Dak Prescott knows Dallas Cowboys offense needs to be on a roll, not a roller coaster
If the Dallas Cowboys are going to have success in 2018, the offense needs to get off the roller coaster.
Through four games, the offense has been good twice and bad twice. The good has come at home, including last week’s win over the Lions.
Quarterback Dak Prescott acknowledged the unit is due for a good game on the road. Furthermore, putting together positive consecutive games, with a win of course, would go a long way in shifting the up and down narrative from the first month of the season. The Cowboys and Houston Texans play at 7:20 p.m. Sunday at NRG Stadium.
“It’s huge. That game last week was a booster for the whole offense’s confidence and the momentum,” Prescott said. “We have to make sure we carry that over into this week and keep going.”
Of course, the Texans (1-3) are fighting to keep their season from ruin and have defensive ends J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney who give every offense trouble. Having a balanced attack, with an effective run game can help neutralize the Texans’ pass-rushing ability.
“I don’t know if I have a full answer as to how you stop those guys,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “They’re great players, but they have a good supporting cast too. They’re well-coached. They know what they’re doing.”
Linehan said the struggles on the road early this season could be partially attributed to the team’s youth.
“A big challenge for us, a big focus for us is to play much better on the road,” he said. “It’s indicative probably of a young team, but we’ve got to grow. Those road games are critical if you want to still be playing in January. This will be a great test for us.”
It’s imperative, Prescott said, to account for Watt and Clowney on each snap and have a good feel for the pressure in the pocket.
“They’ve got Pro Bowl guys on that defense and guys that can effect the game and win the game themselves,” he said. “I need to make sure I’m getting the ball out in good time and know when the protection will allow me to hold it a little bit longer. But don’t put the offensive line in a bad situation. Obviously, I know they’re going to fight their tails off and block as much as they can and help me out, so I just want to help them out.”
Of course, running back Ezekiel Elliott’s success in the passing game and Prescott’s ability to effectively use the option would help negate the dominance of Watt and Clowney.
“We’re doing a better job of using him and utilizing that part of his game, getting him out wide, matched up with linebackers and he’s been effective. It opens up this offense even more,” Prescott said. Elliott had 88 yards and a touchdown receiving last week. Prescott also used his tight ends effectively for the first time this season.
“We aim to be what we were last week,” Linehan said. “We’re not sitting here trying to bleed the clock and win 10-7 games. Last week felt more like what we want to be, what we aspire to be. Certainly, we were short of that in some games earlier. I felt like we made some strides in that regard, especially in the two homes games. There are some things we can really build on. So now we have to go do it when we’re not at home.”
To do that, they’ll have to solve Watt and Clowney.
“They just don’t quit. They have these motors. Some guys are playing half the plays. These guys seem like they’re going every play through the whistle,” said Linehan, who called Watt and Clowney “non-stop” players. “They’re different but their motors are very similar. It’s just who they are. You cannot fall asleep on theseguys. You don’t have plays off when you play these guys. You have to play them every down.”