Eric Davis: Dak leaves a lot on the table

[Eanwen]

One of Dak's negatives according to a few scouts (I don't have the link) was his vision, specifically down the field. I hope it's something correctable.

 

[Doomsday101]

One of Dak's negatives according to a few scouts (I don't have the link) was his vision, specifically down the field. I hope it's something correctable.

I'm not concerned with that. He is a rookie and as coaches go over the game film he will pick more and more of this stuff up. Dak is an intelligent guy and is playing smart and winning football and is still developing as an NFL QB.

 

[mattjames2010]

And something a few of us on here keep saying, and everyone is jumping on us for it.

Dak most likely is the future, but he's simply not hitting it down the field. He did it a couple times in Green Bay, but that's not enough. 4 of 12 in 6 games is not impressive.

 

[Doomsday101]

And something a few of us on here keep saying, and everyone is jumping on us for it.

Dak most likely is the future, but he's simply not hitting it down the field. He did it a couple times in Green Bay, but that's not enough. 4 of 12 in 6 games is not impressive.

But he is 5-1, the kid is playing smart football and may not be taking many chances right now. He is more than capable of throwing the deep ball. As most rookies he will continue to learn and develop but unlike many rookies he is not out there getting confused and throwing balls up for grab.

 

[mattjames2010]

But he is 5-1, the kid is playing smart football and may not be taking many chances right now. He is more than capable of throwing the deep ball. As most rookies he will continue to learn and develop but unlike many rookies he is not out there getting confused and throwing balls up for grab.

TEAM is 5-1. That is not a player statistic. Ryan Fitzpatrick was 5-2 in 2011. Kyle Orton was undefeated for 6 games in 2009.

"Smart football" - Smart football is being afraid to hit a wide open player down the field? Holding onto the ball too long for a player to come off the edge and knock it out of your hands? That's not smart football, that's lack of confidence in ability and not making decisions quickly enough.

I will ask here again, show me these precision passes Dak is making in every game. I pointed out one yesterday against the Bengals. He hardly throws into a tight window, which WILL need to happen at some point. When is he ever making back shoulder throws, or taking advantage when a defender has his back to the ball. He waits until receivers are wide open, which our receivers are doing well. What happens when they don't?

These "He's a rookie" stuff needs to stop being thrown around. You can either make tight window throws or you can't.

 

[kevm3]

why would he launch the ball down the field on 3rd and 1 when he can make a simple throw and pick up the first down unless the guy is so unbelievably wide open? There's a reason we have such a high third down conversion rate... It's because Dak is making the SMART play instead of the circus play. When the shot down field is there, Dak takes it, ala a score in 35 seconds before half time.

 

[kevm3]

TEAM is 5-1. That is not a player statistic. Ryan Fitzpatrick was 5-2 in 2011. Kyle Orton was undefeated for 6 games in 2009.

"Smart football" - Smart football is being afraid to hit a wide open player down the field? Holding onto the ball too long for a player to come off the edge and knock it out of your hands? That's not smart football, that's lack of confidence in ability and not making decisions quickly enough.

I will ask here again, show me these precision passes Dak is making in every game. I pointed out one yesterday against the Bengals. He hardly throws into a tight window, which WILL need to happen at some point. When is he ever making back shoulder throws, or taking advantage when a defender has his back to the ball. He waits until receivers are wide open, which our receivers are doing well. What happens when they don't?

These "He's a rookie" stuff needs to stop being thrown around. You can either make tight window throws or you can't.

He'll make those 'tight window throws' when he has to. If guys are wide open, why would he throw into a tight window? That's how you get interceptions.

 

[mattjames2010]

why would he launch the ball down the field on 3rd and 1 when he can make a simple throw and pick up the first down unless the guy is so unbelievably wide open? There's a reason we have such a high third down conversion rate... It's because Dak is making the SMART play instead of the circus play. When the shot down field is there, Dak takes it, ala a score in 35 seconds before half time.

He said it's third down and he could be getting a TD on some throws. Did you have selective hearing here?

"Smart play" is to completely overlook or not even take a chance on scoring points? Come on. That's not smart football, that's not getting surefire points (IF what he is saying is true here)

 

[jrumann59]

He'll make those 'tight window throws' when he has to. If guys are wide open, why would he throw into a tight window? That's how you get interceptions.

Because against a Josh Norman or Sherman a tight window is as about wide open as a receiver will get against those guys. Not to mention making tight window throws for completions makes the defense respect that aspect of the game and loosen it up. It has not really happened yet but the closest example would be the NYG if he would have tried deeper routes it would have opened up the running game. Even when the Triplets were here sometimes they passed first to get the running game going.

 

[mattjames2010]

He'll make those 'tight window throws' when he has to. If guys are wide open, why would he throw into a tight window? That's how you get interceptions.

No, it's not. If you make a bad throw into that tight window, sure. But this is the NFL, the big boy league. This isn't college. Defenders are damn good, there will be tight window throws he will need to make.

As what was said in this video, his reads are simple. He's hesitating if his first read is there. He has lack of confidence with guys down the field. These are issues whether you guys want to admit it or not.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

No, it's not. If you make a bad throw into that tight window, sure. But this is the NFL, the big boy league. This isn't college. Defenders are damn good, there will be tight window throws he will need to make.

As what was said in this video, his reads are simple. He's hesitating if his first read is there. He has lack of confidence with guys down the field. These are issues whether you guys want to admit it or not.

Dak has started all of 6 games. Surely you're measuring your critique and analysis against both what you'd expect from a rookie (albeit a damn good one) and other QB's in their first 6 starts correct? dallascowboys.com has a very good comparison of Dak and Romo's first 6 starts. You should check it out.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

TEAM is 5-1. That is not a player statistic

The TEAM somehow SUCKED last year without Romo? If Dak was a limited as you're suggesting we'd be scoring about 6 points per game. Just stack 9 in the box and compress the entire field to 20 yards or so.

 

[mattjames2010]

Dak has started all of 6 games. Surely you're measuring your critique and analysis against both what you'd expect from a rookie (albeit a damn good one) and other QB's in their first 6 starts correct? dallascowboys.com has a very good comparison of Dak and Romo's first 6 starts. You should check it out.

Romo was making these tough throws early in his career. Anyone doubting this is freakin' blind. Romo in his second year starting threw for nearly 40 TDs. There is no comparison, Romo never looked like a bus driver.

Dak does.

 

[mattjames2010]

The TEAM somehow SUCKED last year without Romo? If Dak was a limited as you're suggesting we'd be scoring about 6 points per game. Just stack 9 in the box and compress the entire field to 20 yards or so.

Dak being better than Weeden, Cassel, and Moore is no triumph. Also, did you ever stop to think that maybe the other players on our offense are doing better? Having receivers with high YAC, they are what #5 or something now, is pretty damn beneficial. Having a back playing consistently well since week 3 is also a huge boost, while McFadden was fairly inconsistent.

It's like teams change year after year or something.

 

[Idgit]

In fairness to Dak, we're doing a lot more than 'getting by.'

But I think Davis is fundamentally right. And I don't think returning Tony to the lineup when he's ready is going to be all that tough a decision for the staff when it comes down to it. If we really stop and think about how this staff makes its decisions, it's kind of a no-brainer what they do when the time comes.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Romo was making these tough throws early in his career. Anyone doubting this is freakin' blind. Romo in his second year starting threw for nearly 40 TDs. There is no comparison, Romo never looked like a bus driver.

Dak does.

Early in his career or FIRST SIX GAMES? Dak's passer rating is superior to Romo's in HIS FIRST SIX GAMES. http://www.5pointsblue.com/by-the-numbers-tony-romo-dak-prescott/ Also you're jumping to year 2 ALREADY why? That's an uneven comparison. I'm well aware that Romo threw 36 TD's. You left out his 19 INT'S however including the one that ended our season in the postseason.

 

[mattjames2010]

Let's take a look at this game for example, against a great defense.

Check the throw at 1:47. That's a tight window throw for a TD. These are throws we need to see if Dak can make or not, do you understand how important it is to have these kind of throws against great defenses? At times, these are the most open a player will get.

Then go to 3:09. That's against, at the time, probably the best CB in the game. That is perfect ball placement, noticing Sherman's back is turned, and putting the ball up for Dez for a crucial catch.

Until Dak demonstrates he can do these things, he's a bus driver. What I'm showing you in that video are throws that separate journeyman QBs with the greats.

 

[mattjames2010]

Early in his career or FIRST SIX GAMES? Dak's passer rating is superior to Romo's in HIS FIRST SIX GAMES. http://www.5pointsblue.com/by-the-numbers-tony-romo-dak-prescott/ Also you're jumping to year 2 ALREADY why? That's an uneven comparison. I'm well aware that Romo threw 36 TD's. You left out his 19 INT'S however including the one that ended our season in the postseason.

Passer rating means nothing. Again, I have stated this to you multiple times. Romo wasn't making throws constantly to wide open receivers, he didn't have a brilliant offensive line, he didn't have a great running game. Romo made tight window throws. That's what we are discussing, not useless raw statistics.

The point being, Romo immediately came out as a starter and never looked like a bus driver. He could make every throw you asked him to make. Him making young QB mistakes or bad reads happens, but you either have the ability to make throws or you do not.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Dak being better than Weeden, Cassel, and Moore is no triumph. Also, did you ever stop to think that maybe the other players on our offense are doing better? Having receivers with high YAC, they are what #5 or something now, is pretty damn beneficial. Having a back playing consistently well since week 3 is also a huge boost, while McFadden was fairly inconsistent.

It's like teams change year after year or something.

Dak being better than seasoned veterans as a rookie is no triumph? I Disagree. Our players on offense are doing better. OF COURSE NON OF THAT COULD POSSIBLY be attributed to Dak who is efficient, poised and confident as the conductor of the offense. Tops in the league in 3rd down conversion... I know ... It's the TEAM...

 

[kevm3]

Bus drivers don't go 5 and 1 and they don't march down the field 90+ yards in 35 seconds before half time. They don't go to Lambeau and beat a team decisively that we haven't beat since 2008. They don't break a record held by Tom Brady, which was most consecutive passes thrown by a qb starting their career without an interception. We are beating teams decisively. Why should Dak throw into tight windows when what he's doing now is working well? When he has to throw into a tight window, then he will.