MMQB - You Can’t Play Like a Rookie in the Playoffs

[Plankton]

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/01/13/...vice-from-jim-everett-joe-flacco-mark-sanchez

On Sunday, Dak Prescott will begin his quest to go where no starting rookie quarterback has gone before: to the Super Bowl. Prescott will become the 22nd rookie QB in NFL history to start a postseason game when his Cowboys take on the Packers. Of the 21 who have gone before him, only two have won more than one playoff game (Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez). Prescott got the best of Aaron Rodgers earlier this season—Dallas won, 30-16, in Week 6—but Rodgers has 15 playoff games, including a Super Bowl title, under his belt. Just how much does experience matter when it comes to the heightened expectations of the postseason? The MMQB sought insight from a panel of quarterbacks who’ve been in Prescott’s shoes: Jim Everett, the former L.A. Rams rookie who lost his first playoff start in 1986; Flacco, the Ravens’ QB who won two as a rookie in 2008; and Sanchez, who won two postseason games in 2009 as a rookie with the Jets. The three quarterbacks spoke to The MMQB about the rookie playoff experience, their advice for Prescott, and whether he might be the rookie to burst the Super Bowl ceiling. Sanchez, now the third-string quarterback in Dallas, also about Prescott as a teammate and leader.

 

[JoeKing]

Dak hasn't "played like a rookie" all season so why would he play like one in the playoffs?

 

[Stryker44]

Dak hasn't "played like a rookie" all season so why would he play like one in the playoffs?

I think the Giants broke him mind, body, and soul. Just like Sanchez was broken mind, body, and soul in 2009.

 

[MileyDancer]

Dak hasn't "played like a rookie" all season so why would he play like one in the playoffs?

Exactly what I was about to say. Dumb article.

 

[MileyDancer]

I think the Giants broke him mind, body, and soul. Just like Sanchez was broken mind, body, and soul in 2009.

And then we played outstanding the rest of the games. Everyone has a bad game, or two.

 

[SDCowboy]

Dak hasn't played or acted like a rookie all season. What's even the point of this article?

 

[Stryker44]

And then we played outstanding the rest of the games. Everyone has a bad game, or two.

I think he has a fixed ceiling, like RGIII. Multiple defensive formations - he can't handle them.

 

[daveferr33]

Dak hasn't "played like a rookie" all season so why would he play like one in the playoffs?

Of course he's "played like a rookie," albeit a very good one. The hyperbole surrounding Prescott rookie season is so out of hand at this point that his teammates and coaches accomplishments are being diminished. This was the best situation a rookie qb could step into since probably Ben Roethlisberger and Shaun King.

That said. I believe that the coaches will do what they have been doing all season--design gamelans around their strengths (Zeke and the offensive line) peppered with well-timed passing and running plays for Prescott. Its been the winning formula so far and I think it will be successful again this Sunday. I just don't think Rodgers can win this game by himself, which is what he will have to do with a seriously outmanned defense and key missing starters on offense.

 

[paladin]

I think he has a fixed ceiling, like RGIII. Multiple defensive formations - he can't handle them.

Your thought is wrong.

The difference is:
Dak is solely focused in building his football acumen
RG3 was solely focused on building his brand.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

I think he has a fixed ceiling, like RGIII. Multiple defensive formations - he can't handle them.

Are you saying only the Giants had multiple defensive fronts? I'm sure Detroit and Tampa tried to trick the rookie too, but he still tore them apart.

If he's doing better than any rookie before, because rookies generally get better as they get experience, why does Dak all of a sudden have a ceiling that doesn't apply to other rookies?

 

[SDCowboy]

I think he has a fixed ceiling, like RGIII. Multiple defensive formations - he can't handle them.

Bro, your bait is way too obvious.

 

[MileyDancer]

I think he has a fixed ceiling, like RGIII. Multiple defensive formations - he can't handle them.

LOL. OK, bud. Hey, where is Kirk Cousins right now?

 

[Daillest88]

Doesn't the matter what that 200 million dollar giants Defense did. No Defense in the playoffs has that Defense. So we are OK.. packers Defense sucks

 

[Primetime42]

I think he has a fixed ceiling, like RGIII. Multiple defensive formations - he can't handle them.

Dakota is already way smarter than Bob ever was. The two are not even comparable as players in any facet, anyway.

 

[JoeKing]

I think the Giants broke him mind, body, and soul. Just like Sanchez was broken mind, body, and soul in 2009.

If that were true we wouldn't have won big against Detroit or TB.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Of course he's "played like a rookie," albeit a very good one. The hyperbole surrounding Prescott rookie season is so out of hand at this point that his teammates and coaches accomplishments are being diminished. This was the best situation a rookie qb could step into since probably Ben Roethlisberger and Shaun King.

That said. I believe that the coaches will do what they have been doing all season--design gamelans around their strengths (Zeke and the offensive line) peppered with well-timed passing and running plays for Prescott. Its been the winning formula so far and I think it will be successful again this Sunday. I just don't think Rodgers can win this game by himself, which is what he will have to do with a seriously outmanned defense and key missing starters on offense.

The Dak hype is totally warranted. Just look what happens when anybody else is behind center besides Dak (and of course Romo). You can't say enough about how well Dak has played as an NFL rookie. He deserves just as much credit as the rest of the Cowboys players and coaches. It has truly been an organizational effort, but that doesn't diminish Dak's amazing contribution.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I think he has a fixed ceiling, like RGIII. Multiple defensive formations - he can't handle them.

Yeah, 13-3 is just a coincidence, including beating the Commanders twice. We went 11-0 against everybody but the NFC East where we lost 3 games, except when we played your team. We won both of those. I guess the Commanders didn't use enough multiple formations.

 

[DFWJC]

I think we all know by now that Dak is very different than most rookies.

Anyway, Green Bay's top priority by far will be to slow down Zeke. If they can't do that, they have little chance of pulling off the mini-upset.
There should be plenty of room in that secondary for Dak to take advantage of. He and the team can do this.

 

[JoeKing]

Of course he's "played like a rookie," albeit a very good one. The hyperbole surrounding Prescott rookie season is so out of hand at this point that his teammates and coaches accomplishments are being diminished. This was the best situation a rookie qb could step into since probably Ben Roethlisberger and Shaun King.

That said. I believe that the coaches will do what they have been doing all season--design gamelans around their strengths (Zeke and the offensive line) peppered with well-timed passing and running plays for Prescott. Its been the winning formula so far and I think it will be successful again this Sunday. I just don't think Rodgers can win this game by himself, which is what he will have to do with a seriously outmanned defense and key missing starters on offense.

"Playing like a rookie" don't get you elected to the pro-bowl. You are so under appreciating what he has done.

If the Cowboys win this game, it will be on the shoulders of Dak.

 

[Stryker44]

Yeah, 13-3 is just a coincidence, including beating the Commanders twice. We went 11-0 against everybody but the NFC East where we lost 3 games, except when we played your team. We won both of those. I guess the Commanders didn't use enough multiple formations.

Nobody is saying Joe Barry's defense was less than a joke this year.