Cowboys '3 Steps to Success': It's All on Dak Prescott?

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off back-to-back 12-win seasons that ultimately led to playoff disappointments. So how does the franchise go one (or more) better this season?

The Dallas Cowboys in 2022 again had a 12-win season that was abruptly ended in the playoffs by the San Francisco 49ers. Having one of the better offensive units in the league along with a defense ranked in the upper echelon of the best in the NFL, Dallas sadly fell short.

There have been a host of changes this offseason with Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore being acquired, but perhaps the biggest alteration is coach Mike McCarthy now taking over play-calling duties.

With a roster that is built to win now and the NFC perhaps at its weakest point since Dak Prescott entered the league, there is a chance for Dallas to be a better version of themselves next season and go on a deep playoff run.

But how do they go about it? NFL Insider Tom Pelissero gave his three-point checklist for what needs to happen in Dallas for the Cowboys to have a "successful" season.

No. 1: Keep Dak Prescott healthy. “(In) 2020 Dak suffers that significant ankle dislocation and fracture, takes him out,” Pelissero said on Good Morning Football. “2021 he comes back, he got a shoulder strain through training camp, he also had a calf strain later that season. Last season, comes out of the gate, breaks his thumb.''

Tom's point is being able go into and get through camp healthy will give Dak a "rhythm'' that should pay off.

No. 2: Embrace Mike McCarthy's Offense. “Mike McCarthy taking over as the play-caller; he’s had a lot of success going back to his days in Green Bay," Pelissero said. "They’re still using Dak Prescott’s language so that helps out with the learning curve, but schematically and philosophically there are going to be some things that are different.''

CowboysSI.com has talked about this with McCarthy and with Dak. Will this be a transition? Maybe, but we think the transition is about over. There is optimism in everything Dallas' key guys tell us about the change.

No. 3: Let the young studs shine. “We’ve talked so much about Stephon Gilmore, Brandin Cooks, the veterans who have come into Dallas," Pelissero said. "But this Cowboys team is about Trevon Diggs, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, these are the guys they’re going to pay. Yes, you’re hoping some of those older players are going to fill in some of those gaps. Let’s see if those young guys can make a jump and put them over the top.”

Let's delve into Pelissero's checklist. ...

First up is Dak and his injury issues. In Prescott's first four NFL seasons, he played all 16 games each year - but that streak was abruptly halted in 2020.

For Dak, it has felt like something always happens where his body breaks down - or, more accurately, is broken down - over the last few seasons. While his interception spike last year wasn't good, his thumb was likely an issue.

Having a fully fit Dak will go a long way in the Cowboys potentially winning the NFC East and the NFC.

Next up is McCarthy's offense. For some reason, there have been many detractors of "Big Mike" taking over the play-calling duties. But ... he has won a Super Bowl doing it. What's not to like?

With Kellen Moore now moving on to work with the Chargers, McCarthy has changed the offensive approach and has decided to lessen the load on Dak's shoulders while also working to get his attack to be more physical at the line of scrimmage.

While there may be some kinks to iron out early on, the verbiage is largely the same, and with a more concerted effort to condense the offense and make life easier for everyone, the Cowboys might not be as explosive under McCarthy, but they might just be more effective.

That brings us to "letting the young stars shine.'' Lamb had a career-best season as he hit highs in receiving yards (1,359), receptions (107), touchdowns (nine), yards per game (79.9), and catch percentage (68.6).

Micah is coming off a season where he had two hands on the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award before falling away late in the year. He still managed to lead Dallas in all major defensive categories and with a focus on adding muscle to his frame in a bid to do more next season, he's primed for yet another good year.

Lastly is Diggs. While he didn't get near matching his 11 interceptions from 2021, he still snagged three and grabbed himself two touchdowns as well last season as he made it back-to-back Pro Bowl nods.

Diggs allowed 234 fewer yards on completions than last season and per Pro Football Reference, only missed one tackle during the regular season. Now we add a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion on the other side of the field in Gilmore and suddenly, Diggs could see his interception total spike again.

If Dallas can hit on all three checklist pieces - which seems quite doable - then the quest to end the NFC Championship drought might finally be over next season.

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