2019 will be remembered as one of the most frustrating seasons in recent Dallas Cowboy’s history. A team that had so much promise was only able to break even at 8-8 and missed the playoffs.
There were a few bright spots this season, though, and one was the progression of Quarterback Dak Prescott. He set career highs in passing yards (4,902) and touchdown passes (30). Seven times this season he threw for 300 yards or more, including three games over 400. Also, he had six games with three or more touchdown tosses.
Prescott finished second in yards and fourth in touchdowns for all quarterbacks. With first-year Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore taking the shackles off, we now know the true arm talent that Prescott has, which was limited under former OC Scott Linehan. With that being said, there are still a few areas he can improve on and take his game to an even higher level.
1. Be more accurate with his throws
Some will probably look at this and say what do you mean a guy that threw for almost 5,000 yards has to be more accurate. Well, there’s more to throwing the ball than simply getting it to your receivers, you have to have touch and placement. The idea is to hit your receivers in stride and allow them to maximize winning on routes. Although Prescott threw for a lot of yards and touchdowns, there were yards and possible points left on the field because of slightly inaccurate throws. In his defense, his receiving core didn’t do him any favors by dropping the fourth-most passes in the NFL, which is something they’ll need to improve. However, it’s incumbent on him to place the ball where it needs to be. Once Prescott takes his accuracy to the next level there’s no telling how good he can be.
2. Use his legs more
This is the part of Prescott’s game that I personally would like to see improve as much as anything. At 6’2 and around 240 pounds, he’s basically a linebacker running with the football and can really punish defenders, especially if he gets to the third level against smaller defensive backs. If you go back and watch the film from this season, there was an abundance of opportunities that Prescott missed to use his legs and keep drives going and put up points. He had career lows in rushing attempts, yards, touchdowns, runs for first downs, and yards per game this season. Granted he’s no Lamar Jackson, but this is a part of Prescott’s game that needs to be utilized more and would take his overall production into another orbit.
Prescott proved in 2019 that he can sling the football with the best the NFL has to offer. Now, if he can improve in these few areas the sky will only be the floor, not the limit for where his game can go.
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