‘I feel good.’ A leaner, fitter Dak Prescott might run more for Dallas Cowboys in 2022
After making limited moves in free agency, the Dallas Cowboys remained confident heading into the offseason that they could improve in 2022 behind a healthy Dak Prescott.
Now that the offseason is essentially over — with an abbreviated minicamp concluding Tuesday and a break before training camp starts July 26 — the Cowboys feel the best thing they have accomplished was having full participation from a healthy Prescott.
He is also leaner than and fitter than he’s ever been, thanks to a diet and training regiment that has allowed him to drop “some baby fat.”
“It’s been huge. Huge for him, it’s been huge for everybody,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think all the little things that we do, particularly in the meetings and the walkthroughs and all of that, they’re important obviously. But just for him to just have no limits has been outstanding, and I think you clearly see it in the way he’s moving this year. You look at his body, he’s clearly different than he was last year. He’s had a heck of an offseason.”
He missed the 2020 offseason in a contract dispute. And now one year removed from the devastating fractured ankle that sidelined him for the final 11 games of 2020, Prescott said he is excited about being able to do everything with his teammates.
“Yeah, I mean I feel great obviously,” Prescott said. “As you said, not being restricted, every drill, everything. And it counts. It matters. I think I’m so much further along than I was last year at this time. I mean just being able to get the team reps, being able to move more, take care of my whole body and just focus on everything and not just my leg is a huge difference.
“My confidence is through the roof. I mean I feel good.”
Prescott feels good and he looks good.
He said everyone is complimenting him for being leaner, even though his weight is the same. He said he has never been this trim even going back to his college days at Mississippi State, when McDonald’s and Taco Bell were staples of his diet.
But no more.
“In college, I was a meathead,” Prescott said. “I’m leaner. I’m not faster. Those don’t necessarily go hand in hand.”
But what is going hand in hand with a leaner and healthier Prescott is the prospect of the Cowboys putting the quarterback run and designed movement back in the offense after limiting his exposure in the 2021 while being mindful of the fractured leg.
It’s one of the notable things of the offseason program.
“I think like anything, this is year three in the offense and the opportunity to move more potentially than he did in the past, as far as what he’s being asked to do,” McCarthy said. “The thing that jumps out to me is his movement ability in the scramble drills and scramble situations. The way he activates scramble drills. He’s gotten more reps at it, it’s more natural to him, so he looks really good.”
The Cowboys didn’t have as many runs or movement plays in the game plan last year.
Prescott rushed just 48 times for 146 yards and one touchdown in 2021, all career lows, including his 3.0 yards per carry.
For the first five years of his career, Prescott averaged 5.1 yards per attempt on 259 rushes with 24 touchdowns in the regular season.
“I think we tried to be smart,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s obvious we didn’t call as many quarterback runs than probably prior years. So, there weren’t as many in the game plan. I think we tried to be smart when we used him.”
McCarthy said there will be more quarterback movement plays in the offense to take advantage of Prescott’s ability to threaten the defense with his legs and to open up the game plan.
Prescott threw for 4,449 yards and 37 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 2021 but there was some meat left on the bone without his running.
It may not quite be the same Prescott who tore up the SEC at Mississippi State with a physical running style to go along with his passing ability, but the zone read and quarterback draw on the goal line and third-and-short are viable options again.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s third-and-short, red zones and it’s called a little bit more,” Prescott said.
But he will be smart about it.
Keeping a lean and healthier Prescott on the field is most important.
“It’s risk versus reward and just understanding that some of those are called and why are they called. To go get the first down and get that,” Prescott said. “Get some yards and get out of bounds. And just know the importance of everything. The coach isn’t going to call that for me to try to run people over and stiff arm. Being smart and understanding that me being available is the best for me.”
Prescott being a full participant in the offseason was the best for the Cowboys.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 5:32 PM.
