I absolutely loved Dak taking off and running last night. That made the difference and won us the game. Looked a lot like he picked up something from watching Cam in week 1.
Do you think this is a new dynamic we are going to add to our offense?
We will see Dak Prescott keep it and run in some games and mainly go with the hand off in others.
The read option has been a staple in the offense since D4K became the starter.
It's easy to miss because Ezekiel Elliott will get the ball if the weakside edge defender stays in his lane and doesn't collapse on the perceived threat of #21 running inside. The Giants were biting on the threat of Zeke and Dak made them pay repeatedly by keeping the ball himself.
Seattle is going to be very aware of this and will harp on their guys staying where they belong.
All this said, Dak does not look to take off and run with the football akin to Cam Newton.
It's built in with the read option for the QB to keep the ball and run if the edge defender abandons contain and goes for the back. What that weakside edge does determines if the runner or QB ends up with the ball.
On passing plays, Dak almost never elects to run, and it's an area where he must improve in order to stop leaving yards on the field. I haven't re-watched the game yet, but I know of at least two opportunities last night where Dak could've bolted right up the middle for good yardage and he didn't, as per usual.
He will hang in the pocket waiting for someone to uncover, finally bail, and attempt to roll out to throw the ball away.
Stephen Jones spoke today about not wanting to expose the QB by running 8-10 times a game and that's perfectly understandable. We don't want to Dak to take unnecessary hits.
I'm not worried.
So far, he's only had 8 carries in a game once and had 7 carries three times. Dak does not look to run. He'll keep it 2-3 times on option plays and every once in a while run on called passes.
Dak also has a much sturdier build than someone like Robert Griffin or Mike Vick, he will typically slide to avoid contact and simply doesn't take off running on passing plays.
About the only time we will call a true QB run is less than one yard to go situations and two point conversions, which are very obvious.
Defenses know Dak. They know he isn't going to run the ball on passing plays unless forced and that designed QB runs aren't part of the game plan. Dak will keep it a few times on option runs and scramble when passing only if given no choice.
I'd like exploit that.
Dak needs to be coached that darting up the middle for 6-8 yards on a passing play if a big hole just opens up can be a very good thing. And adding the occasional QB keeper when we have defenses spread out with 11 or 10 personnel would be more of the same.
Dak is a conservative player, he doesn't like to take lots of chances with the football, and that's a great thing.
But I believe he needs to run more than he has to date, and not just as a built in component of the read option. Show defenses that need to worry about #4 busting up the middle on any passing play and designed QB draws so that they might feel the need to start spying to account for the threat.
There's a fine line here and undoubtedly the team is frightened about getting Dak injured, but I believe we have to let him cut loose and play the game.
Dak is too conservative.
The first thing most fans will thing of is the deep ball and not taking enough shots down the field during games. But the same holds true for Dak's feet, we need to see more of both.