Are Dak's Problems Mostly Mental or Physical?

Both......his limitations are uncorrectable at this point

RonnieT24 said:

Both... he has to lug around that 210 pound dead weight we call an offensive coordinator and he is forced to listen to him when he makes moronic play calls.

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Lol, this post made me laugh. But you're not wrong. There should be 3 categories we discuss when trying to figure out Dak. Is it mental, physical or coaching. I believe all three are problems. He has trouble with reading defenses and second guessing and has trouble making all the throws with accuracy. The most maddening part is the coaches, or Moore, will not coach a game that plays to his strengths. If he has trouble with reading a defense and anticipation then don't call long developing plays. Or throw more screens or quick slants. Call something that will play to the strengths he does have. Not a huge Dak fan but Kellen Moore didn't help him too much the 2nd half of the season.

Not a Dak fan. Not a hater either. I think he has NFL talent, & is better than a lot of current NFL QB's overall. Although, I don't believe he is upper echelon/elite as some like to pretend. He definitely has his short comings. However, it is what it is. No single thing would help him, & this team more, than better coaching, & play calling. When we scheme to his strengths, he's generally successful.

When they try to put him into "their vision" or scheme, he struggles. Dak is not Brady, Manning, or Rodgers. Sticking him in the pocket & asking him to thread needles & beat teams with his arm, is never going to net Championships. Dak is dangerous when he is a double threat. He also desperately needs an answer to lots of pressure. There must be a better plan for dealing with blitzes, & extra pressure. Whether that's more in tune with the TE's, or a WR giving him an outlet. He's got to have an answer for pressure.

We also must keep defenses on their toes. When's the last time you couldn't call run or pass pre snap..? If we can see it, so can the defenses. It's become pretty easy to predict what we're doing. Defenses are not challenged by our schemes. It would take a HOF caliber QB to succeed in that circumstance. Get creative, & scheme to Dak's strengths is the answer for increased success. Expecting Dak to outshine everybody based on raw football talent alone, is naive at best, & completely ignorant to reality at worst.

there both he's a true 4rh round qb he's all ready hit his plateau and now everything is down hill if you don't believe me stay tuned to this season

I think the biggest problem with Dak is definitely mental, as in it is in the minds of the fan base. He isn't perfect, he isn't elite, but he is what he always was, a good QB who some make the mistake of pretending he is great and others make the mistake of pretending he stinks...

Playmaker247 said:

People have made up their mind about Dak. Idk where this idea came from that he isn’t accurate but it’s just stupid. He’s one of the more accurate QB’s in the league whether it’s short or long passes. There’s tons of numbers that prove that. That narrative never makes any sense. There’s stats like expected completion over expected, target distance, air yards, % of throws on target, % of tight window throws, etc. All have Dak as being one of the better QB’s in terms of accuracy so anyone who says he’s not accurate is just repeating a dumb narrative and literally making stuff up

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What "tons of numbers" are you talking about...so we can get on the same page.,

Jarntt said:

I think the biggest problem with Dak is definitely mental, as in it is in the minds of the fan base. He isn't perfect, he isn't elite, but he is what he always was, a good QB who some make the mistake of pretending he is great and others make the mistake of pretending he stinks...

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I think some people have "defining moments"...a sort of tunnel vision. They only see the parts hat support their ....agenda?

And there's nothing particularly wrong with supporting a player on your team. The problem lies in insulting other people for their differing views.

I admit to a "defining moment" myself. The last play of Thanksgiving Day OT game. Brown wide open and Dak throws it low and behind. "Accuracy"? You are saying that was a rare throw?

So THAT...is crunch time...a time to play big. QB MUST make that very easy generic play! If we can;t make that play, how do we make the hard ones?

So as I said above, I'll have to check some numbers...but that play sticks with me as an example of plays I see too often from Dak.

@ 17:15

Playmaker247 said:

People have made up their mind about Dak. Idk where this idea came from that he isn’t accurate but it’s just stupid. He’s one of the more accurate QB’s in the league whether it’s short or long passes. There’s tons of numbers that prove that. That narrative never makes any sense. There’s stats like expected completion over expected, target distance, air yards, % of throws on target, % of tight window throws, etc. All have Dak as being one of the better QB’s in terms of accuracy so anyone who says he’s not accurate is just repeating a dumb narrative and literally making stuff up

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Yep, and I am not a huge Dak supporter...nor a Dak hater. I think he is good enough to win a SB with the right pieces. Just like Stafford was good enough with the right pieces.

Well, he's not the most accurate and he sometimes makes the wrong reads and he sometimes has the Yips. He is however a good leader and is smart and works hard. Is he worth 40 million per year probably not, but he's certainly the 10th to 15th best qb in the league which shows you how bad 16 to 32 is.

Playmaker247 said:

People have made up their mind about Dak. Idk where this idea came from that he isn’t accurate but it’s just stupid. He’s one of the more accurate QB’s in the league whether it’s short or long passes. There’s tons of numbers that prove that. That narrative never makes any sense. There’s stats like expected completion over expected, target distance, air yards, % of throws on target, % of tight window throws, etc. All have Dak as being one of the better QB’s in terms of accuracy so anyone who says he’s not accurate is just repeating a dumb narrative and literally making stuff up

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Hunter's accuracy vs bench rest accuracy.

A hunter needs to be able to hit in a 6-8 inch circle to be considered accurate. If he/she consistently accomplishes this, the stats will say he/she has an excellent completion percentage, as well as a full freezer.

Put that same person in a bench rest competition to compete for money to buy the meat..... they better have a great garden and like vegetables.

There is a reason we see all the complaints about all the comeback routes and general simplicity of the passing game. It's because those are the easiest and safest routes to throw. Dak's deep ball game is throw it out front and give the receiver a chance to get it. Nothing wrong with that but it doesn't indicate great accuracy. He has improved a bit and has his 'blind squirrel' type moments but..... he is what he is over the long haul.

Completion % is probably the worst indicator of QB performance. No accounting for degree of difficulty and it ignores the nuances of the 30+ % that were incomplete.

Assuming one has the tools to effectively chuck a football, which Dak does, the difference between average accuracy and elite accuracy is mostly mental. You can either make those in the moment calculations and deliver the ball precisely where it needs to be, or you can't.

I feel for the RB's who have to catch his passes in the flat. They are likely going to have to jump for it, or bend and scoop it and they have no idea what to expect or prepare for.

I can't imagine how someone can watch Dak play and come away thinking he is "one of the most accurate QB's in the league."

Cowboy Lover said:

I think some people have "defining moments"...a sort of tunnel vision. They only see the parts hat support their ....agenda?

And there's nothing particularly wrong with supporting a player on your team. The problem lies in insulting other people for their differing views.

I admit to a "defining moment" myself. The last play of Thanksgiving Day OT game. Brown wide open and Dak throws it low and behind. "Accuracy"? You are saying that was a rare throw?

So THAT...is crunch time...a time to play big. QB MUST make that very easy generic play! If we can;t make that play, how do we make the hard ones?

So as I said above, I'll have to check some numbers...but that play sticks with me as an example of plays I see too often from Dak.

@ 17:15

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Exactly what I'm talking about.

Dak had a very good comp % of over 68 in that game, but he whiffs on the must have gimee.

Pantone282C said:

What bothers me is that he alluded to it during the season. He said he would play hurt.

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true….. it After the season, when it no longer mattered, he admitted that health was in no way a factor in his diminished play. No doubt that he was indeed injured and played with a little pain, but the last 3-4 game stretch he said ( after the playoff loss) “he was 100% healthy.

I admire his candor and acceptance of responsibility for his mediocre and inconsistent play and not create a phantom excuse

His problem is on the sidelines and in the owners box. Moore is a figment created by the Cowboys PR machine. Jerry and Stephen make the culture not serious about winning football. The problems are and will always be the organization as long as the Jones family owns the team.

Dak is a 1-read system QB. Even before Witten returned, he was saying as a commentator that Dak is basically an early-read QB. Jimmy Johnson told us the same thing this year. That means he’s heavily dependent on Moore to scheme him guys open early.

He’s just your typical run of the mill QB that’s ‘accurate’ on his first read, including the deep ball. That’s where people fail to understand how he can be “accurate” and not even be able to “hit the broad side of a barn” in the same game. Also, his checkdown-Charlie attitude or his inability to process the field quickly, which leads to him pulling the ball down, meaning his being ‘risk averse’ nature, has allowed him to last much longer than a guy like Winston who’ll toss it anyways.

The reality is that 2016 was in large part, because of the SCHEME, with a dominant OL and RG. Teams essentially figured out that they needed to sit on the outs of Beasley’s routes or drop a defender back in those areas and Dak was exposed and Beasley had less than 40 catches.

People that think Dak going back to 2016 Dak would work are living in a fantasy. Defenses catch on and to be elite you got to be able to elevate your team by fitting throws in tight windows and doing the things great QBs do consistently, like hitting WRs in stride to get extra yardage. That’s the difference between elite and average when your in the pros. You eventually got to learn to be a pocket passer in this league.

Dak is better now that he was in 2016. He didn’t regress in reality. He’s peaked.

Cowboy Lover said:

1) Yes..."eye test thingy". You object? Then why even watch just check the box scores.
2) Yes..I am comparing Dak to Brady. Who would you prefer I compare him to? Cooper Rush?
3) Yes I think it's fair. Brady is the "standard". It's how it's done.
Addendum: If done in good taste and without malice.


Look if you choose to have low standards...fine. I understand not everyone is going to be Brady. What would happen if I compared Rodgers to Brady? Stafford to Brady? WOuld the differences be so evident? Not as...I say.

Does Dak need to be brady? Of course not.

Not sure why you object so much about it. Oh wait....I know. An apologist. Dak needs your protection and defense. Okay.

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1- no objection, just wanted clarification. everyone has their own eye test, because everyone is biased one way or other and their eyes see what it wants to see.

2- I am not objecting you comparing Dak to Brady, but then complaining that he is not as good as Brady, the GOAT....so is there anyone that can live up to Brady......but ok....

3- Brady is the standard that almost no one can live up to. I am not sure if there will be another Brady for couple of more generations or ever. so all future QBs will fail no matter what compared to Brady.

thus, if you compare anyone to Brady, you can say they suck and they are not good and complain about them. its Brady. so that tells me you just wanted to harp on Dak, chose Brady, thus no way in heck he could live up to that, thus your points would be valid.

btw, Cowboys were 9th in YAC in NFL. 4th in completion percentage....

let me start your next sentence for you: He did it against losing teams, he did against NFCE teams....not against winning and playoff teams

DeathMonkey said:

I think he can improve, but if you look at his completion percentages in his playoff games before 2021 and then at his 2021 playoff performance, you can see a precipitous drop in his numbers. There was something off. He himself said it was mental.

He does have some accuracy issues in that he constantly throws behind receivers....that they catch it skews his numbers. He's definitely one of the better QB's for sure. And he can get better. But he's not been playing elite. Let's hope he fixes it. I expect that he'll focus hard in the off-season to improve. I think a lot of fans get tired of those that tireless defend him even if fairly criticized just as much as those that constantly bash him even when he's doing good. He's a good QB with strengths and weaknesses. Since he's our qb, we should all be hoping that he improves because he's not going anywhere.

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his accuracy issues stem from his foot work. it almost always does. in prior year he had bad foot work, thus lead to inaccurate passes in tighter windows, which he often then held the ball too long to get the WR open before throwing and was getting sacked a lot. Kitna worked with him and he became more confident and more accurate and was throwing with anticipation more often. 2020 was good, 2021 started really good. I watched the games for 2021 anywhere I could and his footwork changed in first half of the season vs. second. and thus lead to a lot of bad throws. he would one hop, would lift his left foot before throwing consistently, couldn't or wouldn't plant and turn his hips properly, lost velocity as he was trying to arm the throws and he would lose velocity. he needs to get back to the fundamentals of his proper footwork to improve his play and his throws. just watch the games and its painfully obvious.

khiladi said:

Dak is a 1-read system QB. Even before Witten returned, he was saying as a commentator that Dak is basically an early-read QB. Jimmy Johnson told us the same thing this year. That means he’s heavily dependent on Moore to scheme him guys open early.

He’s just your typical run of the mill QB that’s ‘accurate’ on his first read, including the deep ball. That’s where people fail to understand how he can be “accurate” and not even be able to “hit the broad side of a barn” in the same game. Also, his checkdown-Charlie attitude or his inability to process the field quickly, which leads to him pulling the ball down, meaning his being ‘risk averse’ nature, has allowed him to last much longer than a guy like Winston who’ll toss it anyways.

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That's accurate.

If that first read is covered it's becomes Happy Feet immediately.

Didn't help that the team clearly told him to limit his runs. I don't think they had the luxury of doing that.

I think his biggest problem (other than Biadasz forgetting how to play football after Minnesota) was him playing to not get hurt.

I think it's possible to win with him, but he has to be used correctly, and throwing 55 times a game isn't it.

He needs to be in 2nd and 4-5 much more often than he is.

BoyzBlaster said:

Unfortunately I think we have a double whammy situation with Dak, i.e., he has both mental and physical problems. On the one hand he has weird mechanics and this results in worm burners and passes sailing over the outstretched arms of receivers. On the other hand, his inaccuracy has clearly affected his confidence, to the point he never attempts difficult passes especially in clutch situations, culminating in that wonderfully comic slide to end last season.
What do the rest of the zoners think?

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It's more like a HOTCHPOTCH on things that are affecting his abilities/non-abilities in the league.

CowboysFaninHouston said:

1- no objection, just wanted clarification. everyone has their own eye test, because everyone is biased one way or other and their eyes see what it wants to see.

2- I am not objecting you comparing Dak to Brady, but then complaining that he is not as good as Brady, the GOAT....so is there anyone that can live up to Brady......but ok....

3- Brady is the standard that almost no one can live up to. I am not sure if there will be another Brady for couple of more generations or ever. so all future QBs will fail no matter what compared to Brady.

thus, if you compare anyone to Brady, you can say they suck and they are not good and complain about them. its Brady. so that tells me you just wanted to harp on Dak, chose Brady, thus no way in heck he could live up to that, thus your points would be valid.

btw, Cowboys were 9th in YAC in NFL. 4th in completion percentage....

let me start your next sentence for you: He did it against losing teams, he did against NFCE teams....not against winning and playoff teams

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Ah I see...so you have preconceived notions of what I'm gonna say, eh? Talk about "bias"...how can we have a fair conversation with that attitude?

DId I EVER say "Dak sucks"? No...I HAVE NEVER EVER said it...but there you go making up sheet. How can we have a fair conversation with you doing that?

I already said he doesn't need to be brady. But there you go making up sheet again!

I am using Brady as The Standard...again I ask you...who QB would suit your sensibilities? I'm using that game to make it OBVIOUS. Shall I use some less talented QB than Dak so he LOOKS good?

Good lord....dude....what is wrong with you? You make up stuff in your head people never said then call then Dak Haters. Ridiculous. Insulting.