Week 9 QB Spotlight: The Subtle Brilliance of Dak Prescott November 8, 2017

[waving monkey]

After a wildly successful 2016 campaign where he led the Cowboys to an NFC best 13-3 record, brought home Rookie of the Year honors, and arguably had the best rookie QB season of all time, Dak Prescott still doesn’t get the respect that he deserves. Pundits often discredit Prescott’s performance because of his supporting cast. “He has the best offensive line in football,” “Zeke Elliott is the heart and soul of that offense,” “Dez Bryant leads one of the best stable of weapons in football.” While these are all valid points, though these same points are often omitted when talking about other quarterbacks (*cough* Derek Carr *cough*), they fail to analyze Prescott’s actual performance itself within the context of the talent around him and too often make it seem like any old Joe off the street could run the Cowboys offense.

Combining this disrespect for Prescott’s abilities and the aforementioned anomalous nature of Prescott’s rookie season, many expected a regression from the Cowboys. Although their record at 5-3 is certainly an indication of regression, the offense is still humming along. The Cowboys ranked 5th in DVOA% on Offense in 2016 and rank 4th through Week 9 of the 2017 season despite the OL and Zeke Elliott’s struggles in the early part of the season. This decline in performance in his supporting cast has been compensated by Dak’s improvements to main the stability of the offense. With an added year of experience, Dak has been much more aggressive in attacking the intermediate and deep part of the field.

http://settingedge.com/week-9-qb-spotlight-the-subtle-brilliance-of-dak-prescott

 

[Bullflop]

Yeah, it seems all the old standby arguments to discredit Dak are falling by the wayside. Haters, eat your hearts out!

 

[Ken]

Wentz humpers need to look at this and understand it. Wentz doesn't do the things pointed out here and is why Dak is light years better than him.

When the league adjust to take away Carson's first read...he is going to struggle.

 

[EGTuna]

Thanks for posting. Really insightful and detailed analysis like this is a joy to read.

And I think it's ok If Both Wentz and Dak are top QBs. I'll take Dak every time, but it's ok for both to be good.

 

[robjay04]

Thanks for posting. Really insightful and detailed analysis like this is a joy to read.

And I think it's ok If Both Wentz and Dak are top QBs. I'll take Dak every time, but it's ok for both to be good.

No we want the Eagles to start the reincarnation of Ryan Leaf every season.

No exceptions.

 

[Bullflop]

No we want the Eagles to start the reincarnation of Ryan Leaf every season.

No exceptions.

Good stuff . . . there's an art to properly applied sarcasm -- a tip of the hat for that!

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

When the league adjust to take away Carson's first read...he is going to struggle.

I am curious what have you seen from Wentz for you to make that statement. I hate the freaking Eagirls from the bottom of my soul. I have to live around and work with those fans and they drive me absolutely insane, so I want him to fail. But I am a huge football fan and I watch their games when my boys aren’t in at the same time, and I see a very good QB. He is making every throw and making great reads. And if you watch the games HE IS going through progressions. The kid is good. Don’t let your fandom get in the way of giving proper credit.

They both are very good QB’s, but to say Dak is light years better is just being in denial.

 

[Bullflop]

Thanks for posting. Really insightful and detailed analysis like this is a joy to read.

And I think it's ok If Both Wentz and Dak are top QBs. I'll take Dak every time, but it's ok for both to be good.

Skillfully applied commentary. Very considerate, to say the least and fair to both QBs. A rare occurrence hereabouts.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Most everyone except Cowboys fans recognize Dak is a special QB.

 

[VACowboy]

I am curious what have you seen from Wentz for you to make that statement. I hate the freaking Eagirls from the bottom of my soul. I have to live around and work with those fans and they drive me absolutely insane, so I want him to fail. But I am a huge football fan and I watch their games when my boys aren’t in at the same time, and I see a very good QB. He is making every throw and making great reads. And if you watch the games HE IS going through progressions. The kid is good. Don’t let your fandom get in the way of giving proper credit.

They both are very good QB’s, but to say Dak is light years better is just being in denial.

I agree with you, but I also see Wentz throwing to wide-open receivers that I rarely see when the Dallas offense is on the field. it makes me wonder how much better Prescott could be in an offensive scheme that helps him out just a little bit.

 

[EGTuna]

No we want the Eagles to start the reincarnation of Ryan Leaf every season.

No exceptions.

I agree. I wish they had drafted Hackenberg instead of Wentz. But the fact is Wentz is pretty darn good. It's only going to make Dallas draft defense to stop him, which is a good thing.

Dak, imo is better, but there's no denying that Wentz is playing at a high level.

 

[CATCH17]

Wentz humpers need to look at this and understand it. Wentz doesn't do the things pointed out here and is why Dak is light years better than him.

When the league adjust to take away Carson's first read...he is going to struggle.

Yeah because it's not like Carson Wentz can buy time and make plays out of the scheme..


Seriously, you Wentz doubters just need to give it up. He's incredible and one of the most talented QB's in the league.

I was laughed at before the draft for saying he was a more talented Andrew Luck.. Well how many people would take Luck over Wentz now? Not many.

 

[CATCH17]

I agree with you, but I also see Wentz throwing to wide-open receivers that I rarely see when the Dallas offense is on the field. it makes me wonder how much better Prescott could be in an offensive scheme that helps him out just a little bit.

Luckily Dak can run at a very high level and his feet help this scheme out a ton.

 

[Ken]

I am curious what have you seen from Wentz for you to make that statement. I hate the freaking Eagirls from the bottom of my soul. I have to live around and work with those fans and they drive me absolutely insane, so I want him to fail. But I am a huge football fan and I watch their games when my boys aren’t in at the same time, and I see a very good QB. He is making every throw and making great reads. And if you watch the games HE IS going through progressions. The kid is good. Don’t let your fandom get in the way of giving proper credit.

They both are very good QB’s, but to say Dak is light years better is just being in denial.

Sure...

The most recent example that sticks in my mind is i believe his 3rd td from last week (lol i know...criticizing someone after their 3rd td). He looks left and pumps to the wide open wide receiver apparently to draw the safety to him? He then quickly looks right and then throws back to the wide open wr. Total opposite of what a qb should do. No reading going on there just an attempt to mask that he is throwing to his first read no matter what and wants announcers to say he is going through progressions.

If you watch him, he goes to his first read 90% of the time. Within that 90%, you can see him holding the ball waiting for his pre determined read to get open. A lot of times...when it is Ertz he does get open and goes to him. Often times...protection breaks down and he gets sacked (eagles are like 25th in the league in this) or he scambles to buy time and then finds another "read" open.

He is not like Dak in that Dak is progressing through his reads quickly while under duress. This is what seperates the great ones from the guys who can't win in big situations and in the playoffs. Better defensive coordinators will destroy this.

Now...this is not a new thing. Wentz was criticized even at NDS for pre determining throws. It just worked out there because of the level of competition. IMO, he hasn't progressed and still does this yhe majority of the time.

 

[CATCH17]

Sure...

The most recent example that sticks in my mind is i believe his 3rd td from last week (lol i know...criticizing someone after their 3rd td). He looks left and pumps to the wide open wide receiver apparently to draw the safety to him? He then quickly looks right and then throws back to the wide open wr. Total opposite of what a qb should do. No reading going on there just an attempt to mask that he is throwing to his first read no matter what and wants announcers to say he is going through progressions.

If you watch him, he goes to his first read 90% of the time. Within that 90%, you can see him holding the ball waiting for his pre determined read to get open. A lot of times...when it is Ertz he does get open and goes to him. Often times...protection breaks down and he gets sacked (eagles are like 25th in the league in this) or he scambles to buy time and then finds another "read" open.

He is not like Dak in that Dak is progressing through his reads quickly while under duress. This is what seperates the great ones from the guys who can't win in big situations and in the playoffs. Better defensive coordinators will destroy this.

Now...this is not a new thing. Wentz was criticized even at NDS for pre determining throws. It just worked out there because of the level of competition. IMO, he hasn't progressed and still does this yhe majority of the time.

Some passes are just quick passes.. 3 steps and get rid of the ball.

Carson Wentz was reading the defense plenty at NDS. I don't know where you are getting that this guy can't read a defense lol. That's a huge reach and really just wrong.

These quick passing schemes sometimes don't call for a ton of reads.


Also, Deshaun Watson is the definition of a guy who didn't make reads in college and he is lighting up the NFL so I question how much it even matters anymore anyways.

 

[Clarkson]

Yeah because it's not like Carson Wentz can buy time and make plays out of the scheme..


Seriously, you Wentz doubters just need to give it up. He's incredible and one of the most talented QB's in the league.

I was laughed at before the draft for saying he was a more talented Andrew Luck.. Well how many people would take Luck over Wentz now? Not many.

If they were the same age, I take Luck all day. Luck has been in the worst situation of any great QB I've ever seen. It's a miracle he ever got them to the playoffs. Their roster outside of Luck right now is worse than the Browns. Horrible offensive line, no RBs, horrible defense. Literally everything has been terrible Luck's whole time there except himself. It's such a shame the horribly run franchise has wasted his career.

 

[zrinkill]

Wentz is a good QB ........ we dont know how he would play on this team ........ but we do know how Dak is playing.

So I will go with Dak.

 

[Ken]

Some passes are just quick passes.. 3 steps and get rid of the ball.

Carson Wentz was reading the defense plenty at NDS. I don't know where you are getting that this guy can't read a defense lol. That's a huge reach and really just wrong.

These quick passing schemes sometimes don't call for a ton of reads.


Also, Deshaun Watson is the definition of a guy who didn't make reads in college and he is lighting up the NFL so I question how much it even matters anymore anyways.

I am not sure why you thought I said he couldn't read a defense? He actually does this very well...he is going to the correct read but when that read is taken away or is taking longer to get open...he is not progressing through his read. When he does progress (rare) he is sailing balls.

Watson i really didnt study nor have i seen him play much. Wentz i did because I studied that whole close very thouroughly because we needed a qb.

I am not wrong on this...

 

[CATCH17]

If they were the same age, I take Luck all day. Luck has been in the worst situation of any great QB I've ever seen. It's a miracle he ever got them to the playoffs. Their roster outside of Luck right now is worse than the Browns. Horrible offensive line, no RBs, horrible defense. Literally everything has been terrible Luck's whole time there except himself. It's such a shame the horribly run franchise has wasted his career.

You would almost be splitting hairs between the two.

Wentz is more physically gifted then Luck so you're only hope would be that Lucks understanding of the game is better then Wentz.

Both guys are great talents though.

 

[Joe Realist]

Wentz humpers need to look at this and understand it. Wentz doesn't do the things pointed out here and is why Dak is light years better than him.

When the league adjust to take away Carson's first read...he is going to struggle.

Yeah? And if he wins MVP and the superbowl? Light years ahead is laughable.