Dak Prescott is starting ** Mega Thread **

[SDCowboy]

LOL. So this is the time to see if he's got it or not, his first year in the league, and we should ramp up the play calling like he's a 10 year vet to prove it?

I think you may have misunderstood what I'm looking for (I could have worded it better). I'm not looking for him to be Romo this year. I'm looking to see how he responds to, hopefully and over time, having a real playbook. I'm not saying dump Romo's playbook on him day one or that I expect him to not make mistakes.

Largely, I just don't want him treated like a backup that is only expected to get the team through games in one piece. I want him treated like someone who is expected to someday take the reigns.

 

[theebs]

I am surprised to see you this negative.

Im not being negative. I just don't think a rookie qb can produce the amount of points it will take to win with this defense. I think this defense has the potential to be really bad and I think the offenses and qb's we are playing are very good.

Most of our wins come from a late offensive drive to take the lead or put the game away I just think that is to much to ask of a rookie.

If we had a top 10 defense I would have a different view. I just think 3rd downs and late game situations are going to be tough for a rookie with a huge spotlight on him, especially when everyone has made him out to be Joe Montana already. Its just going to be tough and I don't see many wins.

and unfortunately by the time Romo is ready to come back I don't know that it will matter.

 

[theebs]

Quincy Carter starting lineup compared to Dak starting lineup

QB - Quincy Carter
RB - Troy Hambrick
FB - Richie Anderson
WR - Joey Galloway
WR - Terry Glenn
TE - Dan Campbell
T - Flozell Adams
G - Larry Allen
C - Matt Lehr
G - Andre Gurode
T - Kurt Vollers

QB - Dal Prescott
RB - Ezekiel Elliott
FB - Keith Smith
WR - Dez Bryant
WR - Terrence Williams
TE - Jason Witten
T - Tyron Smith
G - Lael Collins
C - Travis Frederick
G - Zack Martin
T - Doug Free

Carter was able to go 10-6 with that lineup. Dak's team is better at 8 spots offensively.

I think the defensive talent was fairly comparable.

much like 2014 in 2003 we played a terrible collection of quarterbacks. It really helped this team hang in there and win a few games they should not. Halfway through the season teams decided to stop playing the run and just took away the passing game and the team hit a wall. The fast start helped them but once that happened they really never played well again. The carolina game the week of thanksgiving was the last good game that team played.

Prescott has to play Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Andy Dalton, Kirk Cousins etc. They all have elite weapons and will hang a ton of points on our lousy defense that looks to be getting worse as opposed to better as camp goes on.

 

[Dorsett33]

If the defense wasn't so suspect, I would not be as worried. The thing is the offense is going to have to put up a lot of points, and that is a lot of pressure on a rookie QB.

I believe this is the case whether we had Romo, Dak, or whomever. Until our defense proves us wrong (and it's possible) we are going to be in shootouts to win.

 

[Vero_F250]

I'm ok with throwing Dak into the fire. If he does well, then we are good to go for our QB for a while. If he can't win us a ton of games for a variety of reasons; top 5 pick again and go get Myles Garrett!

 

[Dorsett33]

its a problem. right off the bat in week 1 he will have to face a defensive coordinator that blitzes from everywhere.

Dak will have to make adjustments and hopefully frederick will help also.

I hope he can handle it, personally because of the defense i think if dak started all year we would win between 2 to 4 games.

Someone is ging to find a way to make dak uncomfortable and then everyone will attack it.

Wow...I'd be surprised if we only won 2-4 games. Dak doesn't have to be that type of QB. Romo wasn't the only one missing last year. And as long as no one else on offense gets hurt, we should be able to win more than 4 games.

 

[theebs]

Wow...I'd be surprised if we only won 2-4 games. Dak doesn't have to be that type of QB. Romo wasn't the only one missing last year. And as long as no one else on offense gets hurt, we should be able to win more than 4 games.

Last years defense while didn't get turnovers actually kept us in every game and was pretty good. Had we had a healthy offense we would have been pretty good.

This year the defense is shaping up to be terrible. I think Dak and the offense will produce and have some big games but I think they will be in shootout games and I don't think a rookie can mentally hang in there and consistently make the required plays in the critical moments late in the game.

Dak has to deal with what Romo has to deal with now and that is you have zero room for error essentially. I just don't see him capable of that. I thought when seattle brought some pressure on him he started to get shaky and I suspect that will be the case starting in week 1, lots of pressure and a number of mistakes.

Its not about Dak, its about this organization has no idea how to build a defense, I think they allow coaches to pick players in the draft and I think our last two defensive coordinators are really poor judges of talent. Rob Ryan and Rod Marinelli. I don't even think either is a good coordinator. I think marinelli is a fantastic defensive line coach but not among the better coordinators.

I just don't think anybody knows how to find defensive players and that will ruin yet another season, along with Romo missing 6 games. If Romo misses 6 games I don't think there will be a season to come back and save, I just think it will be over.

I am starting to think we are cursed every time its our turn to play the AFC north/Central. We haven't made the playoffs since 1994 when playing this division and every season we do bad stuff happens, 04, 08, 12...its just cursed or something.

 

[Proof]

I've long been a critic of our offensive style. The air Coryell timing passing. I've always hated it. Too complex and demanding a system and takes too long to develop.

I'm hoping that with someone as green as Dak, the coaching staff is forced to implement something a bit more conventional and quick hitting and his lack of experience becomes a blessing in disguise

 

[cowboyblue22]

this team wasn't going to the superbowl with tony and yes with a rookie they will lose lots of games because the coaching is not very good it will take not just dak it will take a TEAM to win tony has carried this team so long no one else knows how to win they are going to have to learn if they want to be successful

 

[Dorsett33]

Last years defense while didn't get turnovers actually kept us in every game and was pretty good. Had we had a healthy offense we would have been pretty good.

This year the defense is shaping up to be terrible. I think Dak and the offense will produce and have some big games but I think they will be in shootout games and I don't think a rookie can mentally hang in there and consistently make the required plays in the critical moments late in the game.

Dak has to deal with what Romo has to deal with now and that is you have zero room for error essentially. I just don't see him capable of that. I thought when seattle brought some pressure on him he started to get shaky and I suspect that will be the case starting in week 1, lots of pressure and a number of mistakes.

Its not about Dak, its about this organization has no idea how to build a defense, I think they allow coaches to pick players in the draft and I think our last two defensive coordinators are really poor judges of talent. Rob Ryan and Rod Marinelli. I don't even think either is a good coordinator. I think marinelli is a fantastic defensive line coach but not among the better coordinators.

I just don't think anybody knows how to find defensive players and that will ruin yet another season, along with Romo missing 6 games. If Romo misses 6 games I don't think there will be a season to come back and save, I just think it will be over.

I am starting to think we are cursed every time its our turn to play the AFC north/Central. We haven't made the playoffs since 1994 when playing this division and every season we do bad stuff happens, 04, 08, 12...its just cursed or something.

Well, I'm not going to rush to judgment on our defense just yet. We don't know how Dak is going to handle pressure. That Seattle game was good for him in terms of experience. He won't face that type of defense week in and week out. Dak has a lot of weapons on offense around him. I don't believe he has to be the type of QB to throw the ball 40 times. We should have a great running game. Because we have Dez on the outside, teams won't be able to be blitz happy like some on here think. Zeke will be huge for Dak. Dak will be fine. There are going to be some growing pains. Good games. Bad games. But, the guy has shown he can be poise...make hot reads. And each game he plays will bring him that game experience. Romo will be there to help. I personally expect him to have no worse than a descent season.

Personally, I don't know what to expect from our defense based on the preseason. We are young on the DL. We haven't had all the starters on defense playing at the same time. A couple DLinemen just came back and played in their first game. We have rookies. Not many rookie Dlinemen has come in this league and been dominant. I'm not going to rush to judge. I need to see them play a couple games...get in to game shape. Then, we will know what we have. All in all, I still believe we will win the division....provided we have no more key players go down with injuries.

 

[Proximo]

He's a rookie. And despite all the positives you listed above, he's still going to make mistakes as a rookie. What often helps a young QB learning is a defense that can help cover up some mistakes he'll likely make.

Unfortunately, we have what looks to be a pretty mediocre defense. If you look at two of the more recent successful rookies - Wilson and Flacco - they both had quality defenses.

Lots of folks are trying to find other recent examples of rookie QBs being thrown into the fire, to use as a gauge for what to expect from Dak.

I think our O line + skill position players make this situation for Dak too unique to compare to those other guys.

Our defense may prove to be our Achilles heel, but it's far from a certainty. Our D outperformed expectations in 2014 by quite a bit. And last year they didn't stand a chance considering how atrocious our offense was. If we can get back to creating turnovers it'll be huge.

 

[85Cowboy85]

Quincy Carter starting lineup compared to Dak starting lineup

QB - Quincy Carter
RB - Troy Hambrick
FB - Richie Anderson
WR - Joey Galloway
WR - Terry Glenn
TE - Dan Campbell
T - Flozell Adams
G - Larry Allen
C - Matt Lehr
G - Andre Gurode
T - Kurt Vollers

QB - Dal Prescott
RB - Ezekiel Elliott
FB - Keith Smith
WR - Dez Bryant
WR - Terrence Williams
TE - Jason Witten
T - Tyron Smith
G - Lael Collins
C - Travis Frederick
G - Zack Martin
T - Doug Free

Carter was able to go 10-6 with that lineup. Dak's team is better at 8 spots offensively.

I think the defensive talent was fairly comparable.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2003.htm
The defense carried the team that year. They were second in yards allowed per drive and third in points allowed per drive.

 

[Dodger12]

You are missing the fact that people are beyond clawing their eyes out over Romo and quite a few people expected him to get hurt.

The "excitement" comes primarily from the promise Dak Prescott has shown. And I am speaking for myself, I am tired of the team being dependent on Romo and it is time to see the team mature and be a real team, not a one man show.

In a very sick and twisted sort of way, I'm actually excited for the season to start. Not that Romo wouldn't be a better option at this point, but I already know Garrett can't win with Romo. I think Dak brings another element and I've seen enough of him to know he has the tools and intangibles to be competitive. My doubts come from a coaching staff that I don't believe can develop a game plan designed for what Prescott does well.

What are the odds that Garrett goes in a shell and calls a dink and dunk game plan surrounded by runs on first and second down?

 

[Alexander]

What are the odds that Garrett goes in a shell and calls a dink and dunk game plan surrounded by runs on first and second down?

That is the real problem just as much as if Prescott can really play at the level he showed in the preseason.

This is not a team constructed, even with Romo, to play from behind. It is constructed to get ahead and play keep away with the defense the way it is.

There has to be a commitment from the staff to put their money where their mouth is.

Trust your QB to run the offense and make plays to score points. Prescott needs to have more plays with his skillset in play, allow him to simply go out there and play. There will be mistakes.

Trusting this defense to "keep games close" would be a colossal mistake. We went through that thirteen games last season.

 

[DandyDon52]

This article make it sound the decision has been made to start Dak.

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...kie-dak-prescott-will-open-season-starter?f=r

ok thanks, that sounded good what they said.
they may get a vet to back him up.

 

[Sydla]

Lots of folks are trying to find other recent examples of rookie QBs being thrown into the fire, to use as a gauge for what to expect from Dak.

I think our O line + skill position players make this situation for Dak too unique to compare to those other guys.

Our defense may prove to be our Achilles heel, but it's far from a certainty. Our D outperformed expectations in 2014 by quite a bit. And last year they didn't stand a chance considering how atrocious our offense was. If we can get back to creating turnovers it'll be huge.

The 2014 wasn't that great. It just looked decent because we expected them to be an all time awful unit. They were largely the beneficiaries of leads from the offense AND the fact that the offense didn't turn the ball over.

I am not sure you can expect that type of production from a Prescott led offense. He's going to struggle at times and that's just the reality/ Not because I think he stinks but rather he's a rookie.......... and rookies make mistakes, even the best ones. We simply do not have a good enough defense that can stand on its own when the offense sputters, which it will at times. We have no real ability to get after the QB, which is going to hurt them a lot this year.

 

[Craig]

Can someone come up with a topic that wont result in someone taking a shot in the coaching staff?

 

[Proximo]

Can someone come up with a topic that wont result in someone taking a shot in the coaching staff?

Here is the Zone, that is an impossibility.

 

[Satchel89]

First, let me make it clear that in my opinion this IS Romo's team. I'm as enthusiastic about Dak as anyone, but losing Romo is just sickening to me.

Now, with that being said, I truly believe that Dak can at the very least keep our season alive. This is a rookie with poise and composure, who will be lining up with-

1) Arguably the best O line in the league.
2) HOF TE
3) Elite WR
4) VERY solid slot receiver.
5) Blue chip rookie RB.
6) VERY solid veteran RB to backup the guy mentioned above.
7) An offense that has proven they can be elite in the running game.

If any offense can provide an environment for a rookie QB to succeed in, I think it's this one. And I think Dak is the type of rookie who has the appropriate skill set and intangibles to succeed in said offense.

It's a weird situation to be in as a fan. Losing Romo makes me nauseous. But, I am more than a little curious to see how Dak looks behind our O line and with all of our other toys at his disposal.

Thoughts?

I absolutely agree. It's a tough break but they are still going to put up points. And you can see the players like making plays for him except for Williams. Just disappointed he didn't make that catch against Seattle. It's a big blow and I know the defense is average at best but at least Prescott gives them a fighting chance. We had no hope last year when we went through the backup carousel. At least we have hope with Dak.

 

[Risen Star]

We traded in a Chevy for a Cadi-Dak-Dak-Dak-Dak-Dak-Dak....

Go Cowboys, bros. This is our year.