As soccer seasons go on typically issues develop into unavoidable or unimaginable to disregard. We’re reaching that exact level with one topic concerning the Dallas Cowboys.
Via the primary seven video games of the season the Cowboys are struggling nearly in all places moreover particular groups so selecting one factor to concentrate on is a bit wealthy, however for the needs of right now’s dialogue we shall be speaking about Dak Prescott working with the soccer. You see, he’s not actually doing that.
To be completely clear earlier than we go any additional, no one is saying that Prescott is an extremely cell quarterback or that working with the ball has ever been an infinite a part of his sport. All through his earlier years we noticed it extra, however as he has developed over time we have now seen it a bit much less. Nonetheless although, there has all the time been some semblance of it to his sport.
Listed here are the quantity of speeding makes an attempt that Prescott has had by way of the primary seven video games of every season of his profession.
- 2024: 10
- 2023: 23
- 2022: 19
- 2021: 24
- 2020*: 18
- 2019: 24
- 2018: 40
- 2017: 23
- 2016: 27
The 2020 season carries an asterisk as a result of it was horrible and we should always remove it from historical past attributable to the truth that Prescott was injured and misplaced for the season throughout the fifth sport; nonetheless, regardless of that reality he nonetheless had extra speeding makes an attempt in over two fewer video games. Clearly he was injured whereas working.
When discussing or questioning why the change is so obvious right here in 2024 that final line rings loudest. Soccer is a bodily sport and any time you run with the ball you might be placing your self in danger as a quarterback. Within the wonderment as to why Prescott has not been working as a lot to this point this season, significantly regardless of a low variety of playmakers to throw the ball to, many have assumed that there was some degree of safety provided there whether or not by Dak himself or from a name inside the home, so to talk.
Jerry Jones made his normal 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday morning and was requested about this topic particularly. He famous that there aren’t precisely express directions for Dak to keep away from working with the ball, however he did point out that it’s one thing that they don’t actually wish to see.
“You actually don’t wish to see him… you don’t wish to see him actually take off with that ball. These quarterbacks that run, you already know they’re going to get injured. And that occurs. It occurs to the youngest. It occurs to one of the best. It’s occurred to Dak. To the tip that we depend on him to remain wholesome, that’s an essential a part of it. I wouldn’t say it’s up there in crimson letters within the observe facility ‘don’t run’, however I’d say that we would like him to be sensible about it. And he’s being sensible about. He’ll, when he sees the chance, pull it down and run with it as we all know.”
As soon as once more, Jerry didn’t say that the Cowboys are utterly towards the concept of Prescott working with the soccer, however it’s laborious to not consider that there’s some kind of choice that was made towards the concept.
Let’s take a step again and take a look at the complete NFL as a complete in order that we don’t simply dwell within the tunnel imaginative and prescient that’s the Cowboys. In an effort to equalize the parameters let’s keep in mind that Prescott has performed seven video games to this point this season for the group.
Contemplate each quarterback who began the primary seven video games of this season for his or her group in the way in which that Dak has (some quarterbacks have even performed an eighth sport, however to correctly search this we needed to restrict it at seven to equate to Prescott’s complete).
Dak Prescott has the second-fewest speeding makes an attempt of all eligible gamers, per Stathead.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25704771/Screenshot_2024_10_29_at_9.14.56_AM.png)
Dak shouldn’t be wherever close to the highest of this record. He’s not Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson or Jayden Daniels from a speeding perspective. He isn’t Josh Allen or Kyler Murray. All of us perceive this.
However the discrepancy right here is very large. There’s a case to be made that the general thought of defending your quarterback from harm by curbing his working is an efficient one, however seeing the information like this exhibits that we’re over that line. That is timidity.
There isn’t a motive by any means that Kirk Cousins, recovering from a torn Achilles this season thoughts you, ought to have extra speeding makes an attempt than Dak Prescott. Particularly if we keep in mind that Dak has restricted choices to work with within the passing sport. The Cowboys are at some extent the place they should run with the ball (as we have now seen them attempt to do with their low-quality working again operation) to open issues up.
Defending your quarterback is one thing that’s sensible in a basic sense, however you possibly can’t hinder your operation out of worry. It appears the Dallas Cowboys could also be doing that.
