Gunslinger? Here’s one way Dak Prescott could break out of his passing slump

Usually when teams struggle on offense one of the typical solutions is to simplify or pare down.

But that is not the approach offense coordinator Scott Linehan is taking with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and their inept passing game.

Not only is Linehan preparing to add more wrinkles to the Cowboys game plan heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions, but he also wants a pressing Prescott to start to take the weight of the world off his shoulders by slinging it around.

“I think we’re obviously searching for some things that will help us,” Linehan said. “I think we’ve got some good stuff this week that’s not paring back. It might be a little bit more the other way ... maybe just a few more wrinkles. It’s going to fun to see how guys execute. I think we need that.”

“I think naturally the players or anybody, maybe you’re this close or you’re just missing on something I think you start to press a little. I think our guys just need to just basically take the weight of the world off their shoulders and go out and play. Just start slinging it around and they’re ready to do that.”

The Cowboys rank 30th in total offense, including 31st in passing, and their 41 points are the second-fewest in the NFL. It’s their lowest three-game point total to start the season since 1990.

And Prescott has thrown for under 200 yards in all three games and nine of the last 11 dating to last season.

Inefficiency in the passing game and the lack of explosive plays are the biggest reasons the Cowboys are 1-2.

They know an improvement must come immediately so change is in order for Sunday. They are not changing the play caller or making drastic personnel changes, so changes in philosophy are going down instead.

“There are going to be some different things you’ll see,” Prescott said. “And us going out there just playing and being ourselves. But it boils down to execution.”

Prescott has faced the bulk of the scrutiny considering he has just two touchdowns and two interceptions this season and his yards per attempt (5.7) is lower than the team’s yards per rush (6.0).

But he says he is not bothered by the criticism; his focus is working with his teammates and coaches to get better.

“I’m not looking at stats,” Prescott said. “If everybody does their job the stats will go up and the wins are going to happen.”

Part of slinging it around will mean Prescott will have to push the ball down the field more and trust that his receivers will get open.

He is conservative by nature and values avoiding turnovers.

The Cowboys have admittedly struggled with chemistry in the passing game because of an overhauled receiver corps in the off-season that included the departure of No. 1 receiver Dez Bryant and the addition of veterans Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, Tavon Austin and rookie Michael Gallup to go along with incumbents Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams.

“I’d just say we’ve got to trust some of the things a little bit more,” Linehan said.

Prescott has worked after practice with his receivers and believes they will get better with experience. He also believes that executing better is the foundation of any future success.

The Cowboys have converted just 8 of 34 third-down chances this season. He said it’s hard to take shots down the field when the offense has no rhythm and no success.

So the slinging it around will come within reason.

“As Scott is saying, just us going out there and playing and being ourselves, from the passing game, from the running game, getting comfortable with everything we’re going to do,” Prescott said.

“Hopefully, we’ll sling it around just as much as he says. It just boils down to the execution. He can call whatever play he wants to call, it’s on us to execute it and execute it the right way. The bottom line is that’s how it’s got to be approached.”