Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016. In doing so, he silenced his critics. Recently, he said he was looking for another chance to shut their mouths again.
“The same little fog or whatever was going around when I was a rookie, and I know what I went and did,” Prescott said. “Keep writing, keep talking. We’re for it, but we know we have it, we know who we are and what we’re going to do.”
There have been doubts about the Cowboys’ capabilities to repeat their feat of leading the league in total offense last season. It is because they have not won in their division in a long time, and they have not made the playoffs in back-to-back years since 2006-07.
“I believe high expectations create higher results,” Prescott said. “I feel like I’m my biggest critic. I’m tough on myself. I’m always going to hold myself to extreme, super-high expectations, higher than I think anyone else can. When you feel other people have those expectations for you as well, it’s fun. It’s fun. At that point, what you believe in yourself, other people believe in it, too. You just want to continue to improve and be the best you can.”
The Cowboys will start this season without Amari Cooper, James Washington, Michael Gallup, Randy Gregory or Tyron Smith. They have instead given rookies the starting job. This season, they will start with Tyler Smith, Noah Smith and Jalen Tolbert.
Last season, Prescott threw for 4,400 yards and 37 touchdowns. This year, he will be the Cowboys’ starting quarterback, with Cooper Rush as the backup. He received praise from general manager Jerry Jones.
“He is in the best shape I’ve ever seen,” general manager Jerry Jones said on Tuesday.
“It’s definitely time for us to go back-to-back winning this division, getting to the playoffs, things that you said haven’t been done in my career and hadn’t been done in a long time,” Prescott said.
Dak says he loves questions surrounding Cowboys.
"The same little fog or whatever was going around when I was a rookie and I know what I went and did," he says. "Keep writing, keep talking. We’re for it but we know what we have it, we know who we are and what we’re going to do."
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) September 1, 2022
Prescott overly depending on receiver
Critics have been vocal about Prescott’s overreliance on his receivers. Many have argued that if Prescott wants to aim for the “bigger” title in the football world, he has to increase his offense skill, so he can be less dependent on other players’ talent.
The majority of the criticism directed at Prescott emerges from the 2017-18 seasons. With the departures of wide receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten, Dallas’ offense struggled to be productive. Furthermore, running back Ezekiel Elliot’s suspension and offensive line Travis Frederick’s health issues worsen the Cowboys’ lack of offensive power.
As Dallas is lacking in receiver talent this year, fans are concerned about how the Cowboys’ offense will function in the early stages of this season. Prescott may soon find himself relying heavily on rookie Jalent Tolbert, Simi Fehoko, or longtime special teamer Noah Brown as part of his passing game.
The Cowboys will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 11 at AT&T Stadium, Texas.