Dak Prescott as MVP? Cowboys QB 'Built for This!' in New Offense

For Dak Prescott to be an MVP candidate, the Dallas Cowboys again need to win big in the regular season, as has been the case in each of the last 12-5 seasons. And then there is this ...

It is a simple - if oft-misunderstood - philosophy of Dallas Cowboys head (and quarterback guru) Mike McCarthy: His QB must "own the offense.'' That isn't about blame-placing, as some critics think; rather, it's about a total immersion into the playbook, a mastery of it, an understanding so deep that player and coach are hand-in-glove when it comes how to make it all work.

And as Week 1 at the New York Giants is upon us, with the new "Texas Coast Offense'' in place?

"He's built for this," McCarthy said recently. "He's taken complete ownership of the offense and you have to. He's the one out there playing."

And if this offense fits Dak? We say Dak fits into the MVP conversation in the 2023 NFL season.

That "ownership'' was fortified by another clever level of immersion, as Prescott served as the play-caller for Dallas' final preseason game against the Raiders. The point wasn't to "goof around,'' as some hooted; it was about Dak and his coach mind-melding with the QB being able to see what McCarthy sees from the sideline.

Is Dak now the owner - or, co-owner - of this offense? 

He's "knocked it out of the park,'' the Cowboys coach said.

For Dak to be an MVP candidate, Dallas again needs to win big in the regular season, as has been the case in each of the last 12-5 seasons. He also needs to stay healthy, a more elusive goal. Otherwise? Among with making sure he doesn't lead the league in interceptions again (which his history insists was a fluke) ... There is room for him to approach 5,000 yards passing, as he did in 2019 with 4,902 yards. There is room for him to approach 40 TD passes, as he did in 2021 with 37 of them.

Do all of that, and Prescott is a candidate for individual honors ... and Dallas is a candidate for the Super Bowl.

Said Prescott of this offense's demands and his command of it: “I keep saying ‘aggressive nature,’ but it’s aggressive in the play calls with a great purpose in it. 'Hey, if that’s not there, you know the reads, just get down to it.' Very clear and concise about getting to a play that I feel most comfortable with.

"If I don’t like that look, whether it’s a run play or a pass play, I have so many plays and things in my back pocket ... If the [expected look] is not the defense that I get, I’ll feel comfortable and know: ‘Hey, I need to get to this play because it’s better for everybody.’”

McCarthy coached legendary quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers during his time in Green Bay; this system obviously worked well there.

"You got to be able to take advantage of things, but, most importantly, we have to train in that realm," said McCarthy, the overseer of the installation of the new "Texas Coast Offense,'' a version of his old West Coast Offense in Green Bay. "For [Prescott] to train and perform in that realm, he has to take ownership of it.''

Prescott's ability as a team leader is already fairly legendary; no less an authority than Troy Aikman has told CowboysSI.com that Dak is as fine a leader as he's ever seen ... which this summer extended to being in control of teammate Micah Parsons during a training camp brawl.

Next step after "ownership'' of the offense is "ownership'' of the New York Giants. ... and as a first step to individual and team glory, there is a good foundation there, as Dak has long "owned'' the Giants with his 10-2 record against this NFC East foe.