As a rookie, it looked as if Quarterback Dak Prescott could do no wrong. He was pretty much thrown to the wolves after the back injury Tony Romo sustained in Week 3 in the preseason against the Seattle Seahawks, but he responded in such a way it was almost as if he had the magic touch. That magic has fizzled a bit since then, but maybe new Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Coach Jon Kitna can help Prescott reclaim it once again.
Like it or not, Dak Prescott had a pretty historic first-year in the NFL. It's almost unfathomable to think about what he accomplished, especially for a rookie QB without a lot of time to prepare after Romo's untimely injury. But, he dug deep and ended up having one of the best rookie campaigns for a QB in the history of the league.
Many believed Prescott would build on his rookie performance and take the next step in his development in Year 2. Unfortunately, he may have done the opposite and taken a step back in his development. Due to Ezekiel Elliott's on-again off-again battle with Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL and his eventual six-game suspension, Prescott didn't have the running game to lean on like he did his rookie year.
To make matters worse, Prescott's blindside protector, Tyron Smith, missed several games himself due to a bothersome back injury. The Cowboys had to resort to playing Chaz Green, a name many of us would like to forget, and Byron Bell at left tackle in Smith's place. Their poor play was a direct result of Prescott's struggles, which ultimately led him to regress a little as a QB.
Prescott was able to rebound a bit in 2018 though, his third-year in the NFL. He got off to a slow start to start the season last year, but once Amari Cooper arrived he settled in a bit and started looking more like his rookie self. But, can he build off that heading into 2019, which just so happens to be a contract year for him?
Well, that's where QB Coach Jon Kitna comes in.
Jon Kitna as we all know was a long time back up quarterback and spot starter in the NFL for over a decade. He even spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, where he developed a relationship with Head Coach Jason Garrett. Now he's back in a different role, one that could be detrimental to the Cowboys success this year, but even more so to Dak Prescott's further development.
A lot of you may disagree, but Dak Prescott has the God-given talent to lead the Dallas Cowboys to a Super Bowl. I believe it's just a matter of him raising the level it is game just a little, which is why Jon Kitna was brought in. With a few tweaks here and there, Kitna should be able to help Prescott tap into some of the magic we saw from him as a rookie.
The majority of us know what Prescott needs to improve on. He needs to get through his progressions quicker, something Kitna is supposedly emphasizing and working on Dak. His mechanics from the ground up are another issue that needs some tweaking. These are small things that if improved on, should elevate Prescott's game to the next level.
I don't know where you stand, but I'm oddly optimistic Jon Kitna is exactly what Dak Prescott needs to once again tap into that magic that made him so successful as a rookie. I think we are going to see a much improved QB in 2019, and I think a lot of the credit should go to Kitna.
I might be a little overly optimistic here, but I really like what I'm hearing from Dak Prescott and the bond he's already formed with Jon Kitna. It really sounds as if Kitna understands exactly how to motivate No. 4 and how to get the best out of his QB. Hopefully this just isn't offseason talk and that it actually translates to on-field performance this season.
