ESPN: In defeat, Cowboys learned more about Dak Prescott

[Pessimist_cowboy]

We learned he had the jitters, and by the time he overcame them it was late. And now he's 0-1.

 

[etw926]

Ok. I hope your are right. Almost every one of our DBs are going to be UFA in 2017.

So we'll see.

Let's not forget that this is football and injuries happen. There are no guarantees.

 

[Clove]

Dak did excellent. However if Romo had the same exact game, we would hear:

Made too many poor throes on 3rd down to settle for FGs;

Should have checked out of 2nd and 1 pass and/or not thrown the horrible pass that was picked;

Choked by spiking the ball;

Put up big stats but didnt get it done.


My point is, QB doesn't matter on this team as long as Garrett and the defense stink.

Any game after the rookie season is a choke game IMO, so this first one was a brilliant performance by a rookie.

 

[Diogenes]

"But nothing about their defense"

I hate articles like this. Dak and Zeke are amazing. We get it, they get it. Every article needs to be about how AWFUL the D is until they change it.

Disagree and thought it was spot-on. Dak was sensational as a rookie but there were still questions about him that needed to be answered. How would he perform when the pressure is ratcheted up? The playoffs and the regular season are two completely different beasts when it comes to pressure. How would he respond in the face of adversity? This was the first time all year we were in a situation where we weren't either in complete control of the game or at least right there with the opponent. Unlike the regular season, Dak didn't have the benefit of being able to throw safe passes all afternoon. Yesterday was really the first opportunity Dak has had to answer these important questions and he came up huge. Honestly, it was probably my favorite game Dak has played because of how he responded when he had to be the man.

 

[ilykdrama]

Disagree and thought it was spot-on. Dak was sensational as a rookie but there were still questions about him that needed to be answered. How would he perform when the pressure is ratcheted up? The playoffs and the regular season are two completely different beasts when it comes to pressure. How would he respond in the face of adversity? This was the first time all year we were in a situation where we weren't either in complete control of the game or at least right there with the opponent. Unlike the regular season, Dak didn't have the benefit of being able to throw safe passes all afternoon. Yesterday was really the first opportunity Dak has had to answer these important questions and he came up huge. Honestly, it was probably my favorite game Dak has played because of how he responded when he had to be the man.

But he's been doing it all season. He did exactly what I thought he'd do yesterday. Played like a champ.

 

[Kolemmitt]

This is the line:
"He was not beaten. He just ran out of time."

 

[Kolemmitt]

I keep saying.

This was our Lions playoff loss from 1991.

I felt like, wait till next year.... but for real!

There is more to be excited about in this game than in that Lions game from 1991. Look at Aikman's stats in comparison to Dak's. Plus, in that game we were drilled by a QB named Erik Kramer, he was solid, but no Rodgers. Draft well, maybe a key FA and we will be even better next year.

 

[TNCowboy]

We learned he had the jitters, and by the time he overcame them it was late. And now he's 0-1.

Seriously? He started out fine. He didn't get the 15 yard penalty, he didn't forget to run EE, and he didn't commit the 12 man penalty.

I'm proud of Dak, he played like a champion. We didn't come up short yesterday because of him.

 

[SDCowboy]

This is the line:
"He was not beaten. He just ran out of time."

Loved that part.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

There is more to be excited about in this game than in that Lions game from 1991. Look at Aikman's stats in comparison to Dak's. Plus, in that game we were drilled by a QB named Erik Kramer, he was solid, but no Rodgers. Draft well, maybe a key FA and we will be even better next year.

I liked your post.
That playoff loss catapulted the Dallas Cowboys into dynasty.... winningest team of the 90s.

I love Dak but I'm not going crazy here... better than 1991? Remains to be seen.

 

[NeonNinja]

Dak is for real. I hope Jerry wakes up and finally understands that we need to focus on building a real defense. That's the main reason we failed.

 

[ghosttown cowboy]

When I saw Heath come off the edge like a missile and hit Rogers, I thought for sure that there would be a fumble and a scoop and score since OScan was right there...Obviously that didn't happen and now we are talking about revamping the defense instead of talking how the Falcons would torch this defense...I think Rogers is the only QB in the league that completes that pass on 3rd and 20 yesterday...That FG yesterday made me feel the same way I felt about the Catch 30 plus years ago...

 

[sean10mm]

Rodgers started slow against the Giants. Brady started slow against the Texans. No QB is hot on every throw in the game. Only babies bet mad when their QB isn't 100% elite on every snap, because nobody does it every game in real life.

Romo sure as heck didn't.

Dak had more touchdowns than Aaron Rodgers, in fewer possessions than Rodgers had. He had more yards and touchdowns than Romo ever had in a postseason game, PERIOD. He had more touchdowns in a postseason game than any rookie, ever. At some point you can't reasonably expect your QB to do more, and somebody else on the team has to stop being a bum and DO SOMETHING for the team to win - or else the team is just not that good and doesn't deserve to win..

 

[tyke1doe]

JJ squandered Romo's career by neglecting the Def., he can't possibly do it with Dak can he?

I don't think he neglected the defense. The 2007 defense was good enough to win a championship.
The problem was that we let Romo do everything. Our philosophy ran through Romo NOT the running game. We had the defense in 2007, but we didn't have the patience or philosophy we do now (if we continue to work with got us to the dance and not deviate as we did yesterday).
But we may need a super offense and super defense to overcome this coaching staff because that appears to be the only way we're going to get to the Super Bowl.

 

[Animosity]

Dak has become a superstar. If we dont win a Super Bowl in the next 5 years with Dak and Zeke, then something is very wrong here.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

I don't think he neglected the defense. The 2007 defense was good enough to win a championship.
The problem was that we let Romo do everything. Our philosophy ran through Romo NOT the running game. We had the defense in 2007, but we didn't have the patience or philosophy we do now (if we continue to work with got us to the dance and not deviate as we did yesterday).
But we may need a super offense and super defense to overcome this coaching staff because that appears to be the only way we're going to get to the Super Bowl.

Whether you buy into the "championship caliber defense" narrative or not, I don't think Romo ever had a defense that would remotely be considered championship caliber. 2007's defense was good but not great. If you take 2007 out the equation, the defenses on Romo's team as a rule just were not very good.

 

[tyke1doe]

Whether you buy into the "championship caliber defense" narrative or not, I don't think Romo ever had a defense that would remotely be considered championship caliber. 2007's defense was good but not great. If you take 2007 out the equation, the defenses on Romo's team as a rule just were not very good.

Neither was the 2007 Giants defense, until they actually won the Super Bowl. Statistically, the Cowboys defense was better that year.
But there's always an excuse for Romo by the same fans who elevate him to the level of Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Peyton Manning, etc. He's not there and not on their level. And he needs everything to be perfect around him for him to take the next step.
If that's the case, he's not all that fans say he is.
Did you see Rodgers' performance yesterday? He played with a defense not as good as ours, statistically, and not a dominant defense. There's no question Rodgers won that game (yes, I know he couldn't do it alone, but HE was the main reason the Packers won). I can look at Brady in the playoffs and Brees and Peyton Manning, and they have elevated their teams to Super Bowl levels. I can't say that for Romo. He needs everything perfect for him to take the next step. And that's why we continuously hear, if Romo had this, if he had that, then he would be a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
He has had the defense and the offense. His teams just weren't able to get it done. That's a part of his history, whether we/he/you like it or not.

 

[weaver21]

Neither was the 2007 Giants defense, until they actually won the Super Bowl. Statistically, the Cowboys defense was better that year.
But there's always an excuse for Romo by the same fans who elevate him to the level of Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Peyton Manning, etc. He's not there and not on their level. And he needs everything to be perfect around him for him to take the next step.
If that's the case, he's not all that fans say he is.
Did you see Rodgers' performance yesterday? He played with a defense not as good as ours, statistically, and not a dominant defense. There's no question Rodgers won that game (yes, I know he couldn't do it alone, but HE was the main reason the Packers won). I can look at Brady in the playoffs and Brees and Peyton Manning, and they have elevated their teams to Super Bowl levels. I can't say that for Romo. He needs everything perfect for him to take the next step. And that's why we continuously hear, if Romo had this, if he had that, then he would be a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
He has had the defense and the offense. His teams just weren't able to get it done. That's a part of his history, whether we/he/you like it or not.

Romo was never on the level of those guys and that's why needed help to get there. Elway needed Terrell Davis to help him get a Super Bowl because he couldn't get it done by himself. Romo was never truly an elite talent, but he had all the talent to get there and win it if he had some help. He's not Rodgers, Brady or Manning who can elevate their game and win games on their right arm. He doesn't have that talent. That's where the Cowboys failed Romo in not building a defense to help him and they were too late in building an offensive line and establishing a running game because his body was broken because of the beatings he took for all those years. They wanted him to do everything by himself and he just couldn't. It's a damn shame and it's a shame people don't realize this more.

 

[JJHLH1]

I'm not sure there's a ceiling for Dak. As more time goes by, and the more that gets asked of him, the better he gets.

Dak was amazing yesterday. Being down 15 points in the 4th quarter and leading the team back to tie the score twice. And running in the 2-point conversion himself. He showed once again that he's clutch and can carry the team in a pressure situation. It was awesome to watch. Unfortunately it's hard to win when the defense lets the opponent score 34 points.

 

[stilltheguru88]

He lost.

I thought that was all that mattered?

Lol who said that's all that matters?