I Just Don't See A Huge Gap Between Dak and Rush

[SteveTheCowboy]

3-5 - Dak
4-3 - Cooper (would be 5-2 but for the muffed punt return vs Bengals).
The Dak Prescott fans must be hating it.

They are losing their ever-loving minds rationalizing things. They'll hurt themselves permanently if they keep this up.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Rush started awful, but he also has game snaps equivalent to a rookie in the NFL, and he has improved every week.

Backup QBs should get better with starts.

Rush seems to execute the offense a tick faster than Dak. Worse arm talent, better offense execution talent.

 

[nate dizzle]

Two things are really killing Dak's value as a QB on the field:
- His mobility
- His unwillingness to take snaps from under center

Lots of discussion about his mobility so I'll just talk about the latter. Dak not wanting to drop back really makes a lot of people's jobs harder. The RB's and the blockers in particular. A QB is supposed to make those around him look better. Dak certainly doesn't. Show me one guy on the team who looked better when Dak was playing.

Overall, Dak is certainly a better thrower than Cooper. That said, his tendencies have made it harder for everyone around him which in turn makes it harder for him. Dak was leading the NFL in tight window throws. Cooper just throws to wide open guys. Its not a coincidence. Its the same group of receivers.

Dallas is stuck with Dak. I sure hope he is taking lessons from Cooper right now. Get under center. Keep it simple. Get it out quick.

He can't take snaps from under center because his footwork is trash, but he's working on it...still...in year 10. So, you know...baby steps

 

[Steve007]

…Between Dak without use of his legs and Rush. Dak still might be better but they don’t seem that different.

Rush started awful, but he also has game snaps equivalent to a rookie in the NFL, and he has improved every week. He throws some dirt balls and frustratingly behind players on routes, but so does Dak. He makes some stupid throws but so does Dak.

It’s only my eyeball opinion. Curious what others think

The biggest difference is the money. Rush isn't the answer, but he is a better value.
Some teams made mistakes on overpaying QBs, but they see their mistakes and make moves to correct them. Denver moved on from an overpriced Qb, the Vikings did the same. Dallas wont.

 

[Steve007]

football players on the field? It had nothing to do with the quarterback. It had to do with the other 22 starters. When your starters get hurt at the backups come in and they actually play just as good or better because they play with heart and not for the money

Really, it had nothing to do with the quarterback? In the past when there were injuries, the excuses for Dak was the starters were out. Why didn't the backups play just as good or better? Rush isn't the answer, but he really shows how bad Daks contract is. Rush or Dak isn't leading the Cowboys anywhere.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

My point in one word......consistency. Most, if not all Dak critics have two issues with him, contract and lack of playoff success. What does that tell you? Dak's floor is playoff vs Rush 500 or losing season. Is Dak worthy of $60M, hell no and with the exception of one, maybe two posters, no one on the board has said otherwise. Most were ready to move on or at a min, keep him this year to clean up the cap and maybe resign with improvement in the postseason. If you tell me you wanna rep

The biggest difference is the money. Rush isn't the answer, but he is a better value

+1 but it makes no difference since we have a GM who refuses to invest/sign quality-free agents. If you told me Howie Roseman was my GM and he can't sign certain free agents coz of Dak's contract, I'm pi___d coz you know he's going to sign some impact players. But Jerry.......he can have over $200M and still only a few bottom feeders and "our guys".

 

[Whirlwin]

Really, it had nothing to do with the quarterback? In the past when there were injuries, the excuses for Dak was the starters were out. Why didn't the backups play just as good or better? Rush isn't the answer, but he really shows how bad Daks contract is. Rush or Dak isn't leading the Cowboys anywhere.

I never would’ve signed Prescott. Defense played outstanding, CeeDee Lamb‘s making him look like a superstar

 

[Nav22]

The biggest Gap I see is that when we're supposedly at full strength with all our highest paid players and we need to win and perform in big moments we are absolutely at our worst.

When we have pretty much shot our season in the behind all our money players are injured we're playing our backup guys undrafted free agents low round picks somehow we play our for sure most inspired football and some of the better football I've seen played.

There is no doubt in my mind if DAk and his salary we're completely out of the equation and we had to start Cooper Rush and could take 60 million and invest it in quality free agents we would have probably one 10 games this year.

We won 12 games in each of the last 3 seasons.

Dak's cap hit went DOWN when he signed his new deal.

But now Dak's new deal is what will keep us from winning even 10 games?

 

[Steve007]

We won 12 games in each of the last 3 seasons.

Dak's cap hit went DOWN when he signed his new deal.

But now Dak's new deal is what will keep us from winning even 10 games?

Look at Daks cap hit next year.

 

[OmerV]

There wasn't a running game last night, but I'll agree that both Rush and Dak can perform best with such a low CAP% Hit.

No there wasn't, but notice I said running game and/or defense.

 

[Slick]

Call me the next time Rush has a season like several that Dak has had. Or maybe when Rush enters the MVP conversation at any point during a season. These comparisons just don’t hold even a little water. It’s still the same thing we always see around here, QBs being blamed for losses and given credit for the wins. I don’t remember this type of thing when Aikman’s team won a game with only FGs or when his team lost without Irvin and Smith.

It’s one thing to want a different QB. It’s one thing for hatred for Dak to go all the way back to “poor Romo” as it does with a few posters, but anyone who tries to seriously compare Dak with Rush is out of his/her mind. Before posting such ideas, some fans should try asking anyone who knows anything about football. Ask a HS coach, a college coach, a sports reporter, write letters. Maybe try writing mailbag. I’m betting you won’t even get a serious response, more like laughter.

What has he done for this team post season or when playing winning teams when it really matters? Nothing, zip, zilch, nada. He should have been replaced with Andy Dalton for a cheaper replacement when it would have cost nothing. They need a defense more than an offense but dumb and dumber will never see that.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Please tell me which game Dak lost this season that Dallas would have won with Rush at QB.

Name just one that is even remotely likely the way the defense was playing. They got their doors blown out in every single one of those games.

Atlanta

 

[boysfanperiod]

With Dak, the team plays like a bunch of individuals. With Cooper, they play like a team.

The difference between Dak and Cooper is how Cooper doesn't let his bad play cause him to stay in a funk all game. Dak doesn't seem to get out of it. Cue the deer in the headlights stare.

 

[gimmesix]

…Between Dak without use of his legs and Rush. Dak still might be better but they don’t seem that different.

Rush started awful, but he also has game snaps equivalent to a rookie in the NFL, and he has improved every week. He throws some dirt balls and frustratingly behind players on routes, but so does Dak. He makes some stupid throws but so does Dak.

It’s only my eyeball opinion. Curious what others think

This is a bad year for comparison for various reasons, Dak was not having a good season. When Prescott was playing at a near-MVP level last season, though, I don't think anyone would have been saying that they don't see a huge gap.

It's all relative. Several things have come together since Rush stepped in for Dak. How much of those things are because of Rush? I'd say very few. We turned to Dowdle more to provide an adequate run game (and could have done that with Dak). The offensive line has been blocking better since we lost Martin. We got Cooks back (healthy) as the No. 2 receiver. And the defense has been playing better overall than it did early this season, especially after we lost Parsons.

Rush has shown that he is a capable backup when all those things come together. And he has put together a couple of starter-quality efforts the last couple of weeks. I just don't think it is fair to compare that to Prescott when the circumstances clearly weren't the same. The deck was stacked against Prescott earlier this season and he played down to it (just like in the playoff game last year). If the circumstances had been different, I can't say he wouldn't have played up to it.

 

[Creeper]

Dak is physically more gifted, not $60 million more gifted though. Rush is intellectually more gifted. He is a better decision maker most of the time which is why he looks so good at times. IMO, a QB with brains is better than a dumb QB with physical talents.

 

[bluemagic4ever]

The HUGE gap I see is play calling. Dak is better than Rush, has Dak struggled at times absolutely but it was be foolish to think that Rush is better than Dak. What I do is is two different playcalling philosophies when they both are in the game. When Rush is in the game, you tend to see more playaction, consistent run game even when its not working, and you see them being more creative bc Rush has limitations (utilization of Turpin, motion and etc). They try their best to keep him out of obvious pass situations.

But you dont see the same version of play calling when Dak is in the game. Not a lot of playaction, we abandon the run, and are in shot gun often. History and his stats show you he is better when we are running the ball, and we use more playaction. I didnt see Turpin lined up in the back field as much either. Where are these factors when Dak is at QB.

I understand people align their expectations linear to their contacts but Goff is getting paid as well, and his HC and OC are smart enough to understand they have to have a good OL, and running game for Goff to thrive and they have addressed that while he has the 6th highest QB contract. So what Dak is making isnt the conflict. To me the conflict is how MM/OC B. Shot - are calling plays, and lack of scheming and lack creativity. BC if they called some of these games for Dak as they call for Rush, it would be different outcomes and better balance.

 

[Nav22]

Look at Daks cap hit next year.

We can restructure that and save $36M on next year's cap.

What will we do with those savings? That's up to Jerry and Stephen.

Speaking of the Joneses, they've been cheap in regards to outside free agents for YEARS (even back when Dak was on a rookie deal), and we still won 12 games each of the last 3 years.

Blaming Dak's contract for their cheapness is silly.

 

[Blackrain]

We won 12 games in each of the last 3 seasons.

Dak's cap hit went DOWN when he signed his new deal.

But now Dak's new deal is what will keep us from winning even 10 games?

You're too busy laughing and missing the whole point if we could invest 60 million in quality free agents we could win 10 games with Cooper Rush as quarterback.
The problem isn't Dak the problem is our general manager who doesn't get rid of players before they become a liability and even if we didn't have Dak and his salary and just had Cooper Rush our general manager wouldn't invest the $60 million in quality free agents anyway.
He would continue to dumpster dive because he's cheap just wants to make the playoffs and stay relevant.

 

[Blackrain]

But he makes up for it by being able to go through progressions (rather than 'one and done') and finding the most open of the options. His play is kind of negating the ....."we need better receivers". It's not a matter of a weakness, EVERY QB HAS A WEAKNESS, but you need to be able to play to his strengths and Rush's appears to be, he doesnt panic and always looking for a receiver.
Not saying he's the solution, and yes we need to start planning for 2026 (and possible Post June cuts).

I hear you brother he's a cerebral guy he does a lot of good things and I really do like him to the point I'm trying to follow through and help him from the couch but it's just not working.
I'd make a donation and buy him some supplements if I thought it would help I'm sure everybody else would donate to.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

…Between Dak without use of his legs and Rush. Dak still might be better but they don’t seem that different.

Rush started awful, but he also has game snaps equivalent to a rookie in the NFL, and he has improved every week. He throws some dirt balls and frustratingly behind players on routes, but so does Dak. He makes some stupid throws but so does Dak.

It’s only my eyeball opinion. Curious what others think

Put things in perspective Rush had a 32 qb rating and now has a 40 qb rating which is 31st qb rating. Dak having the worst year of his career with 46….