An interesting stat by PFF, a wrong interpretation.
Of the 26 quarterbacks who threw 50 passes this season with a time to throw above three seconds from the pocket, Prescott ranked 24th in average depth of target while placing eighth in passing grade on such plays. The Cowboys slotted in at 19th in expected points added per play in these situations. This can be used as a proxy for Prescott’s ability to get through progressions and find the right receiver but the offense still not moving much
Early in the 49ers game, Prescott was forced down to his fourth read — a swing pass to
Ezekiel Elliottthat the running back tried to catch with one hand before it fell to the turf.
1. This quote clearly demonstrates that this idea Dak isn’t getting good pass-blocking relative to what other QBs face is asinine. Dak was ranked 24th in average depth of target when he had at least 3 seconds to throw. The data in fact tells us what we already know, which is Dak defaults to his check-down against primarily zone, which ends up inflating his passing grade in such situations, thus the “eight” ranking. Dak doesn’t challenge the defensive backfield.
So you have stats telling us two clear things:
a. WRs being open for pass catcheable throws, Dallas is a top 5 offense and the only one that is now home for the playoffs.
b. Dak, when he has time to throw, most likely a lot of those situations where defenses just rush 4. is at a whopping 24 in depth of target, meaning he doesn’t even bother to challenge the defensive backfield. He does boast an 8th ranking as far as pass rating is concerned, showing him constantly defaulting to his checkdown route. This is seen in earlier years as well, where his numbers jump in man with Amari, but he actually gets worse or remains mediocre against zones.
Dak is essentially a glorified checkdown Charlie, who can make the early throws, obfuscating how mediocre of a QB, particularly pocket padder, he really is. Putting him in the same sentence as Romo is complete trash.
2. This GIF example doesn’t demonstrate an ability to get through progressions, especially when all your reads are on the right side and one of them is a crossing route. Dak doesn’t even bother to look at receiver on his left i, meaning it’s hardly a good example of a QB demonstrating an ability to get through progressions. The deep safety doesn’t even bother looking, let alone, moving towards that side being as a result of a situation of even being pulled by a QB, meaning this idea Dak was even looking that way is a wild stretch.
The defense is showing single safety but a defender drops, meaning it’s a disguised cover shell 2 look. It’s that disguised safety that ends up taking the WR Running from the slot towards the sideline. All the WRs are essentially on the one side of the field. Dak goes immediately to his checkdown, because the slot WR he is keying towards is in traffic.
All this demonstrates is SF defense had the right call for that formation.
https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-dallas...en-moore-offense-playoffs-san-francisco-49ers