Dallas Cowboys: Will Dak Prescott thrive under Mike McCarthy?

New Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has a knack for developing young quarterbacks. Will he do the same for Dak Prescott?

Dallas Cowboys team owner and general manager Jerry Jones made it very clear why he hired Mike McCarthy as the team’s next head coach.

McCarthy knows what it takes to win. Part of that coaching prowess is his keen ability to develop young quarterbacks.

In addition to an up-tempo offense, McCarthy is well-known for his quarterback school. During this two-week camp in the offseason, he and his quarterbacks go over just about every play from the previous season and break them down in fine detail.

As Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers explained in a special for ESPN a few years ago:

"“We look at, on camera, our drop back, ball placement, our head placement, our arm angle, the flick of our wrist, how the ball moves down the line… We’re really breaking that thing down to a science. It really gives you a good feel of what you need to work on.”"

This scrupulous approach is exactly what Dak Prescott needs right now. Right now, Dak Prescott is succeeding based on both his talent and the talents of those around him.

But if he wants to make the jump to becoming an elite quarterback, he needs to improve upon his fundamental mechanics.

During his career, McCarthy has worked with Rich Gannon, Matt Hasselbeck, Brett Favre and, most notably, Aaron Rodgers.

Gannon, who put up impressive numbers with the Oakland Raiders late in his career, attributed a lot of his success to the work he did with McCarthy in Kansas City.

"“Paul Hackett and Mike McCarthy, those two guys in particular really set my career on the path, on the right path, and really taught me how to break down film and analyze opponents and look for keys. That was really the starting point for me.”"

This sort of analytical approach will undoubtedly help in the growth of Dak Prescott, who will almost certainly return as the Cowboys’ starting quarterback next season. Dak showed tremendous improvement in his fourth-year, putting together one of the best statistical seasons of his career.

The Cowboys has one of the top offenses in the NFL last season. They ranked first in yards per game (431.5) and sixth in points per game (27.1).

Prescott threw for a career-high 4,902 yards (one shy of the team record) and 30 touchdowns. But despite his overall success last season, he also struggled in big-time games, against top-ranked defenses.

Sloppy mechanics and poor footwork, in particular, led to errant throws and some costly turnovers. Addressing these issues could result in immediate improvement for the young quarterback, who threw 11 interceptions.

Prescott is at a critical stage in his career. At just 26-years-old, he’s just now starting to enter his prime and it’s imperative that he squash any bad habits before it becomes too late. Mike McCarthy, with his meticulous approach to quarterback mechanics, is just the guy to help him do it.

With the right coaching, development and system in place, I see no reason why Dak Prescott can’t improve upon his 2019 season. How do you feel about the Mike McCarthy hire as it pertains to Dak Prescott’s development as a starting quarterback in the league? Sound off in the comments below.