'Dak Is Playoff-Ready!' Dallas Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy Predicts Prescott Improvement
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has had one of the best seasons in his eight-year career as he looks to lead his playoff-bound team into the postseason for the fifth time. And his coach, Mike McCarthy, has a prediction.
"I really like the way he's playing,'' McCarthy said. "I think he's definitely playoff-ready.”
Dak has seen his name be mentioned as an MVP candidate due to his hot streak that saw him lead Dallas to seven wins in eight weeks, it hasn't been all smooth sailing, of course.
But despite being on a two-game losing streak, McCarthy thinks his quarterback has handled everything that has been thrown at him this year.
“The regular season is clearly different than the playoffs,'' McCarthy said. "But I do like the body of work that he's put together ... You are going to go through adversities, and so it's just a matter of when and how much and how it comes at you. I think he's handled that very well.”
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Much of the offseason was dominated by how the Cowboys' offense would look with McCarthy taking over the play-calling from the departed Kellen Moore.
Named the "Texas Coast Offense," McCarthy installed principles of the West Coast Offense with quick, crisp throws where the timing between the quarterback and receiver is of huge importance as to help cut down on Dak's 2022 league-leading interception total of 15.
Well, it worked as Prescott has only thrown seven this season (three came in one game vs. the 49ers) while throwing for 30 touchdowns and 3,892 yards.
"I just go through the first quarter of the season, we started a little slower and then once we got going I think he's done a great job of just really running the system," McCarthy said. "We spent a lot of time as a staff in the off-season putting our schemes together and he has to handle the changes as far as the command of the huddle, the cadence and that’s a constant that grows each and every week.
:I really like the way he's playing, I think he's definitely playoff-ready.”
The Cowboys have two games left in the regular season to navigate with the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium next on the schedule.
After a loss to Miami in which the offense led by Prescott wasn't consistent but did manage to put together a huge drive late to take the lead, this will be Dallas' third "playoff-like" game in a row.
Prescott has played good football this season, but against another contender, he will have to put on a show for 10-5 Dallas to get past 11-4 Detroit on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium.
If he does, then that will be further validation for McCarthy that Dak is well and truly "playoff-ready."
