Photo Credit: Dallas Cowboys
FRISCO, TEXAS — Going into his fifth season with the Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott has more than just new weapons in the passing game benefiting his development. Mike Nolan’s new hybrid style defense utilizing multiple looks is forcing Dak to get the ball off quicker as he diagnoses the defense’s coverage.
“ It’s going to serve me really well just when we get to playing other teams, “ Dak described to media. “ The fact that the defense is showing me looks that I haven’t seen in years past in training camp…They’re changing things up, they give you different looks and you’ve got to always be on your P’s and Q’s so it’s important for me to watch film, watch what their defense is doing but then make quick decisions post snap once I know they’re getting into their spots, getting into their zones or going into man. So it’s just making me a better player. The old saying iron sharpens iron I think is what is happening there.”
Dak made significant strides last season finishing with career-highs in yards (4,902) and touchdowns (30). His zone reads improved, as did his deep ball accuracy. Going against Nolan’s new “swarming” defense in practice, will only spark additional growth from the franchise QB.
Dallas’ defense has been relatively predictable in recent years with a 4-3 base defense and cover one and cover three coverages in the backfield with little variation. Now under the new regime, the varied 4-3, 3-4 fronts and disguises in the secondary will better prepare Dak for game days and reading defenses post-snap. The Cowboys have more players standing up and rushing from a two-point stance off the edge, which will force Dak to get the ball off quicker and go through his progressions at a quicker pace. Being exposed to more looks during practice will exponentially grow him as a player.
In regards to the added pressure in practice, McCarthy told media “ It’s very important to train in the extended plays phase because that’s the reality to today’s NFL. There’s more extended plays in today’s game than there was 10. 15 years ago. At one time it probably was in the category of five or six a game. It’s more like eight to 10 now. So we train that way. That’s all part of that quarterback school drills. As far as pressure coming, the inside pressure in the A-B gaps or edge pressure, if it’s coming off the corners with corners and safeties blitzing, these are all things that both sides, both offense and defense, need to see. I think Dak is a natural of playing in the scramble phase. It’s just something that we need to get more of in our practices.”
