The narrative on Dak Prescott has been he was figured out in 2017, he was a one-year wonder who was exposed as a fluke and made by the offensive line.
There is truth in there, but that isn’t the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Prescott was incapable of lifting his run-centric team when they lost their star running back to a six-game suspension and his stalwart left tackle and blindside protector.
The first eight games of the season, Prescott was playing at an MVP level. Then Ezekiel Elliott and Tyron Smith were lost and he played like a backup quarterback. Which is the real deal?
It’s probably somewhere in the middle, but in the middle is enough to lead the Cowboys to the promise land providing he doesn’t have to play behind a patchwork offensive line and without Elliott. The Cowboys went out and signed Cameron Fleming to make sure “Chaz Green, in at left tackle” never happens again. Now Prescott just needs to feel secure in the pocket again.
https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/31/dallas-cowboys-dak-prescott-2018-performance-preview/
Dak struggled alot when the team lost Elliot and Smith.
But how come they dont mention, that the team changed nothing to the scheme when Elliot went out? As if Morris and Smith were the same type of back. Eagles changed the scheme when Foles went in why? Because Foles has an entirely different skillset. But Dallas stayed in the same base offense that was designed to max out Elliots special talents.
How come this doesnt talk about it wasnt only Smith that was dealing with injuries. As Martin was suffering thru a concussion and Travis frederick was dinged up all in following weeks. How come it doesnt mention Dallas' total an complete failure to having a prepared backup LT?
How come it doesnt mention the WRs inability to consistently beat single coverage?
I dont think it was a case of the NFL figuring out Prescott but the NFL knowing what the Cowboys were going to do on offense. And what the Cowboys didnt have on offense.
Dallas has a special RB and special LT. Something happens when you lose that special RB. Roethlesberger struggles the same way when Bell has been out. Its more to do with the team philosophies than the QB. So much goes thru Elliot and Bell that the difference is clear. The same drop off happened to Aikman when Emmitt was out, as was the case with Sanders for the Lions and Bo for the Raiders. These guys you would call them special players.
People who just go by whats written and put no thought into the team scheme makeup will say Rodgers, and Brady do just fine without a RB. Well thats because the team runs thru the passing game. Not the run game. The offense runs through Rogers and Brady, while for the Cowboys you can say the offense runs through Elliot. Thats why the Cowboys picked him at 4. Because he is a game changer.
Dak was on pace to have a yr similar to 2016 from the first 8 weeks of the yr. Then all this happened.
Elliot was finally forced to serve suspension
Tyron Smith goes out
Sean Lee goes out twice
Zack Martin sufferes concussion
Travis Frederick get dinged up
David Irving is out
Dallas doesnt have a backup LT
Coaches change nothing in offensive game plan
The defense was playing really good until Lee and Irving went out. So Dallas spent more time on the field on defense and couldnt make certain stops. Along with the problems on offense and there you have the story on 2018.
