Dallas Cowboys should show faith in Dak Prescott
After a 2017 season filled with many highs and lows, the Dallas Cowboys should still have faith in there franchise quarterback Dak Prescott.
Rookie of the Year. Pro Bowler. 104.9 quarterback rating. 23 touchdowns, and a 67% completion percentage. This was the 2016 season for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. In a brief summary, pretty much everything that could go right, did go right for the Cowboys signal caller.
Flash forward to today. Two days after the Cowboys ended there 2017 season at 9-7, and the story is much different.
Prescott had a season characterized by many ups and downs. Through Week Nine of the season, the Cowboys quarterback was playing at an MVP level. Prescott had posted 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and had three games with at least 3 touchdown passes recorded.
After the suspension of star running back Ezekiel Elliott, Prescott’s season took a turn for the worse. After Week Nine, in the final eight games of the regular season, he threw just six touchdowns to nine interceptions, and had five games without a single score through the air.
The regression in Prescott was clear. One less touchdown, nine more interceptions, a QBR going down 18 points, and the biggest stat of all, four less wins on the season.
Although Dallas’s signal caller had a down year, there is no reason to sound the alarm, and the Cowboys should have full trust in Dak going forward.
History has shown that the second full year starting in the NFL has not been kind to quarterbacks.
In Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s second year starting, he threw 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
In Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s second year he threw 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
And finally, in Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford’s second full year starting, he threw 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
All three of these quarterbacks are well considered pro bowl level players at this point in their career, and they all went though the same struggles Dak did in year two.
In all three cases, in the third year, all of these quarterback increased their numbers dramatically. Stafford threw nine more touchdown passes. Ryan threw five more touchdown passes, and decreased his interceptions by five, and Newton increased his touchdown total by five.
Ryan and Newton both won Rookie of the Year there first season, as did Dak Prescott, had a drop-off in year two, and now both have a league MVP award and a Super Bowl appearance on their resume.
Prescott also faced many internal challenges this season. He was without his star left tackle Tyron Smith, and star linebacker Sean Lee for parts of the season, and was missing Ezekiel Elliott, the teams best offensive player for six games.
After a rough year two, there is no reason for the Cowboys to have any doubt Dak Prescott can, and will be there franchise quarterback. As history has shown, Prescott is primed for a big season in year three.
Many quarterbacks, Newton, Ryan, Stafford and others have had a down year in there second full season starting. In the NFL quarterbacks go through growing pains. It is the toughest position in the league, and being great takes time.
The struggles that Prescott went through this year may even become a positive, as he will be able to learn and grow from it.
There is no reason for the quarterback position to be an area of concern in Dallas this offseason, as they should trust in there man Dak Prescott.
It takes MVP-caliber quarterback in the NFL time to get to that level. Prescott is on his way there, and after a few bumps in the road, the Cowboys should not jump ship and look elsewhere for his replacement.
Next: Dallas Cowboys - Three biggest positives of 2017
If the Dallas Cowboys can get the adequate help around Dak Prescott, give him time to grow, and keep him upright, next year could be a huge one for Americas quarterback.