To say this has been a poor season for Dak Prescott is an understatement. Prescott has eight interceptions this season, after only throwing nine interceptions in the entire 2023 season. Often, his throws seem forced and disconnected from where his receivers are. All of this is stacking up on top of a team with a losing record of 3-4 and the concern only builds. However, is it all Prescott’s fault, or could there be more to it?
Dak Prescott: Problems at QB Start with Other Game-Changing Issues
The Dallas Cowboys Offensive Line
The problems for Prescott have to start with the change in the offensive line. Last season, Prescott had Tyron Smith as his left tackle, but Smith is now guarding Aaron Rodgers at the Jets. He’s been replaced with the first-round pick for the Cowboys in the 2024 draft, Tyler Guyton. There was also a change at center with Tyler Biadasz to third-round pick, rookie Cooper Beebe. Two rookies, whether they’re playing well or not, are going to affect the chemistry of the offensive line. It’s something that the Cowboys didn’t account for and have to adjust to.
Because of this, Prescott receives more pressure. His pocket crumbles more quickly. And since he has a $60 million per year price tag on his head, Jerry Jones doesn’t want him to run around the field. So he’s been stagnant and stuck, a sitting duck for EDGE rushers to light up like a Christmas tree.
Cowboys Receiving Core in Shambles
The wide receivers weren’t incredibly impressive last year. The Cowboys basically have the same set with a little more weakness due to the newness of these route runners. Last year, Prescott could depend on Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup to make a difference when CeeDee Lamb was unavailable. Even Jake Ferguson played phenomenal last season compared to his subpar showing so far. Now, there’s a lot more inconsistency, a lot less separation, and a lot more forced windows.
This lends itself directly to Prescott’s difficulties with interceptions this season. Forcing the ball in tight windows with these corners breathing down the neck of the receivers is asking for interceptions. Another level to this problem is the Cowboys lack of urgency to go get some certified talent in the few days they have before the trade deadline. It has been expressed multiple times that they have the talent in Dallas, but this is a cop-out. If the talent were there, Prescott’s completion rating wouldn’t be suffering and his sacks and interceptions wouldn’t be up.
Dak Prescott Doesn’t Have a Run Game to Bail Him Out
Although Tony Pollard wasn’t the most dynamic running back in the league, he was consistent. He brought in over 1,000 yards of rushing for two consecutive seasons. With the Tennessee Titans, Pollard is on pace to surpass that number again. Pollard has 494 rushing yards, making more than Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle at only 395 combined yards on the season.
The run game has been a concern for the past few years since Ezekiel Elliott’s prime. Mike McCarthy has tried to use a running back committee to stabilize their lack of options but it just isn’t working. When the run isn’t working, what else is the offense going to do except turn to the pass, which is limited by whether Lamb is open. In other words, defenses see the problems, they exploit them, and fans are seeing a lot more of the punter Bryan Anger this season.
The Problems on Offense Aren’t All on Prescott
Prescott needs to play better. He needs to act like the player that got the Cowboys consecutive 12-5 seasons. But he can’t do it all by himself. Football is a team sport, and right now, his team is in tatters. The front office doesn’t look like they’re willing to help, so if Prescott wants to paint himself as a champion in this game, he’s going to have to figure out how to make this team a winner. Or else, it could be a very difficult season for the Cowboys.
Main Photo Courtesy of Kelley L Cox – Imagn Images
