Dak and his interceptions

[Bagman]

This isn’t an anti-Dak thread. He clearly is the one that can take us all the way, or an early exit depending on his play.

The disturbing pattern for me is that the interceptions seem to only be occurring when we are deep in our own territory. Often right before end of the half.

While it sucks to turn the ball over when you could have put points on the board. To me it is even worse when you do so where the opposing team can get easy points.

I guess my question is. What psychologically is different for him in this situation? Is he trying to be over cautious and therefore allowing DBs to jump routes. Or is he trying to force things that aren’t there, realizing that punting from deep in your own territory is poor field position management. Is it the play calls themselves being different?

He has never learned to just throw it away when it’s not there. Can they teach him to run more in those situations?

Does anyone see the same thing, and can better explain it. Or is it just coincidence?

I just think when we're backed up near our endzone we fall into a pattern of 2 or 3 pass plays. Dak is very comfortable looking for Schultz over the middle and I think opponents sit on that route. We need another bread and butter guy to get us out from our half of the field. More creativity from Moore would be great.

 

[TexasBacon]

Dak just needs to play within his skill set. He is an upgrade to Rush but far below the Mahomes, Hurts, Burrows and Allens. Just manage the game. We don't need him to win it, just don't lose it.

Nice alt account, Mountaineer.

 

[Vtwin]

It's obvious that Dak is trying to reinvent himself.

We've all heard the criticism of "Dak needs to see the receiver wide open" a million times. Most of these interceptions are on passes Dak would not have attempted in past seasons. The passes not thrown that earned him that often expressed criticism we've all heard million times.

The problem is, that is a very very tough thing to do when you have never done it before and especially when you don't have the ingrained mindset to do it.

Dak is never going to be that guy. He just doesn't have the instincts and attitude required. He will make some plays but he will throw these interceptions trying to make those plays. Likely get a receiver or two knocked out along the way.

It is what it is.

 

[john van brocklin]

I think it is tied to not having Amari having coverage rotated over to his side. The pattern on the defensive side is more full!

As good a theory as I have heard, thanks

 

[john van brocklin]

It's obvious that Dak is trying to reinvent himself.

We've all heard the criticism of "Dak needs to see the receiver wide open" a million times. Most of these interceptions are on passes Dak would not have attempted in past seasons. The passes not thrown that earned him that often expressed criticism we've all heard million times.

The problem is, that is a very very tough thing to do when you have never done it before and especially when you don't have the ingrained mindset to do it.

Dak is never going to be that guy. He just doesn't have the instincts and attitude required. He will make some plays but he will throw these interceptions trying to make those plays. Likely get a receiver or two knocked out along the way.

It is what it is.

Well, that's depressing....

 

[phildadon86]

Why did you miss this @MountaineerCowboy I am just wondering. You commented on the stats comparing him to hurts. But not this one. Why?

Also I saw your comment about him not having the skill to make certain throws. He literally can make all of the throws and we have seen him make them. His problem is making them CONSISTENTLY.

 

[jazzcat22]

It is ALL Kellen Moore's fault.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Why did you miss this @MountaineerCowboy I am just wondering. You commented on the stats comparing him to hurts. But not this one. Why?

Also I saw your comment about him not having the skill to make certain throws. He literally can make all of the throws and we have seen him make them. His problem is making them CONSISTENTLY.

I responded to this post in the thread that was dedicated to this tweet. You musta missed it.

I asked why another QB's (Allen) struggles makes you feel better about Daks?

So, I'll ask you.... Does Allen's struggles make you feel better about Daks? If so, why?

P.S. I don't know why Mahomes is even on that tweet

 

[Vtwin]

Well, that's depressing....

Only if he continues to try and force it.

If he can find the balance and err on the side of caution it could be a net positive.

 

[xwalker]

This isn’t an anti-Dak thread. He clearly is the one that can take us all the way, or an early exit depending on his play.

The disturbing pattern for me is that the interceptions seem to only be occurring when we are deep in our own territory. Often right before end of the half.

While it sucks to turn the ball over when you could have put points on the board. To me it is even worse when you do so where the opposing team can get easy points.

I guess my question is. What psychologically is different for him in this situation? Is he trying to be over cautious and therefore allowing DBs to jump routes. Or is he trying to force things that aren’t there, realizing that punting from deep in your own territory is poor field position management. Is it the play calls themselves being different?

He has never learned to just throw it away when it’s not there. Can they teach him to run more in those situations?

Does anyone see the same thing, and can better explain it. Or is it just coincidence?

It is a change in the coaching approach. They've commented multiple times in interviews about scoring mode TDs. Kellen Moore said a solution to redzone issues is to score before you get into the redzone.

This season in general has had an obvious more aggressive approach. It came from studying past seasons and from analytics.

In earlier years Dak was very conservative in the 1st half. He was only become aggressive if they were behind in the 2nd half.

Statistically the INTs have flipped. They're now in the first half but were primarily in the 2nd half in earlier years.

CeeDee is still a work in progress with regards to route running, especially option routes.

In the Romo/Dez days they abandoned option routes for Dez because he never mastered them. He never mastered route running in general. Romo would just run around waiting for Dez to get slightly open and then throw up a jump ball.

Romo somewhat emulated the Staubach style.

Dak emulates the Aikman style which requires structured route running. It why Dez was a bad fit with Dak but Cooper was a good fit.

OBJ and TY Hilton are quality route runners which is why the Cowboys were interested in them.

 

[aikemirv]

I don't really see him doing anything different. He has thrown into tight coverage ocassionly before and his pocket awareness caused the arm to be hit on the second. Pocket awareness has always been one of his issues, he does not move in the pocket enough.

The 2 int's in the Green Bay game were ones where the routes were messed up and where CeeDee could have likely broken it up if he continues the route. They are nothing new other than maybe less hesitation to make a timing throw. Making a timing throw is not a bad thing, it is a good thing and if he keeps that up it will be a positive rather than an Int most of the time.

The pick versus Indy was another timing throw where he really did not take into account the position of the defender. Int's happen, especially if you are going to throw the ball 35-40 times a game. I kinda think it is funny when all these guys try to defend all of Dak's int's. It is just mindnumbing. It is not his int's this year that bother me, it has been his poor play for about 11 of the last 12 quarters overall! He has been hard to watch

 

[phildadon86]

I responded to this post in the thread that was dedicated to this tweet. You musta missed it.

I asked why another QB's (Allen) struggles makes you feel better about Daks?

So, I'll ask you.... Does Allen's struggles make you feel better about Daks? If so, why?

P.S. I don't know why Mahomes is even on that tweet

They dont. I was just asking why you gloss over any single tweet, mention, comment, or video that speaks about Dak in something remotely close to a positive light. Its ok to admit that he is a good QB that has flaws. No QB in this league is perfect. Mahomes may be an alien so I dont compare them.

For the sake of argument though lets do Allen (supremely talented over Dak with a much better arm) who also seems to make boneheaded decisions and get picked and leave you scratching your head.

Since Dak returned he is beating him in every category except rushing yards. They make nearly the same amount. Have similar talent around them. Yet one is doing better than the other. I think it fair to compare because many here including myself and you have said repeatedly we would trade Dak for Allen in a heartbeat. Looking at the statistics. And W/L of the teams. And even the fact that both are nursing injuries (ill use that as an equalizer) why does he not get absolutely killed in the media the way Dak does? Even on Buffalo fan forums he doesnt get nearly as destroyed as Dak does here. Explain.

 

[McKDaddy]

Multiple easy reasons pop to mind.
1) They have skins on the wall
2) Their talent is unquestioned
3) Only one of them has an extended history of uneven performances

 

[blueblood70]

Prescott: 2022 stats: 66.9 comp % | 14 TD | 9 INT | 7.4 YPA | 52.5 QBR
Hurts: 2022 stats: 68.0 comp % | 22 TD | 3 INT | 8.1 YPA | 70.4 QBR
This may help:
NEUTRAL
adjective

1. 1.
   not helping or supporting either side in a disagreement, etc.; impartial.

show me the other 30 starers bet daks top 10 NO MATTER how any fan tries to not be woke enough to see it.,.not one. that impartial picking one of the mvp types and that your comp. having a top10 franchise qb is blessing not a curse, if the fanbase can see that they can stop *****ing over him not being truly elite.

 

[phildadon86]

Multiple easy reasons pop to mind.
1) They have skins on the wall
2) Their talent is unquestioned
3) Only one of them has an extended history of uneven performances

Have you seen Allen's play over his career? LOL. Before Diggs got there. He really wasnt very good and many were considering him a bust. This year he has been a roller coaster too. Last year was the first time he played lights out for an entire season.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

They dont. I was just asking why you gloss over any single tweet, mention, comment, or video that speaks about Dak in something remotely close to a positive light. Its ok to admit that he is a good QB that has flaws. No QB in this league is perfect. Mahomes may be an alien so I dont compare them.

For the sake of argument though lets do Allen (supremely talented over Dak with a much better arm) who also seems to make boneheaded decisions and get picked and leave you scratching your head.

Since Dak returned he is beating him in every category except rushing yards. They make nearly the same amount. Have similar talent around them. Yet one is doing better than the other. I think it fair to compare because many here including myself and you have said repeatedly we would trade Dak for Allen in a heartbeat. Looking at the statistics. And W/L of the teams. And even the fact that both are nursing injuries (ill use that as an equalizer) why does he not get absolutely killed in the media the way Dak does? Even on Buffalo fan forums he doesnt get nearly as destroyed as Dak does here. Explain.

I didn't.

I just didn't feel the need to respond again when I already gave my opinion on it in the thread dedicated to the tweet.

What's positive about highlighting 3 QBs that are "struggling"? You do know that's the point of the tweet, right? "Hey! These guys are struggling too so you shouldn't think Dak is bad!!!"

To your "Why doesn't Allen get media attention like Dak" point is pretty simple as far as I'm concerned and it comes down to a few things.

1. How do you know he doesn't? We live on a Cowboys message board and I rarely watch any talk show segments that isn't about the Cowboys. So, I don't know what kind of attention Allen is getting. You mention the Buffalo forums, right? Maybe they are happy with a QB that has led their team to the AFC championship game, finished 2nd in MVP voting, and has this team as a legit contender basically every year. If Dak could do that I PROMISE you I personally would not be so critical of him.

2. Allen has lead his team to post season success and has continued to go crazy even in the loses (the Chiefs game last season) so he has shown that he is capable of putting a team on his back and carrying them if needed.

3. Allen's legs and size are a weapon. Since Dak's injury he has rushed for almost 370 yards and 4 TDs. That's more yards than your dude Zeke's had since Dak's return.

4. Everyone, you admittingly, can see the talent. He is huge, can run, and has a cannon for an arm. He was a top draft pick for a reason. He has everything and has shown that he can use everything consistently. Dak is just a 4th rounder, that in year 7, is still chasing the ghost of 2016 Dak. He's playing the worst right now that I've ever seen him play and that includes pre-Cooper 2018.

 

[phildadon86]

I didn't.

I just didn't feel the need to respond again when I already gave my opinion on it in the thread dedicated to the tweet.

What's positive about highlighting 3 QBs that are "struggling"? You do know that's the point of the tweet, right? "Hey! These guys are struggling too so you shouldn't think Dak is bad!!!"

To your "Why doesn't Allen get media attention like Dak" point is pretty simple as far as I'm concerned and it comes down to a few things.

1. How do you know he doesn't? We live on a Cowboys message board and I rarely watch any talk show segments that isn't about the Cowboys. So, I don't know what kind of attention Allen is getting. You mention the Buffalo forums, right? Maybe they are happy with a QB that has led their team to the AFC championship game, finished 2nd in MVP voting, and has this team as a legit contender basically every year. If Dak could do that I PROMISE you I personally would not be so critical of him.

2. Allen has lead his team to post season success and has continued to go crazy even in the loses (the Chiefs game last season) so he has shown that he is capable of putting a team on his back and carrying them if needed.

3. Allen's legs and size are a weapon. Since Dak's injury he has rushed for almost 370 yards and 4 TDs. That's more yards than your dude Zeke's had since Dak's return.

4. Everyone, you admittingly, can see the talent. He is huge, can run, and has a cannon for an arm. He was a top draft pick for a reason. He has everything and has shown that he can use everything consistently. Dak is just a 4th rounder, that in year 7, is still chasing the ghost of 2016 Dak. He's playing the worst right now that I've ever seen him play and that includes pre-Cooper 2018.

So the Green Bay game in 2016? You mean like that?

I responded to that by the way. In the other thread. Whats amazing to me is you still hold on to that 2018 WR corps as if you won the argument. You realize no one on that roster ever went on to do ANYTHING in the NFL after Dak and the Cowboys right? So did Dak not elevate them? Or were they just flat out bad WRs? It cant be both.

 

[aikemirv]

Josh Allen has had a poor year, I like him a lot and I will admit that. Mahomes, well if you make enough plays like he does, 7 Int's pale in comparison.

Why did Romo get trashed every time he threw a pick and get picked on by the media at every turn? You have your answer as to why!

 

[aikemirv]

Probably 75% of them were not entirely his fault...sure he pulled the trigger but there was a wrong route, bad route, tipped ball, hit as he threw...kind of thing involved.

He has been more aggressive this year. That is something all of the haters have always knocked him for.

Put it this way, there were about 3 hyper aggressive throws on that 98 yard drive that won the game last week. He does it a lot but sometimes something is off with the play and it has cost us this year.

Ehh, 75% of probably all int's are not entirely the QB's fault!

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

So the Green Bay game in 2016? You mean like that?

I responded to that by the way. In the other thread. Whats amazing to me is you still hold on to that 2018 WR corps as if you won the argument. You realize no one on that roster ever went on to do ANYTHING in the NFL after Dak and the Cowboys right? So did Dak not elevate them? Or were they just flat out bad WRs? It cant be both.

Dak has never elevated anyone. Dak get's elevated by others.

Why even ask that question?