trails only Kirk Cousins in average time to throw (2.59 seconds compared to 2.56 seconds ATT). McCarthy is designing plays that get the ball out quickly and keeps things easy for his rookie linemen, Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe, and one suspect veteran, Terence Steele. The problem is it just isn’t working.

The fact the Cowboys are seventh worst in the NFL in quick pass EPA this season speaks to the play design and roster talent more than the QB. It’s the cause behind receivers struggling to get open and it’s the reason the Cowboy passing attack ranks just 23rd while averaging a negative EPA for the first time in the Prescott era.

Great QBs typically define themselves with what they can create on the progressions they hit after the initial read flames out. Those are the times offensive coordinators pray they have the right man under center. Quick passes fall on the coaches and GM.

Much like a toll road quick pass on a long commute, a quick pass in football is a system hack that takes the easy route and makes offenses move, regardless of QB talent.

While many of the top QB-coordinator combos populate the top five list for quick passes, some oddballs have made appearances in 2024. Justin Fields and Sam Darnold, two QBs who flamed out and switched teams over the offseason, rank in the top five of quick pass EPA in 2024. Things have been simplified for them on their new teams and first reads are proving extremely fruitful.

Prescott hasn’t been so lucky.

There’s still plenty of time left in 2024. The Cowboys offense could bounce back, and Prescott’s start could fade away for the outlier it is. But enough time has passed that play design has to become a question people are asking right now.

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Watch: Cowboys Dak Prescott stars in commercial for Marvel movie release

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is the latest star to link up with Marvel in the movies. | From @KDDrummondNFL

There are definitely benefits to being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott played poker with owner Jerry Jones, twice, and won both times. In 2021 he responded to being franchise tagged in 2020 by working out a new agreement that was short in length (four years), for top-of-the-market money and also worked in second tag (useful in future holdouts), a no-tag clause and a no-trade clause.

He parlayed that leverage into a market-setting deal this past August to the tune of $60 million. Prescott has appeared in several commercials over the years, including spots for 7-11, Sleep Number mattresses and DirecTV. And now, a Sony and Marvel joint venture.

Prescott appears alongside Tom Hardy in a new commercial for Venom: The Last Dance, the third iteration in the franchise under the Spiderman umbrella. Prescott walks with Hardy’s character, Eddie Brock, who shares his body with an alien symbiote, as they walk through the open plains and plot on taking over a horse.

The commercial features Prescott doing his warm-up dance made famous several years ago, his signature “Here We Gooo!” pre-snap call and a reference to his recent deal.

This isn’t the first team-up between Sony and a sports figure, as a couple weeks ago Hardy walked in on UFC president Dana White, demanding a chance to enter the ring.

Venom: The Last Dance is released in theatres on October 25.

Cowboys slay Giants behind strong defensive effort

The Cowboys squared their record with a win over the Giants

The Dallas Cowboys used an efficient offense and dominant defense in a 20-15 victory over the New York Giants on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.

The Dallas defense came into the game worst in the league, allowing better than five yards a rush. It smothered the Giants’ running game to the tune of 26 yards on 24 carries.

What offense the Giants did have came from 281 passing yards by Daniel Jones. However, the quarterback was unable to get his team into the end zone.

Greg Joseph used his kicking leg 11 times and not once was it for a PAT. He kicked off six times and kicked five field goals in providing all the points for the Giants.

The biggest play for Dallas was a 55-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb in the first half.

Giants star rookie Malik Nabers left the game late in the fourth quarter with a concussion. He had 12 receptions for 115 yards .. but 39 of them came on one play so his output on the other 11 catches was 76 yards.

Wan’Dale Robinson had 11 catches for 71 yards as the Giants relied on a short passing game that came up short of the end zone.

They had one last chance at victory when Brandon Aubrey missed a 51-yard field goal in the final minute. It was the first time in his NFL career that Aubrey missed from outside the 50.

The Giants’ gasp concluded when Jones was picked off on a deep pass by Amani Oruwariye with five seconds left.

Dallas is 2-2; New York is 1-3.

Giants vs. Cowboys: 3 best prop bets for Week 4

The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys face off this Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. Here are three prop bets to consider.

The New York Giants (1-2) host their long-time rivals, the Dallas Cowboys (1-2), at MetLife Stadium on Thursday Night Football.

There’s a lot of wagering action going both ways in this game but there are some prop opportunities for bettors to take advantage of, per BetMGM.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Wan’Dale Robinson OVER 34.5 receiving yards (-110)

Dallas will be falling all over themselves trying to keep up with Malik Nabers, which leaves Wan’Dale Robinson to do what he does best — run the horizontal route tree. Daniel Jones checks down to Wan’Dale often, averaging eight targets per game. He should easily surpass the over on yards if he gets that this week.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Dak Prescott OVER 23.5 completions (-120)

With the Cowboys struggling to run the football, averaging a measly 73 yards per game on the ground so far this year, and the Giants have been staunch against the run. That means Dak Prescott will take to the air. The Giants have allowed 19, 23, and 21 completions in their three games thus far. Dak should get that, and then some.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Jones OVER 32.5 rushing yards (-110)

As stated, Dallas is vulnerable to the run and Daniel Jones has accounted for 23.5 percent of the Giants’ carries this season. In Week 1, Deshaun Watson rushed for 39 yards on five attempts and Lamar Jackson had 87 on the ground against them last week. It seems mobile QBs are having success versus them and Jones, if anything, is mobile.

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Giants vs. Cowboys: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 4

The New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night in Week 4, and here are three reasons for optimism.

The New York Giants will battle their division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 4 of the season.

Despite the two teams having the same record at the bottom of the NFC East, the Giants are currently home underdogs entering the game.

While the Giants are fresh off their first win of the season this past Sunday in Cleveland, the Cowboys have dropped two straight.

With both teams looking to get back to .500, here are three reasons for optimism for the Giants ahead of Week 4.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Giants revamped offensive line

To say the Giants’ offensive line has improved this season would be quite an understatement. We may just be three weeks into the season but the offensive line has played very well as a complete unit.

The offensive line has three new starters and a new offensive line coach which is all contributing to the best line play we have seen in probably over a decade.

The Giants’ O-line will have their hands full with Micah Parsons on Thursday. However, they should feel prepared coming off their matchup against Cleveland Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett.

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Momentum

The Cowboys may be the better team on paper but the Giants are coming off their first win in which their defense finally showed up in a big way — something we expected ahead of the season, especially the defensive line.

The Giants recorded 36 pressures on Sunday and getting the pass rush going could be just what the doctor ordered come Thursday. If they can make Dak Prescott uncomfortable, that would certainly help their chances of winning.

On offense, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has a new sense of confidence with the offense now running through his favorite target, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers.

The momentum is something that could play into the Giants’ favor on Thursday.

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Giants’ rushing attack

Despite having a fumble in each of the last two games, Devin Singletary has been impressive over the first three weeks of the season.

Dallas has been near the bottom of the league against the run this year and this could be something head coach Brian Daboll will look to exploit early and often on Thursday.

Dallas ranks dead last in opponents’ yards per rush, rushing yards per game, and rushing touchdowns per game.

It will be telling if the Giants rely heavily on the ground attack in this one.

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Prescott, Lamb with opportunity to get Cowboys back on track vs depleted Giants CB corps

From @ToddBrock24f7: Lamb and the Cowboys need to pull out of a serious funk. A Giants CB corps possibly without 2 of its stars on Thursday may be the ticket.

After getting taken to the woodshed in back-to-back weeks, the Cowboys are looking for something- anything- to feel encouraged about heading into a suddenly-very-important Week 4 game.

They may have found it in the Giants secondary.

Third-round rookie Dru Phillips and veteran Adoree’ Jackson, two of New York’s top cornerbacks, sat out the team’s Tuesday walkthrough- the second straight DNP for both- with calf injuries per the Giants website, and head coach Brian Daboll didn’t sound overly optimistic that either would be ready to suit up Thursday night.

“We’ll see. Go all the way to the end like we normally do,” Daboll told New York media on Tuesday. “We’ve got a couple more days; we’ll see where everybody’s at tomorrow night, Thursday morning.”

Jackson played just 17 defensive snaps in Week 3, while Phillips logged seven.

Daboll said he doesn’t believe either player will have to go on injured reserve, but that will be of little solace as Dak Prescott comes to town.

The Cowboys quarterback enters the game as the NFL’s passing yards leader through three games. Granted, a significant chunk of his 851 yards have come as the offense played from way behind against both the Saints and the Ravens, but Prescott won’t complain about facing a depleted secondary as Dallas looks to get back on track in their first divisional tilt of the season.

The Giants’ CB shuffle could put extra pressure on Deonte Banks, their 2023 first-round pick out of Maryland. This past Sunday, the 23-year-old was tasked with covering a five-time Pro Bowler.

It did not go well.

Banks got “torched by Amari Cooper and looked lost on the field” versus the Browns, according to Giants Wire. Cooper caught seven balls and scored twice in a game the Giants ended up winning.

It’s the kind of game film, though, that could have Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb salivating in anticipation after a very frustrating day last week.

Lamb sits one spot outside the league’s top 10 in receiving yards but was mostly stymied last Sunday after a costly red-zone fumble early in the game. Him returning to form (and quickly) will be absolutely critical if the Cowboys are to have any long-term success this season.

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Daboll admitted that finding a scheme to shut down Lamb has already been a focus for his staff during this short week.

“Tough opponent, really good player, CeeDee,” the coach said. “They’ve got a lot of really good players. So we’re burning it pretty good here.”

Giants cornerback Nick McCloud may also provide some relief for after missing Weeks 2 and 3 with a knee injury. He was listed as limited both Monday and Tuesday, but Daboll expressed “hope” that McCloud would be able to go Thursday.

Cor’Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins, and Art Green could also figure into the mix for the New York defensive backfield. They have one career interception among them.

Given the early struggles from the Cowboys’ run game, Mike McCarthy may be asking his running backs to help the offensive line with pass protection, letting Prescott and Lamb go to work on turning things around against a Giants CB corps already on the short end of the injury stick.

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NFL’s 12 highest-salaried QBs, from Dak Prescott to Kirk Cousins, off to rough starts in 2024

It’s a very small sample size, but the NFL season isn’t long to begin with. So it’s noteworthy how the top-paid QBs are struggling to start 2024. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Small sample sizes are tough to wrap ones head around. On one hand, the NFL regular season is just 17 weeks long. Three weeks are almost 20% of the season. On the other hand, it’s just three weeks. Still, if one can’t take stock entering Week 4 than what’s the point of a stock report?

When looking around the NFL landscape of quarterbacks, probably the hardest single position to play in all of professional team sports, the pay isn’t matching up to the performance in the early going of the 2024 season. At least when it comes to the top third of highest-paid quarterbacks.

Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen’s teams are a combined 6-0 on the young season. However, they both sit outside the top 12. The quarterbacks who have all signed in the wake of the mammoth deals signed in Kansas City and Buffalo respectfully are off to a rough start.

From Dallas QB Dak Prescott, who inked a $60 million extension right before the season began, to Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins and his $45 million a year pact, the teams of the top 12 highest-paid quarterbacks have a lowly 12-21 combined record through three weeks.

Limit the scope to the top-five highest paid and it’s even worse. Prescott, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Green Bay’s Jordan Love, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa are a combined 2-10 when starting.

Quarterback Team Record as Starter Average Salary
Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys 1-2 $60 million
Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals 0-3 $55 million
Jordan Love Green Bay Packers 0-1 $55 million
Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville Jaguars 0-3 $55 million
Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins 1-1 $53.1 million
Jared Goff Detroit Lions 2-1 $53 million
Justin Herbert Los Angeles Chargers 2-1 $52.5 million
Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens 1-2 $52 million
Jalen Hurts Philadelphia Eagles 2-1 $51 million
Kyler Murray Arizona Cardinals 1-2 $46.1 million
Dehaun Watson Cleveland Browns 1-2 $46 million
Kirk Cousins Atlanta Falcons 1-2 $45 million

For now, this is just an interesting stat.

QB salaries aren’t tiered in order of who is the best at any given moment. It’s a cyclical representation of whether or not a team believes a QB is good enough to steward a trip to a championship.

Quality QBs are so rare, that just the potential to be that guy for a franchise will put him atop the totem pole when his contract is renegotiated. The stark reality of the NFL for the last 25 years is that its very rare for any quarterback to ascend to that status. Between Mahomes and the recently retired Tom Brady, there’s been a Boys Club for Lombardi hoisters. Those two have combined for 10 Super Bowl wins; in that span only 10 other QBs have won championships in that quarter of a century.

If a team wants to play hardball instead of ponying up the cash, they either have to use the franchise tag, which will pay the QB the average of the top five salaries, or see another team give the QB the contract they wouldn’t.

For now, again, these teams aren’t seeing the wins one would hope are associated with such an expensive investment. There’s still 14 more games to go, though, so a check-in later in the season is absolutely warranted.

Lamar Jackson and Kyle Van Noy both joked about how Dak Prescott got away with an obvious safety

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens think the refs gave Dak Prescott special treatment here.

Usually, NFL officiating in any one game can be so poorly called that both teams have a legitimate laundry list of gripes to complain about. But sometimes, one call is so egregious, so lopsided against one team, that it’s hard not to wonder what the referees on hand were looking at.

That’s exactly what happened during a bizarre sequence on Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys were backed up against their own goal line in a battle with the Baltimore Ravens.

READ MORE: Dak Prescott’s suggestion to concerned Cowboys fans was so weak

With Dallas facing a third-and-long, Baltimore star defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike pressured Prescott and appeared to secure a safety by bringing the quarterback down in the end zone. There was one glaring problem, though. While being brought to the turf, Prescott shoveled off a pass to Dallas left guard Tyler Smith to clearly try and avoid a safety.

Uh, yeah, you can’t do that.

But rather than cite Prescott for intentional grounding and give the Ravens the two points they earned, the referees instead prioritized calling Smith for illegal touching as an offensive lineman, which, yes, still penalized the Cowboys, but it saved them from disaster:

After the game, Ravens veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy took to his Twitter account to question the logic behind how this sequence was officiated. Van Noy jokingly claimed he didn’t know that illegal touching by a lineman could nullify a safety in pro football. He was right to question the process:

On Monday, reigning MVP Lamar Jackson caught wind of Van Noy’s assessment and piled on the controversy. Jackson joked that the referees would’ve almost certainly penalized him for intentional grounding and given the Cowboys a safety if the situation had been reversed.

You know, given Dallas’ status as a marquee NFL team seemingly appearing on national television every week, Jackson probably isn’t wrong:

Oh, well. All’s well that ends well. At least this strange non-safety sequence didn’t come back to bite the Ravens, who managed to hang on for their first win of the 2024 season. Nonetheless, it’s still worth wondering about how the officials screwed this play up so badly that multiple players are complaining about it in public.

These kinds of plays and calls — where popular/famous teams are involved, no less — are never a great look for the NFL.

‘Don’t dwell’: Prescott hopes to quickly lift Cowboys teammates, Lamb out of Week 3 funk

From @ToddBrock24f7: Lamb ditched the media after Sunday’s loss. Prescott used his moment to spread hope that their 4th-quarter rally can spark something bigger.

Dak Prescott didn’t play his best game in Week 3. But he hopes his refusal to lie down, even trailing by 22 points with 10 minutes to play, can serve as something for the Cowboys offense to build on moving forward.

He told his teammates as much in the middle of their furious comeback bid that saw them score 19 unanswered points and have a legitimate chance at stealing an unlikely win over a Ravens team that had dominated them for the previous three quarters-plus.

“I said, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get something going [in terms of] momentum,” the Cowboys quarterback told reporters after Sunday’s 28-25 loss. “I don’t care how this game ends. It’s about getting something going.”

Now it’s about keeping it going, using that late-game rally as a springboard to a more complete effort and- hopefully- a divisional win on Thursday night.

“The way that we finished on offense is vital for us to be able to build on, Prescott said, with the team headed to New York on a short prep week to face the Giants, fresh off their first win of the season.

“It’s a long-ass season,” Prescott said after closing out the game with three straight touchdown drives (two through the air, one with his legs). The Dallas offense netted 211 yards on those final three possessions, nearly equaling the 217 from their first eight drives. “It’s important to continue to roll that over into this short week.”

How Prescott’s teammates respond to Sunday’s letdown remain to be seen, but last year’s MVP runner-up remarked on a few things he hopes to see.

“Us as players, we’ve got to be more professional and understand our jobs, understand where we’re supposed to be, and do that time and time again, and keep our focus,” he explained.

Asked what he meant by being more professional, he elaborated.

“Knowing where you’re supposed to be, knowing your reads, knowing where you’re supposed to line up, knowing your routes, knowing your route adjustments versus certain coverages,” Prescott continued. “It’s doing your job and being prepared for every part of the job, however it may come. Time away from the building to being in the building, understanding that you can only get so many practice reps but you can watch the film, you can do all these other things that will help make up for it.”

Many have taken those comments to be directed largely at CeeDee Lamb.

The superstar receiver was credited with four receptions for 67 yards, but his afternoon was primarily marked by visible frustration after a red-zone fumble early in the second quarter. Cameras spotted Lamb having a heated exchange with teammates and coaches on the Cowboys sideline, and he was never much of a factor after his turnover.

Prescott downplayed the significance of Lamb’s physical cues while the game was in progress. But it was certainly reminiscent of last year’s meeting with the 49ers, when Lamb sulked away from the rest of his teammates during a humbling loss in which he was not at all in sync with his quarterback.

“Reading body language, I’m not really into it,” offered Prescott. “I’m just into making sure that he doesn’t get down on himself. The body language, whether it’s good [or] it’s bad, it’s irrelevant. It’s where his mind is.”

Lamb, notably, did not make himself available to the press following Sunday’s game.

He has 218 receiving yards through three games, good for 11th place leaguewide, but his completion percentage is just 54.1%- lower than any of the ten pass-catchers in front of him, and far below last year’s mark of 74.6%.

Prescott couldn’t say exactly why there’s been something of a disconnect between the two (“Not really sure. If I had an answer, we’d be in a rhythm.”), but he wasn’t shy about laying at least some of the blame on Lamb’s summer-long holdout over a new contract extension.

“Obviously, when you miss some time, you’re going to have that. You wish you didn’t, but you are.”

So for now, all Prescott can do is keep at it. He spoke repeatedly during his postgame press conference of sticking to the process.

But admittedly, the process will have to speed up exponentially this week. Prescott explained that by the time he hit the facility on Monday morning, it would actually be like a Thursday in the team’s normal game-prep schedule.

And he hopes he can convince his teammates to similarly leave Sunday’s latest embarrassment in the rearview and use their fourth-quarter success to plot a new way forward from here on.

“‘Don’t dwell. You don’t have time to dwell,'” Prescott added. “You look at the way that game ended, and I feel like if we don’t dwell in different places on offense, it’s a different game… Things happen fast in this league, and you always have an opportunity. You always have a chance.”

The Cowboys still have 14 chances, in fact, in the 2024 regular season. Plenty of time to, in Prescott’s words, get something going.

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Dak Prescott’s weak response to concerned Cowboys fans after troubling 2024 start shows they’re coming apart

Dak Prescott has a loser mentality and so do the Cowboys.

Usually, the Dallas Cowboys save their spontaneous combustion for the playoffs. In the regular season, Mike McCarthy’s squad has almost always been a world-beater, winning at least 12 games in three straight years. When the stakes are lowest, you can almost always count on the Cowboys showing up. They are the definition of front-runners.

After a dispiriting 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens — where, at one point, they trailed 28-3 — it looks like the Cowboys might be imploding early by their standards.

Dak Prescott’s mentality after Sunday’s defeat shows as much.

While walking in the postgame tunnel, Prescott was recorded saying, “Jump off if you want.” It’s an apparent suggestion to Cowboys fans who (rightfully) don’t believe in the team after a troubling 1-2 start to get off the Dallas bandwagon. And it’s a little weird hearing this come from Prescott, of all people, who should probably be a bit more self-reflective as a newly-extended leader before turning his ire to non-believers of a team that demonstrates it’s usually fair to show no faith.

https://twitter.com/JetthroTV/status/1838001365752111175

I have two things to say to Prescott after this: don’t worry, whoever is left on the Cowboys’ bandwagon will definitely jump off if Dallas continues to voluntarily step on rakes this early in the season. After all the playoff failures, you’ve given people who somehow still believe in you (?) no further reason to believe.

And if you’re talking like this, it shows your focus is in all the wrong places. Another genuine Dallas collapse might be imminent.