Dak: Reality Check?

[Verdict]

I am very excited about the year Dak Prescott had and the potential he has to be even better. Having said that, I really think we have to consider the pros and cons of Prescott.

Dak has a great supporting cast and benefitted from several unusual factors. Our schedule wasn't a murderers row. We faced some good teams but some who are obviously bottom half as well.

The offensive line and Elliott made life a lot easier on Dak. We played with a lead most of the time. We controlled time of possession and most importantly we didn't have a lot of turnovers this year.

Our defense had very timely plays in many games to help win games. Opposing teams really didn't have any pro tape on Dak. Dak struggled at times with the longer balls.

I am not saying I think Dak will be a future bust. But the sophomore jinx tends to be a very real thing. As coordinators start to figure out what Dak can't do so well they will attempt to force him to do just that as often as they can.

We have a franchise QB in Romo. We know that. What we don't know is can he keep from getting injured.

We have Dak. What we know about him is that the stage isn't too big for him, he is intelligent, works hard, and prepares himself for games. What we don't know yet is if he can sustain his early success beyond the first year.

This could be a very fun ride for the next ten years with Dak, or it might be an implosion like RG III had and a fading into obscurity. Time will tell.

Meanwhile back at the ranch (or in this case the Star) I wouldn't be in too big of a hurry to trade Romo unless someone makes us an offer we can't refuse.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Reality is I wonder if you believed in Romo before the 2007 season. Some of you complain about Jerry but love the circus just as much as he does. You put Romo back in and it'll be the biggest circus in NFL history! Sounds like a recipe for success. Smh

 

[Bohuntr97]

I'm not so sure anyone is even going to offer us a trade. That team would have to inherit his 14 million salary, which is tough for a 37 year old with multiple back surgeries and hasn't really played in 2 years. Brett Favre, who had little health concerns and won many playoff games including a superbowl only got GB a conditional 4th rounder.

More importantly, everyone knows Dallas is once again going to be in salary cap hell next year. 6-9 million over the cap depending on which site you like. We have no money to re-sign any of our own free-agents or our draft picks. Paying a backup qb 14 million doesn't make sense, especially when Romo could be simply released and instantly save 5 million on the cap (plus giving him his wish of the chance to be a starter). The NFL is ultimately a business and I think any team interested in Romo will simply take the chance and wait for him to be released.

 

[tm1119]

This is about the 3rd time I've seen this and it's getting old and I gotta say it this time...the ONLY similarity between RG3 and Dak is the color of their skin. That's it, they aren't remotely close in style of play or character so I'm not sure there is even a need to make that comparison every time. Aside from the obvious... There's no controversy and there's not even thought about it, Dak is the QB. There is the same risk for Dak regressing as any other QB who ever played the game of football.

 

[Proof]

I mean the most critical components in the supporting cast are coming back and locked up long term so what exactly will defenses take away? At worst we'll have to lean on the running game more, which is what we all want anyway, right? At best he continues to build on what we've seen.

 

[Idgit]

I fully expect a sophomore slump for Dak. It's pretty common. He's going to be a keeper, though.

 

[DFWJC]

This is about the 3rd time I've seen this and it's getting old and I gotta say it this time...the ONLY similarity between RG3 and Dak is the color of their skin. That's it, they aren't remotely close in style of play or character so I'm not sure there is even a need to make that comparison every time. Aside from the obvious... There's no controversy and there's not even thought about it, Dak is the QB. There is the same risk for Dak regressing as any other QB who ever played the game of football.

The color of Dak's skin is closer to Romo's than RG3s

j/k

I agree, those two QBs are not very alike. Dak's game is very different than RG3's.

 

[TNCowboy]

There is something to what you're saying, but considering Romo's age and recent injuries, the best course of action is to roll with Dak. Our schedule is tougher in '17, and teams will figure out what Dak likes to do, but our team isn't static. It's unrealistic to think that Dak and some of our other players won't improve as well.

Romo will be 37 years old. I like the odds that Dak overcomes any case of the sophomore blues better than the odds that Romo stays healthy and returns to his 2014 form. Trade/cut Romo, find a decent vet as a backup for DP, and go with it.

Our schedule looks incredibly tough, but reality is that a few of those teams that were really good in '16 won't be in '17. I hope we aren't one of them. Dak will face a lot of good defenses. He'll have to be better, but that's nothing unique, the entire team will need to be better if we're going to do anything in January.

 

[Sydla]

I fully expect a sophomore slump for Dak. It's pretty common. He's going to be a keeper, though.

He threw 4 interceptions last year. I mean that's beyond impressive. And likely impossible to repeat. So from that sense, he's going to regress. Largely because I think as he gets more comfortable and the system starts to build around him, he'll take more chances down the field. That will result in more mistakes but also more big plays.

I can live with that.

PS - Which is why I would love to add a real speed guy opposite Bryant. A guy like a Jackson or Stills or Fuller (Granted, not a FA just an example).

 

[stilltheguru88]

B

He threw 4 interceptions last year. I mean that's beyond impressive. And likely impossible to repeat. So from that sense, he's going to regress. Largely because I think as he gets more comfortable and the system starts to build around him, he'll take more chances down the field. That will result in more mistakes but also more big plays.

I can live with that.

PS - Which is why I would love to add a real speed guy opposite Bryant. A guy like a Jackson or Stills or Fuller (Granted, not a FA just an example).

ive campaigned for Mack Hollins but I doubt Dallas wants him .

 

[Idgit]

He threw 4 interceptions last year. I mean that's beyond impressive. And likely impossible to repeat. So from that sense, he's going to regress. Largely because I think as he gets more comfortable and the system starts to build around him, he'll take more chances down the field. That will result in more mistakes but also more big plays.

I can live with that.

PS - Which is why I would love to add a real speed guy opposite Bryant. A guy like a Jackson or Stills or Fuller (Granted, not a FA just an example).

I'm totally down with a speed WR. That's my one hope for what we do offensively, because I've wanted on since before Desean Jackson hit FA.

 

[Sydla]

I wouldn't touch Jackson with a 10 foot poll though. I just mentioned him because he was the first speed guy that popped into my head.

But I think Stills would be a real nice fit. I don't know what he's going to get in free agency but he's a guy I would look at.

 

[Idgit]

I wouldn't touch Jackson with a 10 foot poll though. I just mentioned him because he was the first speed guy that popped into my head.

But I think Stills would be a real nice fit. I don't know what he's going to get in free agency but he's a guy I would look at.

Sounds like we're on the exact same page. I don't want Jackson either, but I do want a guy just like him. He changes how team's play defense. Even as big an *** as he is, he was tempting, though.

 

[tyke1doe]

I fully expect a sophomore slump for Dak. It's pretty common. He's going to be a keeper, though.

I think he'll throw more interceptions, but I think he'll be a better quarterback overall.
I think the Cowboys either need to run more or draft a back they're comfortable enough with to feed him when they're not feeding Zeke - kind of like what the Falcons did. I just don't think the Cowboys trusted McFadden or Dunbar in the running game. So when Zeke went out, we went strictly to the pass. That fooled no one.
I think if we think Dak can handle the passing responsibilities, they're going to get him more weapons. Look for a tight end or wide receiver within the first four rounds.

 

[tyke1doe]

He threw 4 interceptions last year. I mean that's beyond impressive. And likely impossible to repeat. So from that sense, he's going to regress. Largely because I think as he gets more comfortable and the system starts to build around him, he'll take more chances down the field. That will result in more mistakes but also more big plays.

I can live with that.

Seems like we're on the same page.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Sounds like we're on the exact same page. I don't want Jackson either, but I do want a guy just like him. He changes how team's play defense. Even as big an *** as he is, he was tempting, though.

Ted Ginn? Just a thought.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Rookie qbs win franchise record 11 games in a row vs teams like Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, etc all the time right?

Come on now. Two vet qbs won 1 game combined last year with a similar team minus Zeke instead of DMC

 

[jwooten15]

Rookie qbs win franchise record 11 games in a row vs teams like Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, etc all the time right?

Come on now. Two vet qbs won 1 game combined last year with a similar team minus Zeke instead of DMC

People love to handicap success and/or come up with reasons that success won't happen again. I've learned to accept it.

Dak might completely regress next year. Or he might improve to the point he leads us to the Super Bowl. Nobody knows.

 

[AzorAhai]

I wouldn't touch Jackson with a 10 foot poll though. I just mentioned him because he was the first speed guy that popped into my head.

But I think Stills would be a real nice fit. I don't know what he's going to get in free agency but he's a guy I would look at.

I had no idea Stills was set to be a FA. The Dolphins have plenty of cap space to retain him, but I wonder how inclined they will be to do so. They spent a high pick on Parker and have Landry who will probably be needing an extension before the season begins as well. Just on the surface, it would seem he has a decent opportunity to hit FA. He certainly would be an ideal fit and nowhere near the headache Jackson is.

 

[Alexander]

We have Dak. What we know about him is that the stage isn't too big for him, he is intelligent, works hard, and prepares himself for games. What we don't know yet is if he can sustain his early success beyond the first year.

This could be a very fun ride for the next ten years with Dak, or it might be an implosion like RG III had and a fading into obscurity. Time will tell.

Meanwhile back at the ranch (or in this case the Star) I wouldn't be in too big of a hurry to trade Romo unless someone makes us an offer we can't refuse.

If you believe that a regression can occur, then keeping Romo around to lurk behind Prescott should not be your plan.

Romo looming in the background only worked this past season because we were winning. Prescott still had to deal with that distraction and luckily, he passed with flying colors.

If this is truly his team, then keeping around a "franchise QB" in the wings just waiting for him (or especially the rest of the team) to screw up is only going to make the possibility of him regressing even more likely.

Say the team itself implodes next year. The defense falters and then Prescott has to press? Then the clamoring for Romo to come in and save the day only gets louder.

If the brass thinks he is the future, then prove it. Get Romo out of the equation.