Dak, Shaw, and what the offseason entailed

[erod]

We all know Dak works hard. We all know he's a natural leader. And we all know he has tremendous poise for a young quarterback, or any QB for that matter.

But this morning, I heard detail about what his offseason has entailed, and it sounds spectacularly encouraging.

The dude has been busting his backside, and not in just the "football way." Yes, he's been pounding the weight room, but not in the typical Neanderthal manner. Yes, he's been studying up and watching tape, but not just going through the motions like too many QBs do. There's a real plan with serious thought put into it.

Dak knew he threw a pretty weak ball. He knew that he was working with a skeleton version of Linehan's offense. To his absolute credit, he seems to fully understand that has to change for him to reach the elite class of NFL quarterbacks.

So, he's been working with performance trainer Tom Shaw to address the physical, and he's spent oodles of time with his offensive coaches to install the rest of the offense into his repertoire.

Specifically, Dak has employed a core-building workout designed to help him put more zip on the ball with more accuracy. And apparently, he's putting "Elway-like" zip on the ball now. Wowzers, I can't tell you how fun-happy that makes my football head.

Plus, it's said that a much larger portion of "Romo's offense" is now in his grasp mentally, which I hope means more effective checks and reads at the line of scrimmage. He certainly has the mental acumen to learn that side of the game, although that can take significant time. Steady progress is the key.

Such a work ethic should, in time, make Dak the leader of the leaders on this team. That's critical to any good team. Your QB has to give the queues to the guys that give the queues.

The lone concern the team has is Dak's close relationship with Zeke. That has to all but stop from an after-hours standpoint. It's a much different thing being the QB of the Cowboys, as opposed to just a running back, even if you are a talent like Zeke. Being QB of the Cowboys comes with a greater responsibility than any in sports, which each Cowboys QB passes on in conversation to the next.

I, for one, am not worred about Dak in that regard. He gets it.

What has to be remembered in the interim is that young QBs are a work in progress, so if things get a bit ugly here and there for Dak, the greater picture has to be kept in mind for his sake. The dye is cast in his image, and fortunately, this offense is so damn good that it can carry him if needed at times while that development evolves. Patience is the key. It'll happen in time if cooler heads prevail from Dak and the organization. The fan base must be ignored, good or bad, as it goes along.

Success is always found in the details that so few are willing to commit themselves to. That's the difference between a guy like Rodgers and a guy like Kaepernick, a guy like Brady and a guy like Leinart, or a guy like Romo and a guy like Weeden. It's not the physical, and it's not the mental; it's the proper alignment of the two.

Of all the good I've heard from camp so far, this charged my juices more than anything. Jaylon, the young DBs, Collins at RT, Switzer, etc, that's all just dandy. But this team's fortunes over the next decade rest squarely on #4.

The Cowboys nabbed a future star at QB in the virtual 5th round after landing Zeke, Jaylon, Maliek, AB, and perhaps Tapper in the exact same draft. How crazy will that make the Giants and Eagles fans for years to come.

Here's some details about Dak and Shaw: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...t-works-with-tom-shaw-in-readying-for-season/

 

[Silver Surfer]

QB's who work at perfecting their craft are the one's who succeed (Brees, Manning, etc).

Guys who don't - don't (Manziel, Russell, etc).

It appears early on that Dak is more aligned with the former than the latter. That's good news for the Cowboys.

 

[xwalker]

Dak knew he threw a pretty weak ball. He knew that he was working with a skeleton version of Linehan's offense. To his absolute credit, he seems to fully understand that has to change for him to reach the elite class of NFL quarterbacks.

There is nothing in the article about him "throwing a weak ball".

 

[erod]

There is nothing in the article about him "throwing a weak ball".

Wasn't referring to that article in that regard. It's was discussed locally this week that Dak is working his core so he can get better zip on the ball downfield. The word is, he's got a lot more velocity on the ball this camp compared to last.

Dak did throw a weak ball downfield. He tended to arc everything. He needs to rifle it over the deep middle on crossing routes, and he kind of threw it up for grabs too much. He didn't like back-shoulder throws much, and I think it's only for that reason.

With more velocity on the ball, it opens up a lot more of the offense.

 

[big dog cowboy]

So, he's been working with performance trainer Tom Shaw

If Shaw is as good of a athletic performance trainer as he is a singer and songwriter then Dak was in good hands.

 

[SDCowboy]

I give you flack from some of your threads/posts in regards to Dak, so I gotta give you props on this. Good stuff, erod.

 

[jazzcat22]

Last night on TC Live on NFLN. They asked Willie and the other guy to find out about Zeke and his off season training, saying how he looked slimmer but better.

So in an interview with Willie McGinnist. Dak said he knew he needed to drop some weight, but the weight is still the same, but just in muscle from his training. Looks slimmer but in better shape.
Mike Woichek the Cowboys trainer, and Willie is familiar with him from his days at NE. Said Mike gives out off season awards. And Dak won one this year for his work and dedication in the weight room and training. for the best production and training or what ever the wording was.

So expect a better, faster, more elusive Dak in the way I took it.
Dak also said, he wants them to throw the entire play book at him, he is eager and hungry to learn it all.
He watched film from last. year and he was rarely in any of it, and now he is in almost all of it. So he is ready to learn more now.

 

[erod]

Last night on TC Live on NFLN. They asked Willie and the other guy to find out about Zeke and his off season training, saying how he looked slimmer but better.

So in an interview with Willie McGinnist. Dak said he knew he needed to drop some weight, but the weight is still the same, but just in muscle from his training. Looks slimmer but in better shape.
Mike Woichek the Cowboys trainer, and Willie is familiar with him from his days at NE. Said Mike gives out off season awards. And Dak won one this year for his work and dedication in the weight room and training. for the best production and training or what ever the wording was.

So expect a better, faster, more elusive Dak in the way I took it.
Dak also said, he wants them to throw the entire play book at him, he is eager and hungry to learn it all.
He watched film from last. year and he was rarely in any of it, and now he is in almost all of it. So he is ready to learn more now.

One thing I don't like to hear is that they're getting him ready to run more read-option stuff.

No thanks. That should be rare. That gets QBs killed.

 

[jazzcat22]

One thing I don't like to hear is that they're getting him ready to run more read-option stuff.

No thanks. That should be rare. That gets QBs killed.

I hope not, I am not a fan of the read option. That is why RG3 is not around.
I haven't heard anything about this, I don't think Linehan would do this.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Wasn't referring to that article in that regard. It's was discussed locally this week that Dak is working his core so he can get better zip on the ball downfield. The word is, he's got a lot more velocity on the ball this camp compared to last.

Dak did throw a weak ball downfield. He tended to arc everything. He needs to rifle it over the deep middle on crossing routes, and he kind of threw it up for grabs too much. He didn't like back-shoulder throws much, and I think it's only for that reason.

With more velocity on the ball, it opens up a lot more of the offense.

I was about to say, I certainly hope that a respected QB trainer like Shaw wasn't implying that you could lift weights and have a stronger throwing arm. It's almost entirely genetic.

 

[jday]

There is nothing in the article about him "throwing a weak ball".

There was a study released a few months back that criticized the lack of velocity on some of Dak's throws. It was a really good read, though, I don't recall where I read it. At any rate, if he's working on it, that would suggest he acknowledges the need for improvement, which lends credence to the aforementioned article.

 

[aikemirv]

Dak needs to stay tight with Zeke and keep him out of trouble.

Zeke needs a positive role model and more common sense with him as much as possible.

 

[xwalker]

There was a study released a few months back that criticized the lack of velocity on some of Dak's throws. It was a really good read, though, I don't recall where I read it. At any rate, if he's working on it, that would suggest he acknowledges the need for improvement, which lends credence to the aforementioned article.

What QB does Troy Aikman and many other experts consider as the greatest ever?

Answer: Joe Montana.

Who has the stronger arm, Montana or Dak?

Answer: Dak.

 

[jday]

What QB does Troy Aikman and many other experts consider as the greatest ever?

Answer: Joe Montana.

Who has the stronger arm, Montana or Dak?

Answer: Dak.

The Cowboys didn't lose any games because of Dak's lack of velocity, so I completely understand what you are saying. That said, in the article linked in the OP Dak pointed out that he wanted to work on the aspects of his game that were his weaknesses and turn that weakness into a strength. So I guess we will see if there is any noticeable difference in his passing very soon.

 

[erod]

What QB does Troy Aikman and many other experts consider as the greatest ever?

Answer: Joe Montana.

Who has the stronger arm, Montana or Dak?

Answer: Dak.

Ok, the greatest QB of all time didn't have a strong arm. Greg Maddox was also a soft-tossing junk baller, and Allen Iverson was 160 pounds. There are exceptions.

But we're talking about Dak, who doesn't have the zip or confidence to really wing it over the middle downfield. A bit more zip would definitely help that, like it's helped many.

 

[DogFace]

One thing I don't like to hear is that they're getting him ready to run more read-option stuff.

No thanks. That should be rare. That gets QBs killed.

I would say they plan on using it a little more. Not much. Just a little. Imo it's really hard for the D to do anything about it when it's properly mixed in.

 

[xwalker]

The Cowboys didn't lose any games because of Dak's lack of velocity, so I completely understand what you are saying. That said, in the article linked in the OP Dak pointed out that he wanted to work on the aspects of his game that were his weaknesses and turn that weakness into a strength. So I guess we will see if there is any noticeable difference in his passing very soon.

Yes, but the OP made it seem as if the article indicated one of those weaknesses was lack of arm strength, but that was not in the article.

Some amount of "arm strength" in terms of throwing a football is related to mechanics. You can see that some players have a very deliberate way they roll their wrist with an exaggerated follow through. Romo developed a more obvious and deliberate wrist action over the years. Other players have a very open type of release with the hand/wrist where in slow motion it looks more like a shot-put wrist action than the wrist action of a baseball pitcher throwing fastballs.

I remember many photos of Aikman where you could see the exaggerated "Pronation" of his hand/arm. Pronation of the right hand/arm is counter-clockwise rotation. Supination is clock-wise rotation of the right hand/arm.

Over the years I've noticed more of the "athletic" type QBs with the more open, hand under the ball type of hand/wrist action. Some actually get good velocity but those balls tend to float as their coming down from the arc.

One tell-tale sign is the nose of the ball up or down when it gets to the receiver.

Andrew Luck's throws have an interesting trajectory with an exaggerated nose-down of the ball. It's the far opposite of a "floating" type ball.

Basketball players have a similar issue. The good shooters roll their wrist forward instead of letting the ball just roll off their their hands. Amateurs tend to have an open release that imparts a backspin on the ball.

 

[erod]

Yes, but the OP made it seem as if the article indicated one of those weaknesses was lack of arm strength, but that was not in the article.

Some amount of "arm strength" in terms of throwing a football is related to mechanics. You can see that some players have a very deliberate way they roll their wrist with an exaggerated follow through. Romo developed a more obvious and deliberate wrist action over the years. Other players have a very open type of release with the hand/wrist where in slow motion it looks more like a shot-put wrist action than the wrist action of a baseball pitcher throwing fastballs.

I remember many photos of Aikman where you could see the exaggerated "Pronation" of his hand/arm. Pronation of the right hand/arm is counter-clockwise rotation. Supination is clock-wise rotation of the right hand/arm.

Over the years I've noticed more of the "athletic" type QBs with the more open, hand under the ball type of hand/wrist action. Some actually get good velocity but those balls tend to float as their coming down from the arc.

One tell-tale sign is the nose of the ball up or down when it gets to the receiver.

Andrew Luck's throws have an interesting trajectory with an exaggerated nose-down of the ball. It's the far opposite of a "floating" type ball.

Basketball players have a similar issue. The good shooters roll their wrist forward instead of letting the ball just roll off their their hands. Amateurs tend to have an open release that imparts a backspin on the ball.

My OP didn't really have anything to do with the article. It was based on local conversations on radio (and elsewhere).

I just threw the link in because it had background on Shaw.

 

[xwalker]

Ok, the greatest QB of all time didn't have a strong arm. Greg Maddox was also a soft-tossing junk baller, and Allen Iverson was 160 pounds. There are exceptions.

But we're talking about Dak, who doesn't have the zip or confidence to really wing it over the middle downfield. A bit more zip would definitely help that, like it's helped many.

Some of what people think is a weak-arm is just that Dak doesn't like to put any more "heat" on his throws than necessary for accuracy purposes.

Think about throwing a paper wad at the trash can. You're not going to throw it as hard as possible if you want to be accurate.

 

[DFWJC]

Go get 'em Dak