What happened to Dak?

[percyhoward]

Guys talk about how great Zeke is, then they wonder why the QB struggles when he is out.

Its pretty simple stuff. Once Zeke was out NOBODY respected the run game. So they all turned their attention to Dak and the passing game.

That's certainly a big part of it, but it's important to note that until this season's midpoint, Prescott had played well without Elliott in the game.

Prescott without Elliott
before Elliott's suspension (Elliot not in the game, 2016-17)
131 of 215 (61%) 1574 yd 7.3 ypa 10 td 2 int 95.0
during Elliott's suspension
106 of 167 (63%) 1037 yd 6.2 ypa 5 td 7 int 73.4

 

[CowboyRoy]

That's certainly a big part of it, but it's important to note that until this season's midpoint, Prescott had played well without Elliott in the game.

Prescott without Elliott
before Elliott's suspension (Elliot not in the game, 2016-17)
131 of 215 (61%) 1574 yd 7.3 ypa 10 td 2 int 95.0
during Elliott's suspension
106 of 167 (63%) 1037 yd 6.2 ypa 5 td 7 int 73.4

Without him in the game? You mean before he got suspended?

 

[odog422]

I believe Dak could've handled all the adversity if he had one thing, and many already said it - coaching. Romo started with David Lee (Romo gives big time credit to Lee for his formative years) and Parcells. Who can forget Parcells drilling Romo on dropping back, setting his feet and releasing the ball on "Hard Knocks?" There is so much that that kind of teaching does for a QB. Romo also had Terrell Owens in his prime who didn't have the greatest hands but was crazy explosive, so he got open and made opponents pay. Romo also had a young Witten, and Terry Glenn, who had great hands and crazy speed. In other words, he could get open AND catch. What I remember most when Romo started was the way he spread the ball around quickly. He dropped back and the ball was out and it went to everybody, very much the way Dak did last year. I believe this staff coached that out of Dak, told him you have get the ball to Dez. D-Coordinators schemed to double Beasley and what's left? This offense is a mess.

Everyone makes these comparisons to Romo, Brady, et. al. about throwing receivers open, etc. They also compare Dak to the finished versions of these QBs, which is wholly unfair. Understanding about throwing receivers open is coaching. You are coached to understand that you have to trust the play and make the throw. I think Dak has suffered enough negative consequences when throwing to these receivers that he has no trust in them anymore. How many of his INTs went through the hands of receivers? I also think he has seen when he has done that and not received enough positive reinforcement in doing that and getting a completed pass. He has, IMO, attempted to throw as directed and the pass was knocked away because our receivers don't get separation.

Jerry doubling down on garrett and I don't think Linehan is going anywhere either and I don't see Dak getting what he needs. It's a reason they say things like "you can ruin a young QB." EVERY QB needs support, its the ultimate team game. I believe Dak is not getting it from a coaching standpoint and his receivers have been inconsistent. He appears smart and heady and yes, he's risk averse, but I think proper coaching takes advantage of that. It shouldn't be a hindrance. Especially when you have the physical talent to do what's needed.

 

[Gameover]

Guys talk about how great Zeke is, then they wonder why the QB struggles when he is out.

Its pretty simple stuff. Once Zeke was out NOBODY respected the run game. So they all turned their attention to Dak and the passing game. Play action, which had become a staple for Dak and the offense no longer worked. Then they start dissecting the tendencies of Dak. He loved to go to Beasley and Witten in key situations. He was NOT on the same page with Dez. So defenses doubled and took away Beasley and Witten. So he was left to do what? Throw to Dez and Williams? Poor percentages. And Dez is rarely open.

And now you have to factor in the other variables. Instead if being 3rd and short, we are now in 3rd and long situations. Dak isnt used to that and now they are teeing off on the pass rush and taking away his security blankets.

Then you throw in the Oline injuries and personnel changes.

Then on top of that throw in the coaching staff and their inability to "make adjustments" or "next man up, dont do anything different, dont help out Chaz Greem stupidity and it gets worse.

Now you throw in the fact that Dak is only a 2nd year QB coming off a season where nothing ever went wrong, he was pressing and you have the perfect storm for a bad season for a young QB. Dak took his lumps this year. In reality, this was the rookie season he never had to go through last year.

Wentz had adversity last year and lots of it. He got a chance to learn from the hardships. Dak had smooth sailing. Was able to sneak up on people and had an easy schedule.

NOT this year. Anything and everything went wrong and he had to learn and deal with it.

The run game wasn't bad without Zeke

Dak struggled w Zeke @ Denver and @ Washington, didn't get anything going at Arizona until late.... all w Zeke And really weren't that good vs KC(offense as a whole) when you consider how bad KC defense had been performing the weeks preceding that game.

Sometimes the clues in the deep end of the pool. Let's get out of the shallow waters!

 

[Doomsday]

I like Dak but he has to improve for the offense to take the next step in my opinion.

- Presnap reads of coverage is lacking
- Mechanics get sloppy which hurts his accuracy
- Needs to anticipate guys coming open instead of waiting for them to come free

Here is one example - It is basically 4 on 2 at the top of the screen in less space vs 3 on 2 at the bottom. The play design isn't the best IMO either but its pretty typical of JG's offense. 2 outside WRs running deep, basically trying to clear out space for the underneath routes to pick up the first down.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The run game wasn't bad without Zeke

Dak struggled w Zeke @ Denver and @ Washington, didn't get anything going at Arizona until late.... all w Zeke And really weren't that good vs KC(offense as a whole) when you consider how bad KC defense had been performing the weeks preceding that game.

Sometimes the clues in the deep end of the pool. Let's get out of the shallow waters!

Its not about the run game NOT being bad. It was about the other team not respecting it or having to worry about it being a strength.

And the run game was NON existent against Denver. Or dont you remember Zeke getting like 40 yards and quitting?

 

[CowboyRoy]

I like Dak but he has to improve for the offense to take the next step in my opinion.

- Presnap reads of coverage is lacking
- Mechanics get sloppy which hurts his accuracy
- Needs to anticipate guys coming open instead of waiting for them to come free

Here is one example - It is basically 4 on 2 at the top of the screen in less space vs 3 on 2 at the bottom. The play design isn't the best IMO either but its pretty typical of JG's offense. 2 outside WRs running deep, basically trying to clear out space for the underneath routes to pick up the first down.

So a 2nd year QB has to improve? Sounds about right.

 

[Kevinicus]

Dak did not have absolute domination surrounding him, so he was forced to do the normal things an NFL QB is required to do most of the time. He was not up to the task. It's really not all that complicated.

 

[Cmac]

Dez fumbled.

Dez tipped the pass into the air for an INT.

The overthrow of Zeke in the left flat was due to last second hands up by the defender rushing against Bell. Dak was just trying to avoid it getting blocked. Side note, Dez was a similar distance from the intended receiver as the defender that caught the INT but made no effort to go for the ball or get to the defender to tackle him.

Bailey missed field goals.

Dak was under heavy pressure often and was hit hard a few times.

If Dez does not screw up multiple times and if Tyron was healthy, we would be discussing a great win.

Gotta admit....everything listed blamed someone else. Now what did Dak do to illustrate he needs work on his game too?

 

[Doomsday]

Dak did not have absolute domination surrounding him, so he was forced to do the normal things an NFL QB is required to do most of the time. He was not up to the task. It's really not all that complicated.

Not only did he not have domination, he had sub par play around him. The pass protection has not been good and the WRs dropped a lot of balls, I believe Dez is 3rd in the league with 12 drops. Not to mention tipped passes, penalties and defenses adjusting to what they did last season. He is a 2nd year guy, you can't expect him to mask all the issues with this offense.

 

[xwalker]

Gotta admit....everything listed blamed someone else. Now what did Dak do to illustrate he needs work on his game too?

Most of his accuracy issues are due to pressure around him but I think there are some of those where he can do better despite the pressure. His delivery could be a little more compact which would help.

His field vision can be a little narrow but that's expected for a young QB. It will get better. I think some of it is how he is coached to not try to do too much.

 

[aikemirv]

I want to know where all those leadership abilities that he had over Romo went?

 

[Coy]

Passer rating is dependent on the receivers and the ones in Dallas are #3 type at best.

Percy also posted earlier in the season about how Dak's passer rating when Dez is the target is drastically worse than all the other receivers.

I don't need passer rating to know he sucked, it only confirms what I saw.
Dak sucked big time, hope he turns it around next year.

 

[xwalker]

I don't need passer rating to know he sucked, it only confirms what I saw.
Dak sucked big time, hope he turns it around next year.

Yes, people don't need facts when it's easier to just have an opinion based on their "feelings".

 

[Coy]

Yes, people don't need facts when it's easier to just have an opinion based on their "feelings".

Hahaha facts? Numbers are facts but somehow you don't think passer rating says anything.
Forget about facts if you'd like, if you know a bit about football you should know Dak sucked big time, especially in the 2nd half of the season with 5 passing TD's and 9 Int's with a below 60 passer rating in four games, but hey, it's all Dez's fault, lol.

 

[MRV52]

1. Linehan
2.Scheme
3.Linehan
4 Scheme

 

[JDSmith]

That's certainly a big part of it, but it's important to note that until this season's midpoint, Prescott had played well without Elliott in the game.

Prescott without Elliott
before Elliott's suspension (Elliot not in the game, 2016-17)
131 of 215 (61%) 1574 yd 7.3 ypa 10 td 2 int 95.0
during Elliott's suspension
106 of 167 (63%) 1037 yd 6.2 ypa 5 td 7 int 73.4

I'm sorry but I don't think it's remotely the same thing to have Zeke come out for a series or have him suspended for games. I don't see how you can realistically compare those two situations - teams gameplan for certain things. They aren't going to make drastic changes because Morris comes in for a few handoffs, but they sure will when they know Morris is it and there is no Zeke. And you're comparing numbers from 2 different seasons on top of that, I'm guessing because you didn't have enough plays without Zeke (pre-suspension) from this year alone.

 

[JDSmith]

I want to know where all those leadership abilities that he had over Romo went?

I asked that in another thread, maybe in a slightly more abrasive way. Crickets. Apparently it's not a selling point when you have to blame everyone around him for the inept play we're seeing. Hard to say he's elevated everyone and then in the next sentence say everyone sucks - particularly when they didn't suck before.

 

[xwalker]

Hahaha facts? Numbers are facts but somehow you don't think passer rating says anything.
Forget about facts if you'd like, if you know a bit about football you should know Dak sucked big time, especially in the 2nd half of the season with 5 passing TD's and 9 Int's with a below 60 passer rating in four games, but hey, it's all Dez's fault, lol.

The entire receiving corp is subpar. TWill should be a #3 but is functioning more like a #1 now because Dez isn't. Witten needs better/faster receivers around him or need to step back and let a younger more athletic TE play half of his snaps. Beasley does not have elite speed or RAC elusiveness. He needs better receivers around him to offset his limitations.

Dak has not been terrible but you don't spend any time reviewing the games to know.

 

[Coy]

The entire receiving corp is subpar. TWill should be a #3 but is functioning more like a #1 now because Dez isn't. Witten needs better/faster receivers around him or need to step back and let a younger more athletic TE play half of his snaps. Beasley does not have elite speed or RAC elusiveness. He needs better receivers around him to offset his limitations.

Dak has not been terrible but you don't spend any time reviewing the games to know.

To each his own I guess, you basically say the offense has failed him, I say he’s failed the offense.
And I do agree that Dez didn’t help out but I have a difficult time understanding how anyone can blame everyone except Dak.

We still have 2 all pro ofensive linemen (no other team can say that) and a great running game (top 3 in yards) while having an awful passing game, (25th in yards)
So common, like it or not, Dak deserves most of the blame on that one, just like he got most of the credit in 2016. You can’t have it both ways.
He’ll probably be the first to agree with that.