Cowboys Country

Going Deep: What's Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's Winning Key?

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had one of the highest completion percentages in the NFL on throws of 20-or-more yards last season.

Casey Smith

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A video made its rounds on Twitter on Tuesday of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott dropping a dot from the 20-yard line to the back right corner of the end zone. And it should not surprise ... as contrary to what some critics might think, the often-maligned star is actually among the NFL's best at that ...

And inside the new "Texas Coast Offense,'' working to get better.

Prescott's 90.5 Pro Football Focus grade on throws of 20 yards or more was the best in the NFC East in 2022, while his 44 percent completion percentage on passes of that depth bettered that of Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady last season. Surprised?

It's a fact: Prescott is one of the better deep-ball quarterbacks in the league, and head coach Mike McCarthy said "there's different levels" to a go-route throw.

"You have to really make sure you throw a three-step go-ball, five-step to seven-step and just make sure you keep working the details of where that ball's being placed," McCarthy said. "It's been an emphasis for us, and I think just the simple net drill's very healthy for the quarterbacks as far as the trajectory of what we're trying to get done on a different type of go-ball. So, another area we just got to keep working, but we're definitely improving."

With pass-catchers like CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup, the Cowboys pushing the ball down the field remains vital, even with the installation of a "Texas Coast Offense'' that (like the West Coast Offense) will rely heavily on horizontal routes and yards after the catch.

In today's NFL, teams that can throw the ball effectively have the most success, as each of the last five Super-Bowl-winning quarterbacks have thrown for at least 4,000 yards. Since 2017, 15 of the 24 teams to have made conference championship games have had a 4,000-yard passer.

So it's about efficiency and electricity ... and of course, cutting down interceptions.

Safety Malik Hooker recently said that Prescott looks "more calm" and "confident back there. ... He's making a lot of throws that some people felt like he wouldn't be making in years before ... He's getting the ball into playmaker's hands like they're asking him to do, and those guys, they're making plays like they're supposed to.

Some of that is horizontal; think Joe Montana in this offense. But some of it is attacking; think Brett Favre in this offense.

First and foremost Prescott will need to cut down the interceptions, leading the league with 15 last season. However, if he can develop a deep-ball relationship with these receivers, shades of the 2019 and 2021 Prescott may show. ... and the "going-deep'' threat will open up the field for what figures to be a scary Dallas offense.

Follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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Casey Smith
CASEY SMITH

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