RS12
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Here are my top takeaways from the game tape:
- How do you find ways to help your rookie quarterback in his first professional start? You put him in positions where he has a chance to have success. In the case of Dak Prescott, you put him in the shotgun and let him go to work. By my study, Prescott was 6-for-7 with his only incompletion coming on a drop by Geoff Swaim to start a drive in the middle of the second quarter. Prescott is most comfortable when he can see everything in front of him, because it doesn't require him to have to read defenses with his back turned. Another way that Scott Linehan was able to help him was with max protection. On both of Prescott's passes to Dez Bryant, a tight end stayed in to help with the blocking – and the same thing happened with the ball he threw to Brice Butler for 22 yards. My observation is no way meant to take anything from the way that Prescott played because he was outstanding. I just wanted to point out this is how coaches provide opportunities for their players to succeed.
- Having a chance to review the Mark Nzeocha interception, it was a "Fire Zone" call, where the blitz came from one side and a defensive end was used in coverage. In this particular situation Barry Church and Derek Akunnecame on the blitz with Ryan Russell dropping. It's clear that Jared Goff wanted to throw the ball to Cory Harkey, but I don't think he would have had the completion anyway because Russell was in outstanding shape on theplay. It would have been a tough throw and catch because of his coverage.
- If there is a gamer on this defensive line, it has to be Jack Crawford. Where Crawford is so good is that he is willing to do the little things for the good of the scheme. Whether it's shooting the gap on the move or disrupting blockers in the running game or taking on those same blockers in order to get a teammate home on a pass rush. Crawford was outstanding during his time on the field Saturday night. He just plays with that relentless effort no matter where they line him up. In this scheme he is just the ideal rotational player.
- I still don't know how Jameill Showers was able to keep