3 Dallas Cowboys storylines to watch in 2019

Can Dak Prescott be the straw that stirs the drink?

In May of this year, Cowboys Vice President Stephen Jones was quoted as saying running back Ezekiel Elliott is the straw that stirs the Cowboys drink. There could be many interpretations of the metaphor but the one I think he meant is that the Cowboys offense is dependent on a fully functioning Elliott to be successful.

The threat of Elliott lined up in the back field requires defenses to respect the Cowboys run game and creep an eighth defender into the box. Most teams seem willing to let Prescott beat them through the air and focus the attention to first stop the Cowboys run game.

For Prescott to justify his north of $30 million dollar contract demands, he will need to become the straw that stirs the Cowboys drink. He will need to become the player that raises the level of performance of the players around him.

We saw in the first seven games last year how Prescott was not able to connect with the Cowboys receivers even when defenses stacked the box with eight and even nine defenders. It was only when the Cowboys acquired Amari Cooper did defenses need to account for the Cowboys passing attack.

It is very likely that the Cowboys cannot afford to keep the current version of their offensive triplets long-term. Despite Dak Prescott’s lobbying for wide receiver Amari Cooper and Elliott to be paid as the highest at their positions, it is not feasible to commit more than 15 percent of the salary cap to a quarterback and pay your running back and wide receiver top dollar as well.

For this reason, the 2019 season will be full of intrigue to decide if Prescott can learn from his new position coach Jon Kitna and fix the flaws in his game – namely his inaccuracy and poor footwork. If he can become a consistent passer, maybe he will convert his doubters.