Why Dak Prescott will prove his doubters wrong in 2018

After a somewhat down year, many people are doubting Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Here is why, in 2018, he is going to prove them all wrong.

Quarterback in the National Football League is arguably the most difficult position in all of sports.

From all the physical tools needed. The mental capacity to learn an entire playbook and tons of variations to every play. To finally, the mental toll of being the first one to have the finger pointed at you when things go wrong, playing quarterback in the NFL is a challenge, and quarterbacks go through struggles just like everyone else in life.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott fell below expectations in 2017, there is no way around it. His competition percentage dropped from 2016 at 67.8 to 62.9, he threw nine more interceptions, four to thirteen, and most importantly, the team record dropped from 13-3 to just 9-7.

There is no arguing that Dak had a down year from the high standard he set in his Rookie of the Year season in 2016, but people fail to look at the reasons before throwing out the blame.

Prescott played eight games when the Cowboys had their star running back Ezekiel Elliott on the field. In those eight games, Prescott posted 20 total touchdowns to just four interceptions, and had a QBR of 102.85. To put this in reference, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady‘s total QBR in 2017 was 102.8.

The cowboys quarterback was also only sacked ten times in these eight games. In the final eight games of the season, Prescott was sacked 22 times. Even if you throw out the eight sack debacle against the Atlanta Falcons, that is still 14 sacks in eight games.

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Prescott was playing at an MVP caliber level for the Cowboys through the first eight games of 2017, and then Dallas lost Elliott and left tackle Tyron Smith got hurt, and the wheels fell off.

Now the biggest problem that people seem to have with Prescott is his accuracy, but take this into account. Prescott had 26 dropped passes in 2017, which is close to two a game. If you made those 26 passes complete, and added them to his completion total, his completion percentage sky rockets to 68%, right where he was in 2016.

26 dropped passes, missing your star running back and left tackle, and Prescott still led the Cowboys to a 9-7 record, and only missed out on the playoffs by one game.

To put Dak’s “bad” season in reference, lets look at some stats. The second year starting in the NFL have been a trouble year for most quarterbacks, and the stats back it up.

Here are four NFL QBs, three of which have either won, or appeared in a Super Bowl in their career. Cam Newton, Joe Flacco, Tony Romo, and Ben Roethlisberger. Here are their stats from their second season as a starting NFL quarterback.

1. Cam Newton

: 57% completion percentage, 19 TD- 12 INT, 7-9 record.

2. Ben Roethlisberger: 59.7 completion percentage, 18 TD – 23 INT, 7-8 record.

3. Joe Flacco: 63.1% completion percentage, 21 TD- 12 INT, 9-7 record.

4. Tony Romo: 61.3% completion percentage, 26 TD- 14 INT, 8-5 record in 13 games.

As you can see, the stats do not lie. The second year in the NFL has been a brutal one for many quarterbacks, and statistically, Prescott preformed as well, if not better than all of these quarterbacks in year two.

All four of these quarterbacks went on to have outstanding third years, blowing away their stats from year two, and had a total record of 45-16 combined.

It takes time to become a great NFL quarterback, and Dak Prescott is only going to get better.

Baring injury or an unforeseen incident, the Cowboys will have Ezekiel Elliott back for an entire season next year, and this well help Prescott greatly. In games he and Elliott have both played in, the Cowboys quarterback has thrown for 39 touchdowns to 8 interceptions, and the team has an 18-7 record.

Next season is for sure a big one for America’s quarterback, and under the brightest lights, Prescott is going to shine. Dak is maturing as a quarterback, and year three is going to be the best he has had yet.

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Dak Prescott is going to put on a show in 2018. So sit back, relax, and get your popcorn ready, because the Cowboys signal caller is just getting started.

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