Scout’s Eye: Breaking Down Dak’s Miscues

waving monkey

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· It clearly was the right call on Tyron Smith for the block in the back on the screen to Tavon Austin. Smith did the best he could to get all the way to the outside, but when James Bradberry ducked underneath him, he had no choice but to extend his hands on him. It was one of those bang-bang decisions. Smith did what he felt was right, but it ended up costing them.

· Outstanding quick move by Daniel Ross to swim Trai Turner in order to knock the ball out of Christian McCaffrey’s hands early in the game. It’s generally not easy to defeat Turner in such a small space, but Ross was able to make himself small, then square back up in the hole in order to meet McCaffrey. DeMarcus Lawrence was also in good position on the scrap behind him to secure the ball once it was on the ground.

· In the first half, the defense had a problem of containing Cam Newton on the run. It wasn’t as much a physical issue -- but more in the line of mental ones. A good example of this was Damien Wilson getting sucked inside on a third down where Newton was able to run around the corner for a first down. If Wilson had played his assignment, there is a chance that he would have trapped Newton in the backfield to get the defense off the field. Byron Jones and Chidobe Awuzie were outstanding in coverage, thus forcing Newton to pull the ball down -- but there was no defender there to make the tackle.

· On the Maliek Collins sack, it wasn’t even the first defensive line in the game with him. Taco Charlton, Daniel Ross and Dorance Armstrong provided the pressure. Collins took advantage of Ryan Kalil believing he was going to get help from Greg Van Roten. Collins just powered his way through Van Roten while also leaving Kalil overextended and in poor blocking position. Collins was able to capture Newton in the pocket before he had a chance to step up.


· I’m surprised that Jeff Heath couldn’t come up with the deflected ball from Cam Newton intended for Torrey Smith. Heath did an outstanding job adjusting his body to give himself a chance, but he just couldn’t get his hands underneath the spinning ball as his elbows hit the ground. If Heath makes that play, the defense once again has a red zone turnover, but instead the Panthers took advantage and drove in for the first touchdown of the game.

· Not sure why Dak Prescott didn’t pull the trigger and attempt to hit Geoff Swaim on the curl route with Kawaan Short bearing down on him. Short did beat Connor Williams off the snap, but Prescott slid to the front of the pocket and had ample time to make the throw. His eyes clearly were on Swaim, but instead he tried
to pull the ball down and run, leading to a sack.

· Dak Prescott’s miss to Blake Jarwin was a tough throw going to his left, but it is one we’ve seen him make before. I initially thought Prescott would have had a chance to run for the first, but with Luke Kuechly closing on the play it would have been close. I understand what he saw at the time, but he just couldn’t get enough on the ball -- especially with Jarwin moving away from him. He might have had a chance if Jarwin had settled down once he became open.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/scout-s-eye-breaking-down-dak-s-miscues
 
Here's my post from earlier today. I'm curious if it's comparable to the all 22. I was pointing out what I consider Dak's unforced errors.

Link to my original.

1st Qt-

3:48, 2nd & 3- play action, all the time in the world, throws behind an open Zeke in the flat

2nd Qt-

12:39, 3rd & 11- throws a screen pass too hard & too high to Rod Smith

8:09, 2nd & 9- has Swaim between two zone defenders, sees it, hesitates instead of pulling the trigger, gets sacked

7:26, 3rd & 11- no pressure, pass to Hurns hits the ground a yard in front of him

3:03, 3rd & 7- this is the Jarwin throw. Honestly, that's a tough throw running that way

3rd Qt-

10:32, 1st & 10- zero pressure, could have checked his e-mail, pass is no where near Beasley

8:32, 3rd & 3- Hurns runs a drag, sits in the hole in the zone, Dak holds... holds... gets flushed and throws it away

6:13, 1st & 10- complete lack of pocket awareness. Could have went left between the hole created by the DE & DT. Runs right, creating a rush opportunity for the guy Collins had blocked

6:08, 2nd & 10- decides to run. Bad decision because Zeke, Beasley, & Swaim are open and Dak gets nothing

4th Qt-

14:12, 1st & 10- Gallup is interfered with on the route, but Dak still throws it behind him

2:51, 2nd & 18- no pocket awareness, big void to the front right, stays where he's at and Short pushes Connor into his lap

2:19, 4th & 10- sails the 12 yard out to Thompson

1:39, 3rd & 7- has a good pocket, looks indecisive, helps the rush by looking to run, fumbles the ball
 
Yikes. Dak.

Has he gotten gun shy?

There is a domino effect to Prescott. If he’s not the answer, then Jerry and Stephen can use that as justification to keep Garrett even if the team conintues to spit the bit.
 
· Not sure why Dak Prescott didn’t pull the trigger and attempt to hit Geoff Swaim on the curl route with Kawaan Short bearing down on him. Short did beat Connor Williams off the snap, but Prescott slid to the front of the pocket and had ample time to make the throw. His eyes clearly were on Swaim, but instead he tried
to pull the ball down and run, leading to a sack.

I assume that's the play I have marked at 8:09 in the 2nd Qt.
 
Here's my post from earlier today. I'm curious if it's comparable to the all 22. I was pointing out what I consider Dak's unforced errors.

Link to my original.

1st Qt-

3:48, 2nd & 3- play action, all the time in the world, throws behind an open Zeke in the flat

2nd Qt-

12:39, 3rd & 11- throws a screen pass too hard & too high to Rod Smith

8:09, 2nd & 9- has Swaim between two zone defenders, sees it, hesitates instead of pulling the trigger, gets sacked

7:26, 3rd & 11- no pressure, pass to Hurns hits the ground a yard in front of him

3:03, 3rd & 7- this is the Jarwin throw. Honestly, that's a tough throw running that way

3rd Qt-

10:32, 1st & 10- zero pressure, could have checked his e-mail, pass is no where near Beasley

8:32, 3rd & 3- Hurns runs a drag, sits in the hole in the zone, Dak holds... holds... gets flushed and throws it away

6:13, 1st & 10- complete lack of pocket awareness. Could have went left between the hole created by the DE & DT. Runs right, creating a rush opportunity for the guy Collins had blocked

6:08, 2nd & 10- decides to run. Bad decision because Zeke, Beasley, & Swaim are open and Dak gets nothing

4th Qt-

14:12, 1st & 10- Gallup is interfered with on the route, but Dak still throws it behind him

2:51, 2nd & 18- no pocket awareness, big void to the front right, stays where he's at and Short pushes Connor into his lap

2:19, 4th & 10- sails the 12 yard out to Thompson

1:39, 3rd & 7- has a good pocket, looks indecisive, helps the rush by looking to run, fumbles the ball
thanks good stuff
 
Yeah it’s not a good look. I would hope that in the worst case scenario that the season looks bleak early that they would consider putting White in.
 
Yikes. Dak.

Has he gotten gun shy?

There is a domino effect to Prescott. If he’s not the answer, then Jerry and Stephen can use that as justification to keep Garrett even if the team conintues to spit the bit.

Well then the media should ask who made the decision to start him over Romo, seeing what they see in practice and with plenty of tape..
 
Well then the media should ask who made the decision to start him over Romo, seeing what they see in practice and with plenty of tape..

I get that Romo was done dirty. But when are you going to get over it and move on?

He is happily retired now.

And I don’t say that to be disrespectful to you. I just mean we have no choice but to move forward now.
 
His feet go to crap when he starts watching the rush instead of the field. Even when there is no pressure, he starts doing the hitch step and throwing all arm. He really needs to R-E-L-A-X and just play. He's overthinking and aiming
 
Romo threw ZERO touchdowns last time they played the panthers and got knocked out of the game. He wasn't even able to complete preseason in 2016. THAT'S why Dak got the start and he kept his job after winning 11 in a row. If Romo really wanted to play football, some other team would have picked him up the following year and he'd be in the game.

Romo never 'carried' this team. What did he carry this team to? 3 years of 8 and 8 and a 12 and 4 season? Dak went 13 and 3, and would have went 14 and 2 if we actually took that game against Philly serious with largely the same guys. Essentially we replaced Murray with Zeke.

Romo did it 'all by himself' despite playing with guys like TO, prime Jason Witten, Anthony Fasano, Dan Bailey, Terrell Owens, Demarco Murray, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Marion Barber, Felix Jones among others. He's had nice b tier receivers like Patrick Crayton, Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams.

Dak looks like trash now, but to think that if Romo was here, things would be different is fantasy at best. Dak would still be playing right now. Romo would have been knocked out of the league after that Atlanta game.
 
· I’m surprised that Jeff Heath couldn’t come up with the deflected ball from Cam Newton intended for Torrey Smith. Heath did an outstanding job adjusting his body to give himself a chance, but he just couldn’t get his hands underneath the spinning ball as his elbows hit the ground. If Heath makes that play, the defense once again has a red zone turnover, but instead the Panthers took advantage and drove in for the first touchdown of the game.

Which goes to show how much better Heath is at tracking down errant balls than any DB we've had in a long time.

Who else would anyone expect to catch that ball?
 

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