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To Dak Prescott, it's not as easy as it looks
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas -- When the Dallas Cowboys lost Kellen Moore to a broken right fibula on Aug. 2, panic set in.
The Cowboys lost their only backup quarterback with any NFL experience -- and just three games at that -- and were left with Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers as the only on-roster possibilities to be starter Tony Romo’s No. 2.
Eighteen days later, the story has changed surrounding the Cowboys’ backup quarterback position.
Prescott has simply been that good.
In Friday’s 41-14 preseason victory against the Miami Dolphins, the rookie completed 12 of 15 passes for 199 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He ran three times for 28 yards, scoring touchdowns on two of those runs.
Add that to the performance Prescott had in Dallas' preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams -- 10-of-12 passing, 139 yards, 2 touchdowns -- and it’s easy to breathe a little easier when thinking about what might happen if Romo were to go down.
After all, Prescott has accounted for more touchdowns (six) in two preseason games than he has incomplete passes (five).
Dak Prescott made a case for securing the Cowboys' backup QB job Friday night by slicing through the Miami defense with his legs (two rushing TDs) and his arm (two TD passes). AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
“I don’t think 'easy' is the word,” Prescott said. “It’s the work I put in through the week. I’ve got great veterans, great coaches and that puts me in a great position to be successful on the field. I’m thankful for that, but a lot of hard work goes in for that.”
Nobody knows the difficulty of the position better than Romo, who went 4 of 5 for 49 yards in his first preseason showing.
“I’ve been impressed with how Dak played,” Romo said. “It kind of reminds me of a little bit back in the day in some capacity. He’s playing great. To have depth at that position, it’s a big bonus. Hopefully he can continue to do that. And he’s a good kid, so you really root for him.”
Romo earned his way on to the Cowboys’ roster in 2003 as an undrafted rookie based on some valuable preseason moments, but it took him time to learn the position before he was ready to play in a regular-season game in 2006.
Of course, there is some tapping of the Prescott brakes.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he didn’t want to get too far ahead of himself. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the backup decision will be made off a full body of work, not two preseason games.Head coach Jason Garrett did not want to get into those discussions right now.
But what’s not to like?
Prescott’s first pass came out of the Cowboys’ end zone and went for 22 yards to Geoff Swaim on a bootleg that fooled the entire Miami defense. His second pass went for 12 yards to Terrance Williams. His third pass went for 14 yards, while he was standing tall in the pocket, to Cole Beasley underneath.
The fourth was a 28-yard dart to Dez Bryant at the pylon for a touchdown.
“Man, I’ll tell you this: Rookie is a name, just a name that they give you in the league,” Bryant said. “Either you can do it or you can’t. The guy is a student. Give it to him. You’ve got to give it to him. He wants to learn. He wants to be good. He’s sitting behind a Hall of Famer. Give him his credit.”
Prescott completed his first eight passes, though he was fortunate when an interception was negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty.
His second drive ended in a touchdown when he scrambled to his right on third and 10 from the Miami 20. As a lane formed in front of him, he turned upfield and sprinted to the goal line untouched.
The Cowboys scored on every drive directed by Prescott. He threw one more touchdown, after a 58-yard completion to Brice Butler, and ran for one more on a quarterback sneak.
Just as a reminder, he and Tim Tebow are the only Southeastern Conference quarterbacks to throw for 70 touchdowns and rush for 40 in a career. Prescott played at Mississippi State.
“We’re seeing some of the things that, frankly, he was able to do in the SEC,” Jerry Jones said.
As good as the SEC is, the NFL is supposed to be more difficult. Prescott is making it seem not that difficult at the moment.
The fourth-round pick is not going to lobby for the No. 2 job -- “That’s for them to decide,” Prescott said -- but plenty of others will do it on his behalf.
“It feels great,” Prescott said. “I’m very confident in myself. That hasn’t changed from the moment they drafted me to now.”
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas -- When the Dallas Cowboys lost Kellen Moore to a broken right fibula on Aug. 2, panic set in.
The Cowboys lost their only backup quarterback with any NFL experience -- and just three games at that -- and were left with Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers as the only on-roster possibilities to be starter Tony Romo’s No. 2.
Eighteen days later, the story has changed surrounding the Cowboys’ backup quarterback position.
Prescott has simply been that good.
In Friday’s 41-14 preseason victory against the Miami Dolphins, the rookie completed 12 of 15 passes for 199 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He ran three times for 28 yards, scoring touchdowns on two of those runs.
Add that to the performance Prescott had in Dallas' preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams -- 10-of-12 passing, 139 yards, 2 touchdowns -- and it’s easy to breathe a little easier when thinking about what might happen if Romo were to go down.
After all, Prescott has accounted for more touchdowns (six) in two preseason games than he has incomplete passes (five).
Dak Prescott made a case for securing the Cowboys' backup QB job Friday night by slicing through the Miami defense with his legs (two rushing TDs) and his arm (two TD passes). AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
“I don’t think 'easy' is the word,” Prescott said. “It’s the work I put in through the week. I’ve got great veterans, great coaches and that puts me in a great position to be successful on the field. I’m thankful for that, but a lot of hard work goes in for that.”
Nobody knows the difficulty of the position better than Romo, who went 4 of 5 for 49 yards in his first preseason showing.
“I’ve been impressed with how Dak played,” Romo said. “It kind of reminds me of a little bit back in the day in some capacity. He’s playing great. To have depth at that position, it’s a big bonus. Hopefully he can continue to do that. And he’s a good kid, so you really root for him.”
Romo earned his way on to the Cowboys’ roster in 2003 as an undrafted rookie based on some valuable preseason moments, but it took him time to learn the position before he was ready to play in a regular-season game in 2006.
Of course, there is some tapping of the Prescott brakes.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he didn’t want to get too far ahead of himself. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the backup decision will be made off a full body of work, not two preseason games.Head coach Jason Garrett did not want to get into those discussions right now.
But what’s not to like?
Prescott’s first pass came out of the Cowboys’ end zone and went for 22 yards to Geoff Swaim on a bootleg that fooled the entire Miami defense. His second pass went for 12 yards to Terrance Williams. His third pass went for 14 yards, while he was standing tall in the pocket, to Cole Beasley underneath.
The fourth was a 28-yard dart to Dez Bryant at the pylon for a touchdown.
“Man, I’ll tell you this: Rookie is a name, just a name that they give you in the league,” Bryant said. “Either you can do it or you can’t. The guy is a student. Give it to him. You’ve got to give it to him. He wants to learn. He wants to be good. He’s sitting behind a Hall of Famer. Give him his credit.”
Prescott completed his first eight passes, though he was fortunate when an interception was negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty.
His second drive ended in a touchdown when he scrambled to his right on third and 10 from the Miami 20. As a lane formed in front of him, he turned upfield and sprinted to the goal line untouched.
The Cowboys scored on every drive directed by Prescott. He threw one more touchdown, after a 58-yard completion to Brice Butler, and ran for one more on a quarterback sneak.
Just as a reminder, he and Tim Tebow are the only Southeastern Conference quarterbacks to throw for 70 touchdowns and rush for 40 in a career. Prescott played at Mississippi State.
“We’re seeing some of the things that, frankly, he was able to do in the SEC,” Jerry Jones said.
As good as the SEC is, the NFL is supposed to be more difficult. Prescott is making it seem not that difficult at the moment.
The fourth-round pick is not going to lobby for the No. 2 job -- “That’s for them to decide,” Prescott said -- but plenty of others will do it on his behalf.
“It feels great,” Prescott said. “I’m very confident in myself. That hasn’t changed from the moment they drafted me to now.”
